Crime & Safety
Monmouth Junction Fire Department Puts Large Grant to Work
FEMA grant provides $231,434 for the purchase of new equipment.
The Monmouth Junction Volunteer Fire Department is proud to announce that they have been awarded a grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the amount of $231,434 for the purchase of new equipment.
The fire department submitted the application in June 2012 as part of the 2012 Assistance to Firefighters grant program. The competitive program is administered through the US Department of Homeland Security and is open to fire departments and EMS organizations throughout the United States.
The grant program has issued over $8 billion to eligible organizations since its inception in the year 2000 and this is the second successful grant application for the Monmouth Junction Volunteer Fire Department.
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Grant applications undergo an electronic scoring process, based on the funding priorities of the program. Applications found to be in the competitive range of the funding priorities proceed to the peer review process where they are reviewed by a minimum of three people as well as a homeland security official from the designated state.
MJFD Chief Scott Smith received a telephone call from Rep. Rush Holt on Jan. 3, 2013, informing him of the grant award.
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Specifically, the Fire Department requested funds to purchase new self-contained breathing apparatus (or SCBA’s), air cylinders, and face masks from Scott Health & Safety. The equipment was ordered in February and was been placed in service this month after all firefighters received training. The new equipment replaces existing equipment that is over 25 years old.
The Fire Department solicited multiple price quotes, with the purchase being awarded to Nat Alexander Company for a total cost of $206,442. As part of the grant program, 90 percent of the total cost, or $185,797.80, is paid for using grant monies.
The Fire Department is responsible for providing the other 10 percent, or $20,644. In working with the vendor as part of the purchase, the Fire Department is receiving a trade-in value of $20,493 for the old equipment. In the end, the fire department will have to pay only about $150 for the new equipment, representing a significant savings to the taxpayers.
Since there will be monies available in the grant award following the purchase of the new equipment, the fire department will be able to spend up to $10,000 on additional equipment as part of the program.
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