29164 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 92 / Thursday, May 12, 2022 / Notices 

Bristol, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Suffolk 

Counties, including the Mashpee 

Wampanoag Tribe for snow assistance under 

the Public Assistance program for any 

continuous 48-hour period during or 

proximate to the incident period. 

All areas within the Commonwealth of 

Massachusetts are eligible for assistance 

under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. 

The following Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance Numbers (CFDA) are to be used 

for reporting and drawing funds: 97.030, 

Community Disaster Loans; 97.031, Cora 

Brown Fund; 97.032, Crisis Counseling; 

97.033, Disaster Legal Services; 97.034, 

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA); 

97.046, Fire Management Assistance Grant; 

97.048, Disaster Housing Assistance to 

Individuals and Households In Presidentially 

Declared Disaster Areas; 97.049, 

Presidentially Declared Disaster Assistance— 

Disaster Housing Operations for Individuals 

and Households; 97.050, Presidentially 

Declared Disaster Assistance to Individuals 

and Households—Other Needs; 97.036, 

Disaster Grants—Public Assistance 

(Presidentially Declared Disasters); 97.039, 

Hazard Mitigation Grant. 

Deanne Criswell, 

Administrator, Federal Emergency 

Management Agency. 

[FR Doc. 2022–10235 Filed 5–11–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 9111–23–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

Federal Emergency Management 

Agency 

[Internal Agency Docket No. FEMA–4562– 

DR; Docket ID FEMA–2022–0001] 

Oregon; Amendment No. 9 to Notice of 

a Major Disaster Declaration 

AGENCY: Federal Emergency 

Management Agency, DHS. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: This notice amends the notice 

of a major disaster declaration for the 

State of Oregon (FEMA–4562–DR), 

dated September 15, 2020, and related 

determinations. 

DATES: This change occurred on April 6, 

2022. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Dean Webster, Office of Response and 

Recovery, Federal Emergency 

Management Agency, 500 C Street SW, 

Washington, DC 20472, (202) 646–2833. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Federal Emergency Management Agency 

(FEMA) hereby gives notice that 

pursuant to the authority vested in the 

Administrator, under Executive Order 

12148, as amended, Lance Davis, of 

FEMA is appointed to act as the Federal 

Coordinating Officer for this disaster. 

This action terminates the 

appointment of Timothy B. Manner as 

Federal Coordinating Officer for this 

disaster. 

The following Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance Numbers (CFDA) are to be used 

for reporting and drawing funds: 97.030, 

Community Disaster Loans; 97.031, Cora 

Brown Fund; 97.032, Crisis Counseling; 

97.033, Disaster Legal Services; 97.034, 

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA); 

97.046, Fire Management Assistance Grant; 

97.048, Disaster Housing Assistance to 

Individuals and Households In Presidentially 

Declared Disaster Areas; 97.049, 

Presidentially Declared Disaster Assistance— 

Disaster Housing Operations for Individuals 

and Households; 97.050, Presidentially 

Declared Disaster Assistance to Individuals 

and Households—Other Needs; 97.036, 

Disaster Grants—Public Assistance 

(Presidentially Declared Disasters); 97.039, 

Hazard Mitigation Grant. 

Deanne Criswell, 

Administrator, Federal Emergency 

Management Agency. 

[FR Doc. 2022–10228 Filed 5–11–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 9111–23–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

Federal Emergency Management 

Agency 

[Docket ID FEMA–2022–0016] 

Assistance to Firefighters Grant 

Program; Fire Prevention and Safety 

Grants 

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) 2021 Fire Prevention 

and Safety (FP&S) 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 

Criteria Development Panel (CDP), 

which was held June 25, 2021. The 

application period for the FY 2021 FP&S 

Program was January 18, 2022, to 

February 18, 2022, and was announced 

on the Assistance to Firefighters Grants 

Program (AFGP) website at https://

www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/ 

firefighters, as well as www.grants.gov. 

DATES: Grant applications for the FP&S 

Program were accepted electronically at 

https://go.fema.gov from January 18, 

2022, through February 18, 2022, at 5 

p.m. Eastern Time. 

ADDRESSES: Assistance to Firefighters 

Grants Program Branch, DHS/FEMA, 

400 C Street SW, 3N, Washington, DC 

20472–3635. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Catherine Patterson, Branch Chief, 

Assistance to Firefighters Grants 

Program Branch, 1–866–274–0960. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FEMA 

awards FP&S Program grants directly to 

eligible fire departments, and national, 

regional, State, local, Tribal 

governments and nonprofit 

organizations such as academic (e.g., 

universities), public health, 

occupational health, and injury 

prevention institutions to enhance the 

safety of the public and firefighters, by 

assisting fire prevention programs and 

supporting firefighter health and safety 

research and development. Eligible 

organizations must be 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 government. 

Applications for the FY 2021 FP&S 

Program were submitted and processed 

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

application period started, the FY 2021 

FP&S Program Notice of Funding 

Opportunity (NOFO) was published on 

the FEMA FP&S Program website at Fire 

Prevention & Safety Documents | 

FEMA.gov, as well as www.grants.gov. 

The FP&S Program website provides 

additional information and materials 

useful for FY 2021 FP&S Program 

applicants including Frequently Asked 

Questions, Application Checklist, SelfEvaluation Sheet, and a Cost Share 

Calculator. FEMA received 491 

applications for the FY 2021 FP&S 

Program, and anticipates awarding 

approximately 150 grants. 

Congressional Appropriations 

The funding for the FP&S Program is 

through the Assistance to Firefighters 

Grant (AFG) Program. For the FY 2021 

AFG Program, Congress appropriated 

$360 million through the Department of 

Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 

2021 (Pub. L. 116–260) and $100 

million through the American Rescue 

Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. 117–2) for a 

total of $460 million. From these 

amounts, a total of $46 million was 

made available for FY 2021 FP&S 

Program awards, pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 

2229(h)(5), which states that not less 


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than 10% of available grant funds each 

year are awarded under the FP&S 

Program. Funds appropriated for FY 

2021 will be available for obligation and 

award until September 30, 2022. 

Background of the FP&S Program 

Since FY 2002, the FP&S Program has 

provided grant funding to provide 

critically needed resources to fire 

departments and nonprofit 

organizations to carry out fire 

prevention education and training, fire 

code enforcement, fire/arson 

investigation, firefighter safety and 

health programming, prevention efforts, 

and research and development. FEMA 

awards grants on a competitive basis to 

applicants that best address the FP&S 

Program’s priorities and provide the 

most compelling justification. 

Applications that best address FP&S 

Program priorities, as identified in the 

Application Evaluation Criteria section 

of the FP&S Program NOFO, are 

reviewed by a panel composed of fire 

service personnel. 

The FP&S Program activities include: 

1. FP&S Activity: Activities designed 

to reach high-risk target groups and 

mitigate the incidence of death, injuries, 

and property damage caused by fire and 

fire-related hazards. The five project 

categories eligible for funding under this 

activity are: 

• Community Risk Reduction; 

• Wildfire Risk Reduction; 

• Code Enforcement/Awareness; 

• Fire and Arson Investigation; and, 

• National/State/Regional Programs 

and Projects. 

2. Research and Development (R&D) 

Activity: Projects aimed at improving 

firefighter safety, health, or wellness 

through research and development that 

reduce firefighter fatalities and injuries. 

The five project categories eligible for 

funding under this activity are: 

• Clinical Studies; 

• Technology and Product 

Development; 

• Database System Development; 

• Preliminary Studies; and, 

• Early Career Investigator. 

The priorities for each activity are 

fully outlined in the NOFO. 

Application Evaluation Criteria 

Before making a grant award, FEMA 

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

enacted 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 activity requested. 

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 FP&S Program applications 

are established by FEMA based on the 

recommendations from the CDP. The 

CDP is comprised of fire service 

professionals that make 

recommendations to FEMA regarding 

the creation of new, or the modification 

of previously established, funding 

priorities, as well as developing criteria 

for awarding grants. The content of the 

FP&S Program NOFO 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 

are: 

• 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 

FP&S Program applications will be 

scored competitively by no less than 

three members of a Peer Review Panel. 

Applications with the highest score 

rankings per activity will also be 

evaluated through a series of internal 

FEMA review processes for 

completeness, adherence to 

programmatic guidelines, technical 

feasibility, costs/quantities, and 

anticipated effectiveness of the 

proposed project(s). Below is the 

process by which applications will be 

reviewed: 

i. Peer Review Panel Process 

FP&S Activity Projects: All 

applications will be evaluated through 

the Peer Review Panel process. The 

panelists will assess the merits of each 

project within the application based on 

the narrative section of the application 

using the evaluation elements listed in 

the Narrative Evaluation Criteria below 

will be used to calculate the narrative’s 

score for each activity requested. 

Panelists will independently score each 

requested project within the 

application, discuss the merits and/or 

shortcomings of the application with his 

or her peers, and document the findings. 

A consensus is not required. 

R&D Activity Projects: The Peer 

Review Panel process is composed of a 

Fire Service Panel Review and a Science 

Panel Review. 

Fire Service Panel Review 

All eligible project applications will 

first be reviewed and scored by a panel 

of fire service experts to assess the need 

for the research results and the 

likelihood that the results would be 

implemented by the fire service in the 

United States. The projects that are 

determined most likely to be 

implemented to enable improvement in 

firefighter safety, health, or well-being 

will be deemed to be in the 

‘‘competitive range’’ and will be 

forwarded to the second level of project 

review, which is the scientific panel 

review process. A consensus is not 

required. 

Science Panel Review 

This panel will be comprised of 

scientists and technology experts who 

have expertise pertaining to the subject 

matter of the proposal. Scientific 

reviewers will independently score 

projects in the competitive range and, if 

necessary, discuss the merits or 

shortcomings of the project in order to 

reconcile any major discrepancies 

identified by fellow reviewers. A 

consensus is not required. 

ii. Technical Evaluation Process 

The highest scoring project(s) for both 

activities, will be considered within the 

fundable range. Projects that are in the 

fundable range will undergo a technical 

review by the FEMA FP&S Program 

Office before being recommended for 

award. The FEMA FP&S Program Office 

will assess the request with respect to 

costs, quantities, feasibility, eligibility, 

and recipient responsibility prior to 

recommending any application for 

award. Additionally, FEMA will review 

whether the project duplicates other 

federally funded research or prevention 

activities in order to avoid duplication. 


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Once the technical evaluation process is 

complete, each project’s final score is 

determined, and a final ranking of 

projects will be created. FEMA will 

award grants based on this final ranking 

and the ability to meet statutorily 

required funding limitations listed in 

this notice and the NOFO. 

Narrative Evaluation Criteria 

FP&S Activity Projects 

1. Financial Need (Fire Departments– 

10%; Interest Organizations–0%) 

Applicants must describe with 

particularity their unique financial need 

in the Applicant Information section of 

the application and detail how 

consistent it is with their need for 

financial assistance to carry out the 

proposed project(s). Applicants may 

include other unsuccessful attempts to 

acquire financial assistance. Applicants 

should provide detail about the 

applicant’s operating budget, including 

a high-level breakdown of the budget, 

the applicant’s inability to address 

financial needs without federal 

assistance, and other actions the 

applicant has taken to meet their needs 

(e.g., state assistance programs or other 

grant programs). 

2. Commitment to Mitigation (Fire 

Departments Only–5%) 

Fire department applicants that can 

demonstrate their commitment and 

proactive posture to reducing fire risk 

will receive higher consideration. 

Applicants must explain their code 

adoption and enforcement (to include 

Wildland Urban Interface and 

commercial/residential sprinkler code 

adoption and enforcement) and 

mitigation strategies (including whether 

or not the jurisdiction has a FEMAapproved mitigation strategy). 

Applicants can also demonstrate their 

commitment to reducing fire risk by 

applying to implement fire mitigation 

strategies (code adoption and 

enforcement) via this application. 

3. Vulnerability Statement (Fire 

Departments–15%, Interest 

Organizations–25%) 

The assessment of fire risk is essential 

in the development of an effective 

project goal, as well as meeting FEMA’s 

goal to reduce risk by conducting a risk 

assessment as a basis for action. 

Vulnerability is a ‘‘weak link,’’ 

demonstrating high-risk behavior, living 

conditions, or any type of high-risk 

situation. The Vulnerability Statement 

should include a detailed description of 

the steps taken to determine the 

vulnerability and identify the target 

audience. The methodology for 

determination of vulnerability (i.e., how 

the vulnerability was found) should be 

discussed in-depth in the application’s 

Narrative Statement. 

4. Project Description (Fire 

Departments–20%, Interest 

Organizations–25%) 

Applicants must describe in detail not 

only the project components but also 

how the proposed project addresses the 

identified capability gap due to 

financial need and/or the specific 

vulnerabilities identified in the 

vulnerability statement. The following 

information should be included: 

• Project components; 

• Review of any existing programs or 

models that have been successful; 

• Detailed description of how the 

proposed project components fill the 

identified capability gap; and, 

• If working with Fire Service 

Partners/Organizations, identify each 

partner/organization and the role(s) they 

will fill in the successful completion of 

the proposed project. 

5. Implementation Plan (Fire 

Departments–25%, Interest 

Organizations–30%) 

Each project proposal should include 

nuanced details on the implementation 

plan that discusses the proposed 

project’s goals and objectives. The 

following information should be 

included to support the implementation 

plan: 

• Goals and objectives; 

• Details regarding the methods and 

specific steps that will be used to 

achieve the goals and objectives; 

• Timelines outlining the 

chronological project steps (this is 

critical for determining the likelihood of 

the project’s completion within the 

period of performance); 

• Where applicable, examples of 

marketing efforts to promote the project, 

who will deliver the project (e.g., 

effective partnerships), and the manner 

in which materials or deliverables will 

be distributed; 

• Requests for props (i.e., tools used 

in educational or awareness 

demonstrations), including specific 

goals, measurable results, and details on 

the frequency for which the prop will be 

utilized. Applicants should include 

information describing the efforts that 

will be used to reach the high-risk 

audience and/or the number of people 

reached through the proposed project 

(examples of props include safety 

trailers, puppets, or costumes); and, 

• Where human subjects are 

involved, describe plans for submission 

to the Institutional Review Board (IRB). 

6. Evaluation Plan (Fire Departments– 

15%, Interest Organizations–15%) 

Projects should include a plan for 

evaluation of effectiveness and identify 

measurable and quantifiable goals. 

Applicants seeking to carry out 

awareness and educational projects, for 

example, should identify how they 

intend to determine that there has been 

an increase in knowledge about fire 

hazards, or measure a change in the 

safety behaviors of the audience. 

Applicants should demonstrate how 

they will measure risk at the outset of 

the project in comparison to how much 

the risk decreased after the project is 

finished. There are various ways to 

measure the knowledge gained about 

fire hazards, including the use of 

surveys, pre- and post-tests, or 

documented observations. Applicants 

are encouraged to attend training on 

evaluation methods, such as the 

National Fire Academy’s 

‘‘Demonstrating Your Fire Prevention 

Program’s Worth.’’ 

7. Cost-Benefit (Fire Departments–10%, 

Interest Organizations–5%) 

Projects will be evaluated and scored 

by the Peer Review Panelists based on 

how well the applicant addresses the 

fire prevention needs of the department 

or organization in an economic and 

efficient manner. The applicant should 

show how it will maximize the level of 

funding that goes directly into the 

delivery of the project. The costs 

associated with the project also must be 

reasonable for the target audience that 

will be reached, and a description 

should be included of how the 

anticipated project benefit(s) (quantified 

if possible) outweighs the cost(s) of the 

requested item(s). The application 

should provide justification for all costs 

included in the project in order to assist 

the Technical Evaluation Panel with 

their review. 

R&D Activity Projects 

Fire Service Panel Evaluation Criteria 

1. Purpose (25%) 

Applicants should clearly identify the 

specific benefits of the proposed 

research project to improve firefighter 

safety, health, or well-being. The 

discussion should include: 

• The specific risk to firefighter 

safety, health, or well-being that the 

project will address; 

• The expected benefits of the project, 

including how the project will prevent, 

reduce, or mitigate the specific risk; 

• The gaps in knowledge that will be 

addressed; and, 


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• The general project methods 

planned to produce the intended 

results. 

2. Potential Impact (15%) 

Applicants should discuss the 

potential impact of the research 

outcome/product on firefighter safety by 

quantifying the possible reduction in 

the number of fatal or non-fatal injuries 

or on projected well-being by 

significantly improving the overall 

health of firefighters. 

3. Implementation by the Fire Service 

(25%) 

Applicants should discuss how the 

outcomes/products of this research, if 

successful, are likely to be widely/ 

nationally adopted and accepted by the 

fire service as changes that enhance 

firefighter safety, health, or well-being. 

4. Barriers (15%) 

Applicants should identify and 

discuss potential fire service and other 

barriers to successfully completing the 

study on schedule, including 

contingencies and strategies to deal with 

barriers if they materialize. This may 

include barriers that could inhibit the 

proposed fire service participation in 

the study, barriers that could inhibit the 

adoption of successful results by the fire 

service when the project is completed, 

or project components most likely to 

cause delay in successful completion. 

5. Partners (20%) 

Applicants should recognize that 

participation of the fire service as a 

partner in the research from 

development to dissemination is 

regarded as an essential part of all 

projects. Describe the fire service 

partners and contractors that will 

support the project to accomplish the 

objectives of the study. The specific 

roles and contributions of the partners 

to the project should be described. 

Partnerships should be formed with 

national fire-related organizations, in 

addition to local and regional fire 

departments. Letters of support and 

letters of commitment to actively 

participate in the project should be 

included in the Appendix of the 

application. Generally, participants of a 

diverse population, including both 

career and volunteer firefighters, are 

expected to facilitate acceptance of 

results nationally. In cases where this is 

not practical due to the nature of the 

study or other limitations, these 

circumstances should be clearly 

explained. 

Science Panel Evaluation Criteria 

1. Project Goals, Objectives and Specific 

Aims (15%) 

Applicants should address how the 

purpose, goals, objectives, and specific 

aims of the proposal will lead to results 

that will improve firefighter safety, 

health, or well-being. Describe the 

specific goals and objectives for each 

year of the project. 

2. Literature Review (10%) 

Applicants should provide a literature 

review that is relevant to the project’s 

goals, objectives, and specific aims. The 

citations should be placed in the 

narrative text and references listed at 

the end of the Narrative Statement (and 

not in the Appendix) of the application. 

The review should be of sufficient depth 

to make it clear that the proposed 

project is necessary, adds to an existing 

body of knowledge, is different from 

current and previous studies, and offers 

a unique contribution. 

3. Project Methods (Early Career 

Investigator Applicants–15%, All Other 

Applicants–20%) 

Applicants should provide a 

description of how the project will be 

carried out, including demonstration of 

the overall scientific and technical rigor 

and merit of the project. This includes 

the operations to accomplish the 

purpose, goals, and objectives, and the 

specific aims of the project. Plans to 

recruit and retain human subjects, 

where applicable, should be described. 

4. Project Measurements (Early Career 

Investigator Applicants–15%, All Other 

Applicants–20%) 

Applicants should provide evidence 

of the technical rigor and merit of the 

project, such as data pertaining to 

validity, reliability, and sensitivity 

(where established) of the facilities, 

equipment, instruments, standards, and 

procedures that will be used to carry out 

the research. The applicant should 

discuss the data to be collected to 

evaluate the performance methods, 

technologies, and products proposed to 

enhance firefighter safety, health, or 

well-being. The applicant should 

demonstrate that the measurement 

methods and equipment selected for use 

are appropriate and sufficient to 

successfully deliver the proposed 

project objectives. 

5. Project Analysis (Early Career 

Investigator Applicants–15%, All Other 

Applicants–20%) 

The applicant should indicate the 

planned approach for analysis of the 

data obtained from measurements, 

questionnaires, or computations. 

Specify within the plan what will be 

analyzed, the statistical methods that 

will be used, the sequence of steps, and 

interactions as appropriate. It should be 

clear that the Principal Investigator (PI) 

and research team have the expertise to 

perform the planned analysis and 

defend the results in a peer review 

process. 

6. Dissemination and Implementation 

(15%) 

Applicants should indicate 

dissemination plans for scientific 

audiences (e.g., plans for submissions to 

specific peer review publications) and 

for firefighter audiences (e.g., via 

websites, magazines, and conferences). 

Also, assuming positive results and 

where applicable, indicate future steps 

that would support dissemination and 

implementation throughout the fire 

service. These are likely to be beyond 

the current study, so those features of 

the research activity that will facilitate 

future dissemination and 

implementation should be discussed. 

All applicants should specify how the 

results of the project, if successful, 

might be disseminated and 

implemented in the fire service to 

improve firefighter safety, health, or 

well-being. 

7. Mentoring (Early Career Investigator 

Applicants Only–15%) 

An important factor in the evaluation 

of Early Career Investigator projects is 

the participation of a mentor(s) in the 

project. A mentor for the PI should be 

an experienced researcher in areas 

appropriate to the research project and 

be able to provide support to the PI for 

ongoing development of knowledge and 

skills throughout the project. The 

mentor needs to have relationships with 

the fire service community sufficient to 

assist the PI in building relationships 

with fire departments and fire service 

organizations. The mentor has a role to 

support the applicant from submitting 

the application for funding through the 

completion of a funded project. The 

applicant should identify the mentor(s) 

that has agreed to support the applicant 

and the project. The applicant should 

discuss the role of the mentor(s) in the 

project and the expected benefits of the 

mentoring relationship to the applicant 

and the project. A biographical sketch 

and letter of commitment/support from 

the mentor(s) are required to be 

included in the Appendix document. 

Eligible Applicants 

FP&S Activity: Fire departments 

operating in any of the 50 states, as well 

as fire departments in the District of 


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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 government. A fire department is 

an agency or organization having a 

formally recognized arrangement with a 

state, local (city, county, parish, fire 

district, township, town, or other 

governing body), Tribal government, or 

territorial authority to provide fire 

suppression to a population within a 

geographically fixed primary first due 

response area. 

National, regional, state, local, Tribal 

government, and nonprofit interest 

organizations that are recognized for 

their experience and expertise in fire 

prevention and safety programs and 

activities are eligible applicants. 

Firefighter Safety R&D Activity: 

National, state, local, federally 

recognized Tribal government, and 

nonprofit organizations, such as 

academic (e.g., universities), public 

health, occupational health, and injury 

prevention institutions. 

Ineligibility 

• To avoid a duplication of benefits, 

FEMA reserves the right to review all 

program activities or grant applications 

where two or more organizations share 

a single facility. To be eligible as a 

separate organization, two or more fire 

departments, national, state, local, 

federally recognized Tribal government, 

and nonprofit interest organizations, 

and other nonprofit organizations, such 

as academic (e.g. universities), public 

health, occupational health, and injury 

prevention institutions will have 

different funding streams, personnel 

rosters, or Employer Identification 

Numbers (EINs). If two or more 

organizations share facilities and each 

submits an application in the same 

activity (e.g., Community Risk 

Reduction, Wildfire Risk Reduction, 

Code Enforcement/Awareness, Fire and 

Arson Investigation, or National/State/ 

Regional Programs and Projects), FEMA 

will carefully review all of those 

program area applications for eligibility. 

• For-profit organizations, federal 

agencies, and individuals are not 

eligible to apply for FP&S Program 

funding. 

Statutory Limits to Funding 

FP&S Program awards are limited to 

a maximum federal share of $1.5 million 

dollars regardless of applicant type, in 

accordance with 15 U.S.C. 2229(d)(2). 

FP&S R&D Activity applicants that 

applied under the Early Career 

Investigator category are limited to a 

maximum federal share of $200,000 per 

project year. 

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 the 

applicable Federal regulations at 2 CFR 

part 200, but they were not required to 

have the cost share at the time of 

application nor are they required to 

have it at the time of award. However, 

before a grant is awarded, FEMA 

validates that the grant recipient 

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 an FP&S Program grant shall 

agree to make available non-federal 

funds equal to not less than 5% of the 

grant awarded. Cash match and in-kind 

matches are both allowable. Cash (hard) 

matches include non-federal cash spent 

for project-related costs. In-kind (soft) 

matches include, but are not limited to, 

the valuation of in-kind services; 

complementary activities; and provision 

of staff, facilities, services, material, or 

equipment. In-kind is the value of 

something received or provided that 

does not have a cost associated with it. 

For example, where an in-kind match 

(other than cash payments) is permitted, 

then the value of donated services could 

be used to comply with the match 

requirement. Also, third party in-kind 

contributions may count toward 

satisfying match requirements provided 

the grant recipient receiving the 

contributions expends them as 

allowable costs in compliance with 

provisions listed above. 

Grant recipients under the FP&S 

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 NOFO 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 upon the request of the 

grant recipient, the FEMA 

Administrator may waive or reduce a 

certain grant recipient’s cost share or 

maintenance of expenditure 

requirements (15 U.S.C. 2229(k)(4)(A)). 

FP&S Program applicants for FY 2021 

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 

published these guidelines on the 

FEMA website at (Grant Programs 

Directorate Information Bulletin No. 

427): https://www.fema.gov/sites/ 

default/files/2020-04/Eco_Hardship_

Waiver_FPS_SAFER_AFG_IB_

FINAL.pdf. Per 15 U.S.C. 2229(k)(4)(C), 

FP&S Program nonprofit organization 

grant recipients that are not fire 

departments or emergency medical 

services organizations are not eligible to 

receive a waiver of their cost share for 

economic hardship requirements. 

Application Process 

Organizations may apply for funding 

under both eligible activities (FP&S and 

R&D) but must complete separate 

applications for each eligible activity. 

Each application may be for up to three 

projects under that activity, however 

each project within an application must 

be presented separately as a freestanding proposal. Organizations are 

limited to one application per activity, 

per application period. If an 

organization submits more than one 

application for the same activity, either 

intentionally or unintentionally, both 

applications may be disqualified. 

Applicants access the grant 

application electronically at https://

go.fema.gov. The application is also 

accessible from the Grants.gov website 

at http://www.grants.gov. New 

applicants must register in the FEMA 

Grants Outcomes system (FEMA GO) 

and establish a username and password 

for secure access to the grant 

application. Previous FP&S Program 

applicants must use their previously 

established username and password for 

FEMA GO. 

Applicants are expected to answer 

questions about their grant request that 

reflect the FP&S Program funding 

priorities. In addition, applicants must 

complete narratives for each project 

requested. 

During the FY 2021 FP&S Program 

application period, FEMA conducted 

applicant internet webinars to inform 

potential applicants about the FP&S 

Program. In addition, FEMA provided 

applicants with information at the FP&S 

Program website, https://www.fema.gov/ 

grants/preparedness/firefighters/safetyawards/documents, to help them 

prepare quality grant applications. The 

FP&S Program Help Desk is staffed 

throughout the application period to 


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 92 / Thursday, May 12, 2022 / Notices 29169 

assist applicants with the automated 

application process as well as answer 

any questions. 

Applicants can reach the FP&S 

Program Help Desk through a toll-free 

telephone number during normal 

business hours (1–866–274–0960) or 

email at firegrants@fema.dhs.gov. 

System for Award Management (SAM) 

Per 2 CFR 25.200, all Federal grant 

applicants and recipients must register 

at https://SAM.gov. SAM is the Federal 

Government’s System for Award 

Management, and registration is free of 

charge. Applicants must maintain 

current information in SAM that is 

consistent with the data provided in 

their FP&S Program grant application, 

and for purposes of this particular 

application period, in the Dun & 

Bradstreet database, which previously 

provided the official unique entity 

identifier, the Data Universal 

Numbering System (DUNS) number. As 

of April 4, 2022, SAM has transitioned 

from the DUNS number to a 

nonproprietary Unique Entity Identifier 

(UEI) obtained through SAM.gov. For 

entities that had an active registration in 

SAM.gov prior to April 4, 2022, the UEI 

was automatically assigned and no 

further action is necessary. Per 2 CFR 

25.205, FEMA may not make a federal 

award or make any financial 

modifications to an existing award 

unless the applicant or grant recipient 

complied with all applicable unique 

entity identifier and SAM requirements. 

The grant applicant’s banking 

information, EIN, organization/entity 

name, address, and unique entity 

identifier must match the same 

information provided in SAM. 

Criteria Development Process 

Recommendations 

If there are any differences between 

the published FP&S Program guidelines 

and the recommendations made by the 

CDP, FEMA must explain them and 

publish the information in the Federal 

Register prior to awarding any grant 

under the FP&S Program. For FY 2021, 

FEMA accepted, and will implement, all 

of the CDP’s recommendations for the 

prioritization of eligible activities. 

Adopted Recommendations for FY 2021 

The FY 2021 FP&S Program NOFO 

contains some changes to definitions, 

descriptions, and priority categories. 

Changes to the FY 2021 FP&S Program 

NOFO include: 

• Under Applicant Eligibility Criteria: 

Æ Added information on application 

submittal and Authorized Organization 

Representatives. 

• Under section E—Narrative 

Evaluation Criteria: 

Æ Added information on FEMA’s 

review of Narrative Statements. 

Æ Added guidance regarding R&D 

Activity Fire Service Panel Evaluation 

Criteria. 

Æ Reorganized R&D Activity Fire 

Service Panel Evaluation Criteria to 

include Potential Impact in advance of 

Implementation by Fire Service. 

Æ Updated the weighted evaluation 

criteria for R&D Activity Early Career 

Investigator applicants, including a new 

Science Panel Evaluation criterion for 

Mentoring. 

Æ R&D Activity Early Career 

Investigator applicants are required to 

submit a biological sketch of the mentor 

and a signed letter of commitment from 

the mentor. 

• Under section F—Environmental 

Planning and Historic Preservation 

(EHP) Compliance: 

Æ Added examples of activities that 

require EHP review. 

• Under Appendix B—Supporting 

Definitions: 

Æ Updated definition of Human 

Subject. 

• Under Appendix B—FP&S Activity, 

Community Risk Reduction Category: 

Æ Added guidance regarding smoke 

alarm installation. 

Æ Added guidance regarding LED/ 

electronic signs. 

• Under Appendix B—FP&S Activity, 

Code Enforcement/Awareness Category: 

Æ Added pre-planning. 

• Under Appendix B—FP&S Activity, 

National/State/Regional Programs and 

Projects: 

Æ Added guidance regarding IRB 

exemption determinations. 

• Under Appendix B—FP&S Activity, 

Ineligible Projects and Items: 

Æ Clarified that remodeling/ 

renovations to an existing facility is 

only eligible if limited to minor interior 

alterations costing less than $10,000. 

Æ Included emergency medical 

services equipment/supplies/vehicles, 

firefighter physicals, Research and 

Development, creation of new 

databases, projects requiring IRB 

approval to work with human subjects, 

fuel or vegetation removal/reduction on 

public land, and evacuation roads. 

• Under Appendix B—R&D Activities 

Overview: 

Æ Absorbed the Dissemination and 

Implementation Research category into 

the Clinical Studies category. 

• Under Appendix B—R&D Activity, 

Ineligible Projects and Items: 

Æ Included international travel to 

attend conferences or disseminate 

results, and projects to purchase stock 

in any entity. 

• Under Appendix C: 

Æ Added additional information on 

allowability of costs under Grant Writer/ 

Preparation Fees. 

(Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2229) 

Deanne Criswell, 

Administrator, Federal Emergency 

Management Agency. 

[FR Doc. 2022–10193 Filed 5–11–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 9111–64–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

Federal Emergency Management 

Agency 

[Internal Agency Docket No. FEMA–4413– 

DR; Docket ID FEMA–2022–0001] 

Alaska; Amendment No. 2 to Notice of 

a Major Disaster Declaration 

AGENCY: Federal Emergency 

Management Agency, DHS. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: This notice amends the notice 

of a major disaster for the State of 

Alaska (FEMA–4413–DR), dated January 

31, 2019, and related determinations. 

DATES: This amendment was issued 

March 28, 2022. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Dean Webster, Office of Response and 

Recovery, Federal Emergency 

Management Agency, 500 C Street SW, 

Washington, DC 20472, (202) 646–2833. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is 

hereby given that, in a letter dated 

March 28, 2022, the President amended 

the cost-sharing arrangements regarding 

Federal funds provided under the 

authority of the Robert T. Stafford 

Disaster Relief and Emergency 

Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq. 

(the ‘‘Stafford Act’’), in a letter to 

Deanne Criswell, Administrator, Federal 

Emergency Management Agency, 

Department of Homeland Security, 

under Executive Order 12148, as 

follows: 

I have determined that the damage in 

certain areas of the State of Alaska resulting 

from an earthquake on November 30, 2018, 

is of sufficient severity and magnitude that 

special cost sharing arrangements are 

warranted regarding Federal funds provided 

under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 

and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 

5121 et seq. (the ‘‘Stafford Act’’). 

Therefore, I amend the declaration of 

January 31, 2019, to authorize Federal funds 

for all categories of Public Assistance at 90 

percent of total eligible costs. 

This adjustment to state and local cost 

sharing applies only to Public Assistance 

costs and direct Federal assistance eligible 

for such adjustments under the law. The 


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