Rescue Pumper request...what if any equipment can be part of our grant request?

[FyredUp]

I hope BC79er or someone else can clear this up for me.

My volly FD is requesting a rescue pumper for our 2004 grant. The rig will be used due to our limited funds for match. I know the chances may not be great but this is our most pressing need at this time. There are an amazing amount of 3-7 year old rigs out there for a very good price. We are going to ask for an engine with rescue style compartments, fully enclosed cab, and a foam system or money to retrofit a used truck we purchase.

Now my question is this, what equipment if any can we request as part of our vehicle grant? NFPA 1901? Additional equipment such as vent saw? PPV fan? Air bag system? TIC? I am not being greedy just asking a serious question.

Thanks for all of your help.

FyredUp

[SWFD94]

It is my understanding, based on reading the firefighting vehicle program guidelines, that the only equipment that you can specify in your grant is equipment that is required by NFPA to be supplied with the truck..i.e. hose, some ladders.

vent saw, PPV fan, Air bag system, or TIC are all items that would be purchased under the Firefighting Equipment, which is a seperate program. You can only apply for one program area a year.

HOWEVER, I COULD BE WRONG

My suggestion, if you are successfull, apply again next year and specify in your grant and narrative that you are purchasing equipment to stock your new rescue-pumper and that it is a continuation of last years award.

[BC79er_OLDDELETE]

I don't think hose can be included as part of the request. I do know that several departments got a price quote for new trucks, were awarded and then got demo's to shorten the time to get the truck. Whatever discount they were afforded FEMA allowed them to use to equip the truck. Was only a few thousand to buy the hose, but enough to make a dent. I would check with FEMA to see what exactly can be included as far as hose goes before applying and include it in the request quote if it can be. You don't want to bank on being able to get a demo truck. Especially since if you put basic specs of the truck in the grant application, you have to purchase a vehicle with as least those specs. You can't say you need a 2000gpm pump for tanker fills and relays, and then buy a demo with a 1500gpm pump just to save money to buy hose. You can say you want at least 750 gallon tank and then get one with 1000 gallons. Up is fine, since up usually costs more, and if you can do it without spending more even better.

Besides that was all in previous years (including 2003), but considering the fudginess that has been found, they may not allow any gray areas anymore.

[farmun751]

For the 2003 Grants, (the ones they just finished up awarding), there was an option to include additional expenses with an apparatus grant.

One of the acceptable expense categories included equipment, which is described by them as:

"Equipment" means an article of nonexpendable, tangible personal property having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost which equals or exceeds the lesser of (a) the capitalization level established by the organization for the financial statement purposes, or (b) $5000.

We included $22,500 of equipment in addition to the apparatus expense of $225,500 for a total rescue pumper grant award of $248,000. We provided a rather lengthy explanation as to the additional funding request for the equipment, and was never questioned.

To me, it seems reasonable to allow for the equipment needed on a new apparatus to be included in the grant. As long as it is spelled out, and there are no surprises to either ODP or the fire department.

I mean, what good is a new apparatus, with no equipment. As you can only apply in one category, if you applied for a vehicle, there's no way you can request the needed equipment in another category.

??????

[peterl]

I am in the process of preparing a grant for a wildland/quick attack vehicle. I have gotten two price quotes, at at $135K and the other at $142K...Both companies told me to pad an extra 10% or so.

My question is does the amount requested have to be a firm price from a vendor or can it be a estimated value?

THANKS

Peter

[BC79er_OLDDELETE]

I can be estimated, although I'd have bids first like you did to make sure you can get what you're asking for. Many people just put in for XX amount to build a truck with no idea what it really cost. Then when they were awarded they either had to leave features out, or go with something they didn't want to because they didn't have enough dough. Considering that it could take a year to be awarded and get money, I'd put in for $150K.

[peterl]

Thanks for the info. What happens if we put in for $150, get it awarded, but the vehicle only costs $140? Do we just keep adding on options until we get the $150?

THANKS

Peter

[BC79er_OLDDELETE]

You can either add features to the truck or use up to $5K for equipment. I forgot to mention that part. To discourage excessive overbidding and underbuying, you can only use $5K of the "extra" for other equipment. But yes, if you get a bid for $140K, you can add truck mounted equipment such as scene lighting, emergency lighting, larger pump/tank, etc, etc.

[farmun751]

After reading this thread, I started to get concerned about using our grant funds to purchase the needed equipment for our Rescue-Pumper. We included all the necessary equipment in our grant, and it was approved en masse, no questions, no changes or alterations by FEMA.

So, sweating through my PPE, before issuing any purchase orders, I sent our grant specialist an e-mail asking for clafication as to the proper use of the funding included in the equipment category of additional funding for an apparatus grant. Below is the reply I received, editted for brevity:

"The equipment allowable for a vehicle is dependent upon the type of vehicle awarded. For a fire pumper we would normally only include equipment listed in NFPA 1901.....

"However, since your vehicle was for a "Rescue Pumper" eligible equipment listed in NFPA 1901 Chapter 10 and appendix "Special Purpose Vehicles" includes specialized equipment in addition to the equipment that would normally be on a regular pumper. Additionally, your grant was approved with the "heavy rescue" equipment and the additional equipment you listed is in the appendix of chapter 10.....

"Therefore, I believe you are fine to order equipment listed in your grant....It may help to include "Rescue Pumper" in your request for equipment so they will not think it is a regular pumper."


So, if you are applying for a multi-purpose apparatus, go ahead and request the funding to equip it for it's stated purposes. They just may give you a thumbs up all the way around, or reduce the equipment listed to what you said the apparatus would do.

Hope this helps some of you guys and gals that haven't hit the "Submit" button yet on your apparatus grant.