FY 2024 ALERT NOFO_updated 3.12.24.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training (ALERT) Grant

Fiscal Year (FY) 2024

NOFO Posted Date:

Applications Due Date:

Questions Due Date:

February 20, 2024 April 5, 2024, 11:59 p.m. EST April 5, 2024, 11:59 p.m. EST

Applicants 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 are encouraged to register for an account with FedConnect at https://www.fedconnect.net before applying. FedConnect is a messaging platform where applicants can communicate directly with PHMSA.

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

693JK324NF0010

U.S. Department of Transportation

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials

Safety Administration

(PHMSA)

http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ https://www.fedconnect.net/ https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/Marketing/Documents/FedConnect_Ready_Set_Go.pdf

NOFO: 693JK324NF0010

U.S. DOT/PHMSA Page 2

Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training (ALERT) Grant

Table of 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

SECTION C - ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

C.1 Eligible Applicants and Activities

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 (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM)

D.4 Submission Dates and Times

D.5 Funding Restrictions

D.6 Other Submission Requirements

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

U.S. DOT/PHMSA Page 3 Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training (ALERT) Grant

PROGRAM SUMMARY

Federal Agency Name:

Funding Opportunity Title:

Announcement Type:

Funding Opportunity Number:

Assistance Listing Number:

NOFO Posted Date:

Application Due Date:

Question Due Date:

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

(PHMSA)

“Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training Grant

– FY 2024”

Initial Announcement

693JK324NF0010

20.703

February 20, 2024 April 5, 2024, 11:59 p.m. EST April 5, 2024, 11:59 p.m. EST

U.S. DOT/PHMSA Page 4

MISSION

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) protects people and the environment by advancing the safe transportation of energy and other hazardous materials (HAZMAT) 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 financial assistance to states, territories, tribes, and nonprofit organizations to ensure industry compliance with the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR).

SECTION A - PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A.1 Statement of Purpose

This funding opportunity is associated with Assistance Listing 20.703. Through this grant opportunity, PHMSA solicits competitive applications from eligible organizations for Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training (ALERT) grant funds. Properly planned and maintained training programs are essential to ensure emergency responders who receive training under the grant can protect nearby persons, property, and the environment from the effects of accidents or incidents involving the transportation of hazardous material—in accordance with existing regulations or National Fire Protection standards for competence of responders to accidents and incidents involving HAZMAT.

The Department seeks to fund projects that advance the Departmental priorities of safety, equity, climate and sustainability, and workforce development, job quality, and wealth creation as described in the USDOT Strategic Plan, the Research, Development and Technology Strategic Plan, and in Executive Orders2.

PHMSA requires that applicants comply with all applicable federal financial assistance regulations and maintain an auditable accounting system that includes a detailed accounting and description of each grant expenditure. PHMSA measures performance based on the projects included in the approved financial assistance application and whether those projects fulfilled the needs outlined in the statement of need.

A.2 Statute and Program Authority

The ALERT Grant program is authorized under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021 (P.L. 117-58), which amended 49 U.S.C. § 5116 and redesignated subsection (j) to codify the ALERT grant program.

2 Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (86 FR 7619).

Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government (86 FR 7009). Executive Order 14025, Worker Organizing and Empowerment (86 FR 22829), and Executive Order 14052, Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (86 FR 64335).

https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.transportation.gov%2Fdot-strategic-plan&data=05%7C01%7Cgary.smith%40dot.gov%7C84946ebcc4164e79e35f08dbf59bc0dc%7Cc4cd245b44f04395a1aa3848d258f78b%7C0%7C0%7C638373823296822030%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=0oBTTYAR3SmASL9JgrgZ0ko%2BM%2FQNbt3pOta0nj%2BbfuA%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.transportation.gov%2Fsites%2Fdot.gov%2Ffiles%2F2023-01%2FUSDOT%2520RDT%2520Strategic%2520Plan%2520FY22-26_010523_508.pdf&data=05%7C01%7Cgary.smith%40dot.gov%7C84946ebcc4164e79e35f08dbf59bc0dc%7Cc4cd245b44f04395a1aa3848d258f78b%7C0%7C0%7C638373823296822030%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=SYyHH7i%2Fv5uDnoScU51rntucED2EBL02ixDeyMHod30%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.transportation.gov%2Fsites%2Fdot.gov%2Ffiles%2F2023-01%2FUSDOT%2520RDT%2520Strategic%2520Plan%2520FY22-26_010523_508.pdf&data=05%7C01%7Cgary.smith%40dot.gov%7C84946ebcc4164e79e35f08dbf59bc0dc%7Cc4cd245b44f04395a1aa3848d258f78b%7C0%7C0%7C638373823296822030%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=SYyHH7i%2Fv5uDnoScU51rntucED2EBL02ixDeyMHod30%3D&reserved=0

U.S. DOT/PHMSA Page 5

NOFO: 693JK324NF0010

A.3 Background

Incidents involving the transportation of flammable liquids by rail pose special risks to emergency responders and the public. The ALERT Grant Program is designed to train local emergency responders to recognize and respond to rail transportation flammable liquid emergencies. Nonprofit organizations representing regional public-private partnerships provide in-person or web-based training 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

This NOFO is subject to the availability of funds. To carry out this grant program, the Administrator may use any amounts recovered during the fiscal year from grants awarded under 49 U.S.C. § 5116 during a prior fiscal year. PHMSA anticipates $3,000,000 will be made available to support the ALERT grant program. Individual federal awards are expected to range from $100,000 to $500,000.

B.2 Period of Performance

The period of performance is a minimum of 12 months from the effective date of the award. An applicant may request a period of performance up to 24 months. Applicants must only apply for funding that can be reasonably expended within this time frame and for allowable projects that can be completed within the period of performance.

B.3 Type of Award

Discretionary grant award.

SECTION C - ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

C.1 Eligible Applicants and Activities

The FY 2024 ALERT grant is open to nonprofit organizations representing regional public-private partnerships. The nonprofit organizations must be able to provide direct or web-based training on HAZMAT to individuals with statutory responsibility to respond to accidents and incidents involving HAZMAT. The training will focus on response activities related to the transportation of crude oil, ethanol, other flammable liquids, and LNG by rail.

For the purposes of the ALERT Grants program, a nonprofit organization is a business that has been granted tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) because it furthers a social cause and provides a public benefit.

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Nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying activities as defined in Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 are not eligible applicants. "For profit" organizations are not eligible applicants for the ALERT grant program.

C.2 Cost Sharing or Matching

There are no cost-sharing or matching requirements for the ALERT program.

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:

Hazardous Material Grant Program Office Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, E23-446 Washington, D.C. 20590 E-mail: HMIT.grants@dot.gov Phone: 202-366-1109 Fax: 202-366-3753

If you are a hearing-impaired person, please contact the FR/TTY at 1-800-877-8339 or e-mail PHMSA-Accessibility@dot.gov.

D.2 Content and Form of Application Submission

Applications for the FY 2024 ALERT funding should be submitted in electronic format in grants.gov. The application includes two overall sections: (1) standard forms that the applicant must download and complete from grants.gov under the FY 2024 ALERT funding opportunity;

and (2) attachments the applicant will need to create and upload to grants.gov.

Sharing of Application Information – The Department may share application information within the Department or with other federal agencies if the Department determines that sharing is relevant to the respective program’s objectives.

Standard Forms

The following forms are found in grants.gov under the FY 2024 ALERT Funding Opportunity and must be completed by the applicant.

https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:HMIT.grants@dot.gov mailto:PHMSA-Accessibility@dot.gov

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1. Standard Form SF-424 – Application for Federal Assistance

2. Standard Form SF-424A – Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs

3. Lobbying Form – Certification Regarding Lobbying

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

Applicant Attachments

The following forms must be created by the applicant and uploaded to grants.gov under the FY 2024 ALERT Grant Funding Opportunity. Guidance for completing the project narrative and budget narrative is provided in the proceeding sections.

1. Project Narrative attachment

2. Budget Narrative attachment

3. Indirect Cost Agreement and/or Statement claiming 10 percent de minimis (if applicable)

4. Letters of Support from partner organizations (if applicable)

5. Additional optional attachments (if applicable)

Applications should be well-written 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 this NOFO. The application forms and templates are available on grants.gov in the “Related Documents” tab with detailed instructions on the application process.

Please also reference Section E to ensure that the application addresses the criteria on which PHMSA will evaluate.

Project Narrative

The following Project Narrative sections are required. To facilitate the application review and award process, clearly identify and organize each section in the order shown below as you complete the Project Narrative. Applicants should also review Section E, Application Review Information, to ensure the narratives contain all information on which PHMSA will evaluate.

a) Organization information and capacity. Briefly provide information about your organization. This should include: (1) your organization’s mission; (2) a brief overview of your organization’s structure, programs, leadership, and special expertise; and (3) your organization’s experience and capacity to manage federal grant programs—with emphasis on managing federal grants related to training for individuals responding to accidents and incidents involving HAZMAT. If your application proposes to partner with another nonprofit organization, a letter of support is required with your application.

b) Contact information. Identify the designated project/program managers(s) who will coordinate the funded activities; include the name, position, address, e-mail address, and telephone number of the individual(s). Additionally, identify the authorized representatives who will accept the awarded grant document and the individuals

U.S. DOT/PHMSA Page 8 Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training (ALERT) Grant responsible for the submission of the required Federal Financial Reports and progress reports.

c) Statement of need. (1) 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. And (2) briefly explain how the proposed activities will help to address the identified needs.

d) Proposed training activities and timeline. Describe the proposed training activities for the ALERT grant. Include a clear timeline of forecasted dates for projected events. This section should include: (1) the type of training activities proposed; (2) the location of the activities; (3) whether the activities are located in a community experiencing disadvantage as identified in USDOT’s Equitable Transportation Community (ETC) Explorer (arcgis.com) per DOT’s Strategic Plan; (4) a plan for training emergency responders in rural and disadvantaged areas; and (5) the timeframe when the activity will take place. The timeline should include benchmarks and milestones that will assist with monitoring the project’s success. Additionally, any training curriculum or instructor development activities should be described and included in the timeline of events.

e) Curriculum. Provide a detailed description of any training curriculum that will be used.

If you submitted a curriculum the prior year and no changes have been made to the curriculum, you must indicate this in this section. If a curriculum will be developed during the grant’s period of performance, provide a detailed description of that curriculum along with an estimated timeline for completion.

f) Projected outputs and objectives. Provide quantifiable and measurable outputs planned for the grant’s period of performance. 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); (2) the number of projected students trained for each course; and (3) number of contact hours 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.

g) Monitoring and evaluation of training. Provide a description 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.

Applicants should address how program activities will benefit or improve safety. Applicants should also review Section E, Application Review information, to ensure the narratives contain all information on which PHMSA will evaluate.

Budget Narrative https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/0920984aa80a4362b8778d779b090723/page/Homepage/ https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/0920984aa80a4362b8778d779b090723/page/Homepage/ https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2023-01/USDOT%20RDT%20Strategic%20Plan%20FY22-26_010523_508.pdf

U.S. DOT/PHMSA Page 9

The budget narrative should explain how each budget component supports the cost of the proposed work. The budget narrative should focus on how each budget item will achieve the proposed project goals and objectives. It should also justify how budget costs were calculated.

Using the object class categories found on the SF-424A, explain why the amount is needed for each category in the project narrative.

Grant Funds, Sources and Uses of Project Funds – Project budgets should show how different funding sources will share in each activity and present the data in dollars and percentages. The budget should identify other federal funds the applicant is applying for, has been awarded, or intends to use. Funding sources should be grouped into three categories: non-federal, current Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training application, and other federal with specific amounts for each funding source.

The budget narrative should be clear, specific, detailed, mathematically correct, and correspond to the SF-424A line-item categories.

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

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.

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 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

U.S. DOT/PHMSA Page 10 Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training (ALERT) Grant each trip are not known at the time of application submission, provide the basis for determining the amount requested.

4. Equipment costs include those items that 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 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.

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.

8. Indirect Costs are allowable under the ALERT grant and if applicable, must include IDC agreement or statement claiming a 10 percent de minimis rate. 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.

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D.3 Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM)

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 the applicant is not qualified to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant. PHMSA recommends that applicants review the SAM database at www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/ to ensure their UEI is updated and “active.”

Each applicant is required to:

• Register in SAM (SAM.gov) before submitting their application.

• Provide a valid UEI in their application.

• Always maintain an active SAM registration and UEI with current information when they have an active federal award or an application under consideration.

D.4 Submission Dates and Times

Completed applications must be received electronically by 11:59 p.m. EST on April 5, 2024. If an applicant has technical difficulties submitting the application through grants.gov, the applicant should contact grants.gov by phone at 800-518-4726 or e-mail support@grants.gov, as well as contact the Grants Program Office at 202-366-1109 or e-mail HMIT.grants@dot.gov.

Applications received after this deadline may not be considered. PHMSA will only accept one application from each applicant.

D.5 Funding Restrictions

The following costs are not eligible for reimbursement under the FY 2024 ALERT grant:

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

2. Entertainment, alcohol, or morale costs.

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

4. Expenses claimed and/or reimbursed by another program.

5. Expenses counted as match funds towards another federal program.

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

7. Pre-Award costs are not authorized, and grant recipients must separately obtain

PHMSA’s written approval to fund pre-award costs consistent with 2 CFR § 200.458.

D.6 Other Submission Requirements

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

https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/ mailto:support@grants.gov

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The application package contains all 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 grants.gov to apply. It is highly recommended that applicants begin the registration process as soon as possible to avoid delays with submission. Failure to comply with the application requirements as described in this section may prevent an application from being reviewed.

Accessing Grant Systems

1. Grants.gov. For new users, go to https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration, or go to the main page at https://www.grants.gov/ and select “Register.” 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 e-mail support@grants.gov.

2. FedConnect. Applicants are encouraged to register for an account with FedConnect at https://www.fedconnect.net before applying. 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, click the following link to review the FedConnect: Ready, Set, Go! Tutorial. For other technical issues or questions, either e-mail fcsupport@unisonglobal.com or call 1-800-899-6665 option 2. The FedConnect Support Center is staffed Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–8 p.m. EST, except federal holidays.

SECTION E - APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

E.1 Criteria

DOT is prioritizing projects that help to address transportation insecurity, which is the inability for people to get to where they need to go to meet the needs of their daily life regularly, reliably, and safely due to either the high cost of transportation, lack of access, or lack of safe transportation options. When identifying projects, applicants should consider how the project will increase safety. PHMSA will evaluate applications through administrative, technical, and programmatic reviews based on the evaluation criteria.

Merit 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.

https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.fedconnect.net/ mailto:fcsupport@unisonglobal.com

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1. Technical Criteria

• Does the applicant have the ability to establish a curriculum or have an existing curriculum that complies with regulations and the National Fire Protection Association standards for competence of responders to accidents and incidents involving HAZMAT?

• 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 HAZMAT training for response activities to the transportation of flammable liquids and other HAZMAT such as gases or other corrosive material by rail?

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

2. Programmatic Criteria

• Does the 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?

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

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

• Does the application include a plan for training emergency responders in rural or disadvantaged areas?

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

• Do the applicant’s program activities appear to be allowable, allocable, necessary, and reasonable?

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

• 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?

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

• Does the application appear to be cost-effective with reasonable training cost?

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• Is the project(s) located in a community experiencing disadvantage as identified in the ETC Explorer USDOT Equitable Transportation Community (ETC) Explorer (arcgis.com)?

• Did the applicant provide a completed and properly filled out SF-424 form?

• Did the applicant submit a completed lobbying form and Title VI form?

• Do the budget (SF-424A) and budget narrative align?

• Does the budget narrative provide details as to how the costs under Personnel correspond to the staff included in the narrative and how they were calculated?

• Does the budget narrative provide an explanation or breakout of the staff Fringe Benefits?

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

• Does the budget narrative identify supply cost and are the costs adequately explained?

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

• If there are costs under Other, have the costs been reasonably explained?

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

Additional Considerations:

1. Safety – PHMSA may consider how the proposed grant funded activities provide substantial safety benefits compared to existing conditions.

2. Equity – PHMSA may consider the project’s ability to encourage equity by investing in projects that proactively mitigate safety risks in disadvantaged communities. Potential applicants may find it useful to utilize USDOT Equitable Transportation Community (ETC) Explorer to determine disadvantage community status.

E.2 Review and Selection Process

1. 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, the application is likely to be rejected.

2. 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 is responsive to the applicable program requirements (e.g., performance measurement, methodology, and https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/0920984aa80a4362b8778d779b090723/page/Homepage/ https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/0920984aa80a4362b8778d779b090723/page/Homepage/

U.S. DOT/PHMSA Page 15 Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training (ALERT) Grant 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.

3. Programmatic Review: PHMSA will conduct a programmatic review to assess programmatic factors identified in Section E.1. Programmatic factors are those factors that are relevant and essential to the process of selecting applications that best achieve the program’s 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.

Please note that 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.

Ratings Guidelines

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

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 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 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 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

U.S. DOT/PHMSA Page 16 Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training (ALERT) Grant scope does not align with DOT objectives and priorities. The risk of poor performance is high.

Selection Process

PHMSA will recommend applications for awards based on the final overall rating as described above. Final award recommendations will be made by PHMSA’s Associate Administrator for the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety after taking into consideration recommendations made during the administrative, technical, and programmatic reviews and how well the applications address PHMSA’s safety priorities. The PHMSA Administrator 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 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. 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 CFR § 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 August 31, 2024, with a proposed period of performance start date October 1, 2024.

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 DOT’s financial assistance regulations. Funds may not be used for lobbying or litigation.

The grant award, 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

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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 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.

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. 49 U.S.C. § 5116(j).

2. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (P.L. 117-58) (the Act).

3. 2 CFR Part 200 – Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit

Requirements for Federal Awards.

4. The Recipient must comply with 49 CFR Part 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.ecfr.gov/ by clicking on Title 49 CFR Part 20.

5. Civil Rights and Title VI – As a condition of a grant award, grant recipients should demonstrate that the recipient has a plan for compliance with civil rights obligations and nondiscrimination laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and implementing regulations (49 CFR § 21), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, all other civil rights requirements, and accompanying regulations. This should include a current Title VI plan, completed Community Participation Plan, and a plan to address any legacy infrastructure or facilities that are not compliant with ADA standards. DOT’s and the applicable Operating Administrations’ Office of Civil Rights may work with awarded grant recipients to ensure full compliance with federal civil rights requirements.

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 https://www.ecfr.gov/

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1988.” 49 CFR Part 32 will be incorporated by reference into any award under this program and is available at: www.ecfr.gov/ by clicking on Title 49 CFR Part 32.

7. The recipient must comply with Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Throughout the Federal Government.

F.3 Reporting Requirements

Annual Progress Reports – Each grant recipient is required to submit a progress report to show progression of approved projects and activities. The reports must follow the instructions outlined in the terms and conditions of the grant award. Grant recipients with a period of performance that is longer that 12 months are required to submit annual progress reports. Grant recipients with a performance period of 12 months need only submit a final progress report (refer to section below). Grant recipients must follow the instructions outlined in the terms and conditions of the grant award. The report 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, total contact hours for each class, and the employer of the students trained.

2. The challenges the grantee faced, and 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 current period of performance grant activities have had on protecting people and the environment from the risks of HAZMAT transportation.

Bi-Annual Federal Financial Reports – Each grant recipient is required to submit Federal Financial Reports (SF-425) to show a cumulative account of expenditures from approved activities. Grant recipients with a 12- through 24-month period of performance are required to submit bi-annual Federal Financial Reports and must follow the instructions outlined in the terms and conditions of the grant award.

Final Reports - Each recipient is required to submit a final Progress Report and final Federal Financial Report (Final SF-425). Final Federal Financial Reports and Progress Reports must be submitted by e-mail at HMIT.grants@dot.gov. The reports are due no later than 120 days after the performance period has ended. Final 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 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, and total contact hours for each class. Final http://www.ecfr.gov/

U.S. DOT/PHMSA Page 19 Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training (ALERT) Grant reports should also include a list of employers who represent the students trained. If the projected outputs listed in the approved project narrative were not met, an explanation should be provided.

2. Challenges the grantee faced and 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 HAZMAT transportation.

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

Performance and Program Evaluation – As a condition of grant award, grant recipients may be required to participate in an evaluation undertaken by DOT or another agency or partner. The evaluation may take different forms such as an implementation assessment across grant recipients, an impact and/or outcomes analysis of all or selected sites within or across grant recipients, or a benefit/cost analysis or assessment of return on investment. DOT may require applicants to collect data elements to aid the evaluation and/or use information available through other reporting. As a part of the evaluation, as a condition of award, grant recipients must agree to: (1) make records available to the evaluation contractor or DOT staff; (2) provide access to program records, and any other relevant documents to calculate costs and benefits; (3) in the case of an impact analysis, facilitate the access to relevant information as requested; and (4) follow evaluation procedures as specified by the evaluation contractor or DOT staff.

Recipients and subrecipients are also encouraged to incorporate program evaluation including associated data collection activities from the outset of their program design and implementation to meaningfully document and measure their progress towards meeting an agency priority goal(s). Title I of the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (Evidence Act), Pub. L. No. 115-435 (2019) urges federal awarding agencies and federal assistance recipients and subrecipients to use program evaluation as a critical tool to learn, to improve equitable delivery, and to elevate program service and delivery across the program lifecycle.

Evaluation means “an assessment using systematic data collection and analysis of one or more programs, policies, and organizations intended to assess their effectiveness and efficiency.” 5 U.S.C. § 311. Credible program evaluation activities are implemented with relevance and utility, rigor, independence and objectivity, transparency, and ethics (OMB Circular A-11, Part 6 Section 290).

For grant recipients receiving an award, evaluation costs are allowable costs (either as direct or indirect), unless prohibited by statute or regulation, and such costs may include the personnel and equipment needed for data infrastructure and expertise in data analysis, performance, and evaluation. (2 CFR Part 200). This paragraph does not authorize pre-award costs and grant recipients must separately obtain PHMSA’s written approval to fund pre-award costs consistent with 2 CFR § 200.458.

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SECTION G - FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

Questions related to the content of this funding opportunity should be submitted to the point of contact below or e-mail HMIT.grants@dot.gov.

Program Contact Carla Sheppard Phone: 202-366-1109 E-mail: Carla.Sheppard@dot.gov

SECTION H – OTHER INFORMATION

Given the complexity of some aspects of the application process, technical assistance is available to inexperienced and/or under-resourced applicants to help with the application process. Please contact the program point of contact listed in Section G for technical assistance.

Protection of Confidential Business Information: All information submitted as part of or in support of any application shall use publicly available data or data that can be made public and methodologies that are accepted by industry practice and standards to the extent possible. If the applicant submits information that the applicant considers to be a trade secret or confidential commercial or financial information, the applicant must provide that information in a separate document, which the applicant may cross-reference from the application narrative or other portions of the application.