693JK326RA002_RA T2_Notice FINAL.docx

U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) RA #639JK326A002 Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)

PIPELINE SAFETY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (R&D)

RESEARCH ANNOUNCEMENT

#693JK326RA002

1. OVERVIEW, RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND BACKGROUND

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Research and Development (R&D) Core Research Program announces this competitive solicitation for proposals focused strictly on Technology Transfer (T2) and Commercialization Advancement. The core objective of this Research Announcement is to accelerate the transition of high-impact pipeline safety innovations from advanced laboratory and operational prototypes to full-scale commercial deployment and operational field implementation across the Nation's energy transportation infrastructure.

This solicitation specifically targets mature technologies at high Technology Readiness Levels (TRL 7–9) to bridge the critical 'implementation gap' by resolving final technical, regulatory, operational, credentialing, and market hurdles. Funding will only be awarded for projects that demonstrate a clear, definitive path to producing deployable technology, commercial products, or integrated service system ready for immediate market availability and pipeline operator adoption upon project completion.

1.1 Standard Technology Readiness Level (TRL) Requirements

Standard Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) are incorporated into this solicitation to establish rigorous, universally accepted entry and exit criteria for all submitted proposals:

Low TRLs (1–3) [EXCLUDED]: Foundational research phase consisting of basic scientific principles, mathematical formulations, and early conceptual testing. Proposals at these early stages are explicitly excluded from this solicitation.

Mid TRLs (4–6) [EXCLUDED]: Proof-of-concept, laboratory validation, and early engineering-scale component testing. Proposals at these intermediate stages are explicitly excluded from this solicitation.

High TRL 7 [MANDATORY ENTRY LEVEL]: The technology must have cleared primary scientific hurdles and demonstrated a full-scale, functional prototype validated under actual field operational conditions or high-fidelity simulated pipeline environments prior to proposal submission.

High TRLs 8–9 [MANDATORY EXIT TARGET]: Project execution within the 12-month performance period must advance the tool, technology, or system through final operational testing, field validation, credentialing, and commercialization roadmap execution to achieve TRL 8 or TRL 9 (mass-produced or commercially deployable product operating successfully in the market) upon project completion.

1.2 Mandatory Cost Sharing & Resource Sharing Rules

All research projects funded under this T2 technology commercialization announcement require a mandatory minimum cost share of 50 percent from non-Federal sources. Proposals that do not contain firm, executed letters of commitment for at least 50% non-Federal cost sharing will be deemed non-responsive and rejected without technical evaluation.

Allowable Non-Federal Cost Share: Only cash or direct cash-equivalent expenditures tied directly to technology development and commercial transition activities are allowable. Examples include costs associated with preparing an operator field test bed, donation of test apparatus/sample usage, direct vendor time/materials, and co-funding contributed by commercial partners or pipeline operators.

Unallowable Cost Share: Previously funded Federal research, work funded under other Federal awards, or general in-kind activities not directly contributing to technology commercialization cannot be counted toward the 50% non-Federal contribution. PHMSA will not accept work funded under prior awards as resource sharing.

1.3 Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) Requirements & Academic Oversight A Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) is required for all awarded projects. TAPs will be utilized to make technical recommendations to PHMSA regarding project execution, ensure commercial alignment, and guarantee that the project work scope and results are tailored directly toward U.S. regulations and policy on pipeline safety.

To ensure robust oversight, field integration, and rigorous research quality, the TAP structure must strictly adhere to the following composition and operational mandates:

Pipeline Operator Representation: TAPs must comprise at least two to three active pipeline or facility operators having operational assets directly relevant to the proposed project scope. Operator partners must be fully identified in submitted proposals.

Academic TAP Representation (Minimum 2): Specifically addressing research quality, TAPs must also include a minimum of two representatives from academia. Academia is a critical component of the project structure and story, ensuring rigorous scientific oversight, objective technical evaluation, and high quality throughout execution.

Academic Independence & Credentials: TAP members from academia must be contractually independent from working on any related subject matters with PHMSA-regulated companies. Academic TAP members must possess the requisite educational background and technical expertise directly related to the project subject matter.

Academic Review & Report Deliverable: TAP members from academia will participate throughout project execution alongside the full TAP, but most importantly must review the draft final report and supply technical comments for the Principal Investigator (PI) to address in the final reporting. The submitted written comments based on the academic review MUST be delivered to PHMSA as a formal project deliverable to document compliance with this requirement.

Non-Disclosure & Conflict of Interest (NDA/COI) Forms: All TAP members—including operators, subject matter experts, and academic representatives—must execute a Non-Disclosure Agreement / Conflict of Interest (NDA/COI) form pledging that they will not publicly share any project deliberations. Research project award recipients will format their NDA/COI forms utilizing PHMSA's approved definition. Signed NDA/COI forms for all TAP members must be submitted to PHMSA as a mandatory deliverable.

1.4 Eligibility Information

Any responsible source (excluding foreign entities and federal, state, and local governments) may submit proposals for consideration. Excluded entities cannot submit proposals as prime awardees, but they may participate as subcontractors or partners if they meet the prime awardee's criteria, such as having a current UEI and active SAM.gov registration. Eligible prime entities include, but are not limited to, universities or institutions of higher education, hospitals, non-profit organizations, private individuals, corporations, and commercial business organizations. All offerors must maintain an active registration in SAM.gov prior to proposal submittal.

1.5 Terms and Conditions & Basic Agreement Acceptance

Submission of a proposal in response to this Research Announcement indicates full acceptance of the terms and conditions outlined in this solicitation, including the provisions set forth in RA #693JK326RA002 Attachment #8 (FY26 Basic Agreement Template).

1.6 Award Provisions & Administrative Rules

Fixed-Price Milestone Awards: PHMSA intends to make multiple awards from this announcement. Projects will be awarded on a fixed-price quarterly milestone schedule.

Reservation of Rights: PHMSA reserves the right to fund all, some or none of the proposals submitted in response to this solicitation.

Proposal Development Costs: PHMSA will not reimburse offerors for any proposal development or submission costs incurred.

Proprietary Information: All proposals will be treated as sensitive, competitive information and their contents will be utilized strictly for evaluation and award purposes.

2. EVALUATION CRITERIA AND MERIT REVIEW

Proposals will be rigorously evaluated by an independent Merit Review Panel (MRP) comprising technical, regulatory, and commercialization experts. Evaluation is based on six core criteria, weighed equally. Evaluation questions and focus entirely on commercial technology deployment, market readiness, and pipeline safety impact.

2.1 Evaluation and Merit Review Criteria

Category 1: Technical Maturity & Baseline Validation (TRL 7 Baseline)

1. Evaluation Question: How convincingly does the proposal demonstrate that the technology has achieved TRL 7 status at the time of application, backed by documented operational environment prototype testing?

MRP Evaluation Standard: The MRP evaluates the baseline technical maturity of the proposed technology. The proposal must provide objective evidence that the tool or system has cleared primary scientific hurdles and laboratory validation, demonstrating high-fidelity prototype performance in operational settings or field-simulated test beds prior to award.

Category 2: Commercialization Outcome & Transition-to-Practice (TRL 8–9 Target)

1. Evaluation Question: Does the proposal include a mandatory Transition-to-Practice (TTP) plan that ensures a tangible, market-ready commercial product or deployable system by the end of the 12-month performance period?

MRP Evaluation Standard: The MRP evaluates the concreteness of the proposed final commercial deliverable. The project must result in an immediate field-deployable commercial system (TRL 8/9). Early-stage theoretical modeling, basic research, or general knowledge dissemination without commercial product realization will receive low ratings.

2. Evaluation Question: Does the proposal demonstrate clear intellectual property (IP) pathways, patent protections, or freedom-to-operate to ensure the commercial product can be legally distributed at the end of the project?

· MRP Evaluation Standard: The MRP evaluates the legal and proprietary readiness of the commercial deliverable. The proposal must confirm background IP ownership, licensing agreements, or freedom-to-operate status to guarantee no legal or proprietary barriers impede immediate market entry upon project completion.

Category 3: Market Readiness & Competitor Landscape

1. Evaluation Question: How comprehensive is the market review, competitor landscape assessment, and regulatory analysis in defining target operator segments and commercial entry pathways?

· MRP Evaluation Standard: The MRP assesses the depth of market review. Proposals must demonstrate a thorough understanding of existing commercial alternatives, identify specific target customer/operator segments, evaluate regulatory adoption drivers, and prove that the solution avoids duplication while addressing real-world pipeline safety needs.

2. Evaluation Question: How clearly does the proposal map out regulatory acceptance drivers and compliance pathways with consensus industry standards (SDOs) required for operator adoption?

· MRP Evaluation Standard: The MRP assesses the proposal's alignment with regulatory frameworks and industry standards. Proposals must outline clear strategies for navigating Standards Developing Organizations (SDOs like API, ASME, or NACE) and regulatory approvals necessary for widespread commercial uptake.

Category 4: Implementation Strategy & Project Design

1. Evaluation Question: Are the work tasks, commercialization roadmap, risk mitigation measures, and project timeline realistic, well-defined, and achievable within a 12-month schedule?

· MRP Evaluation Standard: The MRP evaluates whether the project work scope is logically structured into clear technical and commercialization tasks. The timeline must follow a realistic 12-month schedule incorporating critical validation, field demonstration, and commercial transition phases.

2. Evaluation Question: How effectively does the project plan address human factors, operator usability, and integration into standard workforce workflows?

· MRP Evaluation Standard: The MRP evaluates the practicality of field deployment, including operator training requirements, human factors/usability considerations, and ease of integration into existing pipeline operator standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Category 5: Partnership Depth & Cost-Share Commitment

1. Evaluation Question: Does the project team feature strong industry partnerships, active operator involvement, academic TAP integration, and verified non-Federal co-funding meeting or exceeding the 50% mandate?

· MRP Evaluation Standard: The MRP evaluates the extent of pipeline operator, manufacturer, academic institution, and commercial partner integration into the project scope and TAP. Commitment must be verified through firm co-funding letters, active field test bed allocation, or formal transition agreements demonstrating market demand.

Category 6: Impact Potential & Return on Investment (ROI)

1. Evaluation Question: What is the projected economic return on investment (ROI), operational cost efficiency, and measurable safety/environmental benefit to the pipeline transportation sector?

· MRP Evaluation Standard: The MRP assesses quantified safety benefits, risk reduction capability, and representative implementation costs to determine the potential for widespread industry adoption and total cost of ownership reduction.

Category 7: Evaluation of Commercialization Track Record & Historical Performance

1. Evaluation Question: Does the applicant have any history of successfully commercializing technology and collaboration with Industry, government partners, standard organizations etc?

· MRP Evaluation Standard: The MRP will evaluate the applicant's prior track record in successfully transitioning federally funded research into practical commercial applications. Review of historical performance focuses on six areas:

1. Commercial Outcomes: Documented evidence of prior commercial success, including patents granted, active licensing agreements, spin-off ventures, commercial market entry, or formal technology transitions to industry/government partners.

2. Policy & Standards Impact: Reach and impact of prior transfer activities, such as contributions to consensus industry standards (SDOs), regulatory rulemakings, high-impact technical workshops, or collaborative industry consortia.

3. Sustained Market Impact: Real-world impact of past projects demonstrating the applicant's ability to navigate TRL progressions, overcome adoption barriers, and deliver scalable economic and safety benefits.

4. Vendor & Commercial Partnerships: Evidence of established formal agreements or active partnerships with commercial equipment manufacturers, software vendors, or distributors that enable post-project scale-up, manufacturing, and commercial distribution.

5. Sustained Commercial Availability: Proof that prior federally funded technologies or tools developed by the applicant remain commercially active, manufactured, or actively deployed in field operations today rather than ending as discontinued prototypes.

6. Field Demonstration Execution & Operator Adoption: Demonstrated historical success in securing real-world operator test sites, executing safe field trials on active infrastructure, and converting pilot demonstrations into long-term commercial operator adoption.

3. PROPOSAL FORMAT AND REQUIRED STRUCTURE

3.1 Formatting Specifications

· Page Limit: Maximum 20 single-sided pages for the main Proposal Body. The page limit DOES NOT include the Title Page (page i), Public Summary Page (page ii), Appendix A (Resumes), Appendix B (Other Related Proposals), or separate Proposal Attachments.

· Font & Layout: Must be typed, double-spaced, using 12-point font on 8.5” x 11” page layout with 1-inch margins on all sides. Tables, charts, and graphics may use smaller legible font sizes.

· Plain Language Requirement: All proposals must use Plain Language to clearly communicate technical concepts, commercial strategies, and deliverable schedules.

3.2 Required Proposal File Structure

The technical discussion file must be submitted as a single compiled PDF formatted into the following specific sections:

· Title Page (Page i): Must include Project Title and Solicitation Announcement #693JK326RA002, Applicant Organization Name/Address, and Principal Investigator (PI) Name, Title, Address, Phone, and E-mail.

· Public Summary Page (Page ii): Must provide concise information across four required category headers: (1) Title, (2) Project Description, (3) Anticipated Results, and (4) Potential Impact on Safety.

Body of the Proposal (Maximum 20 Pages): Must organize technical and commercialization details under five aligned section headings:

Section 1: Target Challenge & Adoption Barriers — Articulate specific market, regulatory, and technical adoption barriers, proving how the proposed technology overcomes them.

Section 2: Technical Scope & Work Plan — Detail the 12-month work scope, logical task structure, TRL 7 baseline, operational field testing, and Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) structure including operator and academic representatives.

Section 3: Team Credentials & Commercialization Track Record — Summarize credentials of key personnel, academic leads, industry partners, licensees, equipment vendors, and TAP operator leads.

Section 4: Commercialization Roadmap & Market Strategy — Comprehensive Transition-to-Practice (TTP) plan detailing IP strategy, licensing frameworks, competitor analysis, and post-project manufacturing/deployment pathways.

Section 5: Timeline, Cost Realism & Impact Analysis — Justify the 12-month schedule, resource allocation, 50% cost-share realism, and economic ROI.

· Appendix A – Resumes: Full professional resumes for key investigators, academic TAP leads, commercial leads, and technical contributors.

· Appendix B – Other Related Proposals: Disclose any active, pending, or planned proposals in related technical areas submitted to other funding agencies or programs (state 'N/A' if none).

4. BUDGETARY INFORMATION AND COST SHARE GUIDELINES

Offerors must submit a detailed budget breakdown that aligns technical tasks with financial resources. All budget submissions must adhere to the following explicit Federal requirements (capturing all elements of the original 'Additional Information on Proposed Budget' specification):

· Budget Summary Sheet & Rate Schedules (Attachments 4 & 5): Offerors must complete Attachment 4 (Budget Summary Sheet) and Attachment 5 (Additional Budget Information / Rate Schedules). Budgetary information must identify estimated costs for the project with detailed information on each cost element, consistent with the proposer's cost accounting system.

· Personnel & Supplemental Labor Schedule: List all personnel, labor classifications, hours to be funded, and respective compensation rates (salary, wages, fringe benefits). Offerors must provide a supplemental labor schedule identifying labor hours, labor rates, and cost by labor classification. State the basis for labor classifications and rates (e.g., past engineering estimates, actual employee rates, or departmental average rates).

· Equipment Restrictions (PHMSA Policy): PHMSA will NOT fund the purchase of equipment for projects under this research announcement. Any specialized testing apparatus or equipment required for prototype validation must be provided through offeror or non-Federal cost-share resources.

· Construction Restrictions: PHMSA will NOT fund construction costs under this research announcement.

· Travel Justification & Requirements: Travel budget items must be directly related to the performance of project work, operational field testing, or mandatory stakeholder/TAP engagement. The investigator must include travel to project briefings at DOT-sponsored meetings. For all travel, specify the type, duration, location, and direct relation to the project scope.

· Other Direct Costs: Provide an itemized list with costs for any other direct cost items not included in other categories, clearly stating the technical basis and justification for each proposed item.

· Consultant Documentation & Mandatory Invoices: List consultant names, specific activities to be performed, duration of service, compensation involved, hourly/daily rates, and technical basis for rates. Offerors MUST submit: (1) full resumes/qualifications, (2) AT LEAST TWO INVOICES reflecting hourly/daily rates charged to non-Government customers, and (3) a SIGNED CERTIFICATION STATEMENT by the consultant certifying salary and availability. Detail any travel or incidental expenses.

· Subcontractor Budget Details: Provide total annual costs for each subcontractor. The budget explanation for subcontractors must be provided to the SAME LEVEL OF DETAIL as required for the overall project budget.

· Statutory Consultant & Subcontractor Cap (50% Limit): The total combined cost of consultants and subcontractors MUST NOT exceed 50 percent of the proposed Federal contribution to the project.

· Fee / Profit Prohibition: No fee or profit should be proposed by prime offerors, consultants, or subcontractors. This is a cost-sharing resource arrangement.

· Resource Sharing / Non-Federal Cost Share Breakdown: The cost application must explicitly show the breakout between Federal and non-Federal sources. Non-Federal share must be verifiable from recipient records, necessary and reasonable, allowable and allocable under cost principles, and NOT paid by the Federal Government under another award. For technology development: ONLY CASH OR CASH EXPENDITURES TIED TO TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES ARE ALLOWABLE (e.g., test bed preparation, test apparatus usage, third-party vendor time/materials). Firm commitment letters must be provided.

· Accounting System Approval & Official Audit Reports: Offerors must provide a copy of the most recent official government audit report or approval letter verifying approval of the organization's cost accounting system, clearly identifying the approving Federal agency.

5. DELIVERABLE MILESTONE SCHEDULE & PAYMENT STRUCTURE

Awards under this solicitation will be structured on a Fixed-Price Milestone Payment Schedule. Payments for project tasks will be made strictly on a quarterly basis upon full completion and PHMSA acceptance of defined quarterly milestone items.

· Quarterly Milestone Grouping: Offerors should group related activities into higher-level primary milestone items per quarter (e.g., 'Field Prototype Assembly', 'Operational Test Bed Validation') try to minimize administrative line items. Items must be numbered sequentially.

· Mandatory Quarterly Progress Reports: A detailed Quarterly Technical & Financial Progress Report is a mandatory payable deliverable item in every quarter. (including an internal an public version)

· Mandatory Academic TAP Review Deliverable: Submission of the written technical review comments provided by the academic TAP members upon reviewing the draft final report is a mandatory project deliverable.

· Mandatory Final Reports: Draft Final Reports, Final Report (internal and Public), Public Research Brief, Technology Transfer Brief, Final TRL Assessment.

· Fixed-Price Execution & No Partial Payments: The sum of federal items in a quarter equals the quarterly payable milestone. PHMSA will not make partial or progress payments on incomplete items or tasks.

· Final Zero-Cost Deliverables: All awardees must participate in two dissemination activities at zero additional Federal cost (qualifying for cost sharing up to $2,000):

1. Final Virtual De-Brief Presentation: Web-based debrief presentation organized by PHMSA.

2. Publication & Dissemination: Presentation of results at an industry conference/workshop or publication in a peer-reviewed or recognized trade periodical.

6. SUBMISSION PROCEDURES AND PROPOSAL ATTACHMENTS

6.1 Mandatory System Registrations

Prior to proposal submission, offerors must ensure active registrations in both Federal databases:

7. System for Award Management (SAM.gov): Register at www.sam.gov and maintain an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

8. PHMSA MIS Registration: Register online at https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/matrix/RfpHome.rdm?rfp=110 to access submission portals. Contact rd-support@dot.gov for assistance. Credentials from past registration will still be valid. To avoid account duplications and for questions or concerns with the registration or application, please submit an e-mail to rd-support@dot.gov prior to starting your submittal to ensure you don’t already have an existing account.

6.2 Required Proposal Attachments Checklist

The complete proposal package must be uploaded electronically via MIS no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on Monday, November 16, 2026. The package consists of the main PDF proposal file (including Appendices A & B) and the following separate attachment files:

9. Attachment #1: Team Project Activities — Detailed narrative breakdown of team tasks.

10. Attachment #2: Project Deliverables Schedule — Itemized schedule of technical, commercial, and academic TAP review deliverables.

11. Attachment #3: Technical and Deliverable Milestone Schedule — MUST be submitted as an editable Excel document.

12. Attachment #4: Budget Summary Sheet — Completed financial summary table.

13. Attachment #5: Additional Budget Information & Rate Schedules — Detailed cost element breakdowns and labor schedules.

14. Attachment #6: Standard Title VI Non-Discrimination Assurances — Executed Title VI compliance form.

15. Separate Attachment: Letters of Co-Funding Commitment — Executed letters verifying minimum 50% non-Federal co-funding.

16. Separate Attachment: Audit Reports / Accounting System Approval — Official government audit approving accounting system.

6.3 Inquiries and Agency Contacts

Questions regarding solicitation content, procedures, or technical requirements must be submitted via email no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on Friday, October 23, 2026. Submit inquiries to Stephen Jones (Stephen.Jones@dot.gov) with cc to Tremayne Terry (Tremayne.Terry@dot.gov). Include 'RA #693JK326RA002 Inquiry' in the subject line. Answers will be posted publicly on SAM.gov.