Fiscal Year 2024 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program

The Fiscal Year 2024 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), specifically the Resilience/Grant Programs Directorate. This initiative is part of a broader federal effort to enhance public and firefighter safety in response to fire-related hazards. The SAFER Program directly funds fire departments and organizations that support volunteer firefighters with the aim of improving staffing levels to meet National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards and ensure effective emergency response capabilities. The SAFER Program offers two distinct types of grants: Hiring Activity grants and Recruitment and Retention (R&R) Activity grants. The Hiring Activity grants provide support for fire departments to hire new firefighters or convert part-time staff to full-time roles. These grants include a cost-share requirement where recipients must contribute 25% of costs in the first two years and 65% in the third. The R&R Activity grants assist fire departments and designated interest organizations in developing programs to attract and retain volunteer firefighters. Notably, there is no matching requirement for R&R grants. Both funding tracks emphasize improving compliance with NFPA 1710 and 1720 standards and increasing firefighter health and safety. Eligible applicants include fire departments and national, regional, state, local, tribal, and nonprofit organizations representing the interests of volunteer firefighters. Subapplicants and subawards are not permitted. Each entity may submit only one application per activity type. R&R Activity applicants may propose performance periods of 12, 24, 36, or 48 months, while Hiring Activity grants have a standard 36-month performance period. All projects must comply with applicable environmental and procurement regulations, and construction costs are generally not allowable. The application must be submitted via the FEMA GO portal and includes standard forms (SF-424, SF-424A/B, SF-LLL) and specific narrative questions. Applications are evaluated based on alignment with program priorities, financial need, cost-benefit analysis, and expected impact on operations. Peer reviewers score narrative elements such as project description, impact on daily operations, and cost-benefit justification. Pre-scoring and peer review weights differ by activity type, with R&R applications being 70% narrative-based and Hiring applications 50%. Key deadlines include the application opening on May 23, 2025, and closing on July 3, 2025. Awards are anticipated to begin by August 18, 2025, with all disbursements finalized by September 30, 2025. While pre-applications and Letters of Intent are not required, applicants must complete several registrations (SAM, UEI, FEMA GO) before applying. The SAFER Help Desk and FEMA regional contacts provide technical support throughout the process. Contact information includes FireGrants@fema.dhs.gov and phone number (866) 274-0960. Performance and financial reporting are required semi-annually during the grant period, and a final report must be submitted within 120 days of project closeout. Monitoring, audits, and program evaluations may be conducted. All applicants must comply with civil rights obligations, procurement standards, and reporting requirements under 2 C.F.R. Part 200 and related policies.