118 STAT. 2198 PUBLIC LAW 108–375—OCT. 28, 2004 ‘‘(14) GUIDELINES.—(A) Each year, prior to making any grants under this section, the Director shall publish in the Federal Register— ‘‘(i) guidelines that describe the process for applying for grants and the criteria for awarding grants; and ‘‘(ii) an explanation of any differences between the guidelines and the recommendations made pursuant to paragraph (13). ‘‘(B) The criteria for awarding grants under subsection (b)(1)(A) shall include the extent to which the grant would enhance the daily operations of the applicant and the impact of such a grant on the protection of lives and property. ‘‘(15) PEER REVIEW.—The Director shall, after consultation with national fire service organizations, appoint fire service personnel to conduct peer review of applications received under paragraph (5). In making grants under this section, the Director shall consider the results of such peer review evaluations. ‘‘(16) APPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.—The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to activities under paragraphs (13) and (15). ‘‘(17) ACCOUNTING DETERMINATION.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, rule, regulation, or guidance, for pur poses of receiving assistance under this section, equipment costs shall include, but not be limited to, all costs attributable to any design, purchase of components, assembly, manufacture, and transportation of equipment not otherwise commercially available.’’; (10) by amending subsection (d) to read as follows: ‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— ‘‘(1) the term ‘Director’ means the Director, acting through the Administrator; ‘‘(2) the term ‘nonaffiliated EMS organization’ means a public or private nonprofit emergency medical services organization that is not affiliated with a hospital and does not serve a geographic area in which the Director finds that emergency medical services are adequately provided by a fire department; and ‘‘(3) the term ‘State’ includes the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.’’; and (11) in subsection (e)(1), by striking the first sentence and inserting ‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated for the pur poses of this section $900,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, $950,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, and $1,000,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2007 through 2009.’’. SEC. 3603. REPORT ON ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS. (a) STUDY AND REPORT ON ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS.— (1) STUDY.—The Administrator of the United States Fire Administration, in conjunction with the National Fire Protec tion Association, shall conduct a study to— (A) define the current roles and activities associated with the fire services on a national, State, regional, and local level; (B) identify the equipment, staffing, and training required to fulfill the roles and activities defined under subparagraph (A); Federal Register, publication.
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