[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 121 (Friday, June 22, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37687-37696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-15333]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency
[Docket ID FEMA-2012-0028]
Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program
AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of guidance.
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SUMMARY: This Notice provides guidelines that describe the application
process for grants and the criteria for awarding grants in the fiscal
year (FY) 2012 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program year. It
explains the differences, if any, between these guidelines and those
recommended by representatives of the Nation's fire service leadership
during the annual Criteria Development meeting, which was held October
20-21, 2011. The application period for the FY 2012 AFG Program year
will be held June 11, to July 6, 2012, and will be announced on
www.grants.gov. Approximately 15,000 to 20,000 applications for AFG
funding will be submitted electronically, using the application
submission form and process available at https://portal.fema.gov.
Before the application period, the ``FY 2012 AFG Guidance and
Application Kit'' will be published on the AFG Web site (www.fema.gov/firegrants). Additional information to assist applicants will be
provided on the AFG Web site, including an applicant tutorial, list of
frequently asked questions, a ``Get Ready Guide, and a Quick Reference
Guide.'' The AFG Program makes grants directly to fire departments and
nonaffiliated emergency medical services (EMS) organizations for the
purpose of enhancing the abilities of first responders to protect the
health and safety of the public as well as that of first-responder
personnel facing fire and fire-related hazards. In addition, the
authorizing statute requires that a minimum of 5 percent of
appropriated funds be expended for fire prevention and safety grants to
be made directly to local fire departments and to local, regional,
State, or national entities recognized for their expertise in the
fields of fire prevention and firefighter safety research and
development.
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2229, 2229a.
DATES: Grant applications for the Assistance to Firefighters Grants
will be accepted electronically at https://portal.fema.gov, from June
11 to July 6, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Assistance to Firefighters Grants Branch, Stop 3620, DHS/
FEMA, 800 K Street NW., Washington, DC, 20472-3620.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Patterson, Chief, Assistance
to Firefighters Grants Branch, 1-866-274-0960.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Assistance to
Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program is to provide grants directly to fire
departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical services (EMS)
organizations to enhance their ability to protect the health and safety
of the public, as well as that of first-responder personnel, with
respect to fire and fire-related hazards. The governing statute
requires that each year DHS publish in the Federal Register the
guidelines that describe the application process and the criteria for
grant awards.
Approximately 15,000 to 20,000 applications for AFG funding will be
submitted electronically, using the application submission form and
process available at the AFG e-Grant application portal: https://portal.fema.gov. Specific information about the submission of grant
applications can be found in the ``FY 2012 Assistance to Firefighters
Grant (AFG) Guidance and Application Kit,'' which is available for
download at www.fema.gov/firegrants and at www.regulations.gov under
Docket ID FEMA-2012-0028.
Paper applications will be accepted but discouraged due to the
inherent delays with processing them and because they lack the
applicant ``help'' features that are built into the electronic
application. Applicants will be able to obtain a copy of the official
paper application form by calling 1-866-274-0960. Paper applications
will be sent via regular mail only; no application forms will be sent
via overnight delivery, fax, or email. Applicants will be allowed to
submit only the fiscal year (FY) 2012 AFG application form that is
mailed to them by the AFG. No other version of the application will be
accepted. Applicants will be instructed not to use any paper
application that they did not receive directly from the AFG and will be
instructed not to use a previous year's application. Paper applications
must be postmarked no later than July 6, 2012, and mailed to the
following address: Cabezon Group, Attn: AFG Program, 11821 Parklawn
Drive, Suite 230, Rockville, MD 20852. The AFG will inform applicants
that it will not be responsible for applications sent to any other
address and that late, incomplete, or faxed applications will NOT be
accepted.
Appropriations
Congress appropriated $337,500,000 for the FY 2012 AFG. From this
amount, $285,625,000 will be made available for AFG awards. Funds
appropriated for the FY 2012 AFG (pursuant to Pub. L. 112-10) will be
available for obligation and award until September 30, 2013. FEMA will
receive approximately 15,000 to 20,000 applications for assistance and
anticipates that it will award approximately 4,000 grants with the
grant funding available.
Congress directed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to
administer the appropriations:
Up to 5 percent of funds may be used for program
administration.
Up to 2 percent of funds may be used for awards to
nonaffiliated EMS organizations.
No more than 25 percent of funds may be used for vehicle
awards.
No less than 5 percent of funds must be made available to
make grants supporting eligible fire prevention activities and research
and development activities that improve firefighter safety through the
Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants. However, due to the
importance of mitigation activities, the FY 2012 FP&S will be allocated
$35 million for grants. The FP&S Grants are not part of this AFG
solicitation. The FP&S Grant application period is projected for the
fall or winter of 2012.
Background of the AFG Program
DHS awards the grants on a competitive basis to the applicants that
best address the AFG Program's priorities and provide the most
compelling justification. Applications that best address the Program's
priorities will be reviewed by a panel composed of fire service
personnel.
Award Criteria
The panel will review the application and evaluate it using the
following criteria:
Proposed project and the project budget
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Financial need for the project
Benefits that will result from the project relative to its
cost (cost benefit)
Extent to which the grant will enhance daily operations
How the grant will positively impact the regional ability
to protect life and property
The AFG Program for FY 2012 generally mirrors that of previous
years. All applications for grants will be prepared and submitted
through the AFG e-Grant application portal (https://portal.fema.gov).
DHS again will have a separate application period devoted solely to
FP&S Grants, which is projected to occur in the fall or winter of 2012.
Statutory Limits to Funding
Congress has enacted statutory limits to the amount of funding that
a grantee may receive from the AFG Program in any single fiscal year
(15 U.S.C. 2229(b)(10)), and these limits are based on the population
served. Awards will be limited based on the size of the population
protected by the applicant, as indicated below.
An applicant that serves a jurisdiction with 500,000
people or less may not receive grant funding in excess of $1 million
for any fiscal year.
A grantee that serves a jurisdiction with more than
500,000 but not more than 1 million people may not receive grants in
excess of $1,750,000 in any fiscal year.
A grantee that serves a jurisdiction with more than 1
million people may not receive grants in excess of $2,750,000 in any
fiscal year.
DHS may waive these established limits to any grantee serving a
jurisdiction of 1 million people or less if the agency determines that
an extraordinary need for assistance warrants the waiver. No grantee,
under any circumstance, may receive ``more than the lesser of
$2,750,000 or one-half of 1 percent of the funds appropriated under
this section for a single fiscal year.'' (15 U.S.C. 2229(b)(10)(B)).
Cost Sharing
Grantees must share in the costs of the projects funded under this
grant program (15 U.S.C. 2229(b)(6)). Fire departments and
nonaffiliated EMS organizations that serve populations of less than
20,000 must match the Federal grant funds with an amount of non-Federal
funds equal to 5 percent of the total project cost. Those fire
departments and nonaffiliated EMS organizations serving areas with a
population between 20,000 and 50,000, inclusive, must match the Federal
grant funds with an amount of non-Federal funds equal to 10 percent of
the total project cost, and those that serve populations of more than
50,000 must match the Federal grant funds with an amount of non-Federal
funds equal to 20 percent of the total project costs. Regional project
cost share will be based on the total population and demographics of
the entire region. All non-Federal funds must be in cash, i.e., in-kind
contributions are not acceptable as matching funds. No waivers of this
requirement will be granted except for applicants located in Insular
Areas as provided for in 48 U.S.C. 1469a.
Statutory Requirements for Funding Distribution
The authorizing statute imposes additional requirements on ensuring
a distribution of grant funds among career, volunteer, and combination
(volunteer and career personnel) fire departments, and among urban,
suburban, and rural communities. Specifically, DHS must ensure that
all-volunteer or combination fire departments receive a portion of the
total grant funding that is not less than the proportion of the United
States population that those departments protect (15 U.S.C.
2229(b)(11)). There is no corresponding minimum for career departments.
Therefore, subject to the other statutory limitations on the ability of
DHS to award funds, DHS will ensure that, for the 2012 program year, no
less than 33 percent of the funding available for grants will be
awarded to combination departments, and no less than 19 percent will be
awarded to all-volunteer departments. These figures were obtained from
the National Fire Protection Association report entitled ``U.S. Fire
Department Profile Through 2010,'' issued October 2011. If, and only
if, other statutory limitations inhibit the ability of DHS to ensure
this distribution of funding, DHS will ensure that the aggregate
combined total percentage of funding provided to both combination and
volunteer departments is no less than 52 percent.
DHS generally makes funding decisions using rank order resulting
from the panel evaluation. However, DHS may deviate from rank order and
make funding decisions based on the type of department (career,
combination, or volunteer) and/or the size and character of the
community the applicant serves (urban, suburban, or rural) to the
extent it is required to satisfy statutory provisions.
Central Contractor Registration (CCR)
Since October 1, 2003, it has been federally mandated that any
organization wishing to do business with the Federal government under a
Federal-Acquisition-Regulation-based contract must be registered in the
CCR system before being awarded a contract. This includes applicants
and grantees for the AFG Program. To submit a new CCR registration, go
to www.bpn.gov/ccr/grantees.aspx.
Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program
In addition to the grants available to fire departments in FY 2012
through the competitive grant program, DHS must set aside no less than
5 percent ($16,881,250) of AFG Program funds for the FP&S Grant
Program. However, due to the importance of mitigation activities, DHS
will allocate $35 million for the FY 2012 FP&S Grant Program. The FP&S
funds will be available to make grants to, or enter into contracts or
cooperative agreements with, national, State, local, or community
organizations or agencies, including fire departments.
In accordance with the statutory requirement to fund fire
prevention activities, the FP&S Program offers grants to support
activities in two categories: (1) Activities designed to reach high-
risk target groups and mitigate incidences of death and injuries caused
by fire and fire-related hazards (``Fire Prevention and Safety
Activity''); and (2) research and development activities aimed at
improving firefighter safety (``Firefighter Safety Research and
Development Activity''). DHS will issue an announcement regarding
pertinent details of the FY 2012 FP&S Grant portion of the AFG Program
prior to the start of the application period, which is tentatively
scheduled for fall or winter of 2012.
Application Process
Organizations may submit one application per application period in
each of the three AFG Program areas, e.g., one application for
Operations and Safety, one for Vehicle Acquisition, and/or a separate
application to be a Regional Project host. If an organization submits
more than one application for any of the AFG Program areas, either
intentionally or unintentionally, FEMA will deem all applications
submitted by that organization for the Program to be ineligible for
funding.
Prior to the start of the FY 2012 AFG application period, DHS will
conduct applicant workshops across the country to inform potential
applicants about the AFG Program. In addition, DHS will provide
applicants with an online web-based tutorial (available at the AFG Web
site: www.fema.gov/firegrants) and other online information to help
them prepare
[[Page 37689]]
quality grant applications. The AFG also will staff a Help Desk
throughout the application period to assist applicants with navigation
through the automated application as well as assistance with any
questions they have. Applicants can reach the AFG Help Desk through a
toll-free telephone number (1-866-274-0960) or electronic mail
(firegrants@dhs.gov).
Applicants will be advised to access the application electronically
at https://portal.fema.gov. The application also will be accessible
from the U.S. Fire Administration's Web site (http://www.usfa.fema.gov)
and the grants.gov Web site (http://www.grants.gov). New applicants
will be required to register and establish a username and password for
secure access to their application. Applicants that applied to any
previous AFG funding opportunities will be required to use their
previously established usernames and passwords.
In completing the application, applicants will be asked to provide
relevant information on their organization's characteristics, call
volume, and existing capabilities. Applicants will be asked to answer
questions about their grant request that reflect the AFG funding
priorities, which are described below. In addition, each applicant will
have to complete four separate narratives for each project or grant
activity requested. These narratives will address statutory competitive
factors: project description and budget, cost benefit, effect on the
organization, and additional information. The electronic application
process will permit the applicant to enter and save the application
data. The system does not permit the submission of incomplete
applications. Except for the narrative textboxes, the application will
use a ``point-and-click'' selection process or require the entry of
data (e.g., name and address, call volume numbers, etc.) Applicants
will be encouraged to read the ``AFG Guidance and Application Kit'' for
more details.
Criteria Development Process
Each year, DHS convenes a panel of fire service professionals to
develop the funding priorities and other implementation criteria for
AFG. The Criteria Development Panel is comprised of representatives
from nine major fire service organizations, who are charged with making
recommendations to FEMA regarding the creation of new funding
priorities and the modification of existing funding priorities as well
as developing criteria for awarding grants. The nine major fire service
organizations represented on the panel are:
Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI)
International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI)
International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)
International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI)
National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM)
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC)
North American Fire Training Directors (NAFTD)
The FY 2012 criteria development panel meeting occurred October 20-
21, 2011. The content of the ``FY 2012 AFG Guidance and Application
Kit'' reflects the implementation of the Criteria Development Panel's
recommendations with respect to the priorities, direction, and criteria
for awards. All of the funding priorities for the FY 2012 AFG are
designed to address the following:
First responder safety
Enhancing national capabilities
Risk
Interoperability
Changes for FY 2012
Maintenance and Sustainment. The use of FEMA preparedness
grant funds for maintenance contracts, warranties, repair or
replacement costs, upgrades, and user fees are allowable under all
active and future grant awards, unless otherwise noted. For additional
information, see ``DHS/FEMA Information Bulletin No. 336,'' dated
November 20, 2009.
FY 2012 AFG Guidance and Application Kit.
(1) The ``Guidance and Application Kit'' has been reformatted to
match the FEMA Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) template.
(2) Program funding priorities are indicated in the ``Guidance'' as
being H (High), M (Medium), or L (Low) funding priorities, with the
exception of the funding priorities assigned for the Wellness and
Fitness Activity, which are indicated as being Priority I or Priority
II.
(3) The term ``Other'' was removed from both the ``AFG Guidance''
document and the online application form as an item eligible for
funding. The pull-down menus in the online application form will
provide a specific list of all items eligible for funding.
Operations and Safety.
(1) In the evaluation criteria, the weights assigned to the data on
``Population Served'' and ``Call Volume'' have been adjusted to reduce
their impact on the total score for applicants in suburban and rural
communities. They were removed the list of ``Additional
Considerations'' for funding.
(2) Training Projects. ``NFPA (Technical Rescue) 1670'' was removed
from the list of Firefighting Training Priorities. NFPA number ``/
1006'' was added to ``NFPA (Rescue Technician) 1670.''
(3) Equipment Projects. All communications equipment or systems
purchased with grant funds should comply with the FY 2012 SAFECOM
Guidance on Emergency Communication Grants, including provisions on
technical standards that ensure and enhance interoperable
communications. The FY 2012 SAFECOM Guidance can be found at: http://www.safecomprogram.gov.
(4) Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). ``Replacing torn,
tattered, or damaged PPE'' was elevated from a Medium to a High
Priority for funding.
(5) Vehicle Acquisition
(1) ``Quints'' were removed from the list of funding priorities
because they are eligible for funding in the ``Aerials'' vehicle
category.
(2) In suburban communities, ``Rescue'' vehicles were elevated from
a Medium to a High Priority for funding.
(3) In suburban communities, ``Hazmat'' vehicles were added to the
list of Medium Priority vehicles.
(4) In rural communities, ``Aerials'' were added to the list of
High Priority vehicles.
(5) ``Call Volume'' and ``Population Served'' were removed from the
list of Additional Considerations for funding.
Changes to Criteria Development Panel Recommendations
DHS must explain any differences between the published guidelines
and the recommendations made by the criteria development panel and
publish this information in the Federal Register prior to making any
grants under the Program (15 U.S.C. 2229(b)(14)). DHS accepts and is
implementing all of the Criteria Development Panel's recommendations,
with the exception of the two that we recommended be revised (discussed
below).
(1) Panel members recommended requiring that all grant-funded
equipment qualify as being ``Made in America.''
DHS acknowledges this Panel recommendation but decided to table
this requirement pending the FEMA Grant Programs Directorate's
[[Page 37690]]
development of a specific policy on this issue. Language was added to
the Procurement Integrity section of the ``Guidance and Application
Kit'' stating that, ``to the greatest extent possible, the use of
federal grant funds should be used for the purchase of goods and
services manufactured, assembled, and distributed in America.''
(2) Panel members recommended that the vehicle definitions in the
online AFG application be aligned to those in the online application
for the FY 2011 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response
(SAFER) Grant Program.
DHS acknowledges and agrees with this recommendation but is not
able to make this system change for the FY 2012 AFG application. DHS
will request that this system change be scheduled for implementation in
a future deployment to revise the online application.
(3) Panel members recommended that the vehicle definitions in the
online AFG application be made consistent with those of the NFPA for
pumpers/engines and tankers.
DHS acknowledges this recommendation but has not implemented
because we believe that the current definitions and terminology are
easier for our constituents in the fire service to use. Due to the
inherent differences between pumpers and Type I urban interface
engines, descriptions of both types of vehicles remain in the Guidance
and the online application. The current language was developed to take
into account regional differences in the terms used to describe certain
types of vehicles. Some clarifications were made in the application and
Guidance with regard to vehicle type descriptions.
Application Review Process
DHS will review and evaluate all AFG applications submitted using
the funding priorities and evaluation criteria that was established
based on recommendations from the Criteria Development Panel and is
described in this document. FEMA will rank all submitted applications
based on how well they match the funding priorities for the type of
community served. Answers to the application's activity-specific
questions provide information used to determine each application
ranking relative to the stated priorities.
Preliminary Review Process
DHS will evaluate all applications received first through an
automated preliminary review process to determine which projects best
address the AFG Program's announced funding priorities. The automated
preliminary review will evaluate and score the applicants' answers to
the activity-specific questions in terms of the funding priorities and
the evaluation criteria described in this document.
The projects that best meet the AFG Program priorities as
determined by the preliminary review will be deemed to be in the
``competitive range'' and will be forwarded for the second level of
application review, which is the peer review process. Once the
competitive range is established, DHS will review the list of
applicants that were not included in the competitive range to determine
if any are responsible for protecting DHS-specified critical
infrastructure or key resources.
Peer Review Process
All projects deemed to be in the competitive range will be
subjected to a second level of review by a technical evaluation panel
(TEP) made up of individuals from the fire service, including, but not
limited to, firefighters, fire marshals, and fire training instructors.
A panel of at least three peer reviewers will evaluate each project
in the competitive range using the project narratives, along with
answers to the general questions and the activity-specific questions.
Panelists will provide a subjective but qualitative judgment on the
merits of each request. They will review and score projects based on
the following evaluation criteria:
Clarity and detail used to describe the proposed project and
the project budget
Organization's financial need for the project
Benefits that will result from the project relative to its
cost (cost benefit)
Extent to which the project will enhance daily operations
How the grant will positively impact the regional ability to
protect life and property
Additional information provided by the applicant
Each project will be judged on its own merits and not compared to
other projects. As part of the cost-benefit review, the panelists will
consider all expenses budgeted, including the individual costs of the
items requested as well as the extraneous costs, such as warranties or
maintenance costs, administrative costs, and/or indirect costs.
Panelists may object to costs that are requested but not fully
explained in the application.
All projects reviewed also will be evaluated relative to the
critical infrastructure the applicant protects within their area of
first-due response. They will assess such infrastructure and the
hazards confronting the community as explained in the application's
narrative statements, including requests for chemical, biological,
radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) equipment or training.
Critical infrastructure includes any system or asset that, if attacked,
could result in catastrophic loss of life or catastrophic economic
loss. Critical infrastructure includes public water, power systems,
major business centers, chemical facilities, nuclear power plants,
major rail and highway bridges, petroleum and/or natural gas
transmission pipelines, storage facilities (e.g., chemical storage
facilities), telecommunications facilities, and facilities that support
large public gatherings, such as sporting events or concerts.
The panelists will evaluate and score each project individually and
then discuss the merits and shortcomings of each application in an
effort to reconcile any major discrepancies. However, a consensus among
reviewers on the scores is not required. The project's total peer
review score will be an average of the individual peer reviewers'
scores. The projects receiving the highest scores during the peer
review process will be deemed in the fundable range.
The total peer review score will be combined with the score earned
from the preliminary review, with each score representing 50 percent of
the total project score. Projects will be ranked according to the total
project scores with DHS considering the highest-scoring projects for
awards.
Technical Review Process
Projects receiving the highest scores then will undergo a technical
review by a subject matter specialist to assess the technical
feasibility of the project and a programmatic review to assess
eligibility and other factors.
Applications that involve interoperable communications projects or
projects related to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and
explosive (CBRNE) equipment or training will undergo a separate review
by the responsible State Administrative Agency to assure that the
projects are consistent with the Statewide Communications
Interoperability Plan (SCIP). If the State determines that the project
is inconsistent with the SCIP, the project will not be funded. Grantees
requesting support for emergency communications activities should
review and comply with the FY 2012 SAFECOM Guidance for Emergency
Communication Grants, including provisions on technical standards that
[[Page 37691]]
ensure and enhance interoperable communications.
After the completion of the technical reviews, DHS will select a
sufficient number of awardees from this application period to obligate
all of the available grant funding. It will evaluate and act on
applications within 90 days following the close of the application
period. The majority of awards will be made on or before September 30,
2012, but funds may be available for commitment until September 30,
2013. Awards will not be made in any specified order, i.e., awards will
not be made by State, program, etc. DHS will notify unsuccessful
applicants as soon as it is feasible.
Environmental and Historic Preservation Review
Applications seeking assistance to modify facilities or to install
equipment that require building renovations may undergo additional
screening. All modification to facility projects will be subject to all
applicable Federal requirements for environmental and historic
preservation (EHP). No project that involves a modification to facility
can proceed--except for project planning--without prior formal written
approval from DHS and the completion of any required EHP review. If an
award includes a modification to a facility, the applicant will be
responsible for contacting the AFG staff to receive instructions on how
to proceed. Noncompliance with these provisions may jeopardize an
applicant's award and subsequent funding.
Application Review Considerations
The governing statute requires that each year DHS publish in the
Federal Register a description of the grant application process and the
criteria for grant awards. This information is provided below.
Fire Department Priorities
Specific rating criteria for each of the eligible programs and
activities are discussed below. The funding priorities described in
this Notice have been recommended by a panel of representatives from
the Nation's fire service leadership and have been accepted by DHS for
the purposes of implementing the AFG. These rating criteria provide an
understanding of the AFG Program's priorities and the expected cost-
effectiveness of any proposed project(s). The activities listed below
are in no particular order of priority.
Within the Vehicle Grants activity, DHS will consider the
population served by the applicant, with applicants that serve larger
populations afforded a higher consideration than applicants that serve
smaller populations. DHS will explain further the Program priorities in
the Guidance and Application Kit that will be published separately.
(1) Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety Program.
(i) Firefighter Training Activities. The Criteria Development Panel
recommended that AFG continue to emphasize the importance of training
in the FY 2012 program with respect to fire departments.
Funding Priorities. Due to inherent differences among urban,
suburban, and rural firefighting needs, AFG has different priorities in
the Firefighting Training program area for departments that serve
different types of communities. These are described in detail in the
``FY 2012 AFG Guidance and Application Kit.'' The High priorities for
training in all types of communities are NFPA 1001, 1002, 472, 1581,
1021; confined space awareness; wildland firefighting (basic and red
card training); rapid intervention or RIT; first responder; firefighter
safety and survival; safety officer; driver/operator; fire prevention;
fire inspector; fire investigator; fire educator; instructor; NIMS/ICS;
firefighting physical ability program; emergency scene rehab; critical
incident debriefing; vehicle rescue, rescue technician; emergency
medical technician-paramedic (EMT-P), emergency medical technician-
basic (EMT-B); and training needed to comply with State-mandated and
federally mandated programs. Please see the ``FY 2012 AFG Guidance and
Application Kit'' for additional information on the High, Medium, and
Low Priorities for training in urban, suburban, and rural communities.
Additional Considerations. Factors such as whether multiple
departments will be trained, instructor-led vs. media-led training, and
the number of firefighters to be trained. Large departments with a high
number of active firefighters also will receive additional
consideration.
(ii) Firefighting Equipment Acquisition. AFG funds are available
for equipment to enhance the safety or effectiveness of firefighting,
rescue, and fire-based EMS functions. Equipment requested must meet all
mandatory requirements as well as any national and/or state DHS-adopted
standards. See NFPA standards at www.NFPA.org/nfpaafg.2012. The
equipment requested should improve the health and safety of the public
and firefighters.
Funding Priorities. High priority for funding will be first-time
equipment purchases to support an existing mission and/or the
replacement of obsolete or broken and inoperable equipment. A medium
priority will be equipment purchases to increase capabilities within
the department's existing mission or to meet a new risk. Low priority
for funding will be requests for equipment for a new mission to meet an
existing risk and/or request additional supplies or reserve equipment.
A department takes on a ``new mission'' when it expands its services
into areas not previously offered, such as a fire department seeking
funds to provide EMS for the first time. A ``new risk'' presents itself
when a department must address risks that have materialized in the
department's area of responsibility, e.g., the construction of a new
nuclear power plant could constitute a ``new mission.''
Additional Considerations. Will be given for the following factors:
Equipment that has a direct effect on firefighters' health and
safety
Age of equipment being replaced
Equipment that benefits other jurisdictions
Equipment that brings the department into compliance with
nationally recommended standards (i.e., NFPA) or statutory compliance
(i.e., Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA))
(iii) Firefighter Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Acquisition.
AFG funds are available to acquire primarily OSHA-required and NFPA-
compliant PPE for firefighting personnel. Equipment requested must meet
all current mandatory requirements, as well as any national and/or
state DHS-adopted standards. Equipment requested should have the goal
of increasing firefighter safety. Information on the relevant NFPA
standards can be obtained from the organization's Web site at
www.NFPA.org/nfpaafg.2012. If requesting training for any items in this
section, please list it in the Other section under Additional Funding
for each item for which training is needed. Applicants will be required
to provide the age of the PPE to be replaced.
Funding Priorities. The highest priorities for funding will be
requests from departments to buy new PPE for the first time, to replace
or update obsolete PPE to the current standard, and to replace torn,
tattered, or damaged PPE. (Obsolete is defined as any PPE that is 10
years or older or is outdated by two NFPA cycles.) The medium priority
for funding will be requests to replace contaminated PPE or to address
a new risk. A low priority for funding will be requests to replace new
or used PPE, replace worn but usable PPE that
[[Page 37692]]
is not compliant to the current edition of the NFPA standard, to meet a
new mission, or to increase current inventory.
Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) Priorities. Awards will
be based on number of seated riding positions in the department's
vehicle fleet and the age of existing SCBAs, limited to one spare
cylinder (unless justified otherwise in the Request Details narrative
for the PPE activity). New SCBAs must have automatic-on or integrated
Personal Alert Safety System (PASS) devices and be CBRNE-compliant to
the current edition of the NFPA 1981 standard. All requests must be
justified in the Request Details narrative for the PPE activity.
Funding Priorities. Highest priority will be to replace SCBAs that
are compliant with NFPA 1981, pre-2002 Edition. A medium priority will
be to replace SCBAs that are compliant with the 2002 edition of NFPA
1981 (must be justified in PPE narrative). It will be a low priority to
replace SCBAs that are compliant with the 2007 edition of NFPA 1981
(must be justified in the PPE narrative).
Additional Considerations for PPE. Additional consideration will be
given to applicants that have the oldest PPE and/or are trying to bring
the department into 100 percent NFPA compliance and for the number of
firefighters who will have compliant gear.
(iv) Firefighter Wellness and Fitness Activities. Wellness and
Fitness programs are intended to strengthen first responders so that
their mental, physical, and emotional capabilities are resilient enough
to withstand the demands of emergency services response. To be eligible
for FY 2012 funding of this activity, fire departments must offer, or
plan to offer, all four of the following basic programs:
Periodic health screenings
Entry physical examinations
Immunizations
Behavioral health programs
Funding Priorities. In this activity, funding priorities are
described as either Priority 1 or Priority 2, with Priority 1 programs
being the highest priority for funding. Departments that have some of
the Priority 1 programs in place must apply for funds to implement the
other Priority 1 programs listed before applying for funds for
additional Wellness and Fitness programs or equipment. The following
programs are Priority 1: initial medical exams (must meet NFPA 1582
requirements), job-related immunization programs, annual medical and
fitness evaluations, and behavioral health programs.
To be eligible for Priority 2 items, the department must offer or
be requesting funds to provide all four of the programs in Priority 1.
Priority 2 items include candidate physical ability evaluations, formal
fitness and injury prevention programs and equipment, injury and
illness rehab, and IAFF or IAFC Peer Fitness Trainer programs.
(v) Modifications to Fire Stations. FY 2012 AFG Grants may be used
to modify and retrofit existing fire stations and other facilities or
structures built before 2003. New fire station construction is not
eligible for funding. To be eligible, the modification must not change
the structure footprint or profile. If requesting multiple items in
this activity, total funding for all project and activities cannot
exceed $100,000 per fire station. Eligible projects under this activity
must have a direct effect on the health and safety of firefighters.
FEMA is legally required to consider the potential impacts of all
grant-funded projects on environmental resources and historic
properties through an environmental and historic preservation (EHP)
review. Any project with the potential to impact natural resources or
historic properties cannot be initiated until FEMA has completed the
required FEMA EHP review. Grantees that implement projects before
receiving EHP approval from FEMA risk having grant funds deobligated.
Modification projects that must undergo EHP reviews include but are not
limited to the installation of equipment; ground-disturbing activities,
such as building a concrete pad for a station generator; communications
tower installations, or the modification or renovation of existing
buildings and structures. Any project not specifically excluded from a
FEMA EHP review must undergo such a review, per the Grant Programs
Directorate's Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA). For more
information, see Information Bulletin 345. Grantees must comply with
all applicable EHP laws, regulations, and Executive Orders (EOs) to
draw down their FY 2012 AFG funds.
Funding Priorities. Highest priority for funding will be requests
to install modifications such as sole-source capture exhaust systems,
sprinkler systems, or smoke/fire alarm notification systems in
stations, including maritime and air operations facilities, that are
occupied 24/7 and offer sleeping quarters. Medium priority will be
given to requests for air quality systems and/or emergency generators
from departments that may or may not offer sleeping quarters. Low
priority will be given to requests to modify facilities that are not
occupied 24/7 and do not offer sleeping quarters, and for training
facilities.
Additional Considerations: Will be given for the age of the
building, with older facilities receiving higher priority.
(2) Firefighting Vehicles Acquisition Program.
AFG provides grants for new firefighting vehicles, used fire
apparatus originally designed for firefighting, or refurbished
apparatus originally designed for firefighting. Funds also may be used
to refurbish a vehicle the department currently owns, but only if the
vehicle to be refurbished was designed originally for firefighting. New
vehicles purchased with AFG funds must be compliant with NFPA 1901
(Standard for Automotive Apparatus) or NFPA 1906 (Standard for Wildland
Fire Apparatus). Used apparatus must be compliant with NFPA 1901 or
1906 for the year the vehicle was manufactured. Refurbished apparatus
must meet the current NFPA 1912 (Standard for Fire Apparatus
Refurbishing). Converted vehicles not originally designed for
firefighting are not eligible for refurbishment.
Applicants are allowed to apply for more than one vehicle, but
requests cannot exceed the financial cap based on population listed in
the application. If a department submits multiple applications and more
than one of those requests are approved, the department will be held to
the same financial cap.
FEMA reserves the right to reduce the amount of any vehicle
request, in whole or in part, that is considered excessive in cost. AFG
funding is meant to supplement, not replace, an organization's funding.
Applicants requesting vehicles that do not have driver/operators
trained to U.S. Department of Transportation Emergency Vehicle
Operators Course (EVOC) National Standard Curriculum, or equivalent,
and are not planning to have a training program in place by the time
the vehicle is delivered, will not receive an award. Training may be
requested in the Other section under Additional Funding in the Vehicle
request application.
Funding Priorities. Inherent differences exist between urban,
suburban, and rural firefighting conventions. For this reason, DHS has
developed different priorities in the Firefighting Vehicles Program for
departments that serve different types of communities. The chart below
delineates the priorities for firefighting vehicles for each type of
community.
Note: Due to nationwide statistics indicating the high number
of fire-based EMS calls, ambulances will be the equivalent to a
pumper as a high priority item.
[[Page 37693]]
Firefighting Vehicle Program Priorities
[Firefighting vehicles are categorized by community type and as High
(H), Medium (M), or Low (L) funding priorities and within that priority
the vehicles have an equal value]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Suburban
Priority Urban communities communities Rural communities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
H.............. Pumper Pumper Pumper
Ambulance Ambulance Ambulance
Aerial Aerial Brush--Attack
Rescue Tanker--Tender Tanker--Tender
Rescue Aerial
M.............. Command Hazmat Command
Hazmat Command Hazmat
Light/Air Unit Light/Air Unit Rescue
Rehab Unit Brush--Attack Light/Air Unit
Rehab Unit
L.............. Aircraft Rescue ARFF Foam Truck
and Firefighting Foam Truck Highway Safety
Vehicle (ARFFV) Highway Safety Unit
Brush--Attack Unit ARFF
Foam Truck Fire Boat Rehab Unit
Fire Boat Fire Boat
Tanker--Tender
Highway Safety
Unit
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional Considerations. Will be given for the following factors:
Existence of automatic aid agreements, mutual aid agreements,
or both
Request the replacement of open cab/jump seat configurations
Age of the vehicle being replaced; older equipment receives
higher consideration
Age of the newest vehicle in the department's fleet that is
like the vehicle to be replaced
Average age of the fleet; older equipment within the same
class
Converted vehicles not designed or intended for use in the
fire service
Compliance with standards:
New fire apparatus must be compliant with NFPA 1901 or 1906
for the year it was ordered or manufactured.
Used fire apparatus must be compliant with NFPA 1901 or 1906
standards for the year the vehicle was manufactured
Ambulances must meet NFPA, General Services Administration
(GSA) KKK-1822F standards for the year ordered or manufactured
Applicants must certify that unsafe vehicles will be
permanently removed from service if awarded a grant
Acceptable uses of unsafe vehicles include farming, nursery,
scrap metal, salvage, construction, etc
Refurbished vehicles must meet current NFPA 1912 standards
(3) Administrative Costs.
Panelists will assess the administrative costs requested in any
application and determine if the request is reasonable and in the best
interest of the Program.
Nonaffiliated EMS Organization Priorities
AFG funds may be used to enhance emergency medical services
provided by nonaffiliated EMS organizations, but the authorizing
statute limits funding for these organizations to no more than 2
percent of the appropriated amount.
The Criteria Development Panel recommended that it is more cost-
effective to enhance or expand an existing EMS organization, by
providing training or equipment, than it is to create a new service.
Therefore, communities attempting to initiate EMS services will receive
the lowest competitive rating. Requests for equipment and training to
prepare for response to incidents involving CBRNE are available under
the applicable Equipment and Training activities.
Specific rating criteria and funding priorities for each of the
grant categories are provided below following the descriptions of this
year's eligible programs. The rating criteria, in conjunction with the
program description, provide an understanding of the evaluation
standards. DHS will explain further the funding priorities in the ``FY
2011 AFG Guidance and Application Kit.''
(1) EMS Operations and Safety Program.
Five different activities may be funded under this program area:
First responder/Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) training
EMS equipment acquisition
EMS personal protective equipment
EMS wellness and fitness
Modifications to EMS facilities
Applicants may apply for as many of the activities within the
Operations and Safety Program as they deem necessary.
(i) First Responder/EMS Training Activities. AFG provides grants to
train EMS personnel. Examples of training activities include, but are
not limited to, first responder/emergency responder, Basic Life Support
(BLS), Advanced Life Support (ALS), Paramedic, Hazmat Operations, or
Rescue Operations.
Funding Priorities. Since training is a prerequisite to the
effective use of EMS equipment, organizations that request items more
focused on training activities will receive a higher competitive rating
than organizations that focus on equipment.
A higher competitive rating will be given to nonaffiliated EMS
organizations that are planning to upgrade services to the ALS level of
response. Specifically, requests for training to elevate an
organization's response level from EMT-B to EMT-I will receive the
highest priority for funding. Requests for training to elevate the
organization's response level from EMT-I to EMT-P also will receive a
high priority for funding.
The second priority for funding is training to elevate emergency
responders' capabilities from first responder to the BLS level of
response, i.e., EMT-B. Due to the amount of time and cost required,
upgrading an organization's response level from EMT-B to EMT-P is a
lower priority. Organizations seeking training in rescue or Hazmat
operations will receive lower consideration than organizations seeking
training for medical services. The lowest priority is to fund first
responder training.
Additional Considerations. Organizations seeking to train a high
percentage of its active first responders will receive additional
consideration.
[[Page 37694]]
(ii) EMS Equipment Acquisition. AFG funds are available for
equipment to enhance the safety or effectiveness of EMS response.
Equipment requested must meet all mandatory requirements as well as any
national, state, or DHS-adopted standards. Equipment requested should
solve interoperability or compatibility problems as may be required by
local jurisdictions. Requests will be funded up to an organization's
current capabilities, particularly requests for decontamination and
Hazmat equipment.
Note: All communications equipment or systems purchased with
grant funds should comply with the FY 2012 SAFECOM Guidance on
Emergency Communication Grants, including provisions on technical
standards that ensure and enhance interoperable communications. The
FY 2012 SAFECOM Guidance can be found at: http://www.safecomprogram.gov.
Funding Priorities. Highest priority will be given to equipment
requests associated with upgrading EMS from BLS to ALS, i.e., EMT-I and
EMT-P. High priority also will be given to requests for equipment that
will bring the department into compliance with NFPA standards and other
national, state, or local jurisdictional requirements. Medium priority
will be given to requests for equipment that brings a department into
voluntary compliance with NFPA/OSHA standards and requests to expand
current EMS. Low priority will be given to the following requests: To
begin a new service, to replace used or obsolete equipment, to buy
equipment that does not affect statutory or voluntary compliance with a
national standard, and equipment for Hazmat operations/technicians and
for rescue operations/technicians.
Additional Considerations. Additional consideration will be given
to requests that support regional collaborations benefiting multiple
jurisdictions.
(iii) EMS Personal Protective Equipment. AFG funds are available to
acquire EMS PPE for first responder personnel. Equipment requested must
meet all mandatory requirements, as well as any current national and/or
state DHS-adopted standards or local EMS protocols. Applicants must
indicate grant-purchased equipment will be operated by sufficiently
trained staff, and failure to meet this requirement will result in
ineligibility for funding. Funding for PPE training is eligible but
must be requested in the Other section under Additional Funding for the
item requested.
Funding Priorities. High priority for funding will be requests to
buy new PPE for the first time, to replace or update obsolete PPE to
the current standard, and to replace torn, tattered, or damaged PPE.
(Obsolete PPE is defined as any SCBA/PPE that is 10 years or older or
is outdated by two NFPA cycles.) Medium priority will be given to
requests to replace contaminated PPE, PPE to meet a new risk, and used
PPE. Low priority will be given to requests to replace worn but still
usable PPE that is not compliant to the current edition of NFPA
standard, to replace new PPE, PPE for a new mission, and to increase
the inventory or supply of PPE.
SCBA Priorities. All SCBA requests must be justified in the PPE
narrative. Awards will be based on the number of seated riding
positions in department's vehicle fleet and the age of existing SCBAs,
limited to one spare cylinder (unless justified in the PPE activity
narrative). Highest priority for funding of SCBAs will be to replace
SCBA that are compliant with the pre-2002 edition of NFPA 1981. Medium
priority will be given to replacing SCBA that are compliant with the
2002 edition of NFPA 1981. Low priority will be given to requests to
replace SCBA that are compliant with the 2007 edition of NFPA 1981.
Additional Considerations. Will be given to the percentage of
firefighters/EMS personnel served by the project and the age of the
equipment being replaced.
(iv) EMS Wellness and Fitness Activities. Wellness programs are
intended to strengthen uniformed personnel so the mental, physical, and
emotional capabilities are resilient to withstand the demands of
emergency services response. To be eligible for funding under this
activity in FY 2012, organizations must offer, or plan to offer, all
four of the following basic wellness and fitness programs:
Periodic health screenings
Entry physical examinations (compliant with current NFPA 1582)
Immunizations
Behavioral health programs
Funding Priorities. In this activity, funding priorities are
described as either Priority 1 or Priority 2, with Priority 1 programs
being the highest priority for funding. Organizations that have some of
the Priority 1 programs in place must apply for funds to implement the
other Priority 1 programs listed before applying for funds for
additional Wellness and Fitness programs or equipment. The following
programs are Priority 1: Initial medical exams (must be compliant with
current NFPA 1582), job-related immunization programs (as required by
the department or by law), annual medical and fitness evaluations, and
behavioral health programs.
To be eligible for Priority 2 items, the department must offer or
be requesting funds to provide all four of the programs in Priority 1.
Priority 2 items include candidate physical ability evaluations, formal
fitness and injury prevention programs and equipment, injury and
illness rehab, and IAFF or IAFC Peer Fitness Trainer programs.
(v) Modification to EMS Facilities. Grants may be used to modify
and retrofit existing fire stations and other facilities or structures
built before 2003 that do not have the requisite safety features. New
facility construction is not eligible for funding. To be eligible, the
modification must not change the structure footprint or profile. If
requesting multiple items in this activity, total funding for all
project and activities cannot exceed $100,000 per facility. Remodeling
to fulfill other grant initiatives is limited to $10,000. Eligible
projects under this activity must have a direct effect on the health
and safety of first responders.
FEMA is legally required to consider the potential impacts of all
grant-funded projects on environmental resources and historic
properties through an EHP review. Any project with the potential to
impact natural resources or historic properties cannot be initiated
until FEMA has completed the required FEMA EHP review. Grantees that
implement projects before receiving EHP approval from FEMA risk having
grant funds deobligated. Grantees should submit the FEMA EHP Screening
Form for each project as soon as possible upon receiving the grant
award.
Modification projects that must undergo EHP reviews include but are
not limited to the installation of equipment; ground-disturbing
activities, such as building a concrete pad for a station generator;
communications tower installations, or the modification or renovation
of existing buildings and structures. Any project not specifically
excluded from a FEMA EHP review must undergo such a review, per the
Grant Programs Directorate's PEA. For more information, see Information
Bulletin 345. Grantees must comply with all applicable EHP laws,
regulations, and EOs to draw down their FY 2012 AFG funds.
Funding Priorities. Highest priority for funding will be requests
to install modifications such as sole-source capture exhaust systems,
sprinkler systems, or smoke/fire alarm notification systems in
stations, including maritime and air operations facilities, that are
occupied 24/7 and offer sleeping quarters. Medium priority
[[Page 37695]]
will be given to requests for air quality systems and/or emergency
generators from departments that may or may not offer sleeping
quarters. Low priority will be given to requests to modify facilities
that are not occupied 24/7 and do not offer sleeping quarters, and for
training facilities.
Additional Considerations: Will be given for the age of the
building, with older facilities receiving higher priority.
Grants may be used only to modify or retrofit existing EMS
facilities that were built before 2003 and do not have specific safety
features. The construction of new facilities is not eligible for
funding. Grant funds may only be used to retrofit existing structures
built prior to 2003 that do not have the requisite safety features. If
requesting multiple items in this activity, funding cannot exceed a
maximum of $100,000 per station. Remodeling to fulfill other grant
initiatives is limited to $10,000. Eligible projects under this
activity must have a direct effect on the health and safety of first
responders.
FEMA is legally required to consider the potential impacts of all
grant-funded projects on environmental resources and historic
properties. For AFG and other preparedness grant programs, this is
accomplished via FEMA's EHP Review. Grantees must comply with all
applicable EHP laws, regulations, and Executive Orders (EOs) in order
to draw down their FY 2012 AFG grant funds. Any project with the
potential to impact natural resources or historic properties cannot be
initiated until FEMA has completed the required FEMA EHP review.
Grantees that implement projects prior to receiving EHP approval from
FEMA risk de-obligation of funds.
AFG projects that involve the installation of equipment, ground-
disturbing activities, and new construction, including communication
towers, or modification/renovation of existing buildings or structures
must undergo a FEMA EHP review. Activities not specifically excluded
from a FEMA EHP review also will require an EHP review per the GPD
Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA). For more information on
the PEA, see Information Bulletin 345 at http://www.fema.gov/pdf/government/grant/bulletins/info345.pdf.
Funding Priorities. Highest priority in this activity will go to
departments requesting direct sole-source capture exhaust systems,
sprinkler systems, or smoke/fire alarm notification systems for
stations with sleeping quarters, including maritime/air operations
facilities, that are occupied 24/7. Medium priority will be given to
departments (with or without sleeping quarters) that request air
quality systems and/or emergency generators. Low priority will be given
to departments requesting funding of one of the high or medium
priorities listed above but do not have facilities that are occupied
24/7 and do not have sleeping quarters and also to requests for
training facilities.
Additional Considerations. Additional consideration will be given
for the age of the building, with older facilities receiving higher
priority.
(2) EMS Vehicles Acquisition Program.
Funds may be used to acquire new, used, or refurbished EMS
vehicles. Funds may also be used to refurbish a vehicle the
organization currently owns. To be eligible for funding, EMS vehicles
purchased with AFG funds must be compliant with current General
Services Administration standards, specifically KKK-A-1822 (``Guide for
Emergency Medical Services and Systems''), found at http://www.gsa.gov/vehiclestandards/index.cfm.
Applicants are allowed to apply for more than one vehicle, but
requests cannot exceed the financial cap based on population listed in
the application. If a department submits multiple applications and more
than one of those requests are approved, the department will be held to
the same financial cap. FEMA reserves the right to reduce the amount of
any vehicle request, in whole or in part, that is considered excessive
in cost. AFG funding is meant to supplement, not replace, an
organization's funding.
Applicants requesting vehicles that do not have driver/operators
trained to U.S. Department of Transportation Emergency Vehicle
Operators Course (EVOC) National Standard Curriculum, or equivalent,
and are not planning to have a training program in place by the time
the vehicle is delivered, will not receive an award. Training may be
requested in the Other section under Additional Funding in the Vehicle
request application. Driver training programs must be in place prior to
vehicle delivery.
Funding Priorities. The following chart shows the priorities in the
EMS Vehicle Program for FY 2012. The priorities are the same for all
types of communities: urban, suburban, and rural.
EMS Vehicle Program Priorities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
H.............................. Ambulances or transport units to
support EMS functions.
M.............................. Non-transport (vehicles that do not
transport a patient).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compliance with standards: New and refurbished ambulances must meet
current applicable standards for the year of ordered or manufactured,
e.g., NFPA, General Services Administration (GSA) KKK-1822.
(3) Regional Project Priorities.
A regional project is one in which multiple organizations serving
more than one local jurisdiction benefit directly from the activities
implemented with the grant funds. Regional projects are designed to
facilitate efficiency and communications on the fire ground among
multiple jurisdictions. Any eligible applicant may act as a host
applicant and apply for a regional project. A list of all the
participating organizations that will benefit from the proposed
regional project must be listed in the application. Note that a county
fire department applying for a countywide communications system would
NOT be considered a regional project because it does not benefit
multiple jurisdictions.
Fire departments or nonaffiliated EMS organizations acting as host
applicants for a regional project also may apply for their own project
funding to meet non-regional needs by submitting a separate grant
application. However, the request may not duplicate the items being
requested in the regional project application.
Funding Priorities. The activities eligible for Regional Project
funding are training, equipment, and PPE. The funding priorities for
these activities are the same as those indicated previously in the
Operations and Safety Program for fire and nonaffiliated EMS
organizations.
Not Eligible for Regional Funding: Wellness and fitness,
modification to facilities, and vehicle acquisition.
Award Information
Applications for regional projects will not be included in the host
applicant's funding limitations detailed in Part II of the Guidance and
Application Kit. However, regional applicants will be subject to their
own limitation based on the total population that the regional project
will serve. For example, a regional project serving a population of
fewer than 500,000 people will be limited to $1 million. A regional
project's cost share will be based on the total population of the
entire region rather than on the population served by the host
applicant.
(4) Administrative Costs.
Panelists will assess the administrative costs requested in each
application and determine whether the request is reasonable and in the
best interest of the Program.
[[Page 37696]]
Dated: June 18, 2012.
W. Craig Fugate,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2012-15333 Filed 6-21-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-64-P