FP & S has me puzzled

[sdfireman]

I have put together a regional application for FP&S. My question is when filling out the app online, do I use my departments information since it is our name on the application or do I use the region (13 fire departments all together)? There is a huge difference when it comes to the matching funds. My home territory population falls under the 5% match while the region population falls under the 20% match. Any insight would be helpful.

[BC79er]

Your department information gets entered, but the match will be 20% because it is a regional effort.

[AFD2181]

Brian,

I thought that regional projects were not allowed under the FP&S program?

[BC79er]

Under the PG:

Firefighter Safety: National or regional projects that promote the reduction of
line of duty deaths (LODD) through National mitigation strategies.
Training: Local or regional projects to educate or train personnel in the area
of public education, code enforcement and arson prevention.

The PG also states on several occasions about involving other groups, be they civic or other FDs. The app doesn't allow for a regional marking like they did with AFG for this year, but it's being treated like the old AFG apps where the region was explained in the narrative portion and the total populations calculated for the matching requirements.

The trick would be to find another entity to host that isn't a fire department, such as a county fire marshals office or firefighter's association. They don't have to match projects, just FDs & EMS organizations do. This is why reading the PG closely is important...

[onebugle]

I posed the same question last week in regards to FP&S regional projects for clarification. Their answer:

Absolutely, a regional application is eligible for FP&S. One
organization will need to take the lead and outline the project and
partners within the application.

[sdfireman]

I was hoping to find a different organization to submitt it. I posed it to our county emergency management office and they don't want to get involved. I was thinking about our county chief's association but that might be a little shady as well. Any thoughts?

[BC79er]

As long as they have an EIN they are eligible to apply. I went overboard trying to clarify the fact that only FDs & EMS have to match. Even if the associations host for the sole benefit of the FDs around them, still no matching.

[tomcook18]

If a fire safety trailer is request in the grant, does the Fire Prevention and Safety Grant allow for a truck to pull the trailer?

[Limeforever]

There is a limit of $6000 for a tow vehicle I believe. Brian, Kurt should be able to clarify on this for sure. When I read the guidance, that seems to be the figure that sticks in my mind. I would suggest at minimum a 3/4 ton, we use a dually to pull ours, and still is not easy in some of the wind that we have been having.

[BC79er]

Lime would be correct, $6K limit on a tow vehicle. This is where government surplus and other such outlets are good to check for vehicles. Ain't gotta be pretty, just a good tranny and motor. If you have a Maaco or something in the area always worth hitting up people for donations of paint & body work, or work at cost.