Project Overview

The Florida Firefighter Cancer Decontamination Equipment Grant (FFCDEGP) was established by Florida Statute 633.137 and F.A.C 69A-37.503 to help protect the health and safety of firefighters and provide financial assistance to help departments, including volunteer fire departments, procure equipment, supplies and educational training designed to mitigate exposure to hazardous, cancer-causing chemicals.

Project Priorities

Grant funding is only available for PPE extractor units (110 volt) and other units not designed to operate using 110 volts however additional cost such as wiring and installation will not be covered, second sets of hoods, gloves and earflaps, vehicle exhaust capture systems, other equipment used to mitigate exposure to hazardous, cancer-causing chemicals, supplies used to mitigate exposure to cancer-causing chemicals, educational training designed to mitigate exposure to hazardous, cancer-causing chemicals.

For specific information on program priorities and objectives for the FY2026-2027 FFAGP, refer to Florida Administrative and 69A-37.503.

Award Information

Award Amount and Important Dates

Total Available Funding for the Notice of Funding Opportunity: TBD

Period of Performance Start Date: July 1, 2026

Period of Performance End Date: August 20, 2027

Eligibility Information

Eligible Applicants and Criteria

Eligible applicants are fire service providers organized and operating in the state of Florida as a volunteer or combination fire department and meeting all the following requirements:

1. A fire service provider,
2. Recorded as a fire department in the Division’s online electronic database,
3. Has a Florida fire department identification (FDID) number,
4. Compliant with the Florida Firefighters Occupational Health and Safety Act or has a plan for its correction.
5. Submitted the Florida Fire Service Needs Assessment Survey.
6. Must submit fire incident data as required in FAC 69A-66.004

Ineligible organizations are those that meet any of the following:

1. Federal government entities or contracted by federal government,
2. Fire service providers on federal or state military bases,
3. Federal or state tribal nations,
4. 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.

Cost Share or Match

A minimum of 25 percent non state matching funds is required by the eligible applicant for the Florida Firefighter Cancer Decontamination Equipment Grant Program. Applicant must submit proof of its nonstate matching funds. 

ELIGIBLE ITEMS FOR THE FY2026-2027 FLORIDA FIREFIGHTER Cancer Decontamination Equipment Grant

• PPE Extractor Units (wiring and installation not included)
• Gloves, Hood and Helmet Ear Flaps
• Vehicle Exhaust Capture Units
• Supplies Used to Mitigate Exposure to Cancer
• Educational Training to Mitigate Exposure to Cancer-causing Chemicals
• Other Equipment Used to Mitigate Exposures to Cancer-causing Chemicals

Application and Submission Information

Key Dates and Times

Opening Date for Submitting Applications: July 7, 2026; 8 am EDT

Closing Date for Submitting Applications: August 20, 2026; 5 pm EDT

Application Submission

In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements, applicants for the Florida Firefighter Assistance Grant Program must complete the following items and submit the Grant Application to:  FirefighterGrant@MyFloridaCFO.com

• Grant Application (DFS-K4-2300)     PDF FORMAT     or     MSWORD FORMAT
• Florida Fire Service Needs Assessment (DFS-K4-2191)     CLICK FOR LINK TO ELECTRONIC SURVEY
• Request a Fire Department Safety Compliance Inspection from the Bureau of Fire Standards and Training, Safety Section by sending an email to: FireFighterSafety@MyFloridaCFO.com

Application Review Information

The Bureau of Fire Standards and Training (BFST) will rank all complete and submitted applications based on how well they match the program priorities.  Answers to the application’s activity specific questions and Florida Fire Service Needs Assessment Survey provide information used to determine each application’s ranking relative to the stated program priorities. 

Review and Selection Process

Applications are scored competitively by (no less than three) peer reviewers.  These

reviewers will assess each application’s merits with respect to the details provided in the Narrative Statement on the activity, including the evaluation elements listed in the Narrative Evaluation Criteria below. The panel will independently score each project within the application, discuss the merits and/or shortcomings of the application, and document the findings. A consensus is not required.

Narrative Evaluation Criteria

1. Financial Need

   Applicants must describe their financial need and how consistent it is with the intent of the Program. This statement(s) should include details describing the applicant’s financial distress, summarizing budget constraints, unsuccessful attempts to secure other funding, annual budget with revenues and expenditures, and proving the financial distress is out of their control.

2. Project Description and Budget

The statement(s) should clearly explain the applicant’s project objectives and its relationship to the applicant’s budget and risk analysis. The applicant should describe the various activities applied for with respect to any program priority or facility modifications, making sure they are consistent with project objectives, the applicant’s mission and national, state, and/or local requirements.

Applicants should link the proposed expenses to operations and safety, as well as the completion of the project goals.

Turndown Notifications

All applicants who do not receive an FY2026-2027 Grant award will receive a notification letter by email from BFST within 90 days of grant application closing date.

Award Administration Information

Award Notification

All applicants who are awarded a FY2026-2027 Grant award will receive a notification award letter by email from BFST within 90 days of grant application closing date.  The recipient will have 45 calendar days from notification to email BFST whether to accept or decline the award. 

Award Agreement Information

If the recipient decides to accept the grant award, they will be required to sign a grant agreement between Department of Financial Services and the recipient within 90 days of the announcement. The Contract provides the requirements for services and performance as outlined in the Scope of Work including deliverables, Specific Grant Award, Audit Requirements, and Public Records Requirements. 

Supplemental Grant Award

Department of Financial Services will issue supplemental grant awards to eligible grantees to replace applicants who did not respond to the notification of the grant award or did not execute an agreement.