Comments from a Recent AFG Peer Review Panelist

September 18, 2012

Guest Post by Chief Tony Dicks of the Barnwell FD. You can follow Chief Dicks on Twitter @chieftonydicks Recently I had an opportunity to be a panelist in the 2012 AFG/SAFER application process. Over 100 fire service personnel from across the nation assembled in the Washington D.C. area in August and spent 3 ½ days performing peer reviews of the 2012 AFG and SAFER applications. Arriving on Sunday afternoon we checked in at the National Convention Center and were provided a panelist workbook and a seating chart. Bright and early Monday morning we assembled by divisions of either AFG or SAFER to begin our orientation. The peer review process formally began at noon. The panelists were seated in groups of six and one participated as table leader for the day. Each day the panelist rotated to different tables so as not to allow any two panelists to work together for more than one day. A large constituency of AFG staff were located throughout the room and provided direct support. We began the process with a bundle of six applications that had made their way through computer scoring. The table leader read aloud the names of the applicants and their location so each of the panelists could determine if they had any conflict of interest with the applicant. Hearing none, the group then began the process of scoring by reading the entire application and completing a hand-written comment sheet with scores. Each application must be scored by three different panelists then returned to the table leader to review. Once reviewed, the application was returned to the bundle of six and when all were scored, the AFG staff exchanged them for a new stack of six. This process went on for the next three days from 8 AM till 6 PM. The AFG staff conducted quality control looking for missing signatures or documentation. Each application and score sheet was numbered and tracked with precision as thousands of applications were to be reviewed before the week was complete. If you have submitted an AFG application you might wonder what part of the application the peer review panel sees. Well I can assure you we see just what you submit. If you were to print off your application it would be no different. We see the narrative just as it was typed including spacing and paragraphs. I would encourage future applicants to participate in an AFG workshop when it comes to your area. Even if little or no changes occur in the guidance from one year to the next, it is important to listen to your workshop presenter and ask detailed questions on funding priorities and tips on what are the most common mistakes and problems with low scoring applications. In addition, it is important to have multiple personnel in the fire service read and review your entire application before submitting it. When the application is read at peer review, the only information to go on is what has been presented. We cannot call for clarification on what you have submitted. The cheese stands alone as they say. AFG’s quality control measures ensure that no one panelist can either pass or fail your application. This is to assure a personal bias could not affect an application's score based on things like the request type, department type or geographical location. Knowledge that an application has made it to panel means the application warrants a complete review. Being lazy or slack in my review of an application could be the difference between funding and not funding a justified need. Every application is important and that really stayed on my mind throughout the review process. If you are interested in being a panelist for future AFG and SAFER grants, please EMAIL me your contact information. Solicitations for peer review panelist are sent out through different associations and fire service groups just a few weeks before the review process begins. I participated through the NVFC, and I saw no one from South Carolina at panel review. The panel application process is completed online and if you are selected, an e-orientation follows with testing. If you are selected, the AFG program will provide all your needs including arranging and paying for your travel, lodging and per diem. Be prepared to personally score as many as 120 applications over 3 ½ days. The pay is zero. The reward is helping fund those who need it the most. You can learn more about AFG and SAFER Grants on their website.