Here’s What Departments Should Do Now

With FEMA fire grant programs expected to reopen in the coming months, now is the time for departments to ensure their federal registrations are current — especially their UEI and SAM.gov status.

To apply for FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), SAFER, or Fire Prevention & Safety (FP&S) programs, departments must maintain an active registration through SAM.gov. As part of that process, agencies receive a UEI (Unique Entity Identifier), which replaced the old DUNS number system and is now required for all federal grant applications.

The challenge is that many departments assume they are “ready” because they already have a UEI, when in reality:

• Their SAM Registration May Have Expired
• Contact or Banking Information May Be Outdated
• The Entity Validation Process May Still Be Incomplete

These issues can delay — or even prevent — grant submission once application periods open.

At the same time, several indicators suggest FEMA’s FY2025 fire grant cycle is beginning to heat up. While AFG, SAFER, and FP&S have not officially opened yet, FEMA has already begun releasing FY2025 Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) for other preparedness programs, signaling movement within the broader federal grants cycle. Industry organizations including the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the National Volunteer Fire Fire Council (NVFC) have also publicly acknowledged delays tied to federal funding and administrative timing — but continue to indicate that the programs are expected to move forward.

In addition, FEMA GO — the platform used for FEMA fire grant submissions — remains active and continues receiving operational updates, another common sign that application activity may be approaching.

For departments planning to pursue funding, the message is simple: don’t wait for the application window to open before preparing. Verifying your UEI, renewing SAM.gov registration, and organizing required documentation now can help avoid last-minute issues once FEMA announces the next AFG, SAFER, or FP&S cycle.

If your department needs assistance navigating SAM.gov registration, UEI verification, or preparing for upcoming FEMA grant opportunities, contact Firehouse Grants, at the Bay Door. Our team is actively monitoring FEMA activity and helping departments position themselves now — before the next funding window opens.