Degrees At A Distance Program (97.103)

Program

97.103 Degrees At A Distance Program

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Authorization

Executive Order 12127; The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974; Homeland Security Act of 2002, Public Law 107-296; U.S.A. Patriot Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56.

Program Number

97.103

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To support curriculum development, regional meeting support, program marketing, course material printing and publications and initiation of institutional agreements with local two-year college degree programs and colleges/universities, designated by the National Fire Academy, to participate in the Degrees at a Distance Program (DDP). To provide an alternative means for fire service personnel to earn a bachelor's degree or to pursue college-level learning in a fire related course concentration without the requirement of having to attend on-campus classes.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Restricted to colleges/universities designated by the National Fire Academy, to support curriculum development, regional meeting support, program marketing, course material printing and publications; and initiation of institutional agreements with local two-year colleges.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Only colleges/universities designated by U. S. Fire Administration (USFA) are eligible, unsolicited applications will not be accepted Specific information on applicant eligibility is identified in the funding opportunity announcement and program guidance.

Beneficiary Eligibility

State, local and the general public.

Credentials/Documentation

No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Application deadline and other information are contained in the application/program guidance.

Award Procedure

Applications or plans are reviewed by DHS program and administrative staff. Any issues or concerns noted in the application will be negotiated with the successful applicant prior to the award being issued.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Refer to program guidance document.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Requests for extensions must be supported by adequate justification, and can only be authorized in writing by the DHS/U.S. Fire Administration Procurement Officer with the concurrence of the administering program office.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Refer to program guidance. Awards are subject to the Cash Management Improvement Act for payment and/or reimbursement of expenditures. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Refer to program guidance.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

. . Quarterly progress reports. Quarterly Financial Status Reports. .

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards (or receive property, or a combination of both, within the fiscal year) will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular A-133. These audits are due to the cognizant Federal agency, submitted through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse, not later than nine months after the end of the grantees fiscal year.

Records

Grant records shall be retained for a period of 3 years from the day the recipient submits its final expenditure report. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit, or other action involving the records has been started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records must be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all issues which arise from it, or until the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later. Grant records include financial and program/progress reports, support documents, statistical records, and other documents that support the activity and/or expenditure of the recipient or sub-recipient under the award.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: The Degrees at a Distance Program continues to enroll new students and produce new graduates with bachelor's degrees in fire administration and fire prevention technology. The 13-course upper-level independent study curriculum was converted from a printed format to a web-based format so that future courses will be available via the internet. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

70-0564-0-1-800.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $70,000; FY 09 est $70,000; FY 10 est $70,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

No Data Available.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Not Applicable.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

U.S. Fire Administration 16825 South Seton Ave, Emmitsburg, Maryland 21727 Phone: 800-238-3358

Web Site Address

www.usfa.dhs.gov .

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Refer to the program guidance for information on criteria for selecting proposals.