Opportunity Overview
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security and Department of Fire Services are accepting applications for the FY2027 Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) and Senior SAFE Grant Program, also posted in COMMBUYS as BD-27-1021-DFS-DFS01-133375. SAFE supports fire and life safety education for school-aged children, while Senior SAFE supports older adults.
Funding and Deadline
The FY27 Notice of Funding Opportunity identifies approximately $1.8 million in anticipated statewide funding. Individual request limits are based on population tiers in the controlling FY27 NOFO and awards are competitive; Atlas does not infer a single per-applicant maximum.
Applications are due September 29, 2026 at 5:00 PM. The current Mass.gov and COMMBUYS pages publish the clock time but do not separately state a time zone, so applicants should submit early rather than rely on an inferred zone.
Eligibility
Fire departments in every Massachusetts city, town, fire district, and eligible state authority may apply for SAFE, Senior SAFE, or both. Applicants must satisfy the FY27 fire-incident reporting requirements, including the applicable MFIRS/NERIS reporting compliance for calendar year 2025 by the deadline.
Application and Submission
Applicants must use the official FY27 SAFE & Senior SAFE Grant Application Form. The complete Excel application and all supporting documents must be emailed to SAFE.FireSafetyDivision@mass.gov no later than September 29 at 5:00 PM. The application itself is accepted in Excel format only; handwritten or PDF application files are not accepted and hard copies should not be mailed or faxed. If handwritten signatures are necessary, the signed signature page may be scanned as a supporting PDF and attached to the email with the Excel workbook.
The application signature page requires the Head of Fire Department, Superintendent, and Senior Agency Official signatures as applicable. Electronic signature images are acceptable. Questions are due September 22, 2026. DFS is also offering application webinars; attendance is not mandatory, but the FY27 guidance awards 20 application points when the Fire Chief, designated Primary or Secondary SAFE Educator, or Grant Manager completes a webinar.
Key Restrictions
The FY27 NOFO contains detailed allowable-cost rules and technical caps for certain audiovisual and simulation equipment. Expressly ineligible examples include ride-alongs, robots, SAFE house fees, Stop the Bleed activities, software/programs/apps and warranties, tents/tables/chairs, website and social-media expenses, vehicle maintenance, vital-screening clinics, salaried wages, youth firesetting programs, and youth fire academies. Applicants should use the current FY27 NOFO and workbook rather than prior-year rules.
No mandatory applicant match or cost-share requirement was identified in the official FY27 materials reviewed by Atlas.
Atlas Assessment
Atlas Opportunity Score: 55/100. This is legitimate Massachusetts school and community-safety funding intelligence, but eligibility is limited to qualifying fire departments and eligible costs are tightly constrained.
N9+ Fit: 0/100. QC Healthcare Fit: 0/100. Dr. Miltie direct-applicant fit: 0/100. The verified program does not establish a legitimate clinical-technology or Dr. Miltie direct-vendor pathway.
Next Action
Eligible Massachusetts fire departments should confirm MFIRS/NERIS compliance, select SAFE and/or Senior SAFE, determine the applicable population tier, complete the official Excel workbook, obtain every required signature and supporting document, and submit the complete package by email before the September 29 deadline. Atlas is not initiating new applicant outreach while the official sources leave the deadline time zone unstated.
Official Sources
Massachusetts Department of Fire Services — SAFE Program and FY27 Application Materials
COMMBUYS — BD-27-1021-DFS-DFS01-133375