Explanation
BACKGROUND: The City of Columbus has been awarded a Federal Fiscal Year 2016 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant from the Assistance to Fire Fighters (AFG) Grant program, via the Department of Homeland Security / Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The AFG program provides financial assistance to protect the health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel against fire and fire-related hazards. The FY16 AFG award will provide financial assistance for the purchase of the mobile trailer with self-contained Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) based interactive driver training simulators for permanent use within the Division of Fire. The Grant stipulates that, after the completion of initial training of all Division of Fire personnel, the mobile driving simulators will also be used to train regional mutual aid fire departments surrounding the City of Columbus, under the direct supervision of the Division of Fire. Expenditures for the project will cover the purchase costs of the mobile interactive driver training simulators equipment, trailer, and training. The grant award is for a maximum of $743,000.00, which is comprised of $675,455.00 from the AFG award, with a 10% cost match of the final purchase amount to be made by the City, not to exceed $67,545.00, of non-Federal funds. The City will act as Grantee to the Department of Homeland Security / Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is necessary to make the funds available as soon as possible for the grant award start date of September 1, 2017.
FISCAL IMPACT: All appropriated funds will be reimbursed to the City of Columbus by the AFG award upon the final delivery, inspection, training, and invoicing by the successful bidder. The grant has a 10% City cost match of $67,545.00 which is hereby authorized to be expended from the Safety Voted Bond Fund. The City received AFG Grant Awards of $812,639.00 in 2009, $1,135,370.00 in 2005, $...
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