Header:
TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
TITLE 4. AGRICULTURE
PART 12. TEXAS A&M FOREST SERVICE
CHAPTER 216. RURAL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Date:
03/07/2014
Document:
§ 216.6. Award Process
The following procedures are used by the agency to award available grant funds.
(1) TIFMAS Grants.
(A) Available grant funding is allocated to each grant category annually by the agency.
(B) Training grants are funded upon receipt of complete applications until available funding is exhausted.
(C) Truck grants are handled as follows. (i) Applications are assigned a numeric rating and sorted by region. (ii) The agency holds periodic meetings throughout each fiscal year to approve grant awards. The date, time and location for each meeting are published on the agency's website at least two weeks prior to the meeting. The meetings are open to the public. (iii) Grant awards are made to the top application in each region based upon the numeric ratings, subject to funding limitations. After each region receives an award, the process is repeated with the next highest rated application in each region until funding is exhausted. (iv) Fire departments that have outstanding issues with the State of Texas or the agency will not be considered for new grant awards until the issues are resolved. (v) The agency's approval of applications for award during a public meeting is preliminary, contingent upon a final review of each application for eligibility, errors, duplications and program compliance. Approvals are withdrawn in the event of an error or disqualifying condition. Following the final review, a grant award letter is sent to each approved grant recipi-ent. (vi) Grant awards have a specified termination date by which the recipient must complete its obligations and submit the necessary documentation to the agency for processing. (vii) Applications not approved for funding are kept on file and considered during subsequent funding meetings. (viii) The agency may award emergency grants to eligible fire departments that have suffered a catastrophic loss. A catastrophic loss is a sudden and unexpected event which seriously compromises the firefighting capability of an eligible fire department and which puts the local com-munity at risk. Emergency grant awards are based on a department's application, agency assessment of impact and availability of program funds.
(D) Other equipment grants are handled as follows. (i) Funds are divided by geographic region, based upon the number of fire departments per region, to establish target fund allocations. Allocations by region may be adjusted by the agency based on the applications received. (ii) The agency holds periodic meetings throughout each fiscal year to approve grant awards. The date, time and location for each meeting are published on the agency's website at least two weeks prior to the meeting. The meetings are open to the public. (iii) Grant awards are based upon the application ratings, the amounts requested, the date each application was received, the number and type of unfunded applications on file and the amount of funds available. (iv) Fire departments that have outstanding issues with the State of Texas or the agency are not considered for new grant awards until the issues are resolved. (v) The agency's approval of applications for award during a public meeting is preliminary, contingent upon a final review of each application for eligibility, errors, duplications and program compliance. Approvals are withdrawn in the event of an error or disqualifying condition. Following the final review, a grant award letter is sent to each approved grant recipient. (vi) Grant awards have a specified termination date by which the recipient must complete its obligations and submit the necessary documentation to the agency for processing. (vii) Applications not approved for funding are kept on file and considered during subsequent funding meetings. (viii) The agency may award emergency grants to eligible fire departments that have suffered a catastrophic loss. A catastrophic loss is a sudden and unexpected event which seri-ously compromises the firefighting capability of an eligible fire department and which puts the local community at risk. Emergency grant awards are based on a department's application, agency assessment of impact and availability of program funds.
(2) VFD Assistance Grants.
(A) Available grant funding is allocated to each grant category annually by the agency.
(B) Training grants are funded upon receipt of complete applications until available funding is exhausted.
(C) Equipment grants are handled as follows. (i) Funds are divided by geographic region, based upon the number of fire departments per region, to establish target fund allocations. Allocations by region may be adjusted by the agency based on the applications received. (ii) The agency holds periodic meetings throughout each fiscal year to approve grant awards. The date, time and location for each meeting are published on the agency's website at least two weeks prior to the meeting. The meetings are open to the public. (iii) Grant awards are based upon the application ratings, the amounts requested, the dates the applications were received, the number and type of unfunded applications on file and the amount of funds available. (iv) Fire departments that have outstanding issues with the State of Texas or the agency are not considered for new grant awards until the issues are resolved. (v) The agency's approval of applications for award during a public meeting is preliminary, contingent upon a final review of each application for eligibility, errors, duplications and program compliance. Approvals are withdrawn in the event of an error or disqualifying condition. Following the final review, a grant award letter is sent to each approved grant recipient. (vi) Grant awards have a specified termination date by which the recipient must complete its obligations and submit the necessary documentation to the agency for processing. (vii) Applications not approved for funding are kept on file and considered during subsequent funding meetings. (viii) The agency may award emergency grants to eligible fire departments that have suffered a catastrophic loss. A catastrophic loss is a sudden and unexpected event which seriously compromises the firefighting capability of an eligible fire department and which puts the local community at risk. Emergency grant awards are based on a department's application, agency assessment of impact and availability of program funds.
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