Texas Administrative Code › Title 4 - AGRICULTURE › Part 12 - TEXAS A&M FOREST SERVICE › Chapter 216 - RURAL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM › Section 216.6 - Award Process

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12,
				2024
The following procedures are used by the agency to award
				  available grant funds.
(1) TIFMAS
				Grants.
(A) Available grant funding is
				allocated to each grant category annually by the agency.
(B) Training grants are funded upon receipt
				of complete applications until available funding is exhausted.
(C) Truck grants are handled as follows.
(i) Applications are assigned a numeric
				rating and sorted in numerical order.
(ii) The agency holds periodic meetings
				throughout each fiscal year to approve grant awards. The date, time and
				location for each meeting are published on the agency's website at least two
				weeks prior to the meeting. The meetings are open to the public.
(iii) Grant awards are based upon the
				application ratings and the date the applications were received, subject to
				funding limitations.
(iv) Fire
				departments that have outstanding issues with the State of Texas or the agency
				will not be considered for new grant awards until the issues are
				resolved.
(v) The agency's approval
				of applications for award during a public meeting is preliminary, contingent
				upon a final review of each application for eligibility, errors, duplications,
				and program compliance. Approvals are withdrawn in the event of an error or
				disqualifying condition. Following the final review, a grant award letter is
				sent to each approved grant recipient.
(vi) Grant awards have a specified
				termination date by which the recipient must complete its obligations and
				submit the necessary documentation to the agency for processing.
(vii) Applications not approved for funding
				are kept on file and considered during subsequent funding meetings.
(viii) The agency may award emergency grants
				to eligible fire departments that have suffered a catastrophic loss. A
				catastrophic loss is a sudden and unexpected event which seriously compromises
				the firefighting capability of an eligible fire department and which puts the
				local community at risk. Emergency grant awards are based on a department's
				application, agency assessment of impact and availability of program
				funds.
(D) Other
				equipment grants are handled as follows.
(i)
				Funds are divided by geographic branch, based upon the number of fire
				departments per branch, to establish target fund allocations. Allocations by
				branch may be adjusted by the agency based on the applications
				received.
(ii) The agency holds
				periodic meetings throughout each fiscal year to approve grant awards. The
				date, time and location for each meeting are published on the agency's website
				at least two weeks prior to the meeting. The meetings are open to the
				public.
(iii) Grant awards are
				based upon the application ratings, the date each application was received, the
				number and type of unfunded applications on file and the amount of funds
				available.
(iv) Fire departments
				that have outstanding issues with the State of Texas or the agency are not
				considered for new grant awards until the issues are resolved.
(v) The agency's approval of applications for
				award during a public meeting is preliminary, contingent upon a final review of
				each application for eligibility, errors, duplications, and program compliance.
				Approvals are withdrawn in the event of an error or disqualifying condition.
				Following the final review, a grant award letter is sent to each approved grant
				recipient.
(vi) Grant awards have a
				specified termination date by which the recipient must complete its obligations
				and submit the necessary documentation to the agency for processing.
(vii) Applications not approved for funding
				are kept on file and considered during subsequent funding meetings.
(viii) The agency may award emergency grants
				to eligible fire departments that have suffered a catastrophic loss. A
				catastrophic loss is a sudden and unexpected event which seriously compromises
				the firefighting capability of an eligible fire department and which puts the
				local community at risk. Emergency grant awards are based on a department's
				application, agency assessment of impact and availability of program
				funds.