Review your grant application's requirements and get your bid specifications ready now. If you receive an award, this early preparation will help you to implement your grant as soon as possible and help ensure you are able to complete your project within the period of performance.

1. Start to draft a bid solicitation that encourages competition by not using proprietary vendor specifications. By avoiding the use of proprietary vendor specifications, you encourage competition, which may decrease your overall costs. For example, you can request bids for a new pumper and specify that it have an "independent front suspension." But specifying that the pumper have a particular name-brand independent front suspension would be a proprietary specification that would limit competition to those vendors that build trucks containing those particular items.


2. Avoid any real or apparent conflicts of interest in your procurements. Remember that no employee, officer, or agent of your organization, who has a real or even apparent conflict of interest (potential for personal gain), may participate in the selection of the contractor or vendor that will supply the grant-funded items or services. They cannot accept gifts, favors, or anything of monetary value from potential contractors.


3. Maintain written procurement procedures. Become familiar with and keep on file the written procurement procedures and standards for your organization. If you are unsure, check with your local or state government for procedures. All grantees must have procurement procedures that follow local or state procurement procedures AND meet Federal procurement law as outlined in 44 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 13.36.


4. Have a record system set up for the grant. Make sure that you have system established that will maintain your grant records accurately and securely while still being accessible. All Federal awards are subject to a possible audit or desk review.

 

 

 

Back to Top

 

On September 10, the NVFC joined with other members of the Fire Suppression Funding Solutions Partner Caucus in asking the relevant committees of jurisdiction in the House and Senate and the Secretary of Agriculture, Thomas Vilsack , to provide $400 million in emergency supplemental funding to fund the Federal Land Assistance, Management, and Enhancement (FLAME) Act account.

  

  Read More >>   

Back to Top

Back to Top

Name: Steven Henry, Sr.
Rank: Fire Police Captain
Age: 52
Gender: Male
Status: Volunteer
Years of Service: 35
Date of Incident: 09/06/2012
Time of Incident: 1306hrs
Date of Death: 09/07/2012

Fire Department: Columbia Consolidated Fire Department
Address: P.O. Box 270, 265 South Tenth Street, Columbia, PA 17512
Fire Department Chief: Charles E. Snyder III

Incident Description: Fire Police Captain Henry responded to a fire call during which he became ill, reporting to his family doctor the next morning. Captain Henry passed away from a cardiac arrest suffered at his home later that day.

Incident Location: Pending

Funeral Arrangements: 1000hrs, 09/15/2012, Station 807, 265 South Tenth Street, Columbia, PA. The family and department will be receiving friends from 1000-1200hrs. A procession will then proceed past the Shawnee Fire Company and Columbia Borough Fire Police buildings ending at Laurel Hill Cemetery for the funeral services. A gathering to celebrate Captain Henry's decades of service will then take place back at the CCFD station for family and friends; all are welcome to attend.

Tribute is being paid to Fire Police Captain and former Fire Chief Steven Henry, Sr. at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/fatalities/

______________________________________

Name: Neal W. Smith
Rank: Captain
Age: 46
Gender: Male
Status: Volunteer
Years of Service: 5
Date of Incident: 09/15/2012
Time of Incident: unknown
Date of Death: 09/17/2012

Fire Department: Atascocita Volunteer Fire Department
Address: 7642 Farmingham Road, Atascocita, TX 77346
Fire Department Chief: William Bivens

Incident Description: On Saturday, September 15, during a smoke diver class designed to train firefighters advanced survival skills in full gear, Captain Neal Smith passed out from a heat-related illness. He was transported to a hospital during which CPR was administered. Captain Smith remained in critical condition until Monday, September 17, when he succumbed to his injuries at approximately 6:30 p.m. Doctors reportedly determined that Captain Smith's body temperature was more than 106 degrees.

Incident Location: Beaumont Emergency Services Training Complex
Funeral Arrangements: Pending

Tribute is being paid to Captain Neal Smith at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/fatalities/

______________________________________  

Name: Chris Seelye
Rank: Firefighter
Age: Pending
Gender: Male
Status: Wildland Contract
Years of Service: Pending
Date of Incident: 09/17/2012
Time of Incident: Pending
Date of Death: 09/17/2012

Fire Department: USDA Forest Service
Address: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Headquarters, 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, WA 98801
Fire Department Chief: Forest Supervisor Rebecca Heath

Incident Description: Firefighter Chris Seelye, under contract with the USDA Forest Service, suffered a medical emergency while battling the Wenatchee Complex Fire. Firefighter Seelye was treated by incident medical personnel and rushed to a nearly hospital where he passed away later that evening.

Incident Location: Wenatchee Complex Fire north of Entiat, WA
Funeral Arrangements: Pending

Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Chris Seelye at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/fatalities/ 

To date, 59 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2012. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online @http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/ff_stats.shtm