[Msfdanews] Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG peer reviewers

[Woody Walters]

The success of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program is
due to
the peer reviewers that the National Volunteer Fire Council and other
fire
service organizations furnish for the grant evaluation process.  Once
again,
the Department of Homeland Security would like NVFC to provide
volunteer
evaluators to review and score the grant applications.  As you know,
the
funding level for the FY 2006 program is $545 million.  DHS is
expecting a
similar number of applications to be reviewed in 2006 as they had in
2005.
Therefore, they would like to have 12 evaluators from our organization
for
each week for a total of 36 volunteer peer evaluators for the three
1-week
review periods.
The evaluation periods are scheduled as follows with all evaluations
taking
place at the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) in Emmitsburg,
Maryland.
April 24-28             Evaluation Group 1
May 1-5                 Evaluation Group 2
May 8-12               Evaluation Group 3
Individuals volunteering to serve as evaluators should plan on
traveling the
day before the evaluation period and returning home the afternoon of
the
last day of the evaluation period.  Travel costs will be reimbursed,
and
food and lodging will be provided at NETC.  The DHS support contractor
will
contact the volunteers to discuss the necessary travel arrangements
and
reimbursement if a privately owned vehicle is being used. 
Transportation
will be provided between the airport and NETC.  No salary is authorized
for
personnel volunteering to evaluate the Assistance to Firefighter grant
applications.  Please be aware, for planning purposes, volunteer
evaluators
will be scheduled for the entire week.  Grants management procedures
prohibit interchanging evaluators during any given week.
DHS expects that evaluators have a broad knowledge in a variety of
areas of
the fire and emergency medical service, since they will be reviewing
applications from fire and EMS departments throughout the United
States.  
To volunteer to serve as a peer reviewer, please provide the following
information.  Incomplete information will not be accepted.  Although
NVFC
will submit a list of volunteers, DHS has final approval for all
evaluators
and will contact you directly if you are selected.    A short resume
may be
requested by the support contractor to ensure a well rounded peer
review
panel for both fire and non-affiliated EMS applications.  

                Name
                Organizational name and position or title
Mailing address
                Day and evening telephone numbers
                Email address
                Evaluation Group you are available (1, 2 or 3)
Are you a NVFC Member?
Are you Volunteer firefighter/EMS personnel?
The information should be sent to Lynne Lipin no later than Tuesday,
January
31, 2006.  Her email address is lynne at nvfc.org   If you have questions,
you
may contact her at 202/887-5700, ext. 17.  

Sincerely,
Heather Schafer

Lynne Lipin, Executive Assistant
National Volunteer Fire Council         
1050 17th Street, NW, Suite 490
Washington, DC 20036
202 887-5700, ext. 17
202 887-5291 Fax
1-888-ASK-NVFC (275-6832)
www.nvfc.org 
lynne at nvfc.org 


 


Mn State Colleges and Universities
Woody Walters, Fire Service Specialist
Fire/EMS/Safety Center
Wells Fargo Place
30   7th  St. E., Suite 350
St. Paul, Mn 55101 - 7804
1/800/fireline - w/in state only
1/800/311-3143 - nation wide
651/649-5450 - local
Fx 651/649-5409
EM - woody.walters at so.mnscu.edu

also serving as 
National Volunteer Fire Council, Director
Fire Corp, MN Rep.
Minnestota State Fire Dept. Assoc., Director