Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 11 / Friday, January 17, 2025 / Notices 5925 

number of NTED CTG training providers 

may fluctuate, increase, or decrease 

based on fiscal year grant funding levels 

approved by Congress. 

This revision consolidates all 

evaluation forms for all offices into two 

shared instruments. 

Collection of Information 

Title: Consolidated FEMA-National 

Training and Education Division 

(NTED) Level 3 Training Evaluation 

Forms. 

Type of Information Collection: 

Revision of a currently approved 

information collection. 

OMB Number: 1660–0132. 

FEMA Forms: CDP, NDEMU, and 

NTED Level 3 Student Evaluation Form, 

FEMA Form FF–008–FY–25–100; CDP, 

NDEMU, and NTED Level 3 Supervisor 

Evaluation Form, FEMA Form FF–008– 

FY–25–101. 

Abstract: NTED, CDP, and NDEMU all 

utilize the Kirkpatrick Four Level 

Training Evaluation Model to assess 

training effectiveness. Donald 

Kirkpatrick developed the four-level 

model of training evaluation: Level 1 

evaluation captures the students’ 

perception or reaction to training. Level 

2 completes a pre-post comparison of 

learning via tests/examinations and 

performance assessment checklists of 

the student learning (change in 

behavior). Level 3 evaluation 

instruments capture how the training 

transfers to the students’ work 

environment and their particular job. 

Lastly, Level 4 captures information 

about the return on key stakeholder 

expectations of the course or training 

program. The data collected by these 

training evaluation forms is shared with 

representatives from each course/ 

program’s respective target audience 

during three-year course/program 

reviews. All three organizations analyze 

the data to determine what revisions are 

needed in curriculum, delivery, and to 

elicit inputs to improve training while 

providing documentation as to how 

training was applied, and how it 

impacts the individual and 

organization. 

Affected Public: State, Local, and 

Tribal Government; Private Sector. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

20,224. 

Estimated Number of Responses: 

20,224. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden 

Hours: 5,057. 

Estimated Total Annual Respondent 

Cost: $302,117. 

Estimated Respondents’ Operation 

and Maintenance Costs: $0. 

Estimated Respondents’ Capital and 

Start-Up Costs: $0. 

Estimated Total Annual Cost to the 

Federal Government: $41,797. 

Comments 

Comments may be submitted as 

indicated in the ADDRESSES caption 

above. Comments are solicited to (a) 

evaluate whether the proposed data 

collection is necessary for the proper 

performance of the Agency, including 

whether the information shall have 

practical utility; (b) evaluate the 

accuracy of the Agency’s estimate of the 

burden of the proposed collection of 

information, including the validity of 

the methodology and assumptions used; 

(c) enhance the quality, utility, and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected; and (d) minimize the burden 

of the collection of information on those 

who are to respond, including through 

the use of appropriate automated, 

electronic, mechanical, or other 

technological collection techniques or 

other forms of information technology, 

e.g., permitting electronic submission of 

responses. 

Maile Rasco-Arthur, 

Acting Records Management Branch Chief, 

Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, 

Mission Support, Federal Emergency 

Management Agency, Department of 

Homeland Security. 

[FR Doc. 2025–01203 Filed 1–16–25; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 9111–72–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

Federal Emergency Management 

Agency 

[Docket ID FEMA–2025–0003] 

Assistance to Firefighters Grant 

Program 

AGENCY: Federal Emergency 

Management Agency (FEMA), 

Department of Homeland Security 

(DHS). 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Fire 

Prevention and Control Act of 1974, as 

amended, the Administrator of FEMA is 

publishing this notice describing the 

fiscal year (FY) 2024 Assistance to 

Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program 

application process, deadlines, and 

award selection criteria. This notice 

explains the differences, if any, between 

these guidelines and those 

recommended by representatives of the 

national fire service leadership during 

the annual meeting of the Criteria 

Development Panel (CDP), which was 

held July 9, 2024. The application 

period for the FY 2024 AFG Program 

was Nov. 12, 2024–Dec. 20, 2024, and 

was announced on the FEMA AFG 

Program website at https://

www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/ 

firefighters, as well as at https://

www.grants.gov. 

DATES: Grant applications for the FY 

2024 AFG Program are being accepted 

electronically through the FEMA Grants 

Outcomes (FEMA GO) system at https:// 

go.fema.gov/, through 5 p.m. ET on Dec. 

20, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: DHS/FEMA/Grant Programs 

Directorate, Assistance to Firefighters 

Grants Branch, 400 C St. SW, 3N, FEMA 

Headquarters, Washington, DC 20472– 

3635. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul 

Parsons, Chief, Assistance to 

Firefighters Grants Branch, 1–866–274– 

0960 or FireGrants@fema.dhs.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The AFG 

program awards grants directly to fire 

departments, nonaffiliated emergency 

medical service (EMS) organizations, 

and state fire training academies (SFTA) 

for enhancing the health and safety of 

first responders and improving their 

abilities to protect the public from fire 

and fire-related hazards. Applications 

for the FY 2024 AFG Program are 

submitted and processed online through 

https://go.fema.gov/. Before the 

application period started, the FY 2024 

AFG Program Notice of Funding 

Opportunity (NOFO) was published on 

FEMA’s AFG Program website at 

https://www.fema.gov/grants/ 

preparedness/firefighters/assistancegrants. The AFG Program website 

provides additional information and 

materials useful for FY 2024 AFG 

Program applicants, including 

Frequently Asked Questions, 

Application Checklist, AFG Narrative 

Development Toolkit, Self-Evaluation 

Sheets for Vehicle Acquisition and 

Operations Safety, and a Cost-Share 

Calculator. Based on past AFG Program 

application periods, FEMA anticipates 

receiving 8,000 to 10,000 AFG 

applications this year and $291,600,000 

in available funding will support 

approximately 2,000 grant awards. 

Congressional Appropriations 

For the FY 2024 AFG Program, 

Congress appropriated $324 million 

through the Department of Homeland 

Security Appropriations Act, 2024, 

Public Law 118–47, Title III, Protection, 

Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, 

Federal Emergency Management 

Agency, Federal Assistance (2024 DHS 

Appropriations Act). From this amount, 

$291.6 million will be made available 

for FY 2024 AFG Program awards. In 

addition, section 33 of the Federal Fire 


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5926 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 11 / Friday, January 17, 2025 / Notices 

Prevention and Control Act of 1974, as 

amended (15 U.S.C. 2229), requires that 

a minimum of 10% of available funds be 

expended for Fire Prevention and Safety 

(FP&S) Program grants. FP&S Program 

awards will 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. The funds 

appropriated for FY 2024 are available 

for obligation and award until Sept. 30, 

2025. The Federal Fire Prevention and 

Control Act of 1974 further directs 

FEMA to administer these 

appropriations according to the 

following requirements: 

• Career fire departments: Not less 

than 25% of available grant funds. 

• Volunteer fire departments: Not less 

than 25% of available grant funds. 

• Combination fire departments and 

departments using paid-on-call 

firefighting personnel: Not less than 

25% of available grant funds. 

• Open competition (career, 

volunteer, and/or combination fire 

departments and departments using 

paid-on-call firefighting personnel): Not 

less than 10% of available grant funds 

awarded. 

• EMS providers including fire 

departments and nonaffiliated EMS 

organizations: Not less than 3.5% of 

available grant funds awarded. 

• Nonaffiliated EMS providers: Not 

more than 2% of the total available 

grant funds. 

• State Fire Training Academies 

(SFTAs): Not more than 3% of available 

grant funds shall be collectively 

awarded to SFTA applicants, with a 

maximum of $500,000 per applicant. 

• Vehicles: Not more than 25% of 

available grant funds may be used for 

the purchase of vehicles; by policy and 

based on recommendations, FEMA 

intends to dedicate 10% of those vehicle 

funds for ambulances. 

• Micro grants: This is a voluntary 

funding limitation choice made by the 

applicant for requests submitted within 

the operations and safety activity. It is 

not an additional funding opportunity. 

Micro grants are awards that have a 

Federal participation (share) that does 

not exceed $75,000. Applicants that 

select micro grants may receive 

additional consideration for award. If an 

applicant selects micro grants in their 

application, they will be limited in the 

total amount of funding their 

organization can be awarded. If they are 

requesting funding in excess of $75,000 

Federal participation, they should not 

select micro grants. 

Background of AFG 

Since 2001, AFG has awarded 

approximately $8.7 billion in grant 

funding to help firefighters and other 

first responders obtain critically needed 

equipment, protective gear, emergency 

vehicles, training, and other resources 

needed to protect the public and 

emergency personnel from fire and firerelated hazards. FEMA awards 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 AFG Program 

priorities, as identified in the 

Application Evaluation Criteria, are 

reviewed by a panel composed of fire 

service personnel. The AFG Program 

has three program activities: 

• Operations and Safety; 

• Vehicle Acquisition; and 

• Regional Projects. 

The priorities for each activity are 

fully outlined in the funding notice. 

Application Evaluation Criteria 

Before making a grant award, FEMA 

is required by 31 U.S.C. 3354, as 

amended by the Payment Integrity 

Information Act of 2019, Public Law 

116–117 (2020), 41 U.S.C. 2313, and 2 

CFR 200.206 to review information 

available through any Office of 

Management and Budget-designated 

repositories of government-wide 

eligibility qualification or financial 

integrity information. Therefore, 

application evaluation criteria may 

include the following risk-based 

considerations of the applicant: (1) 

Financial stability; (2) quality of 

management systems and ability to meet 

management standards; (3) history of 

performance in managing Federal 

awards; (4) reports and findings from 

audits; and (5) ability to effectively 

implement statutory, regulatory, or 

other requirements. 

FEMA will rank all complete and 

submitted applications based on how 

well they align with program priorities 

for the type of jurisdiction(s) served. 

Answers to activity-specific questions 

provide information used to determine 

each application’s ranking relative to 

the stated program priorities. 

Funding priorities and criteria for 

evaluating AFG applications are 

established by FEMA based on the 

recommendations from the Criteria 

Development Panel (CDP). The CDP is 

composed of fire service professionals 

who make recommendations to FEMA 

regarding creating new, or modifying 

previously established, funding 

priorities, as well as developing criteria 

for awarding grants. The content of the 

funding notice reflects implementation 

of the CDP’s recommendations with 

respect to the priorities and evaluation 

criteria for awards. 

The nine major fire service 

organizations represented on the CDP: 

• Congressional Fire Service Institute 

• International Association of Arson 

Investigators 

• International Association of Fire 

Chiefs 

• International Association of Fire 

Fighters 

• International Society of Fire Service 

Instructors 

• National Association of State Fire 

Marshals 

• National Fire Protection Association 

• National Volunteer Fire Council 

• North American Fire Training 

Directors 

Review and Selection Process 

AFG applications are reviewed 

through a multi-phase process. All 

applications are electronically prescored and ranked based on how well 

they align with the funding priorities 

outlined in the funding notice. 

Applications with the highest pre-score 

rankings are then scored competitively 

by no less than three members of a Peer 

Review Panel. Applications are also 

evaluated through a series of internal 

FEMA review processes for 

completeness, adherence to 

programmatic guidelines, technical 

feasibility, and anticipated effectiveness 

of the proposed project(s). Below is the 

process by which applications are 

reviewed: 

1. Pre-Scoring Process 

The application undergoes an 

electronic pre-scoring process based on 

established program priorities listed in 

the funding notice and answers to 

activity-specific questions within the 

online application. Application 

narratives are not reviewed during prescoring. Request details and budget 

information should comply with 

program guidance and statutory funding 

limitations. The pre-score is 50% of the 

total application score. 

2. Peer Review Panel Process 

Applications with the highest prescore undergo peer review. The peer 

review is comprised of fire service 

representatives recommended by the 

organizations represented on the CDP. 

The panelists assess the merits of each 

application based on the narrative 

section of the application, including the 

evaluation elements listed in the 

Narrative Evaluation Criteria below. 

Panelists independently score each 

project within the application, discuss 


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Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 11 / Friday, January 17, 2025 / Notices 5927 

the merits and/or shortcomings of the 

application with their peers, and 

document the findings. A consensus is 

not required. The panel score is 50% of 

the total application score. 

3. Technical Evaluation Process 

The highest ranked applications will 

be considered within the fundable 

range. Applications that are in the 

fundable range will undergo both a 

Technical Review by a subject-matter 

expert as well as a FEMA Program 

Office review before being 

recommended for award. The FEMA 

Program Office will assess the request 

with respect to costs, quantities, 

feasibility, eligibility, and recipient 

responsibility prior to recommending 

any application for award. Once the 

Technical Evaluation Process is 

complete, each application’s cumulative 

score will be determined, and a final 

ranking of applications will be created. 

FEMA will award grants based on this 

final ranking and the ability to meet 

statutorily required funding limitations 

outlined in the funding notice. 

Narrative Evaluation Criteria 

1. Financial Need (25%) 

Applicants should describe their 

financial need and how consistent it is 

with the intent of the AFG Program. 

This statement should include details 

describing the applicant’s financial 

distress, summarized budget 

constraints, unsuccessful attempts to 

secure other funding, and proof that 

their financial distress is out of their 

control. 

2. Project Description and Budget (25%) 

This statement should clearly explain 

the applicant’s project objectives and 

the relationship between those 

objectives and the applicant’s budget 

and risk analysis. The applicant should 

describe the activities, including 

program priorities or facility 

modifications, ensuring consistency 

with project objectives, the applicant’s 

mission, and any national, state and/or 

local requirements. Applicants should 

link the proposed expenses to 

operations and safety, as well as the 

completion of the project goals. 

3. Cost Benefit (25%) 

Applicants should describe how they 

plan to address the operations and 

personal safety needs of their 

organization, including cost 

effectiveness and sharing assets. This 

statement should also include details 

about gaining the maximum benefits 

from grant funding by citing reasonable 

or required costs, such as specific 

overhead and administrative costs. The 

applicant’s request should also be 

consistent with their mission and 

identify how funding will benefit their 

organization and personnel. 

4. Statement of Effect on Daily 

Operations (25%) 

This statement should explain how 

these funds will enhance the applicant’s 

overall effectiveness. It should address 

how an award will improve daily 

operations and reduce the applicant’s 

risks. Applicants should include how 

frequently the requested items will be 

used, and in what capacity. Applicants 

should also indicate how the requested 

items will help the community and 

increase the organization’s ability to 

save additional lives or property. 

Jurisdictions that demonstrate their 

commitment and proactive posture to 

reducing fire risk, by explaining their 

code enforcement (to include Wildland 

Urban Interface code enforcement) and 

mitigation strategies (including whether 

the jurisdiction has a FEMA-approved 

mitigation strategy) may receive stronger 

consideration under this criterion. 

Eligible Applicants 

Fire Departments: Fire departments 

operating in any of the 50 states, as well 

as fire departments in the District of 

Columbia, the Commonwealth of the 

Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. 

Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, 

the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or 

any federally recognized Indian Tribe or 

tribal organization. A fire department is 

an agency or organization having a 

formally recognized arrangement with a 

state, territory, local (city, county, 

parish, fire district, township, town or 

other governing body), or tribal 

authority to provide fire suppression to 

a population within a geographically 

fixed primary first due response area. 

Nonaffiliated EMS organizations: 

Nonaffiliated EMS organizations 

operating in any of the 50 states, as well 

as the District of Columbia, the 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 

Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 

American Samoa, the Commonwealth of 

Puerto Rico, or any federally recognized 

Indian Tribe or tribal organization. A 

nonaffiliated EMS organization is an 

agency or organization that is a public 

or private nonprofit emergency medical 

services entity providing medical 

transport that is not affiliated with a 

hospital and does not serve a geographic 

area in which emergency medical 

services are adequately provided by a 

fire department. FEMA considers the 

following as hospitals under the AFG 

Program: 

• Clinics; 

• Medical centers; 

• Medical colleges or universities; 

• Infirmaries; 

• Surgery centers; and 

• Any other institutions, associations, 

or foundations providing medical, 

surgical, or psychiatric care and/or 

treatment for the sick or injured. 

State Fire Training Academies: SFTAs 

operating in any of the 50 states, as well 

as the District of Columbia, the 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 

Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 

American Samoa, or the Commonwealth 

of Puerto Rico. Applicants must be 

designated either by legislation or by a 

Governor’s declaration as the sole fire 

service training agency within a state, 

territory, or the District of Columbia and 

recognized by the National Fire 

Academy. The designated SFTA shall be 

the only agency/bureau/division, or 

entity within that state, territory, or the 

District of Columbia to be an eligible 

SFTA applicant under the AFG 

Program. 

Non-Federal airport and/or port 

authority fire or EMS organizations: 

These entities are eligible only if they 

have a formally recognized arrangement 

with the local jurisdiction to provide 

fire suppression or emergency medical 

services on a first-due basis outside the 

confines of the airport or port facilities. 

Airport or port authority fire and EMS 

organizations whose sole responsibility 

is suppression of fires or EMS response 

on the airport grounds or port facilities 

are not eligible for funding under the 

AFG Program. 

Ineligibility 

FEMA considers two or more separate 

fire departments or nonaffiliated EMS 

organizations with different funding 

streams, personnel rosters, and 

Employer Identification Numbers (EIN) 

but sharing the same facilities, as being 

separate organizations for the purposes 

of AFG eligibility. If two or more 

organizations share facilities and each 

submits an application in the same 

program area (i.e., Equipment, 

Modifications to Facilities, Personal 

Protective Equipment (PPE), Training, 

or Wellness and Fitness Programs), 

FEMA reserves the right to review all of 

those program area applications for 

eligibility. This determination is 

designed to avoid the duplication of 

benefits. 

Examples of ineligible applications 

and/or organizations include: 

• Nonaffiliated EMS organization 

requests for any activity that is specific 

or unique to structural/proximity/ 

wildlands firefighting gear. 

• Fire departments that are a Federal 

Government entity, or contracted by the 

Federal Government, and are solely 


KHAMMOND on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
5928 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 11 / Friday, January 17, 2025 / Notices 

responsible under a formally recognized 

agreement for suppression of fires on 

Federal installations or land. 

• Fire departments or nonaffiliated 

EMS organizations that are not 

independent entities but are part of, 

controlled by, or under the day-to-day 

operational command and control of a 

larger department, agency or Authority 

Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). 

Æ However, if a fire department is 

considered to be the same legal entity as 

a municipality or other governmental 

organization, and otherwise meets the 

eligibility criteria, that municipality or 

other governmental organization may 

apply on behalf of that fire department 

as long as the application clearly states 

that the fire department is considered 

part of the same legal entity. 

• Fire-based EMS organization 

applying as a nonaffiliated EMS 

organization. 

• Auxiliaries, hospitals or fire service 

associations or interest organizations 

that are not the AHJ over the applicant. 

• Dive teams, search and rescue 

squads, or similar organizations that do 

not provide medical transport. 

• Fire departments, regional or 

nonaffiliated EMS organizations that are 

for profit. 

• State or local agencies, or subsets of 

any governmental entity, or any 

authority that do not meet the 

requirements as defined by 15 U.S.C. 

2229(a), (c). 

• If an applicant submits two or more 

applications for the same equipment or 

other eligible activity (for example, if an 

applicant submits two or more 

applications, one under the Regional 

activity, and one under the Operations 

and Safety activity for self-contained 

breathing apparatus [SCBA]), both 

applications may be disqualified. If an 

applicant submits two separate 

applications for the same activity (i.e., 

two separate vehicle applications for the 

same vehicle) during the same 

application period, both applications 

may be disqualified. 

Æ This is different from when an 

entity is applying on behalf of other 

organizations that are agencies or 

instrumentalities of the applicant (e.g., 

multiple fire departments under the 

same county, city, borough, parish, or 

other municipality). In that situation, 

the applicant may request similar or the 

same equipment as long as the 

application clearly states which 

equipment (including quantities) is for 

which agency/instrumentality. This is 

permissible even if that entity submits 

multiple applications across regional 

versus direct applications. 

Æ Eligible Fire Department and 

nonaffiliated EMS applicants may 

submit only one application for each of 

the following application types: 

Individual Operations and Safety, 

Individual Vehicle, Regional Operations 

and Safety, and Regional Vehicle. Under 

the Operations and Safety applications, 

applicants may submit for multiple 

activities and for multiple items within 

each activity. Under the Vehicle 

application, applicants may submit one 

application for a vehicle activity (or 

activities) for their department and one 

separate application for a regional 

vehicle (the same vehicle(s) may not be 

requested for both purposes). All 

duplicate application submissions may 

be disqualified. 

Statutory Limits to Funding 

Congress has enacted statutory limits 

to the amount of funding that a grant 

recipient may receive from AFG in any 

single fiscal year based on the 

population served (15 U.S.C. 

2229(c)(2)). Awards will be limited 

based on the size of the population 

protected by the applicant, as indicated 

below. Notwithstanding the annual 

limits stated below, the FEMA 

Administrator may not award a grant in 

an amount that exceeds 1% of the 

available grant funds in such fiscal year, 

except where it is determined that such 

recipient has an extraordinary need for 

a grant in an amount that exceeds the 

1% aggregate limit. 

• In the case of a recipient that serves 

a jurisdiction with 100,000 people or 

fewer, the amount of available grant 

funds awarded to such recipient shall 

not exceed $1 million in any fiscal year. 

• In the case of a recipient that serves 

a jurisdiction with more than 100,000 

people, but not more than 500,000 

people, the amount of available grant 

funds awarded to such recipient shall 

not exceed $2 million in any fiscal year. 

• In the case of a recipient that serves 

a jurisdiction with more than 500,000 

people, but not more than 1 million 

people, the amount of available grant 

funds awarded to such recipient shall 

not exceed $2.91 million in any fiscal 

year. 

• In the case of a recipient that serves 

a jurisdiction with more than 1 million 

people, but not more than 2.5 million 

people, the amount of available grant 

funds awarded to such recipient is 

subject to the 1% aggregate cap of $2.91 

million for FY 2024. FEMA may waive 

this aggregate cap in individual cases 

where FEMA determines that a recipient 

has an extraordinary need for a grant 

that exceeds the aggregate cap. If FEMA 

waives the aggregate cap, the amount of 

grant funds awarded to such a recipient 

shall not exceed $6 million for any 

fiscal year. 

• In the case of a recipient that serves 

a jurisdiction with more than 2.5 

million people, the amount of available 

grant funds awarded to such recipient is 

subject to the 1% aggregate cap of $2.91 

million for FY 2024. FEMA may waive 

this aggregate cap in individual cases 

where FEMA determines that a recipient 

has an extraordinary need for a grant 

that exceeds the aggregate cap. If FEMA 

waives the aggregate cap, the amount of 

grant funds awarded to such recipient 

shall not exceed $9 million for any 

fiscal year. 

• FEMA may not waive the 

population-based limits on the amount 

of grant funds awarded as set by 15 

U.S.C. 2229(c)(2)(A). 

The cumulative total of the Federal 

share of awards in Operations and 

Safety, Regional, and Vehicle 

Acquisition activities will be considered 

when assessing award amounts and any 

limitations thereto. Applicants may 

request funding up to the statutory limit 

on each of their applications. 

For example, an applicant that serves 

a jurisdiction with more than 100,000 

people, but not more than 500,000 

people, may request up to $2 million on 

their Operations and Safety Application 

and up to $2 million on their Vehicle 

Acquisition request. However, should 

both grants be awarded, the applicant 

would have to choose which award to 

accept if the cumulative value of both 

applications exceeds the statutory 

limits. 

Cost Sharing and Maintenance of Effort 

Grant recipients must share in the 

costs of the projects funded under this 

grant program as required by 15 U.S.C. 

2229(k)(1) and in accordance with 

applicable Federal regulations at 2 CFR 

part 200, but they are not required to 

have the cost-share at the time of 

application nor at the time of award. 

However, before a grant is awarded, 

FEMA validates that the grant recipient 

has provided sufficient evidence that 

the cost-share requirement will be 

fulfilled during the performance period 

of the grant award. 

In general, an eligible applicant 

seeking a grant shall agree to make 

available non-Federal funds equal to not 

less than 15% of the grant awarded. 

However, the cost share will vary as 

follows based on the size of the 

population served by the organization, 

with exceptions to this general 

requirement for entities serving smaller 

communities: 

• Applicants that serve populations 

of 20,000 or less shall agree to make 

available non-Federal funds in an 

amount equal to not less than 5% of the 

grant awarded. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 11 / Friday, January 17, 2025 / Notices 5929 

• Applicants serving areas with 

populations above 20,000, but not more 

than 1 million, shall agree to make 

available non-Federal funds in an 

amount equal to not less than 10% of 

the grant awarded. 

• Applicants serving areas with 

populations above 1 million shall agree 

to make available non-Federal funds in 

an amount equal to not less than 15% 

of the grant awarded. 

The cost share for SFTAs will apply 

the requirements above based on the 

total population of the state. 

The cost share for a regional 

application will apply the requirements 

above based on the aggregate population 

of the primary first due response areas 

of the host and participating partner 

organizations that execute a 

Memorandum of Understanding as 

described in Appendix B, Section g., 

Regional Applications, of the FY 2024 

AFG funding notice. 

On a case-by-case basis, FEMA may 

allow a grant recipient that may already 

own assets (equipment or vehicles), 

acquired with non-Federal cash, to use 

the trade-in allowance/credit value of 

those assets as ‘‘cash’’ for the purpose of 

meeting the cost-share obligation of 

their AFG Program award. In-kind, costshare matches are not allowed. Grant 

recipients under this grant program 

must also agree to a maintenance of 

effort requirement as required by 15 

U.S.C. 2229(k)(3) (referred to as a 

‘‘maintenance of expenditure’’ 

requirement in that statute). A grant 

recipient shall agree to maintain during 

the term of the grant the applicant’s 

aggregate expenditures relating to the 

activities allowable under the funding 

notice at not less than 80% of the 

average amount of such expenditures in 

the two fiscal years preceding the fiscal 

year in which the grant amounts are 

received. 

In cases of demonstrated economic 

hardship, and at the request of the grant 

recipient, the Administrator of FEMA 

may waive or reduce a grant recipient’s 

cost-share requirement or maintenance 

of effort requirement. AFG applicants 

for FY 2024 must indicate at the time of 

application whether they are requesting 

a waiver and whether the waiver is for 

the cost-share requirement, for the 

maintenance of effort requirement, or 

both. As required by statute, the 

Administrator of FEMA is required to 

establish guidelines for determining 

what constitutes economic hardship. 

FEMA has published these guidelines 

on FEMA’s website at https://

www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020- 

04/Eco_Hardship_Waiver_FPS_SAFER_

AFG_IB_FINAL.pdf. 

Before the start of the FY 2024 AFG 

application period, FEMA conducted 

applicant internet webinars to inform 

potential applicants. In addition, FEMA 

provided applicants with information at 

the AFG website, https://www.fema.gov/ 

grants/preparedness/firefighters, to help 

them prepare quality grant applications. 

The AFG Program Help Desk is staffed 

throughout the application period to 

assist applicants with the automated 

application process as well as answer 

any questions. Applicants can reach the 

AFG Program Help Desk through a tollfree telephone number Monday through 

Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. ET at 866–274– 

0960 or electronic mail at firegrants@

fema.dhs.gov. 

Application Process 

Organizations may submit one 

application per application period in 

each of the three AFG Program activities 

(e.g., one application for Operations and 

Safety, one for Vehicle Acquisition, 

and/or a separate application to be a 

Joint/Regional project host). If an 

organization submits more than one 

application for any single AFG Program 

activity (e.g., two applications for 

Operations and Safety, two for 

Vehicles), either intentionally or 

unintentionally, both applications may 

be disqualified. 

Applicants may access the grant 

application electronically at https://

go.fema.gov/. New applicants must 

register and establish a username and 

password for secure access to the grant 

application. Previous AFG Program 

applicants must use their previously 

established username and password. 

Applicants are expected to answer 

questions about their grant request that 

reflect the AFG Program funding 

priorities. In addition, each applicant 

must complete four separate narratives 

for each project or grant activity 

requested. Grant applicants will also 

provide relevant information about their 

organization’s characteristics, call 

volume, and existing organizational 

capabilities. 

System for Award Management (SAM) 

Per 2 CFR 25.200, all Federal grant 

applicants and recipients must register 

at https://sam.gov/content/home. SAM 

is the Federal Government’s System for 

Award Management, and registration is 

free of charge. 

Effective April 4, 2022, the Federal 

Government transitioned from using the 

Data Universal Numbering System or 

DUNS number, to a new, nonproprietary identifier known as a 

Unique Entity Identifier or UEI. For 

entities that had an active registration in 

SAM.gov before this date, the UEI has 

automatically been assigned and no 

action is necessary. For all entities filing 

a new registration in SAM.gov, the UEI 

will be assigned to that Entity as part of 

the SAM.gov registration process. 

FEMA will not make a Federal award 

until the applicant has complied with 

all applicable SAM requirements. 

Therefore, an applicant’s SAM 

registration must be active not only at 

the time of application, but also during 

the application review period and when 

FEMA is ready to make a Federal award. 

Criteria Development Panel 

Recommendation 

If there are any differences between 

the published AFG Program guidelines 

and the recommendations made by the 

CDP, FEMA must explain them and 

publish the information in the Federal 

Register before awarding any AFG grant. 

Adopted Recommendations for FY 2024 

Below is a list of changes between FY 

2023 and FY 2024 to the AFG Program. 

The FY 2024 AFG Program funding 

notice contains some changes to 

definitions, descriptions, and priority 

categories. Changes include: 

• Under Narrative Evaluation 

Criteria: A character count for each 

narrative section and a link to the 

Narrative Development Toolkit and SelfEvaluation sheets was added. 

• Under Application Tips: 

Clarification that scores for applications 

with a mix of ‘‘High,’’ ‘‘Medium,’’ and 

‘‘Low’’ priorities may be negatively 

impacted was added to this section. 

Applicants must consider priorities 

under each Activity listed in the NOFO 

when applying. 

• Under Equipment Activity: 

Æ Clarification that FEMA will 

consider only ‘‘High’’ priority items for 

funding was added. 

Æ The following EMS equipment was 

added as High Priority: 

• Suction Unit (non-disposable) 

• CPAP Device 

• Power Stair Chair 

• Patient Carbon Monoxide Monitor 

• Capnography/capnometer Device 

• The following EMS equipment was 

added as Medium Priority: 

• O2 Kit 

• Non-disposable Splints 

Æ The following EMS equipment was 

added as Low Priority: 

• Stretcher 

• Backboard 

• Trauma Bag 

• Mass Casualty Kit 

Æ A clarification that nonconstruction repairs to fixed and mobile 

props for SFTA applicants cannot affect 

the building structure was added. 


KHAMMOND on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
5930 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 11 / Friday, January 17, 2025 / Notices 

• Under Wellness and Fitness 

Activity: A clarification that Priority 1 

programs must be already in place or 

requested in the application before 

Priority 2 programs will be considered 

for funding. In addition, the following 

items were added as ineligible: 

• Saunas (including infrared) 

• Hyperbaric chambers 

• Ice baths 

• Purchase of medical equipment 

• Under Grant Writer/Preparation 

Fees: Clarification that the grant writer 

fee is subject to the cost share 

requirement was added. 

• References in the funding notice to 

wildland fire were updated to wildfire 

where applicable. 

• Eligible expenses for travel were 

updated to ensure uniformity within 

various activities funded. 

• Minor updates to the AFG 

application were implemented to ensure 

equipment items are listed similarly to 

the funding notice. 

• The following topics were 

discussed at the criteria development 

meeting but did not result in a 

recommendation for implementation: 

• Changes to current equipment 

priority levels. 

• Changes to Personal Protective 

Equipment activity, specific to 

replacement of air cylinders, PPE 

alternatives, and procurement of a 

second set of PPE gear. 

• Changes to some of the existing 

definitions and guidance in the funding 

notice, specifically to the definition of a 

Combination fire department and 

changes to guidance for regional 

applications hosted by fire departments 

with nonaffiliated EMS organizations as 

partners. 

• Additional considerations for 

applicants with little to no structural 

fire calls. 

Recommendations Not Adopted for FY 

2024 

Below is a list of recommendations 

that were not adopted for FY 2024. 

These recommendations are considered 

long-term goals and are being evaluated 

for future consideration. 

• CDP recommended utilizing 

technology (e.g., artificial intelligence) 

within the application that will collect 

data sets entered by each applicant to 

generate a Cost Benefit narrative. 

• CDP recommended reorganization 

of Priority 2 Wellness and Fitness 

activities into high, medium, and low 

priorities with specific dropdowns in 

the application. 

• CDP recommended that FEMA 

investigate the scoring elements/metrics 

used in vehicle application and vehicle 

pre-score calculation to ensure that 

various vehicle types being requested 

receive equal consideration. 

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2229. 

Deanne Criswell, 

Administrator, Federal Emergency 

Management Agency. 

[FR Doc. 2025–01303 Filed 1–16–25; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 9111–64–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

Federal Emergency Management 

Agency 

[Docket ID FEMA–2014–0022] 

Technical Mapping Advisory Council; 

Meeting 

AGENCY: Federal Emergency 

Management Agency, Department of 

Homeland Security. 

ACTION: Notice of open Federal advisory 

committee meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency 

Management Agency (FEMA) Technical 

Mapping Advisory Council (TMAC) will 

hold an in-person public meeting with 

a virtual option on Wednesday, 

February 19, 2025, and Thursday, 

February 20, 2025. The meeting will be 

open to the public both in-person and 

via a Microsoft Teams Video 

Communications link. 

DATES: The TMAC will meet on 

Wednesday, February 19, 2025, and 

Thursday, February 20, 2025, from 8 

a.m. to 5 p.m. eastern time (ET) each 

day. Please note that the meeting will 

close early if the TMAC has completed 

its business. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held inperson at 400 C St. SW, Washington, DC 

20472 and virtually using the following 

Microsoft Teams Video 

Communications links: 

• Wednesday, February 19 Link: 

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetupjoin/19%3ameeting_MDdhNGZhN

mItZTc3YS00M2EyLTlkNTYtZ

jRkZjdkYWE2NDA0%40thread.v2/0?

context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22ff59

a812-dbf7-4b26-b9fd-bb02aaa

6c719%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22

b626e4e6-c859-4772-9920-c60d2aa

40277%22%7d. 

• Thursday, February 20 Link: 

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetupjoin/19%3ameeting_

NjdjMWQ1YTktMDFk

NS00ODJkLWJiOGY

tMDdmOGRkMDAxMTYz%40thread.

v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3

a%22ff59a812-dbf7-4b26-b9fdbb02aaa6c719%22%2c%22Oid%22%

3a%22b626e4e6-c859-4772-9920- 

c60d2aa40277%22%7d. 

Members of the public who wish to 

attend the in-person or virtual meeting 

must register in advance by sending an 

email to FEMA-TMAC@fema.dhs.gov 

(Attn: Brian Koper) by 5 p.m. ET on 

Friday, February 14, 2025. 

To facilitate public participation, 

members of the public are invited to 

provide written comments on the issues 

to be considered by the TMAC, as listed 

in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

caption below. Associated meeting 

materials will be available upon request 

on Friday, February 14, 2025. To receive 

a copy of any relevant materials, please 

send the request to: FEMA-TMAC@

fema.dhs.gov (Attn: Brian Koper). 

Written comments to be considered by 

the committee at the time of the meeting 

must be submitted and received by 

Friday, February 14, 2025, 5:00 p.m. ET 

identified by Docket ID FEMA–2014– 

0022, and submitted by the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: 

https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Email: Address the email to FEMATMAC@fema.dhs.gov. Include the 

docket number in the subject line of the 

message. Include name and contact 

information in the body of the email. 

Instructions: All submissions received 

must include the words ‘‘Federal 

Emergency Management Agency’’ and 

the docket number for this action. 

Comments received will be posted 

without alteration at https://

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information provided. You 

may wish to review the Privacy and 

Security Notice via a link on the 

homepage of https://

www.regulations.gov. 

Docket: For docket access to read 

background documents or comments 

received by the TMAC, go to https://

www.regulations.gov and search for the 

Docket ID FEMA–2014–0022. 

A public comment period will be held 

on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, from 

11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET and Thursday, 

February 20, 2025, from 11:30 a.m. to 12 

p.m. ET. The public comment period 

will not exceed 30 minutes. Please note 

that the public comment period may 

end before the time indicated, following 

the last call for comments. Contact the 

individual listed below to register as a 

speaker by Friday, February 14, 2025, 5 

p.m. ET. Please be prepared to submit 

a written version of your public 

comment by Tuesday, February 18, 

2025, 5 p.m. ET. 

FEMA is committed to ensuring all 

participants have equal access 

regardless of disability status. If you 


KHAMMOND on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES