FAQ.pdf

This file is a Frequently Asked Questions document addressing allowable costs under the PHMSA HAZMAT Grants Program, specifically regarding food and refreshment expenses. The FAQ clarifies that food and refreshments are generally unallowable costs, with PHMSA encouraging applicants to use per diem rates for conference attendees to purchase their own meals. However, beverages such as water are allowable when necessary for training in rural locations or during outdoor training to ensure safe exercise conditions. The document references 2 CFR 200.432, which permits non-federal entities serving as conference sponsors or hosts to pay for facility rental, speakers' fees, and meal costs. Applicants with unique circumstances requiring food coverage must include and explain such requests within their applications. PHMSA retains discretion to authorize food costs at conferences if deemed reasonable and necessary, though the agency encourages meal break planning and per diem utilization as the standard approach.

The related FY 2026 Supplemental Public Sector Training Grant (SPST) program, administered by the Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration under CFDA 20.713, provides funding to national nonprofit fire service organizations to train instructors in hazardous materials response training. Eligible uses of grant funds include instructor training, purchase of training equipment exclusively for instructor development, and dissemination of training materials. Applications are evaluated on merit criteria including project narrative clarity, cost reasonableness, regional training needs analysis, training requirement prioritization, and detailed statements of work with implementation schedules. PHMSA requires preapplication coordination and annual SF-425 financial reports. Recipients expending $1,000,000 or more in federal awards must undergo single or program-specific audits, and financial records must be maintained for three years after final submission or until audit resolution.