PREPARING FOR WILDFIRES
  • FIRE DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS: RURAL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (HB 2604)

     2604_1

     

    The Texas Rural VFD Assistance Program provides funding to rural VFDs for the acquisition of firefighting vehicles, fire and rescue equipment, protective clothing, dry-hydrants, computer systems and firefighter training. It is a cost-share program funded by the Texas State Legislature.

    Since its inception in 2002, the program has been extremely successful in helping fire departments get the vehicles, training, and equipment that they would otherwise not have access to. Due to the usefulness of the program, we are experiencing significant demand in excess of $200 million in outstanding requests, while currently being funded at $16.2 million per year. Therefore, while we would like to fund every request, it unfortunately takes some time to help every department in need.   

     

    Special Announcements 

    New Grant Category - Volunteer Recruitment Resources

    2023 TEEX Spring School - Announcement/Grant Process

    Training tuition grant assistance now available through FireConnect!

     


     + Eligibility

    Recognized, non-profit volunteer fire departments operated by its members are eligible. Any part-paid/part-volunteer fire department is also eligible, provided the number of paid members is 20 or less. 

    The volunteer fire department must be a recognized fire department, located in and operating within a designated primary protection area as assigned by the county. Primary protection areas cannot overlap. The fire department must be in good standing with the State of Texas and the agency.

     

    Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program Federal Funding Requirements

     + Rates & Guidelines

     

     
    Rural VFD Assistance Program
    Cost Share Rates and Guidelines
     

     

    Element  

     

    Rate   

     

    Guidelines 

     

     LARGE BRUSH TRUCK/TENDER
     
     

     

    90% of the actual cost not to exceed $240,000 in grant assistance per vehicle. For CAFS equipped vehicles, the maximum grant assistance per vehicle is $258,000   

     

    Minimum Standards and Specifications for Firefighting Vehicles  

     Notice Regarding New Fire Trucks 
     
    Suggested Specs. for Mid-Size CAFS   

    Best Practices for Working with Fire Truck Converters  

    Note: UTVs and ATVs are not eligible in conjunction with awards.  

     

    SMALL BRUSH TRUCK     

     

    90% of the actual cost not to exceed $120,000 in grant   assistance per vehicle. For CAFS equipped vehicles, the maximum grant assistance per vehicle is $138,000  

     

    TRUCK CHASSIS  

     

    90% of the actual cost not to exceed $60,000 in grant assistance per small truck chassis or $100,000 per large truck chassis  

     

    SLIP-ON UNIT
       

     

    90% of the actual cost not to exceed $20,000 in grant assistance. For CAFS equipped slip-on units, the maximum grant assistance per unit is $38,000  

     

    Suggested Specs. for Mid-Size CAFS  

     

    FIRE and RESCUE EQUIPMENT
     

    See Fire and Rescue Equipment Guidelines for a list of eligible items

     

     

    90% of the actual cost not to exceed $20,000 in grant assistance  

     

    Fire and Rescue Equipment Guidelines  

     

    PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)  

     
    See PPE Guidelines for a list of eligible items   

     

    90% of the actual cost not to exceed $20,000 in grant assistance  

     

    Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Guidelines  

     

    TRAINING AIDS
    Includes: training manual, training videos, subscription training service, projector, rescue mannequins, smoke machines, practice fire shelters, equipment simulation devices, televisions (one per award), and computers/tablets* (one per award)
     

    Other items may be eligible. Please contact Texas A&M Forest Service for approval prior to purchase.

     

    100% of the actual cost not to exceed $10,000 in grant assistance  

     

     

     DRY HYDRANTS  

     

    100% of the actual cost of components not to exceed $1,200 per dry hydrant/components with a maximum of $8,400 in grant assistance
     

     

     

     TRAINING TUITION  

     

    100% of the actual cost of tuition not to exceed $133 per day up to a maximum of $665 per trainee per school. The ANNUAL MAXIMUM for all Training Tuition grant assistance per department is $12,500.  

     

     Training Tuition Guidelines

     

    EMERGENCY GRANT: CATASTROPHIC LOSS  

     

    APPARATUS: 90% of the actual cost, not to exceed the maximum for program element.

    ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT: 90% of the actual cost, not to exceed $15,000 annually.
     

     

    Available following a catastrophic event resulting in the loss of apparatus or essential equipment that significantly compromises community fire protection.

     

    EMERGENCY GRANT: STATE OF DISASTER DECLARATION  

     

    IMMEDIATE: 100% of the actual costs up to $6,000.

    ADDITIONAL: 100% of the actual costs up to $9,000 (for a total of $15,000 maximum)
     

     

    Available following a declared state of disaster for eligible departments that had equipment damaged or lost in response to the disaster.

     
    VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT RESOURCES
     
     
    100% of the actual cost, not to exceed $3,000 per department
     

    Announcement/Guidelines

    Federal Funding Requirements

     

     

    Program ElementReview CycleExpiration Date of Award
    Training TuitionOn demand2 months after the published completion date of the individual training course or school.

    Trucks

    Truck Chassis

    Slip-on Units

    3 times a year12 months from the approval date

    Fire & Rescue Equipment

    Personal Protective Equipment

    Training Aids

    Dry Hydrants

    3 times a year6 months from the approval date
    Volunteer Recruitment ResourcesOn Demand6 Months From Approval Date

    Emergency Grants

    • Repair/Replacement
    • Catastrophic Loss
     
    On demand6 months from approval date; 12 months from approval date for trucks, truck chassis, and slip-on units

     

     Please Note:

    • Failure to provide the necessary documentation to support payment of the grant award within the specified grant period will result in cancellation of the award.
    • Extensions must be requested by the fire department and approved in writing by Texas A&M Forest Service. Each individual extension may be granted for a period not to exceed 6 months.
    • Failure to comply with the grant requirements may result in ineligibilty for future grants.

     

     Applicant Rating Guide

     + Apply

    IMPORTANT: A W-9 Form must accompany each application. Both forms must be signed and dated.

     

    Apparatus & Equipment Grant Application

    Volunteer Recruitment Resources Grant Application


    To apply for training tuition grants, and to see the status of existing requests, please visit FireConnect

    Training Tuition Assistance - TEEX Addendum & AD-1048 Form  

     

    Catastrophic Loss Application

    Purchases made in advance of an award are not eligible for reimbursement  

    To revise an apparatus & equipment grant application, complete the Revision Request Form and submit it via email or fax. To revise a training tuition grant application, please visit FireConnect.

     

    As we continue integrating our fire department assistance programs into FireConnect, it will become crucial that fire departments keep their profile information up to date. You may fill out and submit our Verification Request Form, but we encourage you to please take the time to log on to FireConnect, familiarize yourself with this new system, and make sure all of your department information is current. If you find that the size of your primary 911 protection area is incorrect, you can find guidance on how to update that here.

     

    If you need assistance in updating your information or with navigating FireConnect, please contact us at (979) 458-6505 or at 2604@tfs.tamu.edu.

     

     + FAQS

    General


    Q: If my department is not reporting wildland fires in the Fire Connect Program, does that lessen our rating?
    A: No, the rating for your fire department will not decrease due to lack of reporting wildland fires in the FDD.

     

    Q: How do we go about updating the size of our Primary 911 Protection Area?
    A: Please visit our page on Primary 911 Protection Areas to learn what we define as a primary protection area and how to change this information.

     

    Q: Once I've applied, how do I know where I stand?
    A: You can get a general idea of where you stand by examining the most recent funding meeting list.
    Historical Funding Information

     

    Q: When is the cutoff for applying for the next funding meeting?
    A: The cutoff for applying is always 30 days prior to the funding meeting. We recommend that whenever a need arises, please apply then, rather than waiting. While it is important to get your application in as soon as possible, we are currently funded at $16.2 million and have over $200 million in requests. Therefore, while we would like to fund every request, it unfortunately takes some time to help every department in need.

     

    Q: If my department was previously awarded a grant, but later canceled the request, can we reapply?
    A: Yes, the prior termination has no bearing on future grant opportunities.

     

    Q: Why would our fire department be passed over on the Funding Meeting List?
    A: To insure a wide distribution of funding, departments which are approved in one of the higher dollar value categories (vehicles, truck chassis, slip-on units, etc.) are not considered for additional approvals during the same funding meeting. Applicants may be skipped if they have received $10,000 or more in grant assistance during the previous 12 months. Departments that come up for a truck award will be awarded the truck regardless of the $10,000 rule. Training tuition grants and FFP slip-on units are not included as part of this $10,000 prior approval amount.

     

    Q: Is my department required to order wildland and/or structural PPE from the Firesafe Program upon award of a cost-share grant?
    A: A grant recipient is not required to order wildland and/or structural PPE from the Firesafe Program.

     

    Q: If I received an FFP slip-on unit, does that affect me receiving a grant through the Rural VFD Assistance Program (HB 2604)?
    A: No, FFP slip-on units are not included in the $10,000 rule and therefore do not affect a department receiving a grant. 

     

    Trucks



    Q: If my department was awarded a grant in another category, does it lessen our chances to receive a grant for a truck?
    A: No, grants in other categories do not reflect on vehicle requests.



    Q: Does a large or small chassis count as a truck award?
    A: Yes, both would be considered truck awards.

     

    Q: Does the manufacturer of an apparatus have to be a Texas vendor?
    A: Please see Notice to Purchasers of New Fire Trucks (PDF, 6KB).



    Q: If my department receives an award for a large or small chassis, can we assemble an ambulance or other specialized vehicle?
    A: All vehicle awards must meet the Minimum Standards and Specifications for Firefighting Vehicles (PDF, 9KB).

     

    Q: How does our department receive a grant for a preowned vehicle or equipment?
    A: Approval is given on a case by case basis. Texas A&M Forest Service must give clearance prior to the purchase.


    Preferred maximum vehicle age
    5 years for vehicles rated less than 22,000 pounds GVWR 
    Age limits vary for vehicles rated greater than 22,000 pounds GVWR

    Texas A&M Forest Service must make an evaluation of preowned equipment in advance. Following the evaluation, a grant for a preowned vehicle or equipment will be authorized or denied.



    Q: How long must a grant vehicle be maintained in firefighting service by the original acquiring department?
    A: All vehicles acquired under this program must be maintained in firefighting service for a period of 10 years from the reimbursement check date. If a cost-shared vehicle is sold before the end of its 10-year service life under this program, the fire department may be required to reimburse the program for 90% of the proceeds from the sale of the vehicle. The fire department must notify the Texas A&M Forest Service in advance and must obtain clearance to sell or transfer a grant vehicle before the end of its 10-year service life. The Funding Committee may waive on a case-by-case basis the requirement that 90% of the sale proceeds be returned to the program.

     

    Training


    Q: How long does it take to get an approval letter for training tuition requests?
    A: We work diligently to ensure an approval letter is sent within one week of receiving an application. If there is a large number of applications in a given week, the approval process could take a little longer.

     

    Q: If my department cancels a Training Tuition grant request, does that penalize our department in any way?
    A: No, a cancellation does not affect future grant requests.



    Q: If my department is approved for a Training Tuition grant and the dates of the training change, do we need to submit a new application with the new dates?
    A: Please revise your request on FireConnect. In order for the revision to be approved, the Revision Request must be submitted before the course start date. 



    Q: What should my department do if the number of trainees change in connection with a Training Tuition reimbursement grant?
    A: Please revise your request on FireConnect. In order for the revision to be approved, the Revision Request must be submitted before the course start date.

     + Contact

    Texas A&M Forest Service     
    200 Technology Way, Suite 1162
    College Station, Texas 77845-3424
    Attn: RVFDAP

        

    Phone: 979-458-6505
    Fax: 979-845-6160
    Email: 2604@tfs.tamu.edu

               

     

    SUBMIT A SUGGESTION

    Texas A&M Forest Service places a high value on public input and participation. The public is welcome to submit suggestions regarding the Rural VFD Assistance Program (HB2604) by email, mail, fax or in person.

     

    pdf logo Suggestion Form

     

    Email:2604@tfs.tamu.edu


    Mail: Attn: RVFDAP Suggestions
             Texas A&M Forest Service
             Capacity Building Department
             200 Technology Way, Suite 1162
             College Station, Texas 77845-3424

    Fax: 979-845-6160

    Public Meeting...

    A public meeting is held each year to receive public input and suggestions regarding the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program. The meeting is publicized fourteen days in advance. It takes place at the Texas A&M Forest Service Headquarters and is open to everyone.

    For more information...

    Call: 979-458-6505

     

     

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