EMS Grants Announcements

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announces the opening of the FY 2010 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants application period. The SAFER Grants are administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Grant Programs Directorate.

In 2010, Congress appropriated $420 million to carry out the activities of the SAFER Grants. The goal of the SAFER Grants is to enhance local fire departments’ abilities to comply with staffing, response, and operational standards established by the NFPA and OSHA.

The grants focus on:

The deployment and assembly sections of NFPA 1710 and/or NFPA 1720, and
The respiratory protection section of OSHA 1910

The SAFER application period opens August 17, 2010, at 8 a.m. Eastern Time. DHS will accept applications through September 17, 2010, at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.

The Program Guidance document for the FY 2010 SAFER Grants will be posted in the near future on the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program Web site, www.firegrantsupport.com.

The SAFER Grant e-applications are automated and accessible through the web site at www.firegrantsupport.com and the U.S. Fire Administration Web site at www.usfa.dhs.gov.

An applicant tutorial will be available through the AFG Program Web site at www.firegrantsupport.com. The tutorial provides valuable grant information and walks applicants through the preparation and submittal of competitive applications. In addition, the applicant tutorial provides an overview of the funding priorities and evaluation criteria.

Applicants who have questions regarding the SAFER Grants opportunity should contact the help desk at 1-866-274-0960 or via e-mail to firegrants@dhs.gov. During the application period, the help desk will operate Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.