Looking for contracting opportunities…here’s a good data source!
by Mary Scott Nabers
CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc.
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There are a number of sources for these smaller-dollar grants and Texas has received an abundance of funding with more being promised. Once the funding is received, contracting opportunities are announced quickly because the money must be spent.
The Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) includes federal funds distributed to fire departments and emergency medical service organizations. These funds allow for purchase of equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles and training. The most recent award of the AFG funds in Texas was more than $15.5 million to 168 entities.
A sampling of some of the Texas recipients:
- Union Valley Volunteer Fire Department - $175,750 for vehicle acquisition;
- City of Lockhart EMS - $90,000 for EMS equipment;
- Ozona Fire Department - $96,500 for personal protective equipment;
- Tucker Volunteer Fire Department near Palestine - $4,800 for training; and
- Dayton Volunteer Fire Department - $84,788 for personal protective equipment.
Under the AFT program, emergency personnel can also apply for funding for Fire Prevention and Safety grants. In the past, these grants have provided for smoke alarms, sprinkler systems, public education campaigns, code enforcement/awareness, firefighter safety, training, wildfire prevention /awareness, etc. In the most recent round of funding, four Texas entities shared more than $567,000 for fire prevention programs.
Emergency organizations are currently applying for the next round of funding for the AFG grant program. Between 2001 and 2009, AFG grants to fire departments and first responder organizations totaled almost $4.1 billion.
The Allen Fire Department was one of only 14 fire departments in the country to receive an allocation from the latest round of funding from the Fire Station Construction Grant program at DHS. The $210 million in Recovery Act funding distributed so far has all been allocated for construction of new fire stations or renovations to existing fire stations. The Allen Fire Department was awarded more than $1.8 million for new construction.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is also putting stimulus funding to good use through its special vehicle and equipment initiative for rural communities. Qualifying entities may use the funds to purchase vehicles and equipment for essential community services. That includes police cars, road maintenance equipment, fire apparatus and equipment, EMS vehicles and computer and other office equipment.
Other federal funding is made available through the U.S. Department of Justice's Justice Assistance Grants. In fact, applications for 2010 funding will be accepted through June 30. These funds are available for both state and local entities for technical initiatives, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support and criminal justice information systems.
Though not multi-million-dollar awards, all of the grant funds are critical to communities as they deal with public safety…and all result in additional government contracting opportunities for private sector firms. It is advisable to watch such funds as they flow into Texas.
