2017_TAG_Grant_Application_Instructions_Final.pdf

PHMSA Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) Application Instructions

If you have any questions or need assistance call Carrie at 757-689-3168 or email carrie.winslow@dot.gov

A. Check Adobe Version

Click here to determine if you have the proper version of Adobe to fill out the application package:

http://www.grants.gov/documents/19/18249/Adobe-Versioning-Test-Application-Package.pdf

If you DO have the compatible version, you will see an application package displayed.

If you DO NOT have a compatible version, an error message will be displayed with instructions on obtaining the compatible version.

B. Fill out your Project Narrative document

Save the word document from the notification email to your computer and then open the document. The first page of the word document has brief instructions on how to fill out the application template.

C. Fill out your Budget Narrative-Estimate document

Save the word document from the notification email to your computer and then open the document. The first page of the word document has brief instructions on how to fill out the application template.

You will need to refer to the total estimated budget section in filling out the SF-424A form, it will be helpful if you print this document before filling out the form.

D. Complete the Title VI/Non-Discrimination Assurances

Save the word document from the notification email to your computer and then open the document.

Fill in the required information on these additional certifications – organization name, dates, etc. up to and including page 3, the rest of the document is for your use as appropriate.

On page 2, under Specific Assurances, item 3 discusses the appendices A-E and asks the recipient (you) to insert the appropriate clauses in the appendices into every contract or agreement you enact using the funds from the grant. Items B, C and D apply if we PHMSA give you land or money to build a facility – then these must be part of any contracts or agreements passing the land or money on to other entities.

Print the first 3 pages of the document. This document must be signed and then scanned to your computer before completing the forms package.

http://www.grants.gov/documents/19/18249/Adobe-Versioning-Test-Application-Package.pdf

E. Open the Forms Package

Double click the Adobe form.

Enter “Your Organization Name 2017 TAG” as the “Application Filing Name” in the yellow box. (for example, “Call Before You Dig, Inc. 2017 SDP”)

Then click the SAVE button in the middle of the page.

Select the desired location for this file to be saved and then c l ick in the “file name” box. Make sure you remember where this file is located.

Enter “Your Organization Name 2017 TAG Forms Package”.

Click SAVE. You will see “Error” displayed by the top two forms, this is okay it is because we haven’t filled in any data fields yet.

F. Fill out the required form SF-424A (Budget Sheet)

1. At any time during this process if you need to discontinue entering information, click the SAVE button on the Grant Application Package page to save your work.

2. From the “Mandatory” Forms listing under “Select Forms to Complete” section of the Grant Application Package, Click on

“Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs

(SF-424A)”.

3. Block 1a: Enter “ 2017 TAG”

4. Page down to Section B, block 6.

Under the first column header you will see “2017 TAG”. Using your budget narrative and estimate printout, enter the amounts for each of the cost categories.

6a: Enter estimated personnel costs 6b: Enter estimated fringe benefit costs

6c: Enter estimated travel costs.

6d: Enter estimated equipment costs 6e Enter estimated supplies costs 6f: Enter estimated contractual costs 6g: Enter 0 for construction costs 6h: Enter the amount of other direct costs.

6i: is an automated total of what has been entered in 6a through 6h.

6j: Enter estimated indirect charges.

6k: is an automated total of what has been entered in 6a-6j.

Record the following:

Column 1 block 6k:___________________*

Scroll back up to Section A and enter this amount in Column 1 (e) Federal

5. Record the total in block 5g here .

(make sure this total is what you expect it to be, refer to the last page of your application for the total amount which should match this total!)

6. Scroll to the first page of the forms package and click the SAVE button in the middle of the page to save the application package. Keep the same file location and file name. When asked if you want to overwrite the existing file, click Yes.

G. Fill out the required form SF-424 information, scroll to the first page of the forms package and click the SAVE button to save your work.

2. From the “Mandatory” Forms listing under “Select Forms to Complete” section of the Grant Application Package, Click on

“Application for Federal Assistance (SF424)”.

Any field that is highlighted yellow and outlined in red is mandatory, you can ignore all other fields.

3. Block 1: Check the box for Application.

4. Block 2: Check the box for New

5. Block 3: will be filled in by Grants.gov upon submission.

6. Block 4: leave blank.

7. Block 5a: leave blank.

8. Block 5b: leave blank.

9. Block 6: leave blank.

10. Block 7: leave blank.

11. Block 8a: Enter your Agency or Organization Legal name.

12. Block 8b: Enter your TIN (Tax Identification Number) (you may need to contact your financial group for this information).

13. Block 8c: Enter your DUNS (you may need to contact your financial group for this information).

14. Block 8d: Enter your Agency or Organization mailing address.

The zip code must be zip+4. Use -0000 if you do not know your +4 zip code.

15. Block 8e: leave blank

16. Block 8f: please enter the information about the person responsible for the Grant Application.

17. Block 9: Using the drop-down list select the appropriate type.

You only need to do this for the first one.

23. Block 17a: Enter the project start date as September 29, 2017

24. Block 17b: Enter the project end date as September 29, 2018

25. Block 18a: Enter the number from block 5g of the SF-424A from step F-5 above.

26. Block 18b: Enter 0

27. Block 18c: Enter 0

28. Block 18d: Enter 0

29. Block 18e: Enter 0

30. Block 18f: Enter 0

31. Block 18g: Total will be calculated, should equal total amount from Block 5g of the SF-424A (and your total request amount!)

32. Block 19:

Block 19c: Place an X in this box since this program is not covered by EO 12372.

33. Block 20: Select the appropriate check box.

34. Block 21:

Read the text and then check the box for “I Agree”.

You must fill in the Authorized Representative information – this is the person who has the authorized grants.gov account.

35. Scroll to the first page and click the SAVE button in the middle of the page to save the application package. Keep the same file location and file name. When asked if you want to overwrite the existing file, click Yes.

18. Blocks 10, 11, 12: these fields will be filled in already.

19. Block 13: leave blank.

20. Block 14: leave blank.

21. Block 15: Enter “Agency/Organization 2017 TAG Program”.

22. Block 16a: Enter your Congressional District where your Agency/Organization is located. If you do not know this information you can contact Carrie for assistance.

Block 16b: Enter all Congressional Districts where your Program is applicable. If all districts in your state are affected enter “State Initials – All” for example WI-all or MT-all.

H. Complete Grants.gov Lobbying Form.

I. Provide Narratives, Statements, etc.

1. You MUST attach the following documents:

a. Signed/Scanned Title VI Assurance Statement

b. Project Narrative document

c. Budget Narrative-Estimate document

You MAY attach other documents that support your proposal.

Save the document(s) to your computer, using a familiar filename and location so you can retrieve it easily.

2. Open the application package you had saved in the previous step from the location you saved it on your computer. Locate this file and double-click to open.

3. Click the form “Attachments” under the Mandatory Documents box.

4. Under 1) Please attach Attachment 1, click the Add Attachment button.

5. The “Attach: Choose the File” window will open.

6. Locate the file and then click the Open button.

7. Continue attaching documents using the process in steps above for each attachment.

To View the attached document, click the View Attachment button.

To Delete attachments, click the Delete Attachment button.

information, scroll to the first page of the forms package and click the SAVE button to save your work.

2. From the “Mandatory” Forms listing under “Select Forms to Complete” section of the Grant Application Package, Click on

“Grants.gov Lobbying Form”.

Verify the information is correct, this will be auto-filled from the SF- 424 block 21. If the information is incorrect, scroll back to block 21 of the SF-424 and edit the information.

Scroll to the first page when you are done with the Grants.gov Lobbying Form.

Scroll back to the first page and click the SAVE button in the middle of the page to save the application package.

Keep the same file location and file name When asked if you want to overwrite the existing file, click Yes.

J. Preview your Application Package

Once all your work is complete on the required forms and documents, you are ready to preview your application package.

Review the Grants.gov forms, if you need to make any edits, use the steps above to do so.

Use the “Check package for errors” button to ensure all mandatory fields have been filled in.

K. Print Electronic Submission Package

From the Main page of the Grant Application package, click the Print button on top of the page.

The Print window will be displayed. Select the printer, then click ok.

Review the document package for completeness.

If you need to make any edits, follow the steps above to open the appropriate form and make the changes. Remember to print the package again if any changes were made, so you have a final copy.

L. Submit your Application Package Electronically

(If you do not have a login to Grants.gov, your EPOC for your DUNS will need to be contacted to identify who will do the electronic submission of your grant package).

Click the “save & submit” button. You will be prompted to save the file again, use the same filename and location, choose Yes when asked if you want to overwrite the existing file.

You will then be asked to login to Grants.gov. Use the username and password you registered at Grants.gov.

The Application Submission and Verification and Submission page will be displayed.

Review the information, read the agreement and then Click “Sign and Submit Application”

The application package will be uploaded to Grants.gov and a confirmation page will be displayed. It is very important that you print this page, it will contain the submission date and time and a confirmation number that verifies you have submitted the application. We will be monitoring the submissions, and you will receive an email from Carrie confirming your submission.