2022-2023 Rural Fire Capacity Grant

RFC GRANT PROGRAM PURPOSE Provide financial, technical, and related assistance to volunteer fire departments to organize, train and equip local firefighters. Assist qualifying fire departments in saving lives and protecting financial investments and enhance environmental quality to revitalize rural areas and communities of 10,000 persons or less.

The Rural Fire Capacity (RFC) Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, makes funding available to rural fire departments. This federal funding is passed through and administered by the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

Application form is available in a fillable PDF format. Also attached is a comprehensive RFC grant guide and program award timeline.

• A single fire department serving a rural area or rural community with a population of 10,000 or less is eligible (latest census). • Department Firefighting Personnel is 80% or more volunteer. • Area fire departments (fire districts, townships, etc.) may serve an aggregate population of greater than 10,000 as long as the service area of the fire department includes a rural area or rural community having a population of 10,000 or less. The RFC funding must be used to benefit the rural population. • A single county or town with a population of over 10,000 that is served by two or more fire districts operating entirely within the bounds of the county or town may qualify as long as the service area of a given fire department includes a rural area or rural community or the population of the fire department's jurisdiction is 10,000 or less. The RFC funding must be used for the rural area. • A single community with a population greater than 10,000 and having a single fire department with one or more fire stations may qualify. The fire department must have a service area that includes a rural area or community that does not exceed 10,000 populations. The RFC funding must be used only for the benefit of the rural population. Similarly, a single community with a population greater than 10,000 that also provides fire protection to an adjoining rural community of 10,000 or less population by contract may also be eligible provided the RFC funding is used entirely to support the rural community. • A single community fire department serving a population greater than 10,000 and not providing protection to a rural area or to a rural community is not eligible for RFC financial assistance.

Rural Fire Capacity Grant Webpage on the DNRC site

• National Fire Incident Reporting (NFIRS) compliant by reporting ALL fire occurrences to NFIRS as required by Montana Law (MCA 7-33-2201) https://www.usfa.fema.gov/nfirs/ • National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliant. http://fema.gov/pdf/emergency/nims/nims_training_program.pdf https://training.fema.gov/nims/ • At the time of application for a RFC grant, the applicant must hold an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) (Previously Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number). Information on how to transition to or request a UEI can found here SAM.gov | Duns - Sam UEI • Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion - Lower Tier Covered Transactions, Form AD-1048; Each Grantee must certify that no vendor or contractor debarred or suspended from being able to work under a federal grant, according to the terms of 2 CFR Part 180, has received any money under this grant project by signing the Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion - Lower Tier Covered Transactions, Form AD-1048. • Taxpayer/Federal Identification Number (TIN). • Documentation demonstrating proof of payment and paid itemized invoices listing all items purchased, including those purchases demonstrating the 10% match requirement.