For information on how to apply, see the FY 2011 SAFER Grant Program Guidance and Application Kit. Applicants may choose from a variety of resources available on the SAFER Grants Web pageto help them develop an application, including SAFER Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), a SAFER Quick Guide, a Recruitment and Retention of Volunteers video, applicant self-evaluations, and more. SAFER Help Desk specialists can answer questions by telephone (toll-free at 1-866-274-0960) or by e-mail (firegrants@dhs.gov.) The Help Desk hours of operation during the application period are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time
In late December, 2011, Congress and the President approved waivers for the FY 2011 SAFER Grant Program, which reduced the period of performance for Hiring Grants and eliminated the commitment to retain the firefighters for 1 year beyond the period of performance. The statements in the SAFER Program Guidance and Application Kit on these issues are CORRECT. Unfortunately, the text in the online application could not be revised before the grant application period opened. Therefore, the statements in the online application about the 4-year period of performance and the need to retain firefighters are INCORRECT for FY 2011. For FY 2011 grantees, the period of performance is TWO (2) years, not four (4), and grantees will NOT be required to retain newly hired firefighter beyond the 2-year period of performance.
Specific Corrections to the SAFER Hiring Grant Application
Request Details, Question 1:
"Grants awarded under the hiring category require the grantees to maintain their staffing and incur no lay-offs during the four year period of performance. In addition, all grants awarded under the new hire category are required to retain the SAFER-funded firefighters for one full year after the end of the period of performance." As stated above, the text in the online application about the 4-year period of performance and the need to retain firefighters is INCORRECT for FY 2011; for FY 2011 grantees, the period of performance is 2 years, not 4 years, and grantees will NOT be required to retain newly hired firefighter beyond the 2-year period of performance. The prohibition against layoffs throughout the period of performance remains.
Budget Screen.
Applicants must enter data for 4 budget years even though only 2 years of funding can be awarded for the Hiring of Firefighters Category. Applicants should follow these instructions on how to complete the application:
- For budget years one (1) and two (2), input the requested salary and benefits for each line item;
- For budget years three (3) and four (4) insert $1.00 for both the salary and benefits
NOTE: The system will not allow an input of $0 value. If an applicant submits a budget request for year three (3) and year four (4), the budget will be reduced prior to the grant award.
Ongoing Support for SAFER Applicants
The AFG has notified potential applicants in the fire service of the issues with the online SAFER application through e-mail announcements to the AFG mailing list, information on the AFG/SAFER Website, and announcements on the initial privacy screen of the online application. Fire program specialists on the SAFER Grants Help Desk have been briefed on the issues with the SAFER online application and are prepared to answer applicants' questions. Periodic updates and reminders about the application and other SAFER-related issues will continue throughout the application period.
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