TAG NOFO 2021.pdf

US DOT/PHMSA Page 1 of 14

FY 2020 Technical Assistance Grants - Notice of Funding Opportunity

U.S. Department of Transportation

Pipeline and Hazardous

Materials Safety

Administration

(PHMSA)

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Pipeline Safety Information Grants to

Communities: Technical Assistance Grants

(TAG)

Fiscal Year 2021

NOFO Posted Date: January 12, 2020

Application Due Date: March 9, 2021 11:59 pm ET

Questions Due Date: February 23, 2021, 11:59 pm ET

Applicant must register at www.Grants.gov to apply online. It is highly recommended that applicants begin the registration process as soon as possible to avoid delays in submission. Additionally, applicants must maintain a valid Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.SAM.gov.

Furthermore, applicants must register with FedConnect at https://www.fedconnect.net for an account before submitting an application.

Your organization’s Marketing Partner ID number (MPIN), which can be retrieved from SAM, is required to create an account. For instructions on how to register in FedConnect and how to use the portal, view the FedConnect: Ready, Set, Go! Tutorial under the Need Help? Section on the FedConnect home page.

Assistance Listing Program Number (formerly CFDA)

20.710 “Technical Assistance Grants”

PHMSA NOFO Number:

693JK321NF0008

NOFO# 693JK321NF0008

US DOT/PHMSA Page 2 of 14

FY 2021 Technical Assistance Grants - Notice of Funding Opportunity

Table of Contents

Program Summary…………………………………………………………………….. 3

Mission…………………………...……………………………………………..………. 4

Section A – Program Description……………………………………………..………. 4

Section A.1 Statement of Purpose……………………………………………

Section A.2 Statute and Program Authority……………...……………………… 4

Section A.3 Background………………………………………….…………… 5

Section B – Federal Award Information…………………………………………… Section B.1 Funding……………………………………………………………... 5

Section B.2 Period of Performance………………………………………...……. 5

Section B.3 Type of Award…………………………………………………

Section B.4 Previous Awards……………………………………………………. 5

Section C – Eligibility Information………………………………………………...….. 5 Section C.1 Eligible Applicants……………………………………………………… 5

Section C.2 Cost Sharing or Matching…………………………………………… 6

Section D – Application and Submission Information……………………………….. 6 Section D.1 Address to Request Application Package…………………………... 6

Section D.2 Content and Form of Application Submission….…………………... 7

Section D.3 Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number and

System for Award Management (SAM) 8

Section D.4 Submission Dates and Times……………………….………………. 8

Section D.5 Funding Restrictions…………………………………..……………. 9

Section D.6 Other Submission Requirements…………………………

Section E – Application Review Information ………………………………………… 10 Section E.1 Criteria…………………...……………………………..…………… 10

Section E.2 Review and Selection Process………………………………………. 11

Section E.3 Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates……………... 12

Section F – Federal Award Administration Information…………………………….. 12 Section F.1 Federal Award Notices………………………………………………. 12

Section F.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements………………….. 13

Section F.3 Reporting Requirements……………………………………………... 13

Section G – Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)..………………….……………….. 13

Section H – Other Information………………………...……………………………….. 14

NOFO# 693JK321NF0008

US DOT/PHMSA Page 3 of 14

Program Summary

Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety

Administration (PHMSA)

Funding Opportunity Title: Pipeline Safety Information Grants to Communities:

Technical Assistance Grants (TAG)

Announcement Type: Initial Announcement

Funding Opportunity Number: 693JK321NF0008

Assistance Listing Program Number: 20.710

NOFO Posted Date: January 12, 2021

Application Due Date: March 9, 2021 11:59 pm ET

Questions Due Date: February 23, 2021 11:59pm ET

US DOT/PHMSA Page 4 of 14

FY 2020 Technical Assistance Grants - Notice of Funding Opportunity

MISSION

The mission of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT or Department) is to ensure our

Nation has the safest, most efficient and modern transportation system in the world. DOT’s

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) protects people and the environment by advancing the safe transportation of energy and other hazardous materials that are essential to our daily lives. To do this, PHMSA establishes national policy, sets and enforces standards, educates, and conducts research to prevent incidents. We also prepare the public and first responders to reduce consequences if an incident does occur. To accomplish this, PHMSA awards grants to States, tribes, territories, localities, communities, and non-profit organizations that help make sure pipelines operate safely and shipments arrive without incident.

SECTION A – PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A.1 Statement of Purpose

Pipeline safety is a shared responsibility and informed communities play a vital role in the safety and reliability of pipeline operations. The Pipeline Safety Information Grants to

Communities: Technical Assistance Grants (TAG) program (Assistance Listing 20.710) provides funding to local communities and groups of individuals for technical assistance related to pipeline safety. The program also provides opportunities that strengthen the depth and quality of public participation in the safe operation of pipelines in and around communities. Technical assistance is defined as engineering or other scientific analysis of pipeline safety issues.

A strong transportation network is critical to the functioning and growth of the American economy. The Nation’s industry depends on the transportation network to move the goods that it produces, and facilitate the movements of the workers who are responsible for that production. When the Nation’s highways, railways, and ports function well, that infrastructure connects people to jobs, increases the efficiency of delivering goods and thereby cuts the costs of doing business, reduces the burden of commuting, and improves overall well-being.

Rural transportation networks play a vital role in supporting our national economic vitality.

Addressing the deteriorating conditions and disproportionately high fatality rates on our rural transportation infrastructure is of critical interest to the Department, as rural transportation networks face unique challenges in safety, infrastructure condition, and passenger and freight usage. Consistent with the R.O.U.T.E.S. Initiative, the Department encourages applicants to consider how the project will address the challenges faced by rural areas in advancing pipeline and hazardous materials transportation safety.

A.2 Statute and Program Authority

The TAG program is authorized pursuant to the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002

(Public Law 107-355, codified at 49 U.S.C. § 60130), to make grants to local communities and groups of individuals (not including for-profit entities) for technical assistance relating to pipeline safety. The TAG program is further authorized under the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement and Safety Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-468), the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-90), and the Protecting

NOFO# 693JK320NF0008

US DOT/PHMSA Page 5 of 14 our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-183).

A.3 Background

Since the inception of the TAG program, PHMSA has awarded almost $11.7 million for 224 individual technical assistance projects. TAG awards have funded a broad range of activities, including improvement of local pipeline emergency response capabilities; improvement of safe digging or damage prevention programs; development of pipeline safety information resources;

implementation of local land use planning practices that enhance pipeline safety; community and pipeline awareness campaigns; and public participation in official proceedings pertaining to pipeline safety. A summary of the TAG awards, including final reports from completed grant projects, is available at http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/tag.

SECTION B – FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

B.1 Funding Subject to the availability of appropriations, PHMSA anticipates $1,815,494 will be made available to support the TAG program. Grant awards under this NOFO may not exceed

$100,000 for a single recipient.

Recipients may request up to 50 percent of the total amount of the award upon execution of the grant agreement. The remaining amount may be requested upon receipt and approval (by the

PHMSA Agreement Officer) of the mid-term progress report.

B.2 Period of Performance The period of performance is 12 months from the effective date of award for each grant.

Applicants must only apply for funding that can be reasonably expended within this time frame and for projects that can be completed within the period of performance.

B.3 Type of Award Discretionary grant award.

B.4 Previous Award TAG recipients from previous years are eligible to apply for a FY 2021 TAG; however, applications should be for new projects and not for renewal or supplementation of existing projects.

SECTION C – ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

C.1 Eligible Applicants Applicants for the TAG must be local communities or groups of individuals (not including for-profit entities) relating to the safety of pipeline facilities in local communities, other than facilities regulated under Public Law 93-153 (43 U.S.C. § 1651 et seq.). Eligible applicants include cities, towns, villages, counties, parishes, townships, and similar governmental subdivisions, or consortiums of such subdivisions, and groups of individuals; but does not include for-profit entities. States, universities, and for-profit entities are not eligible for TAG

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C.2 Cost Sharing or Matching There are no cost-sharing or matching requirements.

SECTION D – APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

D.1 Address to Request Application Package

PHMSA requires applicants for this funding opportunity to apply electronically through www.Grants.gov. Applicants must download the application package associated with this funding opportunity by following the directions provided at Grants.gov. To request a hard copy of the application package, please contact:

Dwayne Cross, Agreement Officer

Acquisition Services Division

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, E22-306

Washington, DC 20590

Phone: 202-366-4429

Email: Dwayne.Cross@dot.gov

If you are a hearing-impaired person, please contact the FR/TTY at 1-800-877-8339 or email

PHMSA-Accessibility@dot.gov.

Applications will only be accepted via www.Grants.gov. Mail and fax submissions will not be accepted.

The application package contains the required electronic forms/templates and provides the ability to upload attachments for the budget narrative, project narrative, assurances, and certifications.

The applicant must submit the information outlined in the application package. A copy of this

NOFO and corresponding forms package can be retrieved from www.Grants.gov using the following basic search criteria:

(1) Keyword(s): Technical Assistance Grants

(2) NOFO#: 693JK321NF0008

(3) CFDA Number: 20.710

To begin the process, applicants must register at www.Grants.gov. It is highly recommended that applicants begin the registration process as soon as possible to avoid submission delays. Failure to comply with the prescribed application requirements as described in this section will result in an application not being reviewed.

Accessing Grants.gov:

For new users, go to http://www.Grants.gov/web/grants/applicants.html, or go to the main page at http://www.Grants.gov/ and select “Register.” NOTE: New user registrations for

Grants.gov can take up to two weeks to complete. For additional questions on how to register, US DOT/PHMSA Page 7 of 14 contact Grants.gov support by phone at (800) 518-4726 or by email at support@grants.gov.

Accessing FedConnect:

Applicants must register with FedConnect at https://www.fedconnect.net for an account before submitting an application. Your organization’s Marketing Partner ID number (MPIN), which can be retrieved from SAM, is required to create an account. For instructions on how to register in FedConnect and how to use the portal, view the FedConnect: Ready, Set, Go! Tutorial under the Need Help? section on the FedConnect home page. For other technical issues or questions, either email fcsupport@unisonglobal.com or call us at 1-800-899-6665 option 2. The

FedConnect Support Center is staffed Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., ET, except Federal holidays.

D.2 Content and Form of Application Submission Consistent with the Department's R.O.U.T.E.S. Initiative (https://www.transportation.gov/rural), the Department encourages applicants to describe how activities proposed in their application would address the unique challenges facing rural transportation networks, regardless of the geographic location of those activities.

Each application must consist of the following required documents:

1. Application for Federal Assistance Standard Form (SF-424)

2. Budget Information - Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A)

3. Project Narrative

4. Budget Narrative and Estimates

5. Standard Title VI/Non-Discrimination Assurances

6. Certification Regarding Lobbying

The standard forms (SF-424 and SF-424A), templates for the Project and Budget Narratives, Standard Title VI/Non-Discrimination Assurances, and the Certification Regarding Lobby form are available on Grants.gov in the ‘Related Documents’ tab with detailed instructions on the application process.

Applications should be clear, concise, and free of mathematical errors in the line-item budget and budget narrative. Project narratives should have the sections clearly identified and follow the structure requested in the application package.

• If your proposal includes indirect costs, please attach a copy of your approved indirect cost rate agreement along with your proposal. If your entity does not have an approved indirect cost rate agreement, please include a statement to that effect in your budget request.

• If your proposal includes personnel costs, please include a complete breakdown, including personnel title/position, hourly rate, and the number of hours expected to be spent by each person on the proposed project.

• If your proposal includes travel costs, please include adequate details on how the cost has been calculated. Travel costs are those costs for transportation, lodging, subsistence, and related items requested for fieldwork or for travel to professional meetings associated with grant activities. Provide the purpose, method of travel, number of persons traveling, number mailto:fcsupport@unisonglobal.com

US DOT/PHMSA Page 8 of 14 of days, and estimated cost for each trip. If details of each trip are not known at the time of application submission, provide the basis for determining the amount requested.

• If your proposal includes equipment costs, please include adequate details on how the cost has been calculated, including information on each specific equipment piece(s) required and their individual costs. Equipment costs must comply with 2 CFR § 200.439.

• In the project narrative, applicants should state whether the project is located in a Qualified

Opportunity Zone designated pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 1400Z-1 and describe how activities proposed in the application address unique challenges facing rural transportation networks, regardless of the geographic location of activities.

• If you are a non-profit municipal pipeline operator, your project narrative must state that the application conforms to the requirement in D.5, Funding Restrictions, pertaining to restricted uses of funding for non-profit municipal pipeline operators.

Applications from non-profit municipal pipeline operators that propose activities associated with regulatory compliance or typical operations and maintenance of pipeline facilities will not be considered for award.

Further, please note that in order to comply with the requirements of 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E, and DOT’s Guide to Financial Assistance, PHMSA’s Agreement Officers and Grant Specialists may request additional information pertaining to your application during the application review and evaluation process.

Please refer to sections E.1 and E.2 for the Evaluation Criteria and Rating Guidelines, to which the Project and Budget Narratives will be evaluated.

D.3 Unique Entity Identifier (Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS)

Number) and System for Award Management (SAM)

Each applicant is required to: (i) be registered in SAM before submitting its application;

(ii) provide a valid DUNS number in its application; and (iii) continue to maintain an active

SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application under consideration by PHMSA. PHMSA may not make a grant award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable DUNS and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with all applicable DUNS and SAM requirements by the time that PHMSA is ready to make a grant award, PHMSA may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant.

We recommend that applicants review the SAM database to ensure that their DUNS number is updated and active: https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/. PHMSA will review an applicant’s registration status to make a responsibility determination to ensure that the applicant is responsible, current on all Federal taxes, and is not on the list of parties excluded from Federal awards.

D.4 Submission Dates and Times Complete applications must be received electronically through Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern

US DOT/PHMSA Page 9 of 14

Time on March 9, 2021. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered.

PHMSA will only accept one application from each applicant. Applicants awarded FY

2021 TAGs may not subcontract with or otherwise receive TAG funding from other FY

2021 TAG recipients for purposes of performing work under the FY 2021 TAG program.

D.5 Funding Restrictions

The funding for the TAG program may not be used for lobbying, in direct support of litigation, in direct advocacy for or against a pipeline construction or expansion project or other pipeline policy matters, or for activities associated with regulatory compliance or typical operations and maintenance of pipeline facilities as defined below.

While operators of non-profit municipal pipeline systems are considered communities and are eligible for a TAG, the funds shall not be used for activities associated with regulatory compliance or typical operations and maintenance of pipeline facilities. This restriction includes compliance with pipeline safety integrity management regulations.

Prohibited activities include:

• Lobbying, which is defined as the act of attempting to influence the actions, policies, or decisions of officials, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. This is a form of advocacy where a direct contact is made to legislators.

• Direct support of litigation.

• Advocacy, which is defined as an activity by an individual or group that aims to advance particular views or influence decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions. Advocacy may include undertaking activities such as media campaigns, public speaking, commissioning and publishing research, conducting exit polls, or filing an amicus brief.

Some examples of prohibited activities include:

• Expenses claimed and or reimbursed by another program.

• Expenses counted as match funds toward another Federal program.

• Any additional costs disallowed or stated as ineligible in 2 CFR Part 200.

• One-on-one meetings and contacts with members of the Administration or Congress.

• Letters, policy reports, or recommendations sent directly to policymakers to sway policy debate or decisions.

• Billboards or advertisements aimed at attracting the attention of congressional staffers and administration officials.

• Hill briefings to converse with and educate members of Congress and their staffs.

• Hearings in congressional committees where public witnesses can testify on an issue.

• Protests, media (mainstream and social) campaigns, and letter/e-mail campaigns.

• Posting pro- or anti-pipeline advocacy documents and messages on websites developed with grant funds.

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D.6 Other Submission Requirements

See Attachment 1: Terms and Conditions of this announcement for a list of statutes and regulations that discuss allowable uses of the TAG funds. PHMSA may award, at its discretion, applications from non-profit municipal pipeline operators that propose projects that clearly exceed what is required of pipeline operators under existing pipeline safety regulations.

Examples of eligible project work include, but are not limited to:

• Adopting Pipelines and Informed Planning Alliance (PIPA) recommended practices (http://www.pipa-info.com);

• Increasing awareness of “811 – Call Before You Dig” program (http://www.call811.com);

• Developing information or technologies that could aid in pipeline emergency response, pipeline excavation damage prevention, risk-informed land use planning, community awareness, public education, and engineering (except activities already required by existing regulations); and

• Understanding and fulfilling pipeline safety data needs to improve data analysis.

Questions regarding the eligibility of specific activities may be directed to Dwayne Cross at dwayne.cross@dot.gov or (202) 366-4429.

For summaries of past TAG projects, including all final reports that have been submitted to

PHMSA to date, visit http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/tag. Please note that in the first two years of the TAG program (2009 and 2010), PHMSA did not explicitly prohibit the use of funds for regulatory compliance or operations and maintenance by municipal operators.

SECTION E – APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

E.1 Criteria Consistent with the Department's R.O.U.T.E.S. Initiative (https://www.transportation.gov/rural), the Department recognizes that rural transportation networks face unique challenges. To the extent that those challenges are reflected in the merit criteria listed in this section, the

Department will consider how the activities proposed in the application will address those challenges, regardless of the geographic location of those activities.

PHMSA will evaluate applications through administrative, technical, and programmatic reviews based on the evaluation criteria.

PHMSA developed evaluation criteria to rate and select competing applications. Submission of an application is not a guarantee of award. PHMSA may, at its discretion, award a grant based on an application in its entirety, award only portions of a grant based on its application, or not award a grant at all. Applications will be evaluated against the following evaluation criteria:

1. The extent to which the applicant’s project scope establishes clear goals and objectives that focus on areas where a pipeline failure could pose a significant risk to people or to unusually sensitive environmental areas (see definition in 49 CFR § 195.6).

2. The extent to which the applicant’s project scope identifies specific pipeline safety concerns or risks to address in affected geographic areas to stakeholders and/or https://www.transportation.gov/rural

US DOT/PHMSA Page 11 of 14 communities.

3. The extent to which the proposal demonstrates the applicant’s experience with and commitment to foster open communication with affected operators and other key members of the community to ensure project success.

4. The extent to which the applicant’s project aligns with the challenges and strategies for advancing pipeline safety and seeks to improve performance and safety over time in areas such as engineering, damage prevention, land use planning, public awareness, education and outreach, emergency response, and community awareness.

5. The extent to which the applicant’s project plan clearly establishes resources, milestones, and estimated project costs that align with project goals and objectives.

6. The extent to which the applicant’s project plan identifies measurable results and deliverables and specifies how results will be evaluated and disseminated to affected stakeholders.

7. The extent to which the applicant’s project scope provides the potential for learning or technology transfer to other groups and communities.

In addition, PHMSA expects the proposed results of the projects to be factual, unbiased, verifiable, and repeatable to the extent practicable. Applicants should also be aware that a grant award will not convey any authority to grant recipients to secure information or cooperation from pipeline operators or access to PHMSA data or data systems.

The Department will review and consider applications for funding pursuant to this Notice in accordance with the President’s September 2, 2020 memorandum, entitled Memorandum on

Reviewing Funding to State and Local Government Recipients of Federal Funds that Are

Permitting Anarchy, Violence, and Destruction in American Cities, consistent with guidance from the Office of Management and Budget and the Attorney General and with all applicable laws.

E.2 Review and Selection Process

Administrative Review: PHMSA will conduct an administrative review to ensure the application meets the eligibility criteria outlined in Section C on Eligibility Information. Each application will be reviewed for completeness to ensure it includes all of the required elements to qualify for the grant. If the application does not meet the required elements, then the application is likely to be rejected.

Technical Review: PHMSA will conduct a technical review of the application(s) to assess how the proposed work is to be performed and whether the application(s) are responsive to the applicable program requirements (i.e. performance measurement, methodology, and technical merit). PHMSA may use outside stakeholders as part of the technical review panel. Member outside stakeholders may be comprised of pipeline safety stakeholder groups with expertise in pipeline safety.

Programmatic Review: PHMSA will conduct a programmatic review to assess programmatic factors. Programmatic factors are relevant and essential to the process of selecting applications that best achieve the program objectives, in accordance with applicable statutes, regulations, policies, and guidelines. Programmatic factors may include history of performance, program

US DOT/PHMSA Page 12 of 14 priorities, and other modal needs (i.e. rural areas and Qualified Opportunity Zones).

Based on these results from each review, each application will receive an overall rating either as:

Selection Process

Final award recommendations will be made by the PHMSA Administrator after taking into consideration recommendations made during the administrative, technical, and programmatic reviews. The Secretary of Transportation will make final award selection decisions.

E.3 Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

Applications chosen for funding will receive electronic notification of the Federal Award. Upon notification, an applicant’s authorized official must sign the award within the time frame prescribed by PHMSA. Subject to the availability of funding, PHMSA plans to make awards no later than September 30, 2021, with a proposed period of performance start date of September

30, 2021.

SECTION F – FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

Rating Guideline

Highly Recommended - The application demonstrates that the NOFO requirements are very well understood and the approach will likely result in a very high-quality performance. The application clearly addresses and exceeds requirements with no weaknesses. The application contains outstanding features that meet or exceed on multiple dimensions the expectations of the Government. The application scope aligns very well with the DOT objectives and priorities. The risk of poor performance is very low.

Recommended - The application demonstrates that the NOFO requirements are understood and the approach will likely result in satisfactory performance. The application addresses and meets requirements with some minor, but correctable weaknesses. The application demonstrates requisite experience, qualifications, and performance capabilities. The application scope aligns with the DOT objectives and priorities. The risk of poor performance is low.

Acceptable - The application demonstrates that the NOFO requirements are mostly understood and the approach will likely result in satisfactory performance for part of the requirements. The application addresses some of the requirements with some weaknesses. The application demonstrates some experience, qualifications, and/or performance capabilities. The application partially aligns with the DOT objectives and priorities. The risk of poor performance is moderate.

Not Acceptable - The application does not meet the NOFO requirements. The application fails to address many requirements. The applicant may be ineligible to apply for the grant. The application could not satisfy critical requirements without a major revision and/or a rewrite of the application or a major redirection effort. The application scope does not align with the DOT objectives and priorities. The risk of poor performance is high.

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F.1 Federal Award Notices PHMSA’s awarding official will make grants to those responsible, eligible applicants whose applications are judged most meritorious under the procedures set forth in this NOFO. All funds provided by PHMSA must be expended solely for the purpose for which the funds are granted in accordance with the approved application and budget, regulations, terms and conditions of the award, applicable Federal cost principles, and DOT financial assistance regulations. Funds may not be used in direct support of litigation, lobbying, for direct advocacy for or against a pipeline construction or expansion project or other pipeline policy matters, or for activities associated with regulatory compliance or typical operations and maintenance of pipeline facilities.

The grant award agreement, signed by both the PHMSA Agreement Officer and the recipient’s Authorized Representative, is the authorizing document and will be provided through electronic means to the Authorized Representative. The award document will provide pertinent instructions and information including, at a minimum, the following:

1) The legal name and address of the recipient;

2) Title of project;

3) Name(s) of key personnel chosen to direct and control approved activities;

4) Federal Award Identification Number (FAIN) assigned by PHMSA;

5) Period of performance;

6) Total amount of financial assistance approved for the project;

7) Legal authority(ies) under which the award is issued;

8) Assistance Listing Program Number (formerly CFDA);

9) Applicable award terms and conditions;

10) Approved budget including category of spending; and,

11) Other information or provisions deemed necessary by PHMSA.

F.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements Several Federal statutes and regulations apply to grant applications considered for review and grants awarded under this program. See the Terms and Conditions attached to this NOFO for a list of statutes and regulations that are applicable to this funding opportunity.

F.3 Reporting Requirements

Mid-Year Report(s) - Each grant recipient is required to submit a mid-year Federal financial report (SF-425) and a progress report six months after the effective date of the grant award. The reports are to be submitted via email to the Agreement Officer and Agreement Officer

Representative; contact information will be available in the grant award. Progress reports must follow the instructions outlined in the terms and conditions of the grant award and must include:

1. A comparison of actual accomplishments to the objectives established for the period;

2. Where the output of the project can be quantified, a computation of the cost per unit of output; and,

3. Challenges and/or the reasons for delays, if established objectives were not met.

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Final Report(s) - Each grant recipient is required to submit a final Federal financial report (SF-

425) and final progress report no later than 90 days after the performance period has ended. The reports are to be submitted via email to the Agreement Officer and Agreement Officer

Representative; contact information will be available in the grant award. The final progress report must follow the instructions outlined in the terms and conditions of the grant award and must include:

1. A comparison of actual accomplishments to the objectives established for the period;

2. Where the output of the project can be quantified, a computation of the cost per unit of output; and,

3. Challenges and/or the reasons for delays, if established objectives were not met.

In addition, each recipient of a grant must ensure that:

1) The technical findings made possible by the grants are made available to the relevant pipeline operators; and,

2) Open communication is maintained between the grant recipients, local operators, local communities, and other interested parties.

In total, four reports (a mid-term progress report, a mid-term financial status report, a final progress report, and a final financial report) are required. Standard Form 425 (SF-

425) must be used for submission of the mid-term and final financial status reports. All applications and reports will be made available to the public upon request.

SECTION G – FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACT(S)

***All questions related to the content of this funding opportunity MUST be submitted via the

Message Center in FedConnect. Please do not send questions via e-mail. ***

For technical issues or questions related to FedConnect, please email fcsupport@unisonglobal.com; applicant can also submit questions through the portal on their website, or call 1-800-899-6665 option 2.

Point of Contact

Dwayne Cross, Agreement Officer (AO)

Acquisition Services Division

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, E22-306

Washington, DC 20590

Phone: (202) 366-4429

Email: dwayne.cross@dot.gov

Grants.gov Questions

Grants.gov Contact Center

Phone: (800) 518-4726

E-mail: support@grants.gov mailto:fcsupport@unisonglobal.com mailto:support@grants.gov

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SECTION H – OTHER INFORMATION

Given the complexity of some aspects of the application process, technical assistance is available to rural applicants and inexperienced or under-resourced applicants to help with the application process. Please contact Dwayne Cross at 202-366-4429 or Dwayne.cross@dot.gov for technical assistance.

mailto:Dwayne.cross@dot.gov