Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program Frequently Asked Questions

The purpose of the SAFER Program is to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to assist with increasing the number of firefighters to help communities meet industry minimum standards, to attain 24-hour staffing to provide adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards, and to fulfill traditional missions of fire departments. The SAFER Program is separated into two activities: Hiring of Firefighters (Hiring) Activity and Recruitment and Retention (R&R) Activity. Using a competitive process that is informed by fire service subject-matter experts, grants in both activities are awarded to applicants whose requests best address the priorities of the FY 2021 SAFER Program.

Smoke alarms are considered “supplies” rather than “equipment.” Equipment means tangible personal property (including information technology systems) having a useful life of more than one year and a per-unit acquisition cost which equals or exceeds the lesser of the capitalization level established by the non-Federal entity for financial statement purposes, or $5,000.

Supplies means all tangible personal property other than those described in the definition of equipment.

The science review of an application is a thorough and rigorous evaluation by experts knowledgeable in the research areas relevant to the proposed project. It is critical that the content of the Narrative and the Appendix fully address how the proposed research is responsive to the evaluation criteria. The Narrative must follow the order of the science panel evaluation criteria listed within the NOFO. Further guidance is offered here, per criterion:

Project goals, objectives, and specific aims: The goals, objectives or specific aims criterion provides a framework for the applicant to move from a statement of broader purpose (such as reducing toxic exposure) to providing precise, measurable, and/or behavioral details representing the plan to achieve these goals (such as increased time lapsed from suppression to overhaul). The applicant’s goals, objectives, or specific aims should drive the study design and project methods. The methods of measurement and analyses must follow the applicant’s goals, objectives, or specific aims and should lead to answers to the proposed question(s).

Literature review: The literature review demonstrates that the scientific team is knowledgeable about what has been studied in the past. Literature reviews typically identify gaps in knowledge or what is lacking or needed to advance the science to the next level. This expertise suggests the ability to do applied research in the proposed area. Importantly, the literature review makes evident how the proposed research will contribute to the existing body of knowledge in this area. Without a strong literature review, the relevance of this project will be less evident.

Project methods: Project methods describe the overall approach to the study. The methods will identify the study design, such as a randomized control trial or a large-scale fire test series design. Related information, such as how to select participants or structures, contents, and firefighting methods utilized, respectively, should be described. It is important to justify the scientific and technical rigor of the research and merit of the project. Plans to recruit and retain human subjects should be described, where applicable. Where human subjects are involved, describe plans for submission to the IRB.

Project measurements: Project measurements include the more macro and micro aspects of the research. The applicant may specify established instruments to collect data and implement the project. The applicant should discuss the data to be collected to evaluate the performance methods, technologies, and products proposed. The applicant should demonstrate the measurement methods and equipment selected for use are appropriate and sufficient to successfully deliver the proposed project objectives. A table format may be useful to handle extensive lists of measurements and portray timing. Study flow diagrams and timelines can be helpful. Sufficient information is needed to support the feasibility of the project.

Project analysis: Project analysis may include the statistical plan for determining achievement of the project aims. Quantitative and qualitative statistical methods as well as power analyses, as appropriate to the study design, are typically expected. Specify within the analysis plan what data will be analyzed, the statistical methods that will be used, the sequence of steps, and interactions, as appropriate. For example, where fire departments rather than individual firefighters are the unit of analysis then sampling, measurement strategies, and the analyses would reflect that study design. The analysis plan should specify what constitutes significant or successful results.

Dissemination and implementation: The dissemination and implementation criterion requires applicants to indicate how the results of the proposed project (if successful) would be disseminated to the fire service and scientific communities. Not only does this criterion cover dissemination of results, but also how the results might move to implementation, that is, moving from research to practice. The applicant should show how the issues for dissemination and implementation have been taken into consideration throughout the project and in development of their project product. For example, a product made available online would improve access and adoption. Also, providing the research result to relevant firefighter standards organizations to promote national adoption is a proven means to implement successful research results. The development of dissemination and implementation plans does not intend to suggest that the applicant would be responsible for all the subsequent activities.

The primary information about fire service evaluation criteria is provided in the NOFO. Review each fire service evaluation criterion in the NOFO as each application section is prepared. Prepare responses to the criteria using language that is friendly for a fire service audience. Refer the fire service reviewers to information in the science narrative that would be helpful in understanding the proposal. Due to formatting restrictions figures, pictures, tables, and charts cannot be placed directly into the fire service criteria text boxes in FEMA GO. Instead, you can direct thefire service reviewers to any figures, pictures, tables, and charts that may be included in the science narrative. Fire service reviewers have full access to all of the proposal information. Further guidance is offered here, per criterion:

Purpose: Reviewers will consider your justifications of the study importance, which may be established by citing high injury rates as established by respected sources, such as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NFPA, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and USFA; or new trends toward increasingly high injury rates; and/or identification within the NFFF research priorities. Applicants may draw on their own experience and that of firefighters by providing anecdotal data useful for clarifying the purpose. If applying under Early Career Investigator, applicants should identify how the project will support the development of the Principal Investigator within the field of firefighter research. If applying under Preliminary Studies, applicants should consider the project being proposed as well as the potential results of a closely related future full study.

Potential Impact: In describing potential impact, projected numbers of reduced injuries or fatalities could be included to emphasize the impact of the (expected) results. If strategies to overcome implementation barriers are provided, this can further demonstrate the applicant’s knowledge of fire service realities and the change process.

Implementation by Fire Service: For implementation by the fire service, address how the fire service would adopt the (successful) results. It is best to address this issue for the fire service reviewers clearly. If future implementation would require a series of steps before the fire service would be ready for change, the applicant can suggest some appropriate strategies. Note that these areas will be addressed again under the "dissemination and implementation" criteria for the science reviewers.

Barriers: Barriers to timely completion of the study and the eventual implementation of the proposed results are important to discuss, especially those barriers that involve fire service participants, from recruitment and retention, to compliance and bias, to national and local political concerns, stigma, and any other pertinent factors specific to the project. If it is not possible to overcome a barrier, then address how it will be managed. Addressing these types of barriers, as well as the strategies to overcome them, is another way to underscore knowledge of the realities of the fire service.

Partners: Because fire service partnerships are a central element of a research team, development of partnerships prior to the application would be reflected in the detailed letters of support provided in the Appendix. Provide an overview of those relationships. In many cases, fire service reviewers will expect to see evidence of relevant national or regional partnerships that support the study’s purpose and goals and eventual national implementation. For example, if the population of interest were volunteer firefighters, then the National Volunteer Fire Council would be expected to be a helpful partner. If the project is a preliminary study or early career investigation it is good to note that to explain why there may be fewer partners necessary to support the smaller study designs.

The project name field is limited to 100 total characters max. The abstract field is limited to 5,000 total characters max.

• Purpose (25%) - 5,000 total characters max
• Implementation by Fire Service (25%) - 5,000 total characters max
• Potential Impact (15%) - 3,000 total characters max
• Barriers (15%) - 3,000 total characters max
• Partners (20%) - 4,000 total characters max

The Narrative Statements blocks do not allow for formatting. Do not type the Narrative Statements using only capital letters. Additionally, do not include tables, special characters or fonts (e.g., quotation marks, bullets), or graphs.

Space for the Narrative Statements is limited. Although each element must have a minimum of 200 characters, the maximum number of total characters is 3,000 per each narrative element, except Financial Need, which is 4,000 characters.

Eligible applicants for the FP&S Activity include fire departments, any federally recognized Indian tribe or tribal organization, and national, regional, state, local, tribal, and nonprofit interest organizations that are recognized for their experience and expertise in fire prevention and safety programs and activities are eligible applicants.