The FY 2011 AFG application is now open and the September 9 deadline is fast approaching. FEMA’s site offers many helpful guides and tips to securing your grant.

The Narrative Assistance Guide walks you through the application narrative,one of the most critical components of your application. The following text is provided by FEMA to help you think through the needs and resources required for your department’s grant.

Be prepared to thoroughly explain, document and provide background information on the following five areas:

• Organization and/or community you serve
• Financial need
• Project description/budget
• Cost benefit
• Statement of effect

The following questions can help you formulate comprehensive answers on your application. Begin your discussion with a brief (no more than three sentences) opening statement as to what you are requesting and why. Then discuss the following:

Organization and/or community you serve

• In your own words, describe your department/organization.
• What are your special needs required to serve the community?
• Describe any special hazards in your community.
• What are the demands on your organization based on the needs of the community?
• There is no need to repeat demographic information in this section. It has already been previously captured.

Financial need

• Why do you need AFG assistance?
• Show current and future department funding issues, if any. Break your budget down showing costs and income.
• Show local funding issues in the community. For example, recent bond proposal rejections, state/local taxing caps. Be specific in referencing these limitations.
• Show local unemployment percentages. Discuss any other local funding issues such as factory, business, or agency closings that show a financial “snapshot” of your area.

Project description and budget

• What are your requesting? Be specific and discuss any and all items.
• Clearly discuss any “unique” equipment requests, such as technical rescue, and why you need the requested items.
• Review the Program Guidance (PG) to confirm your requested items are a priority. This will greatly increase your chances for funding.
• Discuss costs for all items. How did you find your costs? Did you “shop around” or did you only use one source/vendor? As stated in the PG, acquire multiple price quotes.
• Be very clear on how you arrived at the cost figures.
• Is this an “existing” mission or a “new” mission request? Refer to the PG to clarify this item.

Cost benefit

• Clearly explain why your department needs the grant.
• What is the benefit to your department if the grant is awarded?
• How will the requested items improve fireground operations and/or safety?
• What will the long-term value of the items, if funded, be to your department? What if only part of your request is funded? Will you still accept a partial award?
• Will the requested items lower your departments’ operating costs or increase them?

Statement of effect

• What effect does your current equipment have on fireground operations and/or safety?
• What effect will your request, if funded, have on future fireground operations and/or safety.
• What effect if any, will your request have on your future budget? This may include aerial annual inspections, air monitor/cascade systems and annual testing.
• Will your request require an increase in your annual operations budget? If so, how will you fund it?
• Will you provide any extra training, if needed, for your requested equipment? If so, who will pay for it? If not, who will provide it?

Vehicle Request

If applying for a grant for a vehicle, the following items must be discussed in addition to the above-mentioned items.

• What do you want to replace?
• Why do you need to replace it?
• Does the current unit meet NFPA standards?
• Does the current unit have an open cab?
• Does the current unit have seat belts/restraints?
• How will the requested unit improve fireground operations and safety to department members?
• Will the requested unit provide new tools/options you currently don’t have?
• Have you tailored your request under the “high” priority section for your department’s category in the PG?
• Are you asking for a “standard” replacement vehicle or one with “high tech” options?
• For aerials, are you replacing a unit or requesting one for the first time?
• If replacing an older unit, justify the need as to why the current unit should be removed from service.
• If asking for a new aerial, justify why you need it. Include any exposures you currently cannot respond to without this type of unit. Discuss the response and types of calls for this type of unit.
• For engine requests, why do you need to replace the current unit?
• Discuss other engines and ages in your fleet. What is the average age of your engines?
• For rescue units, what are current issues that prevent you from continuing to use this type of unit?
• Explain your call volume to justify the type of unit requested.
• What options will you be requesting on this unit and why? Be very specific. Are you adding options you currently do not have on your older unit? If so, why do you need the new options?
• Discuss your call volume for all types of vehicle requests. For brush units, discuss total acreage responded to, and discuss if the brush unit is a homemade type.
• How many mutual aids per year, on average, would the requested unit respond, and are any of them automatic dispatch move ups?
• Do you have an NFPA-approved driving program? If not, are you asking for one? If not, why not?
• Do you have entry-level NFPA physicals for all members? If not, why not? As stated in the PG, both NFPA-approved physicals and driving programs are required for funding consideration.

FEMA also offers an online tutorial and hosts workshops to assist departments with the application process:

• 2011 Application Tutorial
• August 2011 Workshop Schedule

	Get Ready Guide (PDF, 1.26MB, TXT 8KB)
	Narrative Assistance Guide (PDF 1.89MB, TXT 6KB)
	FY11 AFG Program Guidance
	Section 1 (PDF 3MB, TXT 106KB)
	Section 2 (PDF 2.35MB, TXT 46KB)