Opportunity Information: Apply for DHS 12 GPD 083 000 99
Apply for DHS 12 GPD 083 000 99
- The Department of Homeland Security FEMA in the employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 97.083 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER).
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 29, 2012 and posted on Jul 16, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 10, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $32,062,500.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 400 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: City or township governments County governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Fire Departments
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Opportunity Summary:
The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant opportunity is a discretionary federal grant program administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), specifically FEMA's Grant Programs Directorate. The core purpose of SAFER is to strengthen a community's ability to respond to fires and emergencies by helping local fire departments maintain or improve adequate staffing levels on the front lines. In practical terms, the program is designed to put more trained firefighters on duty when they are needed most, either by adding new positions or stabilizing existing ones that might otherwise be lost.
SAFER funding is aimed at four closely related staffing needs: increasing the number of frontline firefighters, rehiring firefighters who were previously laid off, retaining firefighters who are at risk of imminent layoffs, and filling positions that became vacant through normal attrition. The program recognizes that staffing shortfalls can come from different local pressures, such as budget cuts, economic downturns, or ongoing turnover, so it offers support that can be used to restore or sustain operational readiness rather than focusing only on brand-new hiring.
The opportunity supports activities in two main categories. The first is Hiring of Firefighters, which focuses on boosting or restoring paid staffing levels so departments can meet response demands and staffing models more reliably. The second is Recruitment and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters, which targets departments that rely on volunteer personnel by helping them attract new volunteers and keep the ones they have. This second category reflects the reality that many communities, especially smaller or rural jurisdictions, depend heavily on volunteers and need resources to sustain that workforce over time.
The legal authority for SAFER comes from the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974, as amended (15 U.S.C. 2229a et seq.). FEMA notes that applicants should rely on the program guidance document for the detailed rules and expectations, because that guidance lays out the specific requirements, how applications are processed, and how FEMA evaluates proposals for both activity areas. In other words, while the overall mission is staffing support, the guidance is where applicants find the specifics on what costs and strategies are allowable, what documentation is expected, and how FEMA scores and prioritizes submissions.
For this particular posting, the funding opportunity number is DHS-12-GPD-083-000-99, and the CFDA number listed is 97.083 (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response). FEMA anticipated making about 400 awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $32,062,500. The opportunity was posted on July 16, 2012, created on June 29, 2012, and had an application deadline of August 10, 2012 (with an archive date of September 9, 2012). The listing indicates no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants were not required to provide a match as a condition of receiving the grant, based on the source data provided.
Eligible applicants are identified as fire departments, with eligibility also tied to local government structures such as city or township governments and county governments, along with "others" as referenced in the full eligibility text. The administering agency is DHS/FEMA. Applicants or interested parties who need more information are directed to FEMA's fire grants resources at www.fema.gov/firegrants. For help accessing the announcement or navigating application issues, FEMA provides the Fire Grants Help Desk at 1-866-274-0960 and the email address firegrants@fema.dhs.gov.
SAFER Grant (DHS/FEMA) FAQs
What is the SAFER grant program?
The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), specifically FEMA's Grant Programs Directorate. Its purpose is to strengthen a community's ability to respond to fires and emergencies by helping local fire departments maintain or improve adequate frontline staffing levels.
What problem is SAFER designed to address?
SAFER is designed to help communities avoid or fix frontline staffing shortfalls that can reduce operational readiness. The program recognizes staffing gaps can be caused by local budget cuts, economic downturns, and normal turnover, and it supports restoring or sustaining staffing so trained firefighters are on duty when they are needed most.
What kinds of staffing needs can SAFER funding support?
Based on the opportunity description, SAFER funding targets four related staffing needs: (1) increasing the number of frontline firefighters, (2) rehiring firefighters who were previously laid off, (3) retaining firefighters who are at risk of imminent layoffs, and (4) filling positions that became vacant through normal attrition.
What are the two main activity categories under this SAFER opportunity?
The opportunity supports two main activity categories: (1) Hiring of Firefighters, which focuses on boosting or restoring paid staffing levels, and (2) Recruitment and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters, which supports departments that rely on volunteer personnel by helping them attract and keep volunteers.
What does the "Hiring of Firefighters" activity area focus on?
Hiring of Firefighters focuses on increasing or restoring paid staffing levels so departments can meet response demands and achieve more reliable staffing models for frontline operations.
What does the "Recruitment and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters" activity area focus on?
Recruitment and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters focuses on supporting volunteer-dependent departments by helping them attract new volunteers and retain existing volunteers, reflecting the staffing realities of many smaller or rural jurisdictions.
Who administers the SAFER grant?
The program is administered by DHS through FEMA, specifically FEMA's Grant Programs Directorate.
What is the legal authority for the SAFER program?
The legal authority cited is the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974, as amended (15 U.S.C. 2229a et seq.).
Where should applicants look for detailed requirements and evaluation criteria?
FEMA indicates that applicants should rely on the program guidance document for the detailed rules and expectations. The guidance is where applicants find specifics on allowable costs and strategies, required documentation, how applications are processed, and how FEMA evaluates proposals for both activity areas.
What is the funding opportunity number for this posting?
The funding opportunity number listed is DHS-12-GPD-083-000-99.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The CFDA number listed is 97.083 (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response).
How many awards were anticipated under this posting?
FEMA anticipated making about 400 awards under this opportunity.
What was the estimated total funding amount for this posting?
The estimated total funding amount listed is $32,062,500.
When was this opportunity posted and when was it created?
The opportunity was created on June 29, 2012, and posted on July 16, 2012.
What was the application deadline for this posting?
The application deadline listed was August 10, 2012.
What does the archive date mean for this listing?
The listing includes an archive date of September 9, 2012, indicating the posting was archived after the application period referenced in the source information.
Is cost sharing or matching required for this opportunity?
The listing indicates no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning a match was not required as a condition of receiving the grant based on the provided source data.
Who is eligible to apply based on the information provided?
Eligible applicants are identified as fire departments. Eligibility is also tied to local government structures such as city or township governments and county governments, along with "others" referenced in the full eligibility text.
Where can applicants find official fire grants resources from FEMA?
Applicants and interested parties are directed to FEMA's fire grants resources at http://www.fema.gov/firegrants.
Who can applicants contact for help with access or application issues?
FEMA provides the Fire Grants Help Desk at 1-866-274-0960 and by email at firegrants@fema.dhs.gov.
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