Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program
| Citation | 86 FR 19629 |
| Record Number | 2021-07576 |
| Published date | 14 April 2021 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | Federal Emergency Management Agency,Homeland Security Department |
19629
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 70 / Wednesday, April 14, 2021 / Notices
Training Award; 93.22, Clinical Research
Loan Repayment Program for Individuals
from Disadvantaged Backgrounds; 93.232,
Loan Repayment Program for Research
Generally; 93.39, Academic Research
Enhancement Award; 93.936, NIH Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome Research Loan
Repayment Program; 93.187, Undergraduate
Scholarship Program for Individuals from
Disadvantaged Backgrounds, National
Institutes of Health, HHS)
Dated: April 9, 2021.
Ronald J. Livingston, Jr.,
Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory
Committee Policy.
[FR Doc. 2021–07612 Filed 4–13–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
National Institute of Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases;
Notice of Meeting
Pursuant to section 10(d) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
amended, notice is hereby given of a
meeting of the National Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Advisory Council.
The meeting will be open to the
public as indicated below, with
attendance limited to space available.
Individuals who plan to attend and
need special assistance, such as sign
language interpretation or other
reasonable accommodations, should
notify the Contact Person listed below
in advance of the meeting.
The meeting will be closed to the
public in accordance with the
provisions set forth in sections
552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C.,
as amended. The grant applications and
the discussions could disclose
confidential trade secrets or commercial
property such as patentable material,
and personal information concerning
individuals associated with the grant
applications, the disclosure of which
would constitute a clearly unwarranted
invasion of personal privacy.
Name of Committee: National Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Advisory
Council.
Date: May 18, 2021.
Open: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Agenda: Discussion of Program Policies
and Issues.
Place: National Institute of Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, 6701
Democracy Blvd., Democracy I, Suite 800,
Bethesda, MD 20892–4872, http://
videocast.nih.gov (Virtual Meeting).
Virtual Access: The meeting will be
videocast and can be accessed from the NIH
Videocast http://videocast.nih.gov. Please
note, the link to the videocast meeting will
be posted within a week of the meeting date.
Any member of the public may submit
written comments no later than 15 days after
the meeting.
Closed: 2:00 p.m. to 3:10 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: National Institute of Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, 6701
Democracy Blvd., Democracy I, Suite 800,
Bethesda, MD 20892–4872 (Virtual Meeting).
Contact Person: Melinda Nelson, Director,
Office of Extramural Operations, 6701
Democracy Blvd., Democracy I, Suite 800,
Bethesda, MD 20892–4872, (301) 435–5278,
nelsonm@mail.nih.gov.
Any interested person may file written
comments with the committee by forwarding
the statement to the Contact Person listed on
this notice. The statement should include the
name, address, telephone number and when
applicable, the business or professional
affiliation of the interested person.
(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program Nos. 93.846, Arthritis,
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research,
National Institutes of Health, HHS)
Dated: April 8, 2021.
Miguelina Perez,
Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory
Committee Policy.
[FR Doc. 2021–07609 Filed 4–13–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
Center for Scientific Review; Notice of
Closed Meetings
Pursuant to section 10(d) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
amended, notice is hereby given of the
following meetings.
The meetings will be closed to the
public in accordance with the
provisions set forth in sections
552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C.,
as amended. The grant applications and
the discussions could disclose
confidential trade secrets or commercial
property such as patentable material,
and personal information concerning
individuals associated with the grant
applications, the disclosure of which
would constitute a clearly unwarranted
invasion of personal privacy.
Name of Committee: Bioengineering
Sciences & Technologies Integrated Review
Group; Modeling and Analysis of Biological
Systems Study Section.
Date: June 2–3, 2021.
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: National Institutes of Health,
Rockledge II, 6701 Rockledge Drive,
Bethesda, MD 20892 (Virtual Meeting).
Contact Person: Noffisat Oki, Ph.D.,
Scientific Review Officer, Center for
Scientific Review, 6701 Rockledge Drive,
Bethesda, MD 20892, 240–627–3648,
noffisat.oki@nih.gov.
Name of Committee: Bioengineering
Sciences & Technologies Integrated Review
Group; Biomaterials and Biointerfaces Study
Section.
Date: June 10–11, 2021.
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: National Institutes of Health,
Rockledge II, 6701 Rockledge Drive,
Bethesda, MD 20892 (Virtual Meeting).
Contact Person: Joseph D Mosca, Ph.D.,
Scientific Review Officer, Center for
Scientific Review, National Institutes of
Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 5158,
MSC 7808, Bethesda, MD 20892, (301) 408–
9465, moscajos@csr.nih.gov.
(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program Nos. 93.306, Comparative Medicine;
93.333, Clinical Research, 93.306, 93.333,
93.337, 93.393–93.396, 93.837–93.844,
93.846–93.878, 93.892, 93.893, National
Institutes of Health, HHS)
Dated: April 8, 2021.
Ronald J. Livingston, Jr.,
Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory
Committee Policy.
[FR Doc. 2021–07611 Filed 4–13–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management
Agency
[Docket ID: FEMA–2021–0012]
Assistance to Firefighters Grant
Program
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) 2020 Assistance to
Firefighters Grant (AFG) 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 meeting of the Criteria
Development Panel, which was held
December 11, 2019. The application
period for the FY 2020 AFG Program
was January 4, 2021 through February
12, 2021, and was announced on the
AFG website at: https://www.fema.gov/
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grants/preparedness/firefighters, as well
as at www.grants.gov.
DATES
: Grant applications for the FY
2020 AFG Program were accepted
electronically at https://go.fema.gov,
from January 4, 2021, through February
12, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard
Time.
ADDRESSES
: Assistance to Firefighters
Grant Branch, DHS/FEMA, 400 C Street
SW, 3N, Washington, DC 20472–3635.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
:
Catherine Patterson, Branch Chief,
Assistance to Firefighters Grant Branch,
1–866–274–0960.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
: The AFG
Program awards grants directly to fire
departments, non-affiliated emergency
medical services (EMS) organizations,
and State Fire Training Academies
(SFTAs) for the purpose of enhancing
the health and safety of first responders
and improving their abilities to protect
the public from fire and fire-related
hazards.
Applications for the FY 2020 AFG
Program were submitted and processed
online at https://go.fema.gov. Before the
application period started, the FY 2020
AFG Program Notice of Funding
Opportunity (NOFO) was published on
FEMA’s AFG Program website. The AFG
Program website provides additional
information and materials useful for FY
2020 AFG Program applicants including
Frequently Asked Questions,
Application Checklist, Get Ready Guide
Narrative, Self-Evaluation Sheets for
Vehicle Acquisition and Operations
Safety, and a Cost Share Calculator.
Based on past AFG Program application
periods, FEMA anticipates receiving
10,000 to 15,000 applications for the FY
2020 AFG Program, and the ability to
award approximately 2,000 grants.
Congressional Appropriations
For the FY 2020 AFG Program,
Congress appropriated $355 million
(Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020,
Pub. L. 116–93). From this amount,
$319.5 million will be made available
for FY 2020 AFG Program awards. In
addition, Section 33 of the Federal Fire
Prevention and Control Act of 1974, as
amended (15 U.S.C. 2229), requires that
a minimum of 10 percent of available
funds be expended for Fire Prevention
and Safety (FP&S) Program grants. FP&S
Program awards will be made directly to
local fire departments and to local,
regional, State, or national entities
recognized for their expertise in the
fields of fire prevention and firefighter
safety research and development. Funds
appropriated for FY 2020 will be
available for obligation and award until
September 30, 2021.
The Federal Fire Prevention and
Control Act of 1974 further directs
FEMA to administer these
appropriations according to the
following requirements:
•Career fire departments: Not less
than 25 percent of available grant funds.
•Volunteer fire departments: Not less
than 25 percent of available grant funds.
•Combination fire departments and
departments using paid-on-call
firefighting personnel: Not less than 25
percent of available grant funds.
•Open competition (career,
volunteer, and/or combination fire
departments and departments using
paid-on-call firefighting personnel): Not
less than 10 percent of available grant
funds awarded.
•EMS providers including fire
departments and nonaffiliated EMS
organizations: Not less than 3.5 percent
of available grant funds awarded, with
nonaffiliated EMS providers receiving
no more than 2 percent of the total
available grant funds.
•SFTAs: Not more than 3 percent of
available grant funds shall be
collectively awarded to SFTA
applicants, with a maximum of $1
million per applicant.
•Vehicles: Not more than 25 percent
of available grant funds may be used for
the purchase of vehicles; 10 percent of
those vehicle funds will be dedicated to
the funding of ambulances. Vehicle
funds will be distributed as equally as
possible among urban, suburban, and
rural community applicants.
•Micro grants: This is a voluntary
funding limitation choice made by the
applicant for requests submitted within
the operations and safety activity; it is
not an additional funding opportunity.
Micro grants are awards that have a
Federal participation (share) that does
not exceed $50,000. Only fire
departments and nonaffiliated EMS
organizations are eligible to choose
micro grants, and the only eligible micro
grants requests are for training,
equipment, personal protective
equipment (PPE), and wellness and
fitness activities. Applicants that select
micro grants as a funding opportunity
may receive additional consideration for
award. If an applicant selects micro
grants in their application, they will be
limited in the total amount of funding
their organization can be awarded; if
they are requesting funding in excess of
$50,000 Federal participation, they
should not select micro grants.
Background of the AFG Program
Since 2001, the AFG Program has
helped firefighters and other first
responders obtain critically needed
equipment, protective gear, emergency
vehicles, training, and other resources
needed to protect emergency personnel
and the public from fire and related
hazards. FEMA awards grants on a
competitive basis to the applicants that
best address the AFG Program’s
priorities and provide the most
compelling justification. Applications
that best address AFG Program
priorities, as identified in the
Application Evaluation Criteria, will be
reviewed by a peer review panel
composed of fire service personnel.
The AFG Program has three program
activities:
•Operations and Safety
•Vehicle Acquisition
•Regional Projects
The priorities for each activity are
fully outlined in the NOFO.
Application Evaluation Criteria
Prior to making a grant award, FEMA
is required by 31 U.S.C. 3354, as
amended 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 (OMB)
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 match program priorities for
the type of jurisdiction(s) served.
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 AFG Program applications
are established by FEMA based on the
recommendations from the Criteria
Development Panel (CDP). CDP is
comprised of fire service professionals
who 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 NOFO reflects implementation of
CDP’s recommendations with respect to
the priorities and evaluation criteria for
awards.
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The nine major fire service
organizations represented on the CDP
are:
•International Association of Fire
Chiefs
•International Association of Fire
Fighters
•National Volunteer Fire Council
•National Fire Protection Association
•National Association of State Fire
Marshals
•International Association of Arson
Investigators
•International Society of Fire Service
Instructors
•North American Fire Training
Directors
•Congressional Fire Service Institute
Review and Selection Process
AFG Program applications are
reviewed through a multi-phase process.
All applications are electronically pre-
scored and ranked based on how well
they align with the funding priorities
outlined in this notice. Applications
with the highest pre-score rankings are
then scored competitively by (no less
than three) members of a Peer Review
Panel. Applications will also be
evaluated through a series of internal
FEMA review processes for
completeness, adherence to
programmatic guidelines, technical
feasibility, and anticipated effectiveness
of the proposed project(s). Below is the
process by which applications will be
reviewed:
i. Pre-Scoring Process
The application undergoes an
electronic pre-scoring process based on
established program priorities listed
within the NOFO and answers to
activity specific questions within the
online application. Application
narratives are not reviewed during pre-
scoring. Request details and budget
information should comply with
program guidance and statutory funding
limitations. The pre-score is 50 percent
of the total application score.
ii. Peer Review Panel Process
Applications with the highest pre-
score will undergo peer review. The
peer review is comprised of fire service
representatives recommended by the
organizations represented on the CDP.
The panelists assess the merits of each
application based on the narrative
section of the application, including the
evaluation elements listed in the
Narrative Evaluation Criteria below.
Panelists independently score each
project within the application, discuss
the merits and/or shortcomings of the
application with their peers, and
document the findings. A consensus is
not required. The panel score is 50
percent of the total application score.
iii. Technical Evaluation Process
The highest ranked applications are
considered within the fundable range.
Applications that are in the fundable
range undergo both a technical review
by a subject matter expert, as well as a
FEMA AFG Branch review prior to
being recommended for an award. The
FEMA AFG Branch will assess the
request with respect to costs, quantities,
feasibility, eligibility, and recipient
responsibility prior to recommending an
application for award. Once the
technical evaluation process is
complete, the cumulative score for each
application will be determined and
FEMA will generate a final ranking of
applications. FEMA will award grants
based on this final ranking and the
statutorily required funding limitations
listed in this notice and the NOFO.
Narrative Evaluation Criteria
1. Financial Need (25 Percent)
Applicants should describe their
financial need and how consistent it is
with the intent of the AFG Program.
This statement should include details
describing the applicant’s financial
distress, summarized budget
constraints, unsuccessful attempts to
secure other funding, and proof that
their financial distress is out of their
control.
2. Project Description and Budget (25
Percent)
This statement should clearly explain
the applicant’s project objectives and
the relationship between those
objectives and the applicant’s budget
and risk analysis. The applicant should
describe the activities, including
program priorities or facility
modifications, ensuring consistency
with project objectives, the applicant’s
mission, and any national, State, and/or
local requirements. Applicants should
link the proposed expenses to
operations and safety, as well as the
completion of the project goals.
3. Cost Benefit (25 Percent)
Applicants should describe how they
plan to address the operations and
personal safety needs of their
organization, including cost
effectiveness and sharing assets. This
statement should also include details
about gaining the maximum benefits
from grant funding by citing reasonable
or required costs, such as specific
overhead and administrative costs. The
applicant’s request should also be
consistent with their mission and
identify how funding will benefit their
organization and personnel.
4. Statement of Effect on Daily
Operations (25 Percent)
This statement should explain how
these funds will enhance the applicant’s
overall effectiveness. It should address
how an award will improve daily
operations and reduce the applicant’s
risks. Applicants should include how
frequently the requested items will be
used, and in what capacity. Applicants
should also indicate how the requested
items will help the community and
increase the organization’s ability to
save additional lives or property.
Jurisdictions that demonstrate their
commitment and proactive posture to
reducing fire risk, by explaining their
code enforcement (to include Wildland
Urban Interface code enforcement) and
mitigation strategies (including whether
or not the jurisdiction has a FEMA-
approved mitigation strategy) may
receive stronger consideration under
this criterion.
Eligible Applicants
Fire Departments: Fire departments
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 organization.
A fire department is an agency or
organization having a formally
recognized arrangement with a State,
territory, local, or Tribal authority (city,
county, parish, fire district, township,
town, or other governing body) to
provide fire suppression to a population
within a geographically fixed primary
first due response area.
Nonaffiliated EMS organizations:
Nonaffiliated EMS organizations
operating in any of the 50 States, as well
as 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 organization.
A nonaffiliated EMS organization is
an agency or organization that is a
public or private nonprofit emergency
medical services entity providing
medical transport that is not affiliated
with a hospital and does not serve a
geographic area in which emergency
medical services are adequately
provided by a fire department.
FEMA considers the following as
hospitals under the AFG Program:
•Clinics
•Medical centers
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•Medical colleges or universities
•Infirmaries
•Surgery centers
•Any other institutions, associations,
or foundations providing medical,
surgical, or psychiatric care and/or
treatment for the sick or injured.
State Fire Training Academies: SFTAs
operating in any of the 50 States, as well
as the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam,
American Samoa, or the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico. Applicants must be
designated either by legislation or by a
Governor’s declaration as the sole fire
service training agency within a State,
territory, or the District of Columbia.
The designated SFTA shall be the only
agency/bureau/division, or entity within
that State, territory, or the District of
Columbia.
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 or nonaffiliated EMS
organizations 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 program area
(e.g., Equipment, Modify Facilities, PPE,
Training, and/or Wellness and Fitness
Programs) FEMA will carefully review
each program for eligibility.
•Fire-based EMS organizations are
not eligible to apply as nonaffiliated
EMS organizations. Fire-based EMS
training and equipment must be
requested by a fire department under
the AFG Program component program of
Operations and Safety.
•Eligible applicants may submit only
one application for each activity (e.g.,
Operations and Safety, Regional, etc.),
but may submit for multiple projects
within each activity. Under the Vehicle
Activity, applicants may submit one
application for vehicles for their
department and one separate
application to host a Regional vehicle.
Duplicate applications (more than one
application in the same activity) may be
disqualified.
•An Operations and Safety applicant
may submit one application for an
eligible project (ie.g., turn out gear); it
may not submit a Regional application
for the same project.
Statutory Limits to Funding
•Congress has enacted statutory
limits to the amount of funding that a
grant recipient may receive from the
AFG Program in any single fiscal year
based on the population served (15
U.S.C. 2229(c)(2)). Awards will be
limited based on the size of the
population protected by the applicant,
as indicated below. Notwithstanding the
annual limits stated below, the
Administrator of FEMA may not award
a grant in an amount that exceeds one
percent of the available grant funds in
such fiscal year, except where it is
determined that such recipient has an
extraordinary need for a grant in an
amount that exceeds the one percent
aggregate limit.
•In the case of a recipient that serves
a jurisdiction with 100,000 people or
fewer, the amount of available grant
funds awarded to such recipient shall
not exceed $1 million in any fiscal year.
•In the case of a recipient that serves
a jurisdiction with more than 100,000
people, but not more than 500,000
people, the amount of available grant
funds awarded to such recipient shall
not exceed $2 million in any fiscal year.
•In the case of a recipient that serves
a jurisdiction with more than 500,000,
but not more than 1 million people, the
amount of available grant funds
awarded to such recipient shall not
exceed $3 million in any fiscal year.
•In the case of a recipient that serves
a jurisdiction with more than 1 million
people but not more than 2.5 million
people, the amount of available grant
funds awarded to such recipient is
subject to the one percent aggregate cap
of $3.55 million for FY 2020, but FEMA
may waive this aggregate cap in
individual cases where FEMA
determines that a recipient has an
extraordinary need for a grant that
exceeds the aggregate cap; if FEMA
waives the aggregate cap, the amount of
grant funds awarded to such recipient
shall not exceed $6 million for any
fiscal year.
•In the case of a recipient that serves
a jurisdiction with more than 2.5
million people, the amount of available
grant funds awarded to such recipient is
subject to the one percent aggregate cap
of $3.55 million for FY 2020, but FEMA
may waive this aggregate cap in
individual cases where FEMA
determines that a recipient has an
extraordinary need for a grant that
exceeds the aggregate cap; if FEMA
waives the aggregate cap, the amount of
grant funds awarded to such recipient
shall not exceed $9 million for any
fiscal year.
•FEMA may not waive the
population-based limits on the amount
of grant funds awarded as set by 15
U.S.C. 2229(c)(2)(A).
The cumulative total of the Federal
share of awards in Operations and
Safety, Regional, and Vehicle
Acquisition activities will be considered
when assessing award amounts and any
limitations thereto. Applicants may
request funding up to the statutory limit
on each of their applications.
For example, an applicant that serves
a jurisdiction with more than 100,000
people, but not more than 500,000
people, may request up to $2 million on
their Operations and Safety Application,
and up to $2 million on their Vehicle
Acquisition request. However, should
both grants be awarded, the applicant
would have to choose which award to
accept if the cumulative value of both
applications exceeds the statutory
limits.
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
applicable Federal regulations at 2 CFR
part 200, but they are not required to
have the cost-share at the time of
application nor at the time of award.
However, before a grant is awarded,
FEMA validates that the grant recipient
has provided sufficient evidence that
the cost-share requirement will be
fulfilled during the period of the grant
award.
In general, an eligible applicant
seeking a grant shall agree to make
available non-Federal funds equal to not
less than 15 percent of the grant
awarded. However, the cost share will
vary as follows based on the size of the
population served by the organization,
with exceptions to this general
requirement for entities serving smaller
communities:
•Applicants that serve populations
of 20,000 or less shall agree to make
available non-Federal funds in an
amount equal to not less than 5 percent
of the grant awarded.
•Applicants serving areas with
populations above 20,000, but not more
than 1 million, shall agree to make
available non-Federal funds in an
amount equal to not less than 10 percent
of the grant awarded.
•Applicants serving areas with
populations above 1 million shall agree
to make available non-Federal funds in
an amount equal to not less than 15
percent of the grant awarded.
The cost share for SFTAs will apply
the requirements above based on the
total population of the State.
The cost share for a regional
application will apply the requirements
above based on the aggregate population
of the primary first due response areas
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of the host and participating partner
organizations that execute a
Memorandum of Understanding as
described in Appendix B, Section J,
Regional projects, of the FY 2020 AFG
Program NOFO.
On a case-by-case basis, FEMA may
allow a grant recipient that may already
own assets (equipment or vehicles),
acquired with non-Federal cash, to use
the trade-in allowance/credit value of
those assets as ‘‘cash’’ for the purpose of
meeting the cost-share obligation of
their AFG Program award. In-kind, cost-
share matches are not allowed.
Grant recipients under this grant
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 percent 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 at the request of the grant
recipient, the Administrator of FEMA
may waive or reduce a grant recipient’s
cost share requirement or maintenance
of expenditure requirement. AFG
Program applicants for FY 2020 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
has published these guidelines at
FEMA’s website: https://www.fema.gov/
sites/default/files/2020-04/Eco_
Hardship_Waiver_FPS_SAFER_AFG_IB_
FINAL.pdf.
Prior to the start of the FY 2020 AFG
Program application period, FEMA
conducted applicant internet webinars
to inform potential applicants about the
AFG Program. In addition, FEMA
provided applicants with information at
the AFG Program website: https://
www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/
firefighters to help them prepare quality
grant applications. The AFG Program
Help Desk is staffed throughout the
application period to assist applicants
with the automated application process
as well as assistance with any questions.
Applicants can reach the AFG
Program Help Desk through a toll-free
telephone number during normal
business hours (1–866–274–0960) or
electronic mail firegrants@fema.dhs.gov.
Application Process
Organizations may submit one
application per application period in
each of the three AFG Program activities
(e.g., one application for Operations and
Safety, one for Vehicle Acquisition,
and/or a separate application to be a
Joint/Regional Project host). If an
organization submits more than one
application for any single AFG Program
activity (e.g., two applications for
Operations and Safety, two for Vehicles,
etc.), either intentionally or
unintentionally, both applications may
be disqualified.
Applicants accessed the grant
application electronically at https://
go.fema.gov. The application is also
accessible from the U.S. Fire
Administration’s website http://
www.usfa.fema.gov and http://
www.grants.gov. New applicants must
register and establish a user name and
password for secure access to the grant
application. Previous AFG Program
applicants must use their previously
established user name and passwords.
Applicants are expected to answer
questions about their grant request that
reflect the AFG Program funding
priorities, described below. In addition,
each applicant must complete four
separate narratives for each project or
grant activity requested. Grant
applicants will also provide relevant
information about their organization’s
characteristics, call volume, and
existing organizational capabilities.
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 Awards
Management, and registration is free of
charge. Applicants must maintain
current information in SAM that is
consistent with the data provided in
their AFG Program grant application
and in the Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS)
database. FEMA may not accept any
application, process any awards, or
consider any payment or amendment
requests, unless the applicant or grant
recipient has complied with the
requirements to provide a valid DUNS
number and an active SAM registration.
The grant applicant’s banking
information, EIN, organization/entity
name, address, and DUNS number must
match the same information provided in
SAM.
Criteria Development Panel
Recommendations
If there are any differences between
the published AFG 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 AFG Program. For FY 2020,
FEMA accepted, and will implement, all
but two of the CDP’s recommendations
for the prioritization of eligible
activities.
Adopted Recommendations for FY 2020
The FY 2020 AFG Program NOFO
contains some changes to definitions,
descriptions, and priority categories.
Changes to the FY 2020 AFG Program
NOFO include:
•Under Sections D—Application and
Submission Information, E—
Application Review Information, F—
Federal Award Administration
Information, G—DHS Awarding Agency
Contact and Resource. Information, and
H—Additional Information:
ÆVarious grants management
changes due to the recent OMB revision
to 2 CFR In particular, changes
regarding SAM registration,
performance measures, procurement,
closeout, and termination are included.
•Under Federal Award Information:
ÆPeriod of performance for AFG
Program awards is 24 months.
•Under Supporting Definitions:
ÆPaid on-call/Stipend departments
are added to the definition for
Combination Fire Department.
•Under Application Tips:
ÆExplanation of AFG Program-
approved seated riding positions was
added.
•Under Training Activity:
ÆRental of Audio/Visual equipment
was added as eligible activity.
•Under Operations and Safety
Activity:
ÆRadio over internet Protocol (RoIP)
communication equipment was added
as a Medium Priority.
ÆIntegrated thermal imaging cameras
were added to the ineligible list under
the PPE category.
•Under Modifications to Facility
Activity:
ÆIntruder alerting systems and
deployment notification systems were
added as ineligible.
•Under Regional Applications:
ÆGuidance requiring purchases from
same vendor added.
•Under Environmental Planning and
Historic Preservation (EHP):
ÆUpdated process for EHP added.
•Under Award Administration
Information (Appendix C):
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19634
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 70 / Wednesday, April 14, 2021 / Notices
ÆUpdated process for Economic
Hardship Waiver added.
ÆExcess Funds Restrictions specifies
High Priority items as eligible under this
option.
ÆUpdated instruction on supporting
documentation is added for advance
and reimbursement payment request.
Recommendations Not Adopted for FY
2020
•The CDP recommended that fire
departments implement a requirement
where National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA) standards listed as
1582 physicals become a requirement
for all awards. FEMA recommends
evaluating the impact of this
requirement prior to implementation.
Data on fire departments’ abilities to
meet this standard was collected in the
FY 2020 application. It will not be
considered during the application
review.
•The CDP recommended that FEMA
adopt new definitions for career and
combination departments to align with
NFPA changes in the 1710 and 1720
standards. FEMA is unable to adopt this
recommendation as it conflicts with
statutory definitions.
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2229.
Robert Fenton,
Senior Official Performing the Duties of the
FEMA Administrator, Federal Emergency
Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2021–07576 Filed 4–13–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111–64–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R2–ES–2020–N125;
FXES11140200000–212–FF02ENEH00]
Application for an Incidental Take
Permit; Renewable (Wind and Solar)
Energy, Power Line, and
Communication Tower Habitat
Conservation Plan for the Lesser
Prairie-Chicken; Colorado, Kansas,
New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas
AGENCY
: Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION
: Notice of availability; request
for comments.
SUMMARY
: This notice advises the public
that LPC Conservation LLC (applicant)
has applied to the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service) for an
incidental take permit (ITP) supported
by the Renewable (Wind and Solar)
Energy, Power Line, and
Communication Tower Habitat
Conservation Plan for the Lesser Prairie-
chicken; Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico,
Oklahoma and Texas (HCP). The
applicant has applied to the Service for
the ITP pursuant to the Endangered
Species Act. The requested ITP, if
approved, would authorize incidental
take of the lesser prairie-chicken
resulting from activities covered by the
HCP (e.g., wind, solar, transmission
lines, and communication towers) and
incidental take resulting from
conservation actions taken to avoid,
minimize, and mitigate impacts of the
incidental take of the LEPC that result
from covered activities. If approved, the
requested ITP would become effective
should the LEPC become federally listed
during the life of the ITP and HCP. With
this notice we also announce the
availability of a draft environmental
assessment (EA) that has been prepared
to evaluate the ITP application in
accordance with the requirements of the
National Environmental Policy Act. We
are making the ITP application package,
including the HCP and draft EA,
available for public review and
comment.
DATES
: Submission of comments: We
will accept comments received or
postmarked on or before May 14, 2021.
ADDRESSES
: Obtaining documents: You
may obtain copies of the ITP
application, HCP, draft EA, or other
related documents on the internet at
https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/
ArlingtonTexas.
Submitting comments: You may
submit written comments by email to
arles@fws.gov. Please note that your
comment is in reference to the above-
referenced HCP. For more information,
see Public Availability of Comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
:
Debra Bills, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Arlington, Texas,
Ecological Services Office; telephone
817–277–1100. Hearing or speech
impaired individuals may call the
Federal Relay Service at 800–877–8339
for TTY service.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
: We, the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service),
make available the Renewable (Wind
and Solar) Energy, Power Line, and
Communication Tower Habitat
Conservation Plan for the Lesser Prairie-
chicken; Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico,
Oklahoma and Texas (HCP). The LPC
Conservation LLC (applicant) has
applied for an incidental take permit
(ITP). If approved, the requested ITP
would become effective and authorize
incidental take of the lesser prairie-
chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus;
LEPC) should the LEPC become
federally listed during the life of the ITP
and HCP under the Endangered Species
Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
We are considering issuing a section
10(a)(1)(B) ITP for the LEPC, a species
that is not currently listed under the
ESA, in response to the applicant’s
application and supporting HCP. While
our 2016 revised HCP handbook
(Handbook) provides guidance that an
ITP and supporting HCP include at least
one ESA-listed animal species, the
issuance of this ITP could provide for
LEPC conservation in several ways.
First, the proposed HCP may meet the
Service’s conservation recommendation
for the LEPC because it emphasizes
avoidance and minimization, and
focuses mitigation in areas that can
serve as conservation strongholds for
this species. Depending on enrollment,
this mitigation strategy could help to
preclude the need to list the LEPC or
could help to recover the LEPC, if listing
is warranted in the future. Second, the
proposed HCP would provide taxpayer
and industry savings in the use of one
conservation planning strategy. In
contrast, developing a CCAA prior to a
future listing and developing an HCP, or
multiple HCPs, after a potential future
listing is inefficient for both the Federal
agencies and industry participants. The
proposed HCP would be more efficient
because potential participants could
enroll on a project-by-project basis
either pre- or post a future listing. This
allows for greater, more consistent, and
more predictable conservation efforts to
be undertaken. Third, with this
proposed HCP, the Service would issue
a permit that does not go into effect
until a future listing, if it occurs. This
is the same as our practice for permits
associated with CCAAs and ITPs
associated with multi-species HCPs that
include unlisted species. Finally, the
proposed HCP also supports States’
management ability of the unlisted
species similar to CCAAs in that the
proposed ITP does not become effective
until such time that the covered species
may be listed. Prelisting participation is
voluntary for participants and provides
the affected States continued regulatory
authority regarding wildlife species.
We believe considering a HCP
without a currently listed species, in
this instance, is supported by the
Conference Report to the 1982
Amendments that created HCPs
(Conference Report) which expressly
considered both listed and unlisted
species, H.R. Rep No. 97–835, at 30
(1982). The Conference Report states
that ‘‘although the conservation plan is
keyed to the permit provisions of the
Act which only apply to listed species,
the committee intends that conservation
plans may address both listed and
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