69A-37.503. Firefighter Cancer Decontamination Equipment Grant Program

(1) The Firefighter Cancer Decontamination Equipment Grant Program is established pursuant to Section 633.137, F.S. The Firefighter Cancer Decontamination Equipment Grant Program is created within the Division of State Fire Marshal to help protect the health and safety of firefighters in this state. The program will provide financial assistance to help fire departments, including volunteer fire departments, procure equipment, supplies, and educational training designed to mitigate exposure to hazardous, cancer-causing chemicals. This grant program will only be carried out when funds have been allocated by the legislature to the Division for the grant period. To participate in the Firefighter Cancer Decontamination Equipment Grant Program, an eligible applicant must submit a completed Form DFS-K4-2300, Application for Firefighter Cancer Decontamination Equipment Grant Program, by mail to the Division of State Fire Marshal, Bureau of Fire Standards and Training, 11655 N.W. Gainesville Road, Ocala, Florida 34482, or through the online portal at: https://dfs-k4-2300.questionpro.com. Form DFS-K4-2300 is incorporated by reference in subsection 69A-37.039(2), F.A.C., and is available on the Division’s website at: http://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/SFM/BFST/BFSTForms.htm.

(2) Objective. The objective of this program is to award grants to eligible applicants on an as need-based basis in order to distribute equipment and training in a manner that leads to the greatest reduction in incidences of firefighters being exposed to hazardous, cancer-causing chemicals.

(3) Eligibility. An eligible applicant is an organization organized and operating in the state of Florida that meets all of the following requirements:

(a) Is a fire service provider as defined by subsection 69A-37.501(4), F.A.C.;

(b) Is recorded as a fire department in the Division’s online electronic database (https://myfloridacfo.com/Division/SFM/FCDICE/default.htm);

(c) Has a Florida fire department identification (FDID) number as defined in Rule 69A-66.007, F.A.C.;

(d) Has submitted the Florida Fire Service Needs Assessment, Form DFS-K4-2191, which is incorporated by reference in Rule 69A-37.039, F.A.C., and is available on the Division’s website at: http:www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/SFM/BFST/BFSTForms.htm. The applicant shall have completed this survey during the most recent survey period of April 1st through May 31st in the same calendar year of the Firefighter Cancer Decontamination Equipment Grant Program application period start date; however, for the first year of this program, the Department waives the submittal deadline;

(e) Is compliant with the Florida Firefighters Occupational Health and Safety Act (Sections 633.502-633.536, F.S.) or has a plan for correction for any noncompliance issue filed with the Division. The applicant must have completed a compliance inspection within the previous three years of the grant award or agree to have a compliance inspection conducted prior to the grant award; and

(f) Is compliant with the requirement to submit fire incident data as required in Rule 69A-66.004, F.A.C.

(4) Ineligible Organizations.

(a) Fire service providers that are federal government entities or contracted by the federal government and are primarily responsible for suppression of fires, emergency medical services, or rescue services on federal installations or land are not eligible.

(b) Fire service providers that are primarily responsible for suppression of fires, emergency medical services, or rescue services on federal or state military bases are not eligible.

(c) Fire service providers that are primarily responsible for suppression of fires, emergency medical services, or rescue services for federal or state tribal nations are not eligible.

(d) Fire brigades or private fire departments that operate independent of a municipality or county, the state of Florida, the Division, or any political subdivision of the state of Florida, including authorities and special districts, are not eligible.

(5) Criteria. The Division will approve applications from eligible applicants based on the following criteria:

(a) Demonstration of financial need in the application.

(b) Indication of the level of nonstate matching funds proposed in the application. A minimum of 25 percent nonstate matching funds is required. The applicant must submit proof of its nonstate matching funds.

(c) Indication of the decontamination equipment, educational training, and supply needs of the applicant.

(6) Notice of Firefighter Cancer Decontamination Equipment Grant Program. The Division will publish notice of the availability of grants from the Firefighter Cancer Decontamination Equipment Grant Program on the Division website annually after July 1st and no later than July 31st; however, for the first year of this program this deadline shall not apply.

(7) Notification of Firefighter Cancer Decontamination Equipment Grant Program Awards.

(a) The Division will notify applicants and publish notice of grant awards on the Division’s website within 60 days of the application submission deadline date. An applicant must notify the Division of its acceptance of the grant award within 30 calendar days of award notification by email to: [e-mail].

(b) Awarded grant funds shall be administered pursuant to a written agreement between the Department and the grant applicant. If a grant agreement is not executed within 30 calendar days of the grant agreement being sent to applicant, the Department will rescind its award of funds to the grant applicant.

(c) In its grant award, the Division may limit the quantity of eligible equipment that an awarded applicant may purchase in order to afford more applicants an opportunity to receive grant funds. Any such limitation imposed by the Division shall apply universally to all applicants.

(8) Supplemental Grant Awards. The Division will issue supplemental grant awards to eligible applicants to replace awards to applicants that did not respond to the Department’s notification of grant award or did not execute an agreement under subsection (7).

(9) Eligible Purchases.  The following equipment, supplies, and educational training may be purchased with grant funds and requested in the applicant’s application (Form DFS-K4-2300):

(a) Vehicle exhaust capture systems that are either mounted in the stations or on the vehicles and are compliant with the standards of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1500, Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety, Health, and Wellness Program (2018 Edition), which is incorporated by reference in Rule 69A-62.025, F.A.C.

(b) Personal protective equipment extractor units that are  designed to operate using 110 volt alternating current (AC); however, additional costs such as wiring and installation will not be covered.

(c) Personal protective equipment extractor units not designed to operate using 110 volt AC current; however, additional costs such as wiring and installation will not be covered.

(d) Second issued hoods, gloves, and helmet earflaps that are compliant with the standards of NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting (2018 edition), which is incorporated by reference in Rule 69A-37.060, F.A.C., and that can be exchanged at the scene or in quarters after fire extinguishment.

(e) Other equipment that is used to mitigate exposure to hazardous, cancer-causing chemicals will be considered by the Division.

(f) Supplies that are used to mitigate exposure to hazardous, cancer-causing chemicals will be considered by the Division.

(g) Educational training designed to mitigate exposure to hazardous, cancer-causing chemicals will be considered by the Division.

(10)(a) Priority Sequence for Award. Grants authorizing the purchase of decontamination equipment will be awarded by the Division to eligible applicants in order of financial need (highest financial need to the lowest financial need) in the following priority sequence:

1. Awarded first to such applicants that do not possess the equipment in paragraphs (9)(a)-(e) and requested such equipment in their applications; then,

2. Awarded second to such applicants currently in possession of the equipment in paragraphs (9)(a)-(e), and requesting in their applications to increase the quantity of this type equipment; then,

3. Awarded last to such applicants that are requesting in their applications to upgrade previously installed equipment.

(b) Grants authorizing the purchase of supplies and educational training will be awarded by the Division to eligible applicants in order of financial need (highest financial need to the lowest financial need) only after awards for the purchase of decontamination equipment in the following priority sequence:

1. Awarded first to such applicants that do not possess the supplies and educational training requested in their applications; then,

2. Awarded second to such applicants currently in possession of the supplies and educational training requested in their applications and requesting in their applications to increase the quantity of the supplies and educational training.

Rulemaking Authority 633.137(3) FS. Law Implemented 633.137 FS. History–New 2-8-21.