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1 Minnesota Department of Public Safety State Fire Marshal Division Fire and Rescue Shared Services Feasibility Study Grant Program Introduction: After a successful round of Shared Services Grants in 2010, 2012,and 2014 and with thanks to the Fire Service Advisory Committee and Public Safety Commissioner Ramona Dohman, the State Fire Marshal Division has obtained grant funding for another round of Shared Services grants. These funds can be used to compensate consulting services that explore a shared-services model for multiple fire services, or as implementation funds to continue recommendations from other studies. Shared Services refers to any number of scenarios where fire-and-rescue service organizations are working together to become more effective or more efficient. The shared-service concept does not necessarily result in financial savings, nor does it mean that fire departments must formally merge. “A Blueprint for Shared Services” document is available on the SFM Website: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/sfm/document-library/Documents/SharedServicesBluePrint.pdf The final reports of the eight 2010 and seven 2012 studies (2014 will be published soon) are also available on the SFM Website: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/sfm/document-library/Pages/Shared- Services-Grant.aspx Anticipated Individual Grant Amount: We anticipate that two or more fire-service agencies will jointly apply for grant funding to study, or implement ways of increasing efficiency, effectiveness, or cost savings through voluntary and cooperative shared services. We estimate that available funding will pay for individual grants of no more than $40,000. A local match of at least 10 percent of the grant award is required. Local match may include administrative costs to manage the grant. The expected outcome of the study will include a report delivered to the State Fire Marshal that outlines alternatives for the parties to share fire and rescue services. The report will be posted on the State Fire Marshal Division website. Eligible Applicants: Any two or more fire service agencies applying for a grant must include a letter from all participating jurisdictions indicating their intent to cooperate in the study. The letters must be from the governance entity (e.g. the city council for a city fire service.) A fire service agency is defined as having a fire department identification number (FDID) from the State Fire Marshal Division. Grants will be made to the lead jurisdiction submitting the grant application. The grant contract must be signed by a representative of the lead jurisdiction having the legal authority to sign contracts for that jurisdiction. Legal authority may be documented by a resolution or official minutes from the jurisdiction and will be required at the time that the grant contract is to be signed. It is not required for the grant application. Application Process: All applications will consist of a Project Information Sheet and a Project Application Narrative. All forms and information are available electronically on the State Fire Marshal Division website at www.sfm.dps.mn.gov