Opportunity Information: Apply for DHS 10 USFA 103 000 01

  • The Department of Homeland Security FEMA in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Degrees at a Distance Program (DDP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 97.103 Degrees at a Distance Program.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Apr 1, 2010 and posted on Apr 1, 2010.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by May 1, 2010. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $70,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education.
  • Identified DDP colleges/universities.
Apply for DHS 10 USFA 103 000 01

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Opportunity Summary:

The Degrees at a Distance Program (DDP) grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DHS 10 USFA 103 000 01) was a discretionary funding program offered through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and FEMA, specifically under the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). The purpose of the program was to strengthen and expand higher-education pathways for fire service professionals by supporting colleges and universities that participate in the National Fire Academy-designated DDP network. In practical terms, the grant was designed to help institutions build and sustain distance-learning options that let fire service personnel work toward a bachelors degree, or complete college-level coursework in a fire-related concentration, without needing to attend on-campus classes.

The activities the grant intended to fund were centered on building the infrastructure and partnerships needed to make these distance programs work well. Allowable uses included curriculum development (creating or improving fire-related courses and academic content suitable for remote delivery), support for regional meetings (bringing partners and stakeholders together to coordinate program implementation), and program marketing (outreach intended to increase awareness and participation among fire service personnel). The grant also supported printing and publication of course materials, which reflects the reality that many distance programs at the time relied heavily on physical course packets and printed resources. Another key emphasis was initiating institutional agreements with local two-year college degree programs and other partner colleges/universities, helping create clearer transfer and articulation pathways so students could move from associate-level coursework into bachelors-level completion programs more smoothly.

The opportunity was structured as a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, meaning the federal agency typically expects a more hands-on relationship with awardees than a simple pass-through of funds. While the summary does not spell out the exact level of federal involvement, cooperative agreements generally imply coordination, guidance, or shared oversight during execution to ensure the project aligns with USFA and National Fire Academy DDP objectives.

Funding levels were relatively modest and intended to support targeted program development rather than large-scale institutional expansion. The estimated total funding available was $70,000, with an expected 7 awards, and an award ceiling of $10,000 per recipient. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement, which reduces barriers for eligible institutions and simplifies budgeting for applicants.

Eligibility was limited and specific. Applicants needed to be private institutions of higher education, and more specifically they had to be identified DDP colleges and universities, meaning institutions already designated by the National Fire Academy to participate in the Degrees at a Distance Program network. This indicates the competition was not open to every college; it was designed to resource and enhance an existing set of approved DDP partners rather than create new ones from scratch.

Key timeline details show this was a time-limited opportunity posted on April 1, 2010, with an application deadline of May 1, 2010, and an archive date of May 31, 2010. The program falls under CFDA 97.103 (Degrees at a Distance Program), which is the federal assistance listing used for tracking and reporting.

For applicants needing help accessing the full announcement, the point of contact listed was the FEMA Call Center at (866) 927-5646, with additional support via the email address ASK GMD@dhs.gov. The opportunity also referenced Grants.gov (www.grants.gov) as the source for the official posting and full application materials.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Degrees at a Distance Program (DDP) grant opportunity?

The Degrees at a Distance Program (DDP) grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DHS 10 USFA 103 000 01) was a discretionary funding program offered through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and FEMA, under the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). It was intended to strengthen and expand higher-education pathways for fire service professionals through the National Fire Academy-designated DDP network.

What was the main purpose of this funding?

The purpose was to help participating colleges and universities build and sustain distance-learning options so fire service personnel could work toward a bachelors degree (or complete college-level coursework in a fire-related concentration) without needing to attend on-campus classes.

Which federal agencies were involved in offering the program?

The opportunity was offered through DHS and FEMA, specifically under FEMA's U.S. Fire Administration (USFA).

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?

The Funding Opportunity Number listed for this opportunity is DHS 10 USFA 103 000 01.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The program falls under CFDA 97.103 (Degrees at a Distance Program).

What types of activities were intended to be funded?

The grant was intended to fund activities that support the infrastructure and partnerships needed for distance-learning programs, including curriculum development, support for regional meetings, program marketing, printing and publication of course materials, and initiating institutional agreements with local two-year colleges and other partner colleges/universities.

Is curriculum development an allowable use of funds?

Yes. Curriculum development was specifically identified as an allowable use, including creating or improving fire-related courses and academic content suitable for remote delivery.

Were regional meetings an allowable expense under this opportunity?

Yes. The opportunity identified support for regional meetings as an allowable use, intended to bring partners and stakeholders together to coordinate program implementation.

Could applicants use grant funds for marketing and outreach?

Yes. Program marketing was listed as an intended activity, focused on outreach to increase awareness and participation among fire service personnel.

Did the program allow printing and publication of course materials?

Yes. Printing and publication of course materials were included among the intended activities to be funded.

Did the opportunity support agreements with two-year colleges and other partner institutions?

Yes. A key emphasis was initiating institutional agreements with local two-year college degree programs and other partner colleges/universities to support transfer and articulation pathways into bachelors-level completion programs.

What type of award was this: a standard grant or something else?

This opportunity was structured as a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant.

What does it mean that the award was a cooperative agreement?

Based on the description provided, a cooperative agreement generally implies a more hands-on relationship between the federal agency and the awardee than a simple pass-through of funds. While the exact level of involvement was not detailed here, the structure typically involves coordination, guidance, or shared oversight to ensure alignment with USFA and National Fire Academy DDP objectives.

How much total funding was available under this opportunity?

The estimated total funding available was $70,000.

How many awards were expected to be made?

The opportunity anticipated approximately 7 awards.

What was the maximum award amount per recipient?

The award ceiling was $10,000 per recipient.

Was there a cost sharing or matching requirement?

No. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement stated for this opportunity.

Who was eligible to apply for this funding?

Eligibility was limited to private institutions of higher education that were identified DDP colleges and universities, meaning institutions already designated by the National Fire Academy to participate in the Degrees at a Distance Program network.

Was this opportunity open to any college or university?

No. The information provided indicates it was not open to every college. Applicants needed to be National Fire Academy-designated DDP colleges and universities, and they had to be private institutions of higher education.

Does the opportunity indicate it was intended to create new DDP partners?

No. The description indicates the funding was designed to resource and enhance an existing set of approved DDP partners rather than create new ones from scratch.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on April 1, 2010.

What was the application deadline?

The application deadline was May 1, 2010.

When was the opportunity archived?

The archive date was May 31, 2010.

Where could applicants find the official posting and application materials?

The opportunity referenced Grants.gov (www.grants.gov) as the source for the official posting and full application materials.

Who could applicants contact for help with the announcement or access issues?

The point of contact listed was the FEMA Call Center at (866) 927-5646. Additional support was provided via email at ASK GMD@dhs.gov.

What kinds of outcomes was the program trying to support for fire service personnel?

The program aimed to make it easier for fire service personnel to pursue a bachelors degree or complete college-level coursework in a fire-related concentration through distance-learning options rather than on-campus attendance.

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