Purpose & Overview:
The purpose of the “TargetSafety - IAFC VCOS - Online Training grant” is to provide Volunteer & Combination fire departments with essential firefighter training. TargetSafety (TS) and the Volunteer & Combination Officers Section of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (VCOS) recognize the importance of providing quality training to the volunteer fire service. Furthermore, TS and VCOS recognize the importance of making this essential training readily available and easily accessible around the unique schedules of volunteer fire service personnel. Online training allows for personnel to take training wherever and whenever they have time.

TS will provide one year of free training to departments who are awarded a grant. Services include a customized training website, access to specific TS online training courses including NFPA firefighter courses, EMS continuing education, OSHA, safety, human resource, HazMat and terrorism courses as well as tools to track and manage training. The training courses awarded departments will receive are based on the courses selected in the grant application.

Application Process:
Applications are available online at www.targetsafety.com/fire/grant. The application period will be open from November 13, 2006 until February 28, 2007. Applications must be fully completed; partially completed applications will not be processed for review. View sample application.

Evaluation Process:
Completed applications will be reviewed by the grant approval committee which is under the direct supervision of the VCOS. The committee is made of up of personnel from the volunteer fire service. Completed applications will be reviewed in two phases. The first application review phase will come at the beginning of January 2007 for applications received Nov 13 - Dec 31, 2006. The second review phase will come at the beginning of March 2007 for applications received Jan 1 - Feb 28, 2007. Departments awarded a grant will be informed at the end of each review period.

Applications will be reviewed and grants awarded based upon the following criteria and guidelines.

- Be a Volunteer or Combination Fire Department located in the United Sates.

- Federal or for profit fire departments will not be considered.

Approval committee will take all grant application information into consideration when approving applications. All decisions regarding approving and denying grant applications for an award will be up to the sole discretion of the approval committee. (TS) does not play a role in the review process.

Award Procedure:
Departments awarded a grant will be notified via the e-mail address provided in their application. The awarded department will have 45 days to follow instructions in the e-mail corresponding with the development and creating of their customized training website. This e-mail will contain instructions on how to access and use the website and training courses. If no action is taken by the awarded department in 45 days, TS and the VCOS reserve the right to terminate their award and provide the value of services to a newly awarded department.

Grantee Responsibilities:
Grant recipients (grantees) must agree to the following:

Grantees must to the best of their ability utilize the services provided by TS. Utilization of services will be determined by the amount of training that is committed to in the grant application.

The approval committee will review quarterly reports of the training completed by each grantee department. If the grantee department is failing or has failed to complete training the approval committee reserves the right to terminate their award and award the remaining value of their award to a new grantee department.

E-mail: firegrant@targetsafety.com
Phone: 858.487.1699