PERG_NOFO_Final for Posting.pdf

U.S. Department of Transportation

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

Fiscal Year 2026

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Pipeline Emergency Response Grant (PERG) Program

NOFO Posted Date: May 18, 2026 Application Due Date: June 19, 11:59 p.m. EST Questions Due Date: June 17, 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. In addition, 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 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 it works, click on the link to access the FedConnect: Ready, Set, Go! Tutorial on the FedConnect home page.

Assistance Listing (formerly CFDA)

20.706 “Pipeline Emergency Response Grant”

PHMSA NOFO Number

693JK326NF0002

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

NOFO: 693JK326NF0002

U.S. DOT/PHMSA Page| 2 of 19 Fiscal Year 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity

Pipeline Emergency Response Grant (PERG) Program

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION A – BASIC INFORMATION

A.1 FUNDING

A.2 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

A.3 TYPE OF AWARD

SECTION B – ELIGIBILITY

B.1 ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

B.2 COST-SHARING OR MATCHING

B.3 FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

SECTION C – PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

C.1 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

C.2 STATUTE AND PROGRAM AUTHORITY

SECTION D – APPLICATION CONTENTS AND FORMAT

D.1 ADDRESS TO REQUEST APPLICATION PACKAGE

D.2 CONTENT AND STANDARD FORMS FOR APPLICATION SUBMISSION

SECTION E – SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

E.1 SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES

E.2 UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER (UEI) AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (SAM) ... 12

SECTION F – APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

F.1 CRITERIA

F.2 REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

F.3 RISK REVIEW

SECTION G – AWARD NOTICES

G.1 ANTICIPATED ANNOUNCEMENT AND FEDERAL AWARD DATES

G.2 FEDERAL AWARD NOTICES

SECTION H – POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION

H.1 ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

H.2 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

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SECTION A – BASIC INFORMATION

Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

Funding Opportunity Title: “Fiscal Year 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity:

Pipeline Emergency Response Grant (PERG) Program”

Announcement Type: Initial Announcement

Funding Opportunity Number: 693JK326NF0002

Assistance Listing Program Number: 20.706

NOFO Posted Date: May 18, 2026 Application Due Date: June 19, 2026, 11:59 p.m. EST Question Due Date: June 17, 2026, 11:59 p.m. EST

Executive Summary

The PERG program is a competitive grant program designed to encourage a comprehensive approach to emergency planning and training by addressing the unique challenges of responding to pipeline emergencies.

A.1 Funding

PHMSA may award up to $2,973,681.00 under the FY 2026 PERG NOFO. Awards under this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) may not exceed $200,000 per recipient.

A.2 Period of Performance

The period of performance is up to 24 months. Applicants should only request funds for projects that can be completed within the period of performance.

A.3 Type of Award

This is a discretionary grant.

Agency Contact Information

Questions related to the content of this funding opportunity should be submitted via e-mail to the contacts below or via the Message Center in FedConnect if your organization is registered there.

For technical issues or questions related to FedConnect, please e-mail fcsupport@unisonglobal.com. Applicants can also submit questions through the portal on their website or call 1-800-899-6665, option 2.

mailto:fcsupport@unisonglobal.com

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Grant Agreement Officer Dwayne Cross Acquisition Services Division Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, E22-306 Washington, D.C. 20590 Phone: 202-366-4429 E-mail: dwayne.cross@dot.gov

For technical issues or questions related to grants.gov, please e-mail support@grants.gov.

SECTION B – ELIGIBILITY

B.1 Eligible Applicants

Any State, county, and local government, which can provide direct or web-based training to individuals with statutory responsibility to respond to pipeline incidents or accidents in HCAs, is eligible. Governments must train emergency responders to protect nearby persons, property, and the environment from the effects of accidents or incidents involving gas or hazardous liquid pipelines under existing regulations. Examples of eligible activities include:

• Pipeline emergency response planning, training, and exercises. Training that does not have a pipeline emergency response component (e.g., HAZMAT certification or refresher courses) is an ineligible activity.

• PHMSA’s Pipeline Emergency Responder Initiative (PERI) program development and training.

• Pipeline leak recognition and release evacuation training.

• Development and maintenance of pipeline emergency response training curriculum.

• Training props, equipment, and supplies specifically for pipeline emergency response training. Equipment and/or supplies that are not specific to pipeline emergency response training are ineligible activities.

mailto:dwayne.cross@dot.gov mailto:grants.gov mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/pipeline/peri/pipeline-emergency-responders-initiative-peri-overview

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HCAs are defined in 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §§ 192.903 and 195.450 and may include:

• A commercially navigable waterway, which means a waterway where a substantial likelihood of commercial navigation exists.

• A high-population area, which means an urbanized area, as defined and delineated by the Census Bureau, that contains 50,000 or more people and has a population density of at least 1,000 people per square mile.

• Another populated area, which means a place, as defined and delineated by the Census Bureau, that contains a concentrated population, such as an incorporated or unincorporated city, town, village, or other designated residential or commercial area.

• An unusually sensitive area, as defined in 49 CFR § 195.6.

B.2 Cost-Sharing or Matching

There are no requirements for cost-sharing or matching.

B.3 Funding Restrictions

The following costs are not eligible for reimbursement under the FY 2026 PERG program:

• The funds may not be used for lobbying, regulatory compliance activities, the typical operations and maintenance of pipeline facilities, or in direct support of litigation.

• Expenses claimed or reimbursed by another program.

• Expenses counted as matching funds toward another Federal program.

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

• Entertainment, alcohol, or morale costs.

• Costs for general office supplies, equipment, computer software, printing, and copying.

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SECTION C – PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

C.1 Statement of Purpose

This funding opportunity is associated with Assistance Listing 20.706. Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) focuses on training emergency responders in high consequence areas (HCAs) to protect people, property, and the environment from accidents involving gas or hazardous liquid pipelines.

Applicants must explain their need for training and document: 1) number of people trained;

2) course type; 3) training costs; 4) training location; 5) name, title, and position of the trainee; and 6) a detailed accounting and description of each grant expenditure, including the amount of and purpose for each expenditure. PHMSA will select projects based on how likely they are to meet the stated training needs.

C.2 Statute and Program Authority

The PERG program is authorized under 49 U.S.C. § 60125(b).

SECTION D – APPLICATION CONTENTS AND FORMAT

D.1 Address to Request Application Package

PHMSA requires applicants to apply electronically through grants.gov. Applicants must download the application package associated with this funding opportunity.

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.

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

D.2 Content and Standard Forms for Application Submission

Each application must consist of the following required documents:

1. Standard Form (SF)-424: Application for Federal Assistance Standard Form

2. SF-424A: Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs

3. Certification Regarding Lobbying

4. Standard Title VI/Non-Discrimination Assurances https://sam.gov/fal/b932a62397c747abbf18810ae68db94e/view https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-1999-title49-section60125&num=0&edition=1999 http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:PHMSA-Accessibility@dot.gov.

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5. Budget Narrative and Estimates

6. Project Narrative

The application forms and templates are available on grants.gov in the Forms Package and under the “Related Documents” tab with detailed instructions on the application process. Applicants should also review Section F, Application Review Information, to ensure the narratives contain all information on which PHMSA will evaluate.

Budget Narrative

Grant Funds, Sources, and Uses of Project Funds – This budget must list the amount and percent of both the total Federal funding requested and any additional non-Federal funds, if any, that will be used to pay for the project.

The amounts requested for each budget category must be justified in a budget section under each project in applicant responses to this announcement. Budget Narratives must address the following items:

• If your budget includes personnel costs, please include a complete breakdown, including personnel title/position, hourly rate, and the number of hours expected to be spent by each person on the proposed project.

• If your proposal includes travel costs, please include adequate details on how the cost has been calculated including travel fare, etc.

• If your proposal includes equipment costs, please include adequate details on how the cost has been calculated, including information on each specific equipment piece(s) required and their individual costs.

Applications that contain a request for indirect costs should include a budget narrative detailing the proposal for indirect costs, where allowable. The budget narrative should include a signed copy of the applicant’s approved negotiated rate agreement that is valid as of the date of the application, if this is not already on file with PHMSA State Programs Division. If the applicant does not have an approved indirect cost rate agreement, the applicant may be eligible to charge a de minimis rate of up to 15 percent as provided by 2 CFR § 200.414.

Personnel Costs

At least 75 percent of funding must go to program activities; no more than 25 percent can be used for maintenance and administration (M&A), excluding indirect costs. Only include costs for your organization’s employees. Costs for subrecipients or contractors should go under “Contractual” or “Other.” Salaries must align with rates for similar work in your organization.

http://www.grants.gov/

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Fringe Benefit Costs

Fringe benefit costs are the allowances and services provided by employers to their employees as compensation in addition to regular salaries and wages. Fringe benefit costs are benefits paid to employees, including the cost of the employer’s share of Federal Insurance Contributions Act (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:

• Salary and fringe benefit costs shall be consistently paired to ensure accurate and compliant cost accounting across all personnel‑related expenditures. 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.

Travel Costs

Travel costs are those costs requested for field work or 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.

Equipment Costs

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 $10,000 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 $10,000 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 and specifically needed for pipeline emergency response.

• 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.

• Equipment requests and/or supplies that are not specific to pipeline emergency response training are ineligible activities.

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Contractual Costs

Contractual costs are those services carried out by an individual or organization, other than the applicant, in the form of a procurement relationship. When procuring goods or services, a 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 non-competitive proposals is met. If an applicant plans 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 §§ 200.317– 200.327.

For all contractual line-item costs, include the rationale for the costs, 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. There are two ways to capture costs in this category: subgrants and contracts.

• A Subgrant is an award provided by a pass-through entity (recipient) to a subrecipient.

That subrecipient carries out part of a program for which the recipient received Federal support. A sub-recipient 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 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.

Other Costs

Other costs that do not fit any of the categories include rent for buildings used to conduct project activities, utilities, leased equipment, and employee training tuition. “Other” direct costs must be itemized.

Project Narrative

The Department seeks to fund projects that advance the priorities of this Administration as described in DOT’s mission statement and across Executive Orders.

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

a) 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 to training individuals who have a statutory responsibility to respond to accidents and incidents involving hazardous materials. If your application proposes to subcontract a nonprofit organization, a letter of agreement from the nonprofit organization is required with your application.

b) Contact Information. Identify the designated project director, including the name, position, address, e-mail 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.

c) Statement of Need. Describe the current capacity and any areas of deficiency as it concerns preparedness for pipeline incidents in HCAs. This may include: (1) a discussion of whether the applicant has identified or needs to identify the pipeline network/locations for improved response or efficiency within the State; (2) a description of the location and need for exercises to prepare for responses to incidents involving the transportation of hazardous materials via pipelines; or (3) the number of responders needing training in the different disciplines of response functions, such as firefighters, emergency medical technicians, emergency medical services, etc.

d) HCAs. Describe the HCAs within your jurisdiction that will be reached by the proposed training in your application.

e) Proposed Training and Timeline. Describe the proposed activities that will take place under the grant. This section should include: (1) the number and type of activities/courses proposed; (2) the location of the activities if known, and if unknown, explain the methodology for selecting locations; (3) a plan for training individuals with statutory responsibility to respond to accidents and incidents involving hazardous materials via the pipelines; (4) the estimated cost of each activity; and (5) the timeframe when the activity will take place. The timeline should include benchmarks and milestones that will help monitor the project’s success.

f) 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 pipeline safety training courses, projected outputs should include: (1) the number and type of course(s); and (2) the number of projected students trained for each course. Discuss broader outcomes or goals to describe the intended impact of the proposed outputs. This can be either quantitative or

U.S. DOT/PHMSA Page| 11 of 19 qualitative and should reflect the projected impact of the grant activity outputs.

g) Course Description. Provide an outline or detailed description of the training activity that will be conducted.

h) 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.

Sharing of Application Information – PHMSA may share application information within the Department or with other Federal agencies if it is determined that sharing is relevant to the respective program’s objectives. Click here for more information.

SECTION E – SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

E.1 Submission Dates and Times

Complete applications must be received electronically through grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. EST on June 19, 2026. Do not physically mail any applications. Applications received after this deadline may not be considered. PHMSA will only accept one application per applicant.

Questions Due Date and Time: June 17, 2026 by 11:59 p.m. EST.

NOTE: All questions can be submitted via the Message Center in FedConnect or send questions to the Technical Point of Contact in Section A of this NOFO. PHMSA is not responsible for answering questions that are received after the Questions Due Date and Time.

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 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 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 on the link to review the FedConnect: Ready, Set, Go! Tutorial. For other technical issues or https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/about-phmsa/working-phmsa/grants/section-h-other-information http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ 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/ https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/Marketing/Documents/FedConnect_Ready_Set_Go.pdf

U.S. DOT/PHMSA Page| 12 of 19 questions, 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.

E.2 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 that 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 that their UEI number 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.

● Maintain an active SAM registration and UEI with current information when it has an active Federal award or an application under consideration.

SECTION F – APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

F.1 Criteria

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 below.

Merit Criteria

PHMSA developed merit 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 – The application should:

• Show how the project will align with the intent of PERG.

• Provide a statement that describes the need for pipeline safety preparedness.

• List activities allowable under PERG.

mailto:fcsupport@unisonglobal http://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/

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• Identify HCAs within its jurisdiction.

2. Programmatic Criteria – The application should:

• Provide information on the organization.

• Provide the number and a description of each activity proposed.

• Include activities that are allowable, allocable, necessary, and reasonable.

• Provide a timeline that clearly communicates when project activities will take place.

• For each planned target, PHMSA will evaluate the type of measure, the number of expected output measures, and the expected locations if known. List clear outputs, goals, and objectives that indicate the grant will have a measurable impact on reducing risk and enhancing pipeline safety.

• Outline a monitoring and evaluation strategy to help ensure that the project(s) will be successful.

• Provide a completed and properly filled out SF-424 form.

• Submit a completed ED-80-0013 combined assurance and Title VI form.

• Provide an aligned budget (SF-424A) and budget narrative.

• Provide a detailed budget narrative as to how the costs under personnel correspond to the staff included in the narrative, and how they are calculated.

• Provide an explanation or breakout of the staff fringe benefits.

• Provide a clear and reasonable travel budget narrative (if applicable).

• Provide adequate supply costs.

• Provide a budget narrative for contractual costs.

Pipeline Emergency Response Grant (PERG) Planned Output Measures

Output Measure Type What to Report Planned Target Cost

(Proposed activity) Training Title # of Planned Trainings e.g., 20 trainings statewide

Expected Cost

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• Provide an explanation for other costs.

• Provide an approved and current Indirect Cost Rate agreement or statement claiming up to a 15 percent de minimis rate (if applicable).

F.2 Review and Selection Process

Please thoroughly read the Review and Selection Process.

The Department intends to apply principles from DOT Order 2100.7 (Ensuring Reliance Upon Sound Economic Analysis in DOT’s Policies, Programs and Activities) and DOT Order 2100.9 (Ensuring Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity in Department of Transportation Policies, Programs, and Activities) when evaluating applications and making award selections. To the maximum extent permitted by law, DOT will prioritize projects that are in alignment with the principles outlined in DOT Orders 2100.7 and 2100.9.

The Department seeks to fund projects that advance the priorities of this Administration as described in DOT’s mission statement and across executive orders.

To comply with the requirements of 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E, and DOT’s Guide to Financial Assistance, PHMSA’s Agreement Officer and Grant Specialist may request additional information pertaining to your application during the application review and evaluation process.

Please note that to comply with the requirements of 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E, PHMSA’s Agreement Officer and Grant Specialist may request additional information pertaining to your application during the application review and evaluation process.

F.3 Risk Review

Prior to making an award, PHMSA is required to review and consider any information about the responsibility and the qualifications of the applicant that is accessible through SAM (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 any other information available in SAM, in making a judgment about the applicant’s integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards as part of the risk review required by 2 CFR § 200.206.

SECTION G – AWARD NOTICES

G.1 Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

Applicants chosen for funding will receive electronic notification of the Federal award. Upon notification, the applicant’s Authorized Representative must sign and return the award within the timeframe prescribed by PHMSA. PHMSA plans to make awards no later than September 30, 2026, with a proposed period of performance start date on the award agreement.

https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/about-phmsa/working-phmsa/grants/e2-review-and-selection-process https://www.transportation.gov/mission/ensuring-reliance-upon-sound-economic-analysis-department-transportation-policies-programs https://www.transportation.gov/mission/ensuring-reliance-upon-sound-economic-analysis-department-transportation-policies-programs https://www.transportation.gov/mission/ensuring-nondiscrimination-and-equal-opportunity-department-transportation-policies https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E https://www.transportation.gov/administrations/assistant-secretary-administration/financial-assistance-guidance-manual https://www.transportation.gov/administrations/assistant-secretary-administration/financial-assistance-guidance-manual https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title41-section2313&num=0&edition=prelim https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title41-section2313&num=0&edition=prelim https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-C/section-200.206

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G.2 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 outlined in this NOFO. Funds will be administered on a reimbursement basis. 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.

PHMSA intends to award multiple grants under this NOFO, subject to application quality and amounts requested. PHMSA can fund all or part of the application or reject it entirely.

Unsuccessful applicants will be notified that their application was not selected for funding.

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 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 the 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 other information or provisions deemed necessary by PHMSA.

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SECTION H – POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION

H.1 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. § 60125(b) – Emergency Response Grants.

2. 2 CFR Part 200 – Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards.

3. 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.

4. Civil Rights and Title VI – As a condition of a grant award, grant recipients will 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 Part 21) (including any amendments thereto), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and all other civil rights requirements and accompanying regulations. This should include a current Title VI plan. DOT’s and the applicable Operating Administrations’ Office of Civil Rights will work with awarded grant recipients to ensure full compliance with Federal civil rights requirements. See “Standard Title VI/Non-Discrimination Assurances” for the form by the same name that must be completed and returned by the grant applicant.

5. 49 CFR Part 32, “Governmentwide 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.ecfr.gov by clicking on Title 49 CFR Part 32.

6. Compliance with Federal Law and Policies – The applicant assures and certifies, with respect to any application and awarded Project under this NOFO, that it will comply with all applicable Federal laws, regulations, executive orders, policies, guidelines, and requirements as they relate to the application, acceptance, and use of Federal funds.

7. Federal Anti-Discrimination - Except where prohibited by court order, pursuant to Executive Order 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination And Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, as a condition of grant award, each Recipient must agree that its and its regulations’ compliance in all respects with the equal protection principles of the U.S Constitution and all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws and regulations is material to the government’s payment decisions for purposes of section 3729(b)(4) of title 31, United States Code.

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-1999-title49-section60125&num=0&edition=1999 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200?toc=1 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-A/part-20 https://www.justice.gov/crt/fcs/TitleVI https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-A/part-21 https://www.ada.gov/law-and-regs/ada/ https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/civilrights/resources/factsheets/504.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-A/part-32 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-A/part-32 https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-illegal-discrimination-and-restoring-merit-based-opportunity/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-illegal-discrimination-and-restoring-merit-based-opportunity/

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Except where prohibited by court order, pursuant to Section 3(b)(iv)(B) of Executive Order 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination And Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, , as a condition of grant award, each Recipient must certify that it does not operate any programs promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives that violate the U.S.

Constitution or any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws.

To the extent a court order bars the implementation or enforcement of one or more of the provisions with respect to a particular applicant or recipient, the Department will not implement or enforce the relevant provision(s) against that applicant or recipient for as long as the order remains in place.

H.2 Reporting Requirements

1. Mid-Term Progress Reports – Each grant recipient is required to submit a mid-term Federal Financial Report (SF-425) and a mid-term progress report to the Agreement Officer and Agreement Officer Representative. The reports are due no later than 30 days after the mid-year cycle from the award date. Progress reports must follow the instructions outlined in the terms and conditions of the grant award and must include:

• 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 that the students or emergency responders are in.

• The challenges that the recipient has faced, and the strategies implemented to mitigate those challenges.

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

• 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 pipeline transportation.

2. Final Reports – Each recipient is required to submit a final progress report and a final Federal Financial Report (SF-425) to the Agreement Officer and Agreement Officer Representative.

The reports are due no later than 60 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 e-mail as directed by the terms and conditions of the grant award, and must include:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-illegal-discrimination-and-restoring-merit-based-opportunity/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-illegal-discrimination-and-restoring-merit-based-opportunity/

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

See chart below as a template to follow.

Pipeline Emergency Response Grant (PERG) Measurable Outputs Report

Primary Output Measure Definition

Application Expected Count City State Supporting

Documentation

1. Count of Emergency Responders Trained (including city and State where the training took place)

Number of individual emergency responders in high-consequence areas who successfully complete grant-funded training aligned with pipeline safety regulations.

# of trained responders

Training attendance logs, certificates of completion, and curriculum compliance check with federal standards

2. Count of Pipeline Incident Response Drills Completed

Number of simulated pipeline accident or hazardous liquid spill response exercises conducted to test readiness, coordination, and protection of people, property, and the environment.

# of completed drills

Drill plans, after-action reports, participant rosters, and documented improvements in capability

Final reports should also include a list of employers or the State that represents the students trained.

• If the projected outputs listed in the approved project narrative were not met, an explanation should be provided. This must include the challenges that the recipient faced, and the strategies taken to mitigate such challenges.

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

• 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 pipeline transportation.

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

Performance and Program Evaluation: Program Evaluation is 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). Recipients and subrecipients are encouraged to incorporate program evaluation including associated data collection activities from the outset of their program design and implementation to meaningfully document and

U.S. DOT/PHMSA Page| 19 of 19 measure their progress. Allowable data and evaluation costs are specified in 2 CFR 200.455(c).1 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. Grant recipients must agree to: (1) make records available to the evaluation contractor or DOT agency staff; (2) facilitate and 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 agency staff.

1 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group- ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.455.