Information sought under this collection will comprise of the applications for Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) and Fire Prevention and Safety (FPS) grants. The old forms have be obseleted from this collection and new forms have be submitted to capture the details concerning applicants' demongraphics, capabilities, and operational resources as well as information necessary for FEMA to comply with mandates delineated in the law.
US Code:
15 USC 2201
Name of Law: Fire Prevention And Control
US Code:
15 USC 2229
Name of Law: Federal Fire Protection and Control Act of 1974
There is a significant decrease in the number of respondents from 28,010 to 22,000. We attribute this decrease to a reduction in available funding, and, as a result, a reduction in the amount of awards granted. Programmatic changes, such as allowing State Fire Training Academies to apply as eligible entities and urban fire departments to apply for multiple vehicles, have increased the amount requested per recipient and reduced the amount of awards granted. This has decreased the interest in the funding opportunity amongst the numerous smaller sized recipients.
There was a mistake on the currently approved ICR regarding the estimated burden hours for Research and Development / FEMA Form 080-0-3b. The actually burden hours per respondent is 21.5 hours, not 41. This mistake has been corrected in this ICR. Also, there was an increase in Not-for-profit institutions respondents from 10 to 50 due to an increase in interest among research organizations. The actual increase in annual burden hours for Research and Development / FEMA Form 080-0-3b is from 215 to 1,075. This is an increase of 860 annual burden hours.
Another correction being made in this ICR involves the title of the collection device. The Activity Specific Questions for AFG Vehicle Applicants / FEMA Form 080-0-2a and Activity Specific Questions for AFG Operations and Safety Applications / FEMA Form 080-0-2b were incorrectly titled. The titles have been corrected, and the mistake had no impact to the burden hours.
There is a decrease of 42,540 annual burden hours. The revisions to the forms has not reduced the burden hours.
There was a mistake on the currently approved ICR regarding the estimated burden hours for Research and Development / FEMA Form 080-0-3b. The actually burden hours per respondent is 21.5 hours not 41. This mistake has been corrected in this ICR. Also, there was an increase in Not-for-profit institutions from 10 to 50. The actual increase in annual cost burden for Research and Development/FEMA Form 080-0-3b is from $9,957.08 to $52,137.50. This is an increase of $42,180.42 annually for this form.
The result is a cost burden decrease of $1,862,378.46.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
AFG Application (General Questions and Narrative)