BC79er
09-13-2007, 03:11 PM
Everyone that applied for SCBA should have gotten this in the Mail Center as well as the Profile Contact's email, but just in case you haven't seen it:
Please note - if you have not received an award package or turndown decision from your FY2007 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) application, then the policy notification which follows is NOT an indication that you will receive an award. We are, however, trying to ensure that all applicants for SCBA's are aware of the procedures and process that AFG will follow in implementing the recently effective, new SCBA standard.
The Assistance to Firefighter Program Office is aware of NFPA's 2007 change in the SCBA standard (NFPA 1981). This new standard is effective as of September 1, 2007, and from that date forward, grantees will be required to purchase SCBA that is certified to the 2007 edition of NFPA 1981. We understand that there may be a price increase for SCBA that is compliant with the new standard; unfortunately, we have no pricing data to determine what a reasonable allowance would be for the new SCBA. In light of this, we have therefore been assigning, and will continue to assign a value of $5,000 to grant awards as a price for an entire SCBA ensemble including a spare cylinder.
For grants awarded after July 1, 2007 (whether the awards be from 2006 or 2007 program years), if it is determined that $5,000 is insufficient to cover the costs of the requested SCBA we will consider amending the award to cover the Federal-share of the difference. In order for us to consider providing grantees with additional funding, grantees must submit an amendment AND do the following:
i. Obtain no less than three bids from three different manufacturers and submit the quotes/bids (via fax or pdf) to the program office for review. The bids should include delivery dates. The bids should also include a detailed breakdown of costs for cylinders, regulators, harness (including PASS device), spare cylinders, face piece, and voice amplifier (if separate), unless the bidder is indicating that the cost of the ensemble is less than the sum of component parts, and the grantee applied for the entire ensemble; and,
ii. Provide an inventory of existing SCBA with the date of purchase (month/year) for the SCBA. This inventory may be abbreviated, for example: 6 SCBA purchased in Oct 2003; 10 SCBA purchased in June 2006, etc.
For FY2006 program year grantees awarded between December 20, 2006 (the effective date of the new standard), and June 30, 2007, that have not purchased SCBA prior to the standard change (September 1, 2007) will have to provide justification for the delay in executing their grant in order to get an extension to their period of performance. However, these 2006-grantees will not be afforded any additional funds.
For FY2006 program year grantees awarded prior to December 20, 2006, that have not purchased SCBA prior to the standard change (September 1, 2007), will not receive extensions to their grant's period of performance unless they can provide justification that the delay was beyond their control. Delaying the purchase of "urgently needed" safety equipment is generally an indication that the equipment was not needed, thus difficult to justify.
As an FYI also, you are not technically required to take low bid if the manufacturer of choice is not low bid depending on your local bid laws. But DHS will only reimburse to the matching level of the low bid. So X comes in at $6000, Y is $6400. You want Y, DHS will only match 95% of X ($5700) so you'll have to match $700/pack instead of $300.
Please note - if you have not received an award package or turndown decision from your FY2007 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) application, then the policy notification which follows is NOT an indication that you will receive an award. We are, however, trying to ensure that all applicants for SCBA's are aware of the procedures and process that AFG will follow in implementing the recently effective, new SCBA standard.
The Assistance to Firefighter Program Office is aware of NFPA's 2007 change in the SCBA standard (NFPA 1981). This new standard is effective as of September 1, 2007, and from that date forward, grantees will be required to purchase SCBA that is certified to the 2007 edition of NFPA 1981. We understand that there may be a price increase for SCBA that is compliant with the new standard; unfortunately, we have no pricing data to determine what a reasonable allowance would be for the new SCBA. In light of this, we have therefore been assigning, and will continue to assign a value of $5,000 to grant awards as a price for an entire SCBA ensemble including a spare cylinder.
For grants awarded after July 1, 2007 (whether the awards be from 2006 or 2007 program years), if it is determined that $5,000 is insufficient to cover the costs of the requested SCBA we will consider amending the award to cover the Federal-share of the difference. In order for us to consider providing grantees with additional funding, grantees must submit an amendment AND do the following:
i. Obtain no less than three bids from three different manufacturers and submit the quotes/bids (via fax or pdf) to the program office for review. The bids should include delivery dates. The bids should also include a detailed breakdown of costs for cylinders, regulators, harness (including PASS device), spare cylinders, face piece, and voice amplifier (if separate), unless the bidder is indicating that the cost of the ensemble is less than the sum of component parts, and the grantee applied for the entire ensemble; and,
ii. Provide an inventory of existing SCBA with the date of purchase (month/year) for the SCBA. This inventory may be abbreviated, for example: 6 SCBA purchased in Oct 2003; 10 SCBA purchased in June 2006, etc.
For FY2006 program year grantees awarded between December 20, 2006 (the effective date of the new standard), and June 30, 2007, that have not purchased SCBA prior to the standard change (September 1, 2007) will have to provide justification for the delay in executing their grant in order to get an extension to their period of performance. However, these 2006-grantees will not be afforded any additional funds.
For FY2006 program year grantees awarded prior to December 20, 2006, that have not purchased SCBA prior to the standard change (September 1, 2007), will not receive extensions to their grant's period of performance unless they can provide justification that the delay was beyond their control. Delaying the purchase of "urgently needed" safety equipment is generally an indication that the equipment was not needed, thus difficult to justify.
As an FYI also, you are not technically required to take low bid if the manufacturer of choice is not low bid depending on your local bid laws. But DHS will only reimburse to the matching level of the low bid. So X comes in at $6000, Y is $6400. You want Y, DHS will only match 95% of X ($5700) so you'll have to match $700/pack instead of $300.