693JK321NF0003 Notice of Funding Opportunity.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Assistance for Local Emergency

Response Training Grants

Fiscal Year (FY) 2021

NOFO Posted Date: January 12, 2021

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

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

Applicant must be registered 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 an active registration in the System for Award Management 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 (formerly CFDA)

20.703 “Interagency Hazardous Materials Public Sector Training and Planning

Grants”

PHMSA Notice of Funding Opportunity Number

693JK321NF0003

U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and

Hazardous Materials

Safety Administration

(PHMSA)

http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ https://www.fedconnect.net/

NOFO: 693JK321NF0003

U.S. DOT/PHMSA Page 2

Assistannce for Local Emergency Response Training (ALERT) Grant

Contents

MISSION

SECTION A - PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A.1 Statement of Purpose

A.2 Statute and Program Authority

A.3 Background

SECTION B - FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

B.1 Funding

B.2 Period of Performance

B.3 Type of Award

B.4 Previous Awards

SECTION C - ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

C.1 Eligible Applicants

C.2 Cost Sharing or Matching

SECTION D - APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

D.1 Address to Request Application Package

D.2 Content and Form of Application Submission

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

Number) and System for Award Management (SAM)

D.4 Submission Dates and Times

D.5 Funding Restrictions

SECTION E - APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

E.1 Criteria

E.2 Review and Selection Process

E.3 FAPIIS Review

E.4 Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

SECTION F - FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

F.1 Federal Award Notices

F.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements

F.3 Reporting Requirements

SECTION G - FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

SECTION H – OTHER INFORMATION

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PROGRAM SUMMARY

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

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

(PHMSA)

Funding Opportunity Title: “Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training –

FY 2021”

Announcement Type: Initial Announcement

Funding Opportunity Number: 693JK321NF0003

CFDA Number: 20.703

NOFO Posted Date: January 12, 2021

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

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

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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, the agency 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 nonprofits that help make sure pipelines operate safely and shipments arrive without incident.

SECTION A - PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A.1 Statement of Purpose

This funding opportunity is associated with Assistance Listing 20.703. PHMSA, through this competitive grant opportunity, is requesting applications from eligible nonprofit organizations for the Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training (ALERT) grant funds. ALERT grants focus on accident and incident response activities related to the transportation of crude oil, ethanol, and other flammable liquids by rail. ALERT grant funding will be awarded to eligible nonprofit organizations to train individuals with statutory responsibility to respond to accidents and incidents involving hazardous materials.

Funding under this award is critical to ensuring the safe transportation of hazardous materials by training volunteer or remote emergency responders to respond to incidents that involve shipments of hazardous materials by rail including flammable liquids and liquefied natural gas

(LNG). PHMSA’s goal is to ensure that responders who receive training under the grant will have the ability to protect nearby persons, property, and the environment from the effects of rail accidents or incidents involving the transportation of hazardous materials.

PHMSA requires that applicants identify specific training projects based on needs and maintain a record of the following: 1) number trained, 2) course type, 3) cost of training, 4) location of training, and 5) a detailed accounting and description of each grant expenditure, including the amount of, and purpose for, each expenditure. PHMSA measures performance based on the projects included in the approved grant application and whether those projects fulfilled the training needs outlined in the statement of need.

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.

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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 Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success

(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

(hazmat) transportation safety.

A.2 Statute and Program Authority

The ALERT Grant Program is authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, P.L.114-113, which States that PHMSA may fund ALERT grants with prior year funds recovered from the Hazardous Materials Grant Program (HMEP).

A.3 Background

Under the authority of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, P.L. 114-113, PHMSA’s

ALERT grant program provides grants to nonprofit organizations representing regional public-private partnerships. The nonprofit organizations must be able to provide hazardous materials direct or web- based training to individuals with statutory responsibility to respond to accidents and incidents involving hazardous materials. The training will focus on response activities related to the transportation of crude oil, ethanol, and other flammable liquids by rail.

SECTION B - FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

B.1 Funding

Subject to funding availability, PHMSA anticipates that $2.5 million will be available to support the ALERT grant program from funds recovered from the HMEP, and made available by the FY

2021 appropriation.

B.2 Period of Performance

The period of performance is a minimum of twelve (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. An applicant may request a period of performance up to 24 months.

B.3 Type of Award

Discretionary grant award.

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B.4 Previous Awards

Applicants who received a previous PHMSA ALERT grant award may also apply for a FY 2021 grant.

SECTION C - ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

C.1 Eligible Applicants

The FY 2021 ALERT grant is open to nonprofit organizations representing regional public-private partnerships. The nonprofit organizations must be able to provide hazardous materials direct or web- based training to individuals with statutory responsibility to respond to accidents and incidents involving hazardous materials. The training will focus on response activities related to the transportation of crude oil, ethanol, other flammable liquids, and LNG by rail.

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

Grants.gov. Applicants must download the application package associated with this funding opportunity by following the directions provided on Grants.gov.

To request a hard copy of the application package, please contact:

Carla Sheppard

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, E23-446

Washington, DC 20590

Email: HMIT.grants@dot.gov

Phone: (202) 366-1109

FAX: (202) 366-3753

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

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

PHMSA-Accessibility@dot.gov.

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The application package contains the required electronic forms and the ability to upload attachments for the budget narrative, budget justification, project narrative, assurances, and certifications. The applicant must submit the information outlined in the Application Guide in addition to the program-specific information below.

To begin the process, applicants must be registered with www.Grants.gov to submit an application. It is highly recommended that applicants begin the registration process as soon as possible to avoid delays with submission. Failure to comply with the prescribed application requirements as described in this section may result in the failure of an application to be 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, contact

Grants.gov support by phone at (800) 518-4726 or via 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 requests that applicants describe how activities proposed in their application would address the unique challenges facing rural transportation networks, regardless of the geographic location of those activities.

Applications should be well written and free of mathematical errors in the line-item budget and budget narrative. Program narratives should have the sections clearly identified and follow the structure requested in this NOFO.

Applications for FY 2021 ALERT grant funding should be submitted in electronic format in grants.gov according to the following outline. There are two overall sections: (1) standard forms that the applicant must download and complete from grants.gov under the FY 2021 ALERT grant funding opportunity; and (2) attachments the applicant will need to create and upload.

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1. Standard Forms

The following forms are found in grants.gov under the FY 2021 ALERT Grant Funding

Opportunity and must be completed by the applicant.

Standard Form (SF)-424 – Application for Federal assistance

SF-424A – Budget Information

ED-80-0013 – Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension, Drug-Free

Workplace, etc.

Standard Title VI/Non-Discrimination Assurances – Civil Rights Assurances

2. Applicant Attachments to be submitted

All required forms must be created by the applicant and uploaded to grants.gov under the FY

2021 Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training Grant Funding Opportunity. Guidance for submitting the project narrative and budget narrative is listed in the following section.

Project Narrative attachment

Budget Narrative attachment

Indirect cost agreement; and/or Statement claiming 10 percent de minimis (if applicable)

Letters of Support from partner organizations (if applicable)

Additional optional attachments (if applicable)

The application forms and templates are available on Grants.gov in the ‘Related Documents’ tab with detailed instructions on the application process.

3. Project Narrative

The following Project Narrative sections are required. To facilitate the application review and award process, submit the sections in the order of their appearance as stated below. Applicants should clearly identify the sections in the project narrative section of the application.

Organization Information and Capacity. Briefly provide information about your organization. This should include: (1) your organization’s mission; (2) a brief overview of the structure of your organization, programs, leadership, and special expertise; and

(3) your organization’s experience and capacity to manage Federal grant programs – with emphasis on experience managing Federal grants related training individuals who have a statutory responsibility to respond to accidents and incidents involving hazardous materials. If your application proposes to partner with another nonprofit organization, a letter of support is required with your application.

Contact Information. Identify the designated project director, including the name, position, address, email address, and telephone number of the individual(s) who will be responsible for coordinating the funded activities. Additionally, identify authorized individuals who will accept the awarded grant document, as well as individuals responsible for the submission of required Federal financial reports and progress reports.

Statement of Need. Provide a detailed needs assessment to identify the locations in which remote or volunteer emergency responders are in critical need of hazardous material training for response activities to the transportation of flammable liquids and other hazardous material such as gases or corrosive material by rail. The needs

U.S. DOT/PHMSA Page 9 assessment should provide a clear justification for why funding is necessary to address training gaps.

Proposed training and timeline. Describe the proposed activities that will take place under the proposed grant. This section should include: (1) the number and type of activities/courses proposed; (2) the location of the activities if known, (if unknown, explain the methodology for selecting locations); (3) state whether the activities are located in a Qualified Opportunity Zone designated pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 1400Z-1;

(4) a plan for training individuals with statutory responsibility to respond to accidents and incidents involving hazardous materials in rural areas; (5) the timeframe when the activity will take place. The timeline should include benchmarks and milestones that will assist with monitoring of the project’s success. Additionally, any curriculum or instructor development activities should be described and included in the timeline of events.

Projected outputs and objectives. Provide quantifiable, and measurable, outputs planned for the grant’s performance period. Outputs are quantitative data that describe the proposed activities. For delivery of hazmat training courses, outputs should include:

(1) number and type of course(s); and (2) the number of projected students trained for each course. Additionally, broader outcomes or goals may be provided to describe the intended impact of the proposed outputs. This can be either quantitative or qualitative and should reflect the projected impact of the grant activity outputs.

Curriculum. Provide an outline or detailed description of the training curriculum that will be used. If you have submitted a curriculum the prior year and no changes have been made to the curriculum you must indicate such in this section. If the curriculum will be developed during the grant period of performance, provide a detailed description of the curriculum that will be developed.

Monitoring and evaluation of training. Provide an explanation of monitoring efforts, internal controls and quality assurance plans to ensure grant program success. These may include, but are not limited to, random examinations, inspections, and audits of training to maximize the cost effectiveness and impact of the program.

4. Budget Narrative

The budget narrative is an explanation of each budget component, which supports the cost of the proposed work. The budget narrative should focus on how each budget item is required to achieve the proposed project goals and objectives. It should also justify how budget costs were calculated. The budget narrative should be clear, specific, detailed, mathematically correct, and correspond to the SF- 424A line-item categories.

Provide a budget narrative justification with a reference to the object class categories found on the SF- 424A for each proposed activity and explain why the amount is needed to implement the project as proposed in the project narrative. The budget narrative must correlate with the costs identified in the SF-424A line item budget.

A well-developed budget narrative is an effective monitoring tool for both the awarding agency, and grant recipient. However, a budget narrative that does not represent a project’s needs makes it difficult to recommend for full funding and to assess financial performance over the life of the project. A description of the object class categories is provided below:

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1) Personnel costs are the employee salaries for those working directly on the grant project.

Include the number, type of personnel, the percentage of time dedicated to the project, hourly wage (or salary) and total cost to the grant. At least 75 percent of grant funding must be used for HMIT programmatic activities, no more than 25 percent of Federal funding may be used for maintenance and administration costs (M&A). This does not include indirect costs.

This category is limited to only people employed by your organization. Those not employed by your agency shall be classified as subrecipients, or contractors, and should be listed under the “Contractual” or “Other” object class.

Only include compensation paid to employees engaged in grant activities.

Costs should be consistent with that paid for similar types of work within the organization.

2) Fringe Benefit costs are the allowances and services provided by employers to their employees as compensation in addition to regular salaries and wages. Fringe costs are benefits paid to employees, including the cost of employer’s share of FICA, health insurance, workers’ compensation, and vacation. Include how the fringe benefit amount is calculated (i.e., actual fringe benefits estimate, approved rate, etc. Include a description of specific benefits charged to a project and the benefit percentage.

Additional considerations:

The personnel salaries should have corresponding fringe; and vice-versa. PHMSA cannot pay fringe benefits for a position that is not listed in the Personnel section.

Explain what is included in the benefit package and at what percentage.

Fringe benefits are only for the percentage of time devoted to the grant project.

The applicant must not combine the fringe benefit costs with direct salaries and wages in the personnel category.

3) Travel: Travel costs are those costs requested for field work, or for travel, to professional meetings associated with grant activities. Provide the purpose, method of travel, number of persons traveling, number of days, and estimated cost for each trip. If the details of each trip are not known at the time of application submission, provide the basis for determining the amount requested.

4) Equipment: Equipment costs include those items which are tangible, nonexpendable, personal property having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost of

$5,000 or more per unit, unless the applicant has a clear and consistent written policy that determines a different threshold. Include a description, quantity and unit price for all equipment.

Purchases of less than $5,000 should be listed under “Supplies” or “Other.”

Each item of equipment must be identified with the corresponding cost. General-purpose equipment must be justified as to how it will be used on the project.

Analyze the cost benefits of purchasing versus leasing equipment, particularly high-cost items and those subject to rapid technical advances. List rented or leased

U.S. DOT/PHMSA Page 11 equipment costs in the “Contractual” or “Other” category, depending upon the procurement method.

5) Supplies are tangible personal property other than equipment. Include the types of property in general terms. It is not necessary to document office supplies in detail (for example: reams of paper, boxes of paperclips, etc.). However, applicants should include a quantity and unit cost for larger cost supply items such as computers and printers.

6) Contractual costs are those services carried out by an individual or organization, other than the applicant, in the form of a procurement relationship. There are two ways to capture costs in this category: subgrants and contracts.

A Subgrant is an award provided by a pass-through entity (Grantee/Recipient) to a subrecipient. That subrecipient carries out part of a program for which the

Grantee/Recipient received Federal support. A subrecipient has its performance measured in relation to whether objectives of a Federal program were met; has responsibility for programmatic decision making; is responsible for adherence to applicable Federal program requirements specified in the Federal award; and (in accordance with its agreement), uses the Federal funds to carry out a program for a public purpose specified in authorizing statute, as opposed to providing goods or services for the benefit of the pass-through entity.

A Contract is a legal instrument by which a Grantee/Recipient purchases property or services needed to carry out the project or program under an award. A contract/contractor provides the goods and services within normal business operations; provides similar goods or services to many different purchasers; normally operates in a competitive environment; and provides goods or services that are ancillary to the operation of the Federal program.

When procuring goods, or services a grantee/recipient under a Federal award must follow the procurement standards of 2 CFR Part 200, including Appendix II. All procurement transactions must be a full and open competition unless the application demonstrates that one of the exceptions for procurement by noncompetitive proposals is met. If applicants plan to subcontract part of its award to another organization(s), the application must reflect that procurement standards were complied with or provide a statement verifying that upon award, the organization will fully comply with procurement standards outlined in 2 CFR § 200.320.

For all contractual line-item costs, include the rationale for the costs; include the specific contract goods and/or services provided; and the related expenses for those goods and services. Simply entering the statement “contractual services” will not be considered sufficient.

7) Other costs that do not fit any of the categories, include rent for buildings used to conduct project activities, utilities, leased equipment, employee training tuition, etc.

“Other” direct costs must be itemized.

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8) Indirect Costs (if applicable, must include IDC agreement or statement claiming de minimis rate): Indirect costs are allowable in the ALERT grant. Indirect costs are incurred for common or joint objectives that benefit more than one project. The applicant must include a current, and fully executed, indirect cost rate agreement in the application, if claiming indirect costs. The rate must be applied to the appropriate base in the approved agreement. If the rate will not be approved by the application due date, attach the letter of renewal or letter of request that you sent to your cognizant agency to your application. If the applicant has never received or has an expired indirect cost rate agreement, the applicant may be eligible for the 10 percent de minimis rate provided by

2 CFR § 200.414. A nonprofit entity that has never received a negotiated indirect cost rate may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10 percent of modified total direct costs, per

2 CFR § 200.414, which may be used indefinitely. Applicants intending to charge the de minimis rate must include a statement verifying that the organization has never received a negotiated indirect cost rate and that the organization has elected to charge the de minimis rate.

9) Match: Not applicable for the ALERT grant program.

***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. ***

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 (SAM.gov) before submitting its application; (ii) provide a valid DUNS number in its application; and (iii) continue to maintain an active SAM registration and DUNS with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application under consideration.

PHMSA may not make an award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements. If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time PHMSA is ready to make an 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.

NOTE: PHMSA recommends that Applicants review the SAM database to ensure that their

DUNS number is updated and “active.” Link: https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/

D.4 Submission Dates and Times

Completed applications must be received electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on March 9, 2021. If an applicant has technical difficulties submitting the application through Grants.gov, that applicant should contact the Grants Program Office by phone at (202) 366-1109 or via email at HMIT.Grants@dot.gov. Applications received after this deadline may not be considered.

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PHMSA will only accept one application from each applicant.

D.5 Funding Restrictions

The following costs are not eligible for reimbursement under the FY 2021 ALERT grant program:

Personnel costs such as overtime, backfill, stipends, and fees for the State and local personnel receiving training.

Entertainment, alcohol, or morale costs.

Excessive costs for general office supplies, equipment, computer software, printing and copying.

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

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.

1. Technical Criteria

a) Does the applicant have the ability to establish a curriculum or has it established a curriculum that complies with existing regulations and the National Fire Protection

Association standards for competence of responders to accidents and incidents involving hazardous materials?

b) Is the applicant able to provide a comprehensive needs assessment to identify locations in which volunteer or remote emergency responders are in critical need of hazardous materials training for response activities to the transportation of flammable liquids and other hazardous materials such as gases, or other corrosive material by rail?

c) Does the applicant have an expertise in the development and delivery of an emergency response training curriculum to the transport of flammable liquids or other hazardous materials such as gases or corrosive material by rail?

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2. Programmatic Criteria

a) Does applicant provide a detailed needs assessment to identify gaps in training to hazmat responders and include macro-level national data with references to quantitative and qualitative information?

b) Does the applicant have the capacity to reach a target population of emergency responders and involve them in a training program?

c) Does the applicant include a plan to develop and make available in an electronic format, hazardous materials response training to emergency responders specific to the transport of flammable liquids and other hazardous materials such as gases, or corrosive material by rail?

d) Does the application include a plan for training emergency responders in rural areas?

e) Does the applicant describe the proposed training delivery model and how it will effectively deliver training to the desired recipient(s)?

f) Does the applicant’s program activities appear to be allowable, allocable, necessary and reasonable?

g) Does the applicant provide a timeline that clearly communicates when project activities will take place?

h) Does the application list clear outputs, goals and objectives that indicate the grant will have a projected impact on reducing risk and enhancing hazmat transportation safety?

i) Does the applicant outline a monitoring and evaluation strategy to help ensure that the project will be successful?

j) Is the cost of training per individual listed and is it competitive to such costs when compared to the national average?

k) Is the project(s) located in a Qualified Opportunity Zone designated pursuant to 26

U.S.C. § 1400Z-1?

l) Did applicant provide a completed SF-424 form?

m) Is the SF-424A budget completed and properly filled out?

n) Did applicant submit a completed ED-80-0013 combined assurance and Title VI form?

o) Does the budget (SF-424A) and budget narrative align?

p) Does the budget narrative provide detail as to how the costs under Personnel correspond to the staff included in the narrative, and how they were calculated?

q) Does the budget narrative provide an explanation or breakout of the staff Fringe

Benefits?

r) If there are funds entered under Travel, does the budget narrative provide a clear and reasonable explanation that relates to the costs?

s) Does the budget narrative identify supply cost, are the costs adequately explained?

t) If there are funds under Contractual, does the budget narrative clearly describe how contractual costs were derived for each agreement or subaward?

u) If there are costs under “Other” have the costs been reasonably explained?

v) If indirect costs are requested, does the application/budget narrative include an approved, current Indirect Cost Rate agreement or statement claiming the 10% de minimis rate?

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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 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 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 reserves the right to use outside expertise to perform application evaluation.

PHMSA will utilize the technical review criteria in Section E.1 to determine how the applications address the needs for outreach and training.

Programmatic Review: PHMSA will conduct a programmatic review to assess programmatic factors identified in Section E.1. Programmatic factors are those factors which 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. Other programmatic factors may include history of performance, program priorities, and other modal needs. For applicants with existing awards, PHMSA may consider award balances when making final funding decisions.

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

Rating Guidelines

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.

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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.

Selection Process: PHMSA will recommend applications for award based on the final overall rating as described above. Final award recommendations will be made by the PHMSA

Administrator after taking into consideration recommendations made during the administrative, technical, and programmatic reviews and how well the applications address PHMSA’s safety priorities. The Secretary of Transportation will make final award selection decisions.

E.3 FAPIIS Review

Prior to making an award, PHMSA is required to review, and consider, any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM

(currently FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. § 2313). An applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM, and comment on any information about itself that a Federal awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM. PHMSA will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in 2 C.F.R. § 200.205.

E.4 Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

Applicants chosen for funding will receive electronic notification of the Federal Award. Upon notification, the applicant’s authorized official must sign and return the award within the timeframe prescribed by PHMSA. PHMSA plans to make awards by September 30, 2021, with a proposed period of performance start date of October 1, 2021.

SECTION F - FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

F.1 Federal Award Notices

PHMSA’s grant awarding official will award grants to responsible and eligible applicants, at its discretion, 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 awarded in accordance with the approved application and budget, regulations, terms and conditions of the award, applicable Federal cost principles, and the DOT’s financial assistance regulations. Funds may not be used for lobbying or litigation.

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

U.S. DOT/PHMSA Page 17 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 recipient;

2) Title of project;

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

4) Federal Award Identification Number assigned by PHMSA;

5) Period of Performance, specifying the duration of the project;

6) Total amount PHMSA 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 plan for categorizing allocable project funds to accomplish the stated purpose of the award; and

11) Other information or provisions deemed necessary by PHMSA.

F.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements

The administration of this award by PHMSA and the Recipient will be based on the following

Federal statutory and regulatory requirements:

1) The authorizing language of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, P.L.114-113

(the Act).

2) 2 CFR Part 200 – Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit

Requirements for Federal Awards.

3) The Recipient must comply with 49 CFR art 20, "New Restrictions on Lobbying." 49

CFR Part 20 will be incorporated by reference into any award under this program and is available at www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr/ by clicking on Title 49 CFR Part 20.

4) The Recipient must comply with Title VI of the Civil Right Act of 1964, which provides that no person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

5) The Recipient must comply with 49 CFR Part 21, “Nondiscrimination in Federally-

Assisted Programs of the Department of Transportation—Effectuation of Title VI of the

Civil Rights Act of 1964.” 49 CFR Part 21 will be incorporated by reference into any award under this program. 49 CFR Part 21 available at: www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr/ by clicking on Title 49 CFR Part 21.

6) The Recipient must comply with 49 CFR Part 32, “Government wide Requirements for

Drug Free Workplace (Financial Assistance),” which implements the requirements of

Public Law 100-690, Title Subtitle D, “Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988.” 49 CFR Part

32 will be incorporated by reference into any award under this program and is available at: www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr/ by clicking on Title 49 CFR Part 32.

F.3 Reporting Requirements

Bi-Annual Report(s) - Each grant recipient is required to submit a bi-annual Federal financial report (SF-425) and a bi-annual progress report. Bi-annual financial and progress reports are to

U.S. DOT/PHMSA Page 18 be submitted via email at HMIT.grants@dot.gov. The reports are due no later than 30 days after the project period end date. Progress reports must follow the instructions outlined in the terms and conditions of the grant award and must include:

1) A summary of the activities and outputs that have taken place during the reporting period.

This should include, at a minimum, the number of courses delivered during the period of performance, along with the number of students trained, the city and State where the training took place and the employer or State the students are emergency responders in.

2) The challenges that the grantee has faced and the strategies implemented to mitigate those challenges.

3) An updated timeline of grant activities projected to take place for the remainder of the grant period of performance.

4) As available, impact statements or analysis, from instructors, public sector responders or other stakeholders regarding the impact that current period of performance grant activities have had on protecting people and the environment from the risks of hazardous materials transportation.

Final Report(s) - Each recipient is required to submit a final progress report and a final Federal financial report (Final SF-425). Final financial and progress reports are to be submitted by email at HMIT.grants@dot.gov. The reports are due no later than 90 days after the performance period has ended.

Final reports must follow the instructions outlined in the terms and conditions of the grant award.

Final performance reports are to be submitted via email as directed by the terms and conditions of the grant award, and must include:

1) A summary of the activities and outputs that took place during the period of performance.

This should include the total number and type of courses delivered during the period of performance, along with the number of students trained, the city and State where the training took place. Final reports should also include a list of employers or State who represent the students trained. If the projected outputs listed in the approved project narrative were not met, an explanation should be provided.

2) The challenges that the grantee faced, and the strategies taken to mitigate such challenges.

3) A completed timeline of the activities that took place during the completed period of performance.

4) As available, impact statements or analysis, from training instructors, public sector responders or other stakeholders regarding the impact current period of performance grant activities have had on protecting people and the environment from the risks of hazardous materials transportation.

All applications and reports will be made available to the public upon request.

U.S. DOT/PHMSA Page 19

SECTION G - FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

Questions related to the content of this funding opportunity should be submitted via the Message

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

Agreement Administrator

Ben Patterson

Phone: (202) 366-5102

Ben.Patterson@dot.gov

Program Contact

Carla Sheppard

Phone: (202) 366-1109

Email: Carla.Sheppard@dot.gov

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 the program point of contact listed in Section G for technical assistance.