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By Corey Carlson

The was established in 2000 by the 106th Congress. The program was designed to provide direct federal grants to fire departments and emergency medical service (EMS) organizations.

Since its inception in 2001, the AFG program has awarded approximately $8.1 billion in grants to fire departments and emergency medical service organizations across the United States. These funds have been instrumental in equipping first responders with essential resources, improving first responder safety, and enhancing emergency response capabilities.

The available funding for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 AFG was $291.6 million. The 2024 AFG application opened Nov. 12, 2024, and closed on Dec. 20, 2024.

Review Process

The AFG program follows a multi-phase review process to ensure that funding is awarded to the most deserving applicants. This process includes pre-scoring, peer review, and technical evaluation.

1. Pre-scoring process

Once the application period closes, each submission undergoes an electronic pre-scoring process. This phase evaluates applications based on:

• Program priorities outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
• Activity-specific responses within the online application.
• Budget and request details, ensuring compliance with statutory funding limitations.

At this stage, application narratives are not reviewed, and the pre-score accounts for half of the total application score.

2. Peer review panel

Applications with the highest pre-scores move to the Peer Review Panel phase. This panel consists of fire service representatives recommended by national organizations. The reviewers assess applications based on:

• Narrative statements explaining the requested activity.
• Evaluation criteria such as community impact, financial need, and alignment with program goals.

Each panelist independently scores applications, discusses merits with peers, and documents findings. Consensus is not required, and the panel score makes up the remaining half of the total application score.

3. Technical evaluation

Applications ranked within the fundable range undergo further scrutiny:

• Subject-matter expert review to verify technical feasibility.
• FEMA Program Office review to ensure compliance with grant requirements.

Only applications that pass all phases are recommended for funding.

AFG status update

The formal review process is complete and award notifications are expected to start in the very near future. AFG awards are historically announced in batches on Fridays until all funding is obligated.

As the 2024 awards roll out, preparation for the 2025 AFG will begin. Although the timeline is still fluid, it is expected that the 2025 application period will be within the 2025 calendar year.

How to apply:

FEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO) is the grants management system that supports FEMA grants programs. The system allows users to apply, track and manage all disaster and non-disaster grants.

Applicants, recipients and subrecipients can log in at: .

To apply for and receive funding from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, applicants must comply with System for Award Management (SAM) requirements. SAM is a federal database that tracks entities receiving government funds.

Key SAM Requirements for AFG Applicants

1. SAM Registration – All applicants must be registered in SAM.gov before submitting an AFG application. Without a valid registration, applicants cannot receive grant funds.
2. Annual Renewal – SAM registrations must be renewed and revalidated annually to remain active.
3. Validation Process – After submitting a SAM registration, applicants must:
   
   • Validate their account through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
   • Obtain a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code.
4. Payment Eligibility – A valid SAM registration is required for:
   
   • Grant awards
   • Payment requests
   • Amendments to existing grants
5. Technical Assistance – For SAM-related issues, applicants can contact the Federal Service Desk at 866-606-8220.

Application tips

When preparing an application for AFG, it is imperative to review the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to align your request with the program priorities.

When seeking funding for EMS equipment, only select equipment that is listed as a high priority.

High priority EMS equipment includes: Airway Equipment, CPAP device, Suction Unit, AEDs, Automatic Chest Compression Systems, EMS training aids, Cardiac Monitor/Defibrillators, Power Lift Cots, Power Lift Systems, Pulse Oximeters, Responder Rehab Equipment, Power Stair Chair, Patient Carbon Monoxide Monitor, and Capnography/Capnometer Device.

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Another key point to evaluate is the current situation/capabilities of your equipment and the age of that equipment. AFG has assigned Age Categories to each equipment category (short 5-7 years, intermediate 8-14 years or long 15-20 years).

If you are looking to replace equipment, your department/agency’s current equipment should be older than the lifespan listed. For example, Cardiac Monitor/Defibrillators are assigned the short life span (5-7 years).

A strong, competitive application would be to replace cardiac monitor/defibrillators that were at least 7 years old and lacking technological advances that are currently available in the marketplace.

AFG has many useful tools and guidance documents to assist in developing a compelling application. Please see the FEMA website for more information: . The Self- Evaluation guide is excellent to cross-reference your narrative content to meet the scoring criteria for peer review.

Purpose and benefits:

The AFG program was established to improve fire safety and emergency response across the country. It aims to:

• Provide essential equipment – funding enables departments to purchase turnout gear, communication systems, firefighting apparatus, EMS equipment and protective clothing.
• Support first responder training – grants help cover costs for professional development and certifications.
• Improve response capabilities – funding can be used to upgrade fire stations, invest in advanced technology, and enhance emergency medical services.
• Enhance community safety – by strengthening local capabilities, the program ultimately benefits the public by ensuring efficient disaster response, emergency medical response and fire prevention efforts.

Conclusion

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant plays an invaluable role in strengthening emergency response capabilities. By providing crucial funding to fire departments and EMS services, the program ensures that first responders have the resources they need to safeguard lives and property.