Fiscal Year 2026 State Fire Training Systems Grants

The State Fire Training Systems Grant is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Fire Administration. The program is authorized under the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 and is designed to strengthen fire service capabilities nationwide by supporting the delivery of standardized training programs. The grant focuses on enhancing the ability of state fire training systems to provide high quality, nationally aligned instruction to fire and emergency response personnel. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support the direct delivery of National Fire Academy courses at the state level. This includes distributing instructional materials such as student manuals and instructor guides and enabling states to tailor training delivery to meet their specific needs while remaining aligned with national standards. The program emphasizes building a skilled firefighting workforce, improving emergency preparedness, and fostering coordination across agencies. It also aims to reduce fire related risks and improve public safety outcomes through consistent and accessible training. Funding under this program is fixed at a set amount per award and is intended to cover costs directly associated with training delivery. Allowable uses include instructor expenses, printing and distribution of training materials, classroom facility costs, and other necessary resources to conduct approved courses. Administrative costs are permitted up to a limited percentage of the award. Certain costs are explicitly prohibited, including pre award expenses, indirect costs, and expenditures related to prohibited activities such as lobbying or procurement of restricted equipment. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement associated with this program. Eligibility for the grant is limited to state fire training systems that have been officially designated by state legislation or by a governor’s declaration as the sole fire service training agency within the state. Only one application per state is permitted, and subapplicants are not allowed. Eligible projects must align with National Fire Academy curricula and must address training needs that exceed local or state capabilities or have a national focus. Training programs that do not conform to these standards are not eligible for funding. The application process requires submission through the FEMA Grants Outcomes system. Applicants must maintain active registrations with SAM.gov and Grants.gov and provide required identifiers such as a Unique Entity Identifier and Employer Identification Number. Required application components include standard federal forms, a program narrative, a budget narrative, a detailed budget breakdown, and a workplan outlining course delivery details. Applications are evaluated based on eligibility, completeness, quality of the budget and project narratives, and alignment with program objectives. Applications must meet a minimum score threshold to be considered for funding. The application timeline for this opportunity begins with an opening date in early July and closes at the end of July, with a specific deadline of July 31, 2026. Funding decisions are expected by the end of August, with awards issued shortly thereafter. The period of performance runs from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, covering a single budget period. Recipients are required to submit quarterly financial and performance reports and comply with all federal grant management requirements throughout the award lifecycle. Program oversight includes performance monitoring based on metrics such as the number of courses delivered and the number of students trained. Recipients must also comply with federal regulations regarding procurement, reporting, and financial management. The program manager and FEMA contacts are available to provide technical assistance and guidance throughout the application and award process. This grant represents a structured, noncompetitive funding opportunity aimed at ensuring consistent and high quality fire service training across all states.

Ensure narratives clearly align with National Fire Academy training objectives and demonstrate feasible course delivery; provide complete and accurate documentation to meet eligibility and scoring thresholds; align budget closely with allowable costs and justify all expenses