COMPLETE & SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION: THE FY 2019 STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE (SAFER) APPLICATION

The FY 2019 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant application period closes this Friday, May 15, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. ET.

There is still plenty of time to complete and submit your FY 2019 SAFER application. Review the FY 2019 SAFER application guidance materials below and apply today.

SAFER Application Guidance Materials

• Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
• FY 2019 SAFER Hiring Webinar
• FY 2019 SAFER Recruitment and Retention Webinar
• Economic Hardship Waivers
• SAFER Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Self-Evaluation – Hiring of Firefighters
  • Career, combination, and volunteer fire departments
• Self-Evaluation – Recruitment and Retention – Fire Departments
  • Combination and volunteer fire departments
• Self-Evaluation – Recruitment and Retention – Interest Organizations
  • National, State, Local, or Tribal Volunteer Firefighters Interest Organizations
• Recruitment and Retention – Request Details Description Instructions
  • This document will provide Recruitment and Retention applicants with a list of the categories and sub-category available in the application as well as information on the level of details needed for each budget line item.
• FEMA GO Account Creation User Guide

SAFER Grants Help Desk: If you have questions about the NOFOs or technical assistance tools, call or e-mail the SAFER Help Desk. The toll-free number is 1-866-274-0960; e-mail address for questions is [email protected]. The SAFER Help Desk is open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. ET.

APPLICATION PORTAL

The online application is available through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program’s FEMA GO (FEMA Grants Outcomes) portal at https://go.fema.gov.

All users have their own FEMA GO account. Each account is specific to the authorized user and must not be shared with other personnel. A FEMA GO Account Creation User Guide can be viewed on the AFGP website or downloaded to your computer. An application number will be assigned when the application is started. Be sure to write it down for future reference.

NOTE:  When completing the Applicant Information section, the “applicant name” should be the name of the fire department or organization applying for the grant, not the name of the person who is completing the application.

Web Browser Information

FEMA GO is compatible with Internet Explorer (version 11 or higher), Firefox (version 73 or higher), or Chrome (version 80 or higher). Users who attempt to use tablet type devices or other browsers may encounter issues with using FEMA GO.

Application Review Checklist

• Proofread your application: Mistakes or errors on your SAFER application can disqualify your organization for grant award consideration.

• Remove any “filler” or placeholder text and update each application field with your final answer.
• Does your narrative explain your organizations needs in a way that someone would easily understand? Have you compared your narrative against the Self Evaluation Guides?
• Make sure that you have described your organization’s needs in your voice, do not use boilerplate language or copy from vendors, manufacturers, etc.
• Check the quantities and costs for all budgeted line items that you are requesting and confirm that there are no discrepancies between the Request Details section of the application and the Narrative.
• Ensure that you have included costs for all items and/or activities that are needed to implement your grant, if awarded.
• Have all application fields, or questions, been answered?
• Ask a colleague who is not involved with the actual writing of the grant to proofread your application.
• Make sure that all facts and figures are accurate throughout the entire application.

SAM.GOV REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR AND RECEIVE GRANTS

All eligible applicants must be registered and active in the System for Award Management (SAM) before they can both begin and submit an application. Per 2 CFR § 25.205, FEMA may not make an award to an entity until the entity has complied with the requirements to provide a valid DUNS number and maintain an active SAM.gov registration with current information. SAM.gov consolidates federal procurement systems and the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA). To register, or validate your information, please visit: https://www.sam.gov/SAM/.

SAM.gov Registration Tips:

Please ensure the following items are current in SAM and the DUNS number used in SAM is the same one you use for all FEMA applications:

• Organization’s name
• Address
• Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
• Employer Identification Number (EIN)
• Banking information (type of account [checking or saving], routing number and account number
• Many websites may look official in appearance but are not. As a reminder, registration in SAM.gov is FREE.
• SAM.gov registration is only active for one year and must be renewed annually.
• This information should be consistent in all registration documents.

Should you need assistance with your SAM.gov account, there are several ways to get help:

• Submit your SAM.gov question online to the Federal Service Help Desk at https://www.fsd.gov/fsd-gov/home.do.
• Call the Federal Service Help Desk toll free at 1-866-606-8220; open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.
• Quick Start Guides for Grant Registrations and SAM Video Tutorial for New Applicants are tools created by the General Services Administration to assist those registering with the System for Award Management (SAM).

SUBMITTING PREPARER INFORMATION

FEMA requires that all applicants identify any individual or organization that assisted with the development, preparation, or review of the application to include drafting or writing the narrative and budget, whether that person, entity, or agent is compensated or not and whether the assistance took place prior to submitting the application. Please ensure that this information is accurate at the time of submission. As a reminder, all applicants must attest that all information contained within the application, including preparer information, to be true, complete, and accurate to the best of their knowledge. If you contract with a grant writer and they either refuse or provide advice to not list them in the preparer information section of the application, please notify the SAFER program office.

HAVE LAST-MINUTE QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS?

If you have last-minute questions about applying for a SAFER grant, or are having technical problems with the electronic application, call the Help Desk at 1-866-274-0960 or send an e-mail to [email protected]. The Help Desk staff will be on hand Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to help applicants through the end of the application period.

• Having computer or technical problems? Late submissions will not be accepted even if due to problems such as expired passwords or technical malfunctions. If you are having a problem submitting your application, you must report the problem to the Help Desk before the application deadline of Friday May,15 2020 at 5 p.m. ET.
• Formal submission of the completed application is required. Many applications appear to be complete but have not been officially submitted into the FEMA GO system. No application will be processed automatically or considered for funding unless the applicant properly submits the request and receives a subsequent e-mail confirmation.
• FEMA GO automatically records proof of timely submission and the system generates an electronic date/time stamp when FEMA GO successfully receives the application. The individual with the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) role that submitted the application will also receive the official date/time stamp and a FEMA GO tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission on the date and time that FEMA GO received the application. Applications received by FEMA GO after the extended application submission deadline will be considered late and will not be considered for funding.