PKG00248926-instructions.pdf

U.S. Department of Transportation

Pipeline and Hazardous

Materials Safety

Administration

(PHMSA)

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Pipeline Safety Information Grants to

Communities: Technical Assistance Grants

(TAG)

Fiscal Year 2019

NOFO Posted Date: March 8, 2019

Application Due Date: May 3, 2019

Applicant must be registered at www.grants.gov to apply for the grant. It is highly recommended that applicants begin the registration process as soon as possible to avoid delays in submission. Additionally, applicants must maintain a valid Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.SAM.gov

Furthermore, applicants must register with FedConnect at https://www.fedconnect.net for an account before submitting an application.

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.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number (CFDA)

20.710 “Technical Assistance Grants”

PHMSA NOFO Number:

693JK319NF0002

NOFO# 693JK319NF0002

U.S. DOT PHMSA Page 2 of 12 FY 2019 Technical Assistance Grant – Notice of Funding Opportunity

Table of Contents

Program Summary…………………………………………………..…………………… 3

Mission…………………………...……………………………………………..…………. 4

Section A – Program Description……………………………………………..…………. 4

Section A.1 Purpose…………………………………………………………...…… 4

Section A.2 Statute and Program Authority……………...………………………… 4

Section A.3 Background………………………………………….……………... 4

Section B – Federal Award Information……………………………………………...…. 5 Section B.1 Funding……………………………………………………………...… 5

Section B.2 Period of Performance………………………………………...………. 5

Section B.3 Type of Award…………………………………………………...…… 5

Section B.4 Previous Awards……………………………………………………

Section C – Eligibility Information………………………………………………...……. 5 Section C.1 Eligible Applicants……………………………………………………...…. 5

Section C.1 Cost Sharing…………………………………………………………... 5

Section D – Application and Submission Information……………………………… Section D.1 Address to Request Application Package…………..………………… 5

Section D.2 Content and Form of Application Submission….…………………….. 6

Section D.3 DUNS number and SAM……………………………..………………. 6

Section D.4 Submission Dates and Times……………………….…………………. 6

Section D.5 Funding Restrictions…………………………………..………………. 7

Section D.6 Other Submission Requirements…………………………

Section E – Application Review Information …………………………………………... 8 Section E.1 Evaluation Criteria…………………………………...………………... 8

Section E.2 Review and Selection Process………………………………………… 9

Section E.3 Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates …………….…10

Section F – Federal Award Administration Information……………………………….10 Section F.1 Federal Award Notices………………………………………………... 10

Section F.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements…………………… 11

Section F.3 Reporting……………………………………………………………… 11

Section F.4 Payments………………………………………………………………. 11

Section G – Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)..…………………………………… 11

NOFO# 693JK319NF0002

U.S. DOT PHMSA Page 3 of 12 FY 2019 Technical Assistance Grant – Notice of Funding Opportunity

Program Summary

Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety

Administration (PHMSA)

Funding Opportunity Title: Pipeline Safety Information Grants to Communities:

Technical Assistance Grants (TAG)

Announcement Type: Initial Announcement

Funding Opportunity Number: 693JK319NF0002

CFDA Number: 20.710

NOFO Posted Date: March 8, 2019

Application Due Date: May 3, 2019, 11:59pm ET

MISSION

The mission of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is to ensure our nation has the safest, most efficient and modern transportation system in the world. DOT’s Pipeline and

Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) protects people and the environment by advancing the safe transportation of energy and other hazardous materials that are essential to our daily lives. To do this, the agency 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 grants to states, localities, communities, and nonprofits that help make sure pipelines operate safely and shipments arrive without incident.

SECTION A – PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A.1 Purpose

Pipeline safety is a shared responsibility and informed communities play a vital role in the safety and reliability of pipeline operations. The Pipeline Safety Information Grants to

Communities: Technical Assistance Grants (TAG) provide funding to local communities and groups of individuals for technical assistance related to pipeline safety. The program also provides opportunities that strengthen the depth and quality of public participation in the safe development and operation of pipelines in and around communities. Technical assistance is defined as engineering or other scientific analysis of pipeline safety issues.

A.2 Statute and Program Authority

The TAG program was implemented pursuant to the authority of the Pipeline Safety

Improvement Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-355, codified at 49 U.S.C. 60130), which authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to local communities and groups of individuals (not including for-profit entities) for technical assistance relating to pipeline safety.

The TAG program is further authorized under the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement and Safety Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-468), the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and

Job Creation Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-90), and the Protecting our Infrastructure of

Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-183).

A.3 Background

Since TAG program inception, PHMSA has awarded almost $9.5 million for 198 individual technical assistance projects. TAG awards have funded a broad range of activities, including:

improvement of local pipeline emergency response capabilities; improvement of safe digging or damage prevention programs; development of pipeline safety information resources;

implementation of local land use practices that enhance pipeline safety; community and pipeline awareness campaigns; and public participation in official proceedings pertaining to pipeline safety. A summary of the TAG awards, including final reports from completed grant projects, is available at http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/tag.

SECTION B – FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

NOFO# 693JK319NF0001

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FY 2019 Community Safety Grant -Notice of Funding Opportunity

B.1 Funding PHMSA anticipates $1,500,000 will be made available to support the TAG program under the authority of 49 U.S.C. § 60130(c), which provides that the Secretary shall expend $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2019 to carry out pipeline safety information grants to communities. Grant awards under this NOFO may not exceed $100,000 for a single recipient.

B.2 Period of Performance The period of performance is 12 months from the effective date of award for each grant.

Applicants must only apply for funding that can be reasonably expended within this timeframe and for projects that can be completed within the period of performance.

B.3 Type of Award Discretionary grant award.

B.4 Previous Award TAG recipients from previous years are eligible to apply for a FY 2019 TAG; however, applications should be for new projects and not for renewal or supplementation of existing projects.

SECTION C – ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

C.1 Eligible Applicants Applicants for the TAG must be local communities or groups of individuals (not including for-profit entities) relating to the safety of pipeline facilities in local communities, other than facilities regulated under Public Law 93-153 (43 U.S.C. 1651 et seq.). Eligible applicants include cities, towns, villages, counties, parishes, townships, and similar governmental subdivisions, or consortiums of such subdivisions, and groups of individuals; not including for-profit entities.

States, universities, and for-profit entities are not eligible for TAG funding.

C.2 Cost Sharing or Matching There are no cost-sharing or matching requirements.

SECTION D – APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

D.1 Address to Request Application Package

A copy of this NOFO and corresponding forms package can be retrieved from www.grants.gov using the following basic search criteria:

(1) Keyword(s): Technical Assistance Grants

(2) NOFO#: 693JK319NF0002

(3) CFDA Number: 20.710

To begin the process, applicants must be registered with www.Grants.gov to submit an application. It is highly recommended that applicants begin the registration process as soon as possible to avoid delays with submission. Failure to comply with the prescribed application requirements as described in this section will result in an application not being reviewed.

http://www.grants.gov/

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Accessing Grants.gov:

For new users, go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants.html, or go to the main page at http://www.grants.gov/ and select “Register.” NOTE: 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 by email at support@grants.gov. Carrie

Winslow may also be able to help answer questions on applying for Grants.gov usernames/passwords as they specifically relate to the TAG program. Please contact Carrie

Winslow by phone at (757) 689-3168 or by email at carrie.winslow@dot.gov.

Accessing Fedconnect:

Applicants must register with FedConnect at https://www.fedconnect.net for an account before submitting an application. 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. For other technical issues or questions, either email support@fedconnect.net or call us at 1-800-899-6665. The FedConnect Support Center is staffed Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., EDT, except Federal holidays.

D.2 Content and Form of Application Submission Each application must consist of the following required documents:

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

2. Budget Information - Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A)

3. Project Narrative

4. Budget Narrative and Estimates

5. Standard Title VI/Non-Discrimination Assurances

6. Certification Regarding Lobbying

The standard forms (SF-424 and SF-424A) templates for the Project and Budget narratives, Standard Title VI/Non-Discrimination Assurances, and the Certification Regarding Lobby form are available on Grants.gov in the ‘Related Documents’ tab with detailed instructions on the application process. Please refer to sections E.1 and E.2 for the evaluation criteria which the

Project and Budget Narratives will be evaluated.

D.3 Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number and System for

Award Management (SAM)

Each applicant is required to: (i) be registered in SAM before submitting its application; (ii) provide a valid DUNS number in its application; and (iii) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application under consideration by PHMSA. PHMSA may not make a grant award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable DUNS and SAM requirements. We recommend that applicants review the SAM database to ensure that their DUNS number is updated and active: https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/. PHMSA will review an applicant’s registration status to make a responsibility determination to ensure that the applicant is responsible, current on all Federal taxes, and is not on the list of parties excluded from Federal awards.

mailto:carrie.winslow@dot.gov mailto:support@fedconnect.net

US DOT/PHMSA Page 4 of 9

D.4 Submission Dates and Times Complete applications must be received electronically through Grants.gov by 11:59PM Eastern

Time on May 3, 2019. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered. PHMSA will only accept one application from each applicant. Applicants awarded FY 2019 TAGs may not subcontract with or otherwise receive TAG funding from other FY 2019 TAG recipients for purpose of performing work under the FY 2019 TAG program.

D.5 Funding Restrictions

The funding for the TAG program may not be used for lobbying, in direct support of litigation, in direct advocacy for or against a pipeline construction or expansion project or other pipeline policy matters, or for activities associated with regulatory compliance or typical operations and maintenance of pipeline facilities as defined below.

While operators of non-profit municipal pipeline systems are considered communities and are eligible for a TAG, the funds may not be used for activities associated with regulatory compliance or typical operations and maintenance of pipeline facilities. This restriction includes compliance with pipeline safety integrity management regulations.

Prohibited activities include:

Lobbying, which is defined as the act of attempting to influence the actions, policies, or decisions of officials, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. This is a form of advocacy where a direct contact is made to legislators.

Direct support of litigation.

Advocacy, which is defined as an activity by an individual or group that aims to advance particular views or influence decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions. Advocacy may include undertaking activities such as media campaigns, public speaking, commissioning and publishing research, conducting exit polls, or filing an amicus brief.

Some examples of prohibited activities include:

• One-on-one meetings and contacts with members of the administration or Congress.

• Letters, policy reports, or recommendations sent directly to policymakers to sway policy debate or decisions.

• Billboards or advertisements aimed at attracting the attention of congressional staffers and administration officials.

• Hill briefings to converse with and educate members of Congress and their staffs.

• Hearings in congressional committees where public witnesses can testify on an issue.

• Protests, media (mainstream and social) campaigns, and letter/e-mail campaigns.

• Posting pro- or anti-pipeline advocacy documents and messages on websites developed with grant funds.

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D.6 Other Submission Requirements

See Attachment 1: Terms and Conditions of this announcement for a list of statutes and regulations that discuss allowable uses of the TAG funds. PHMSA may award, at its discretion, applications from non-profit municipal pipeline operators that propose projects that clearly exceed what is required of pipeline operators under existing pipeline safety regulations.

Examples of eligible project work include, but are not limited to:

• Adopting Pipelines and Informed Planning Alliance (PIPA) recommended practices (http://www.pipa-info.com);

• Increasing awareness of “811 – Call Before You Dig” program (http://www.call811.com);

• Developing information or technologies that could aid in pipeline emergency response, pipeline excavation damage prevention, risk-informed land use planning, community awareness, public education, and engineering (except activities already required by existing regulations); and,

• Understanding and fulfilling pipeline safety data needs to improve data analysis.

Questions regarding the eligibility of specific activities may be directed to Dwayne Cross at dwayne.cross@dot.gov or (202) 366-4429.

For summaries of past TAG projects, including all final reports that have been submitted to

PHMSA to date, visit http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/tag. Please note that in the first two years of the TAG program (2009 and 2010), PHMSA did not explicitly prohibit the use of funds for regulatory compliance or operations and maintenance by municipal operators.

SECTION E – APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

E.1 Evaluation Criteria PHMSA developed TAG 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.

Applications will be evaluated against the following evaluation criteria:

1. The extent to which the applicant’s project scope establishes clear goals and objectives that focus on areas where a pipeline failure could pose a significant risk to people or to unusually sensitive environmental areas (see definition in 49 CFR 195.6).

2. The extent to which the applicant’s project scope identifies specific pipeline safety concerns or risks to address in affected geographic areas to stakeholders and/or communities.

3. The extent to which the proposal demonstrates the applicant’s experience with and commitment to foster open communication with affected operators and other key members of the community to ensure project success.

4. The extent to which the applicant’s project aligns with the challenges and strategies for advancing pipeline safety and seeks to improve performance and safety over time in areas such as engineering, damage prevention, land use

US DOT/PHMSA Page 6 of 9 planning, public awareness, education and outreach, emergency response, and community awareness.

5. The extent to which the applicant’s project plan clearly establishes resources, milestones, and estimated project costs that align with project goals and objectives.

6. The extent to which the applicant’s project plan identifies measurable results and deliverables and specifies how results will be evaluated and disseminated to affected stakeholders.

7. The extent to which the applicant’s project scope provides the potential for learning or technology transfer to other groups and communities.

In addition, PHMSA expects the proposed results of the projects to be factual, unbiased, verifiable, and repeatable to the extent practicable. Applicants should also be aware that a grant award will not convey any authority to grant recipients to secure information or cooperation from pipeline operators.

E.2 Review and Selection Process

PHMSA will conduct an initial administrative review of each application to determine if it is complete and meets the eligibility and responsibility requirements. A technical evaluation panel composed of representatives from damage prevention stakeholder groups will review and evaluate each completed application that meets the eligibility requirements and provide recommendations for award.

Final award recommendations will be made by the PHMSA Administrator after taking into consideration recommendations made by the technical evaluation panel and how well the applications address PHMSA’s damage prevention safety priorities which include, but are not limited to: pipeline safety awareness and public education; local community research or engineering studies; excavation damage prevention; adopting risk informed land use planning practices; and, developing innovative technology solutions.

After considering how well the applications address the above evaluation criteria, the PHMSA

Administrator will take into account how well the applications address the following key

Departmental objectives:

A. Supporting economic vitality at the national and regional level;

B. Utilizing alternative funding sources and innovative financing models to attract non-

Federal sources of infrastructure investment;

C. Accounting for the life-cycle costs of the project to promote the state of good repair;

D. Using innovative approaches to improve safety and expedite project delivery; and, E. Holding grant recipients accountable for their performance and achieving specific, measurable outcomes identified by grant applicants.

Final award decisions will be made by the Secretary of Transportation.

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For each of the project requests, the review team will rate the application using the following guidelines:

E.3

Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

Applicants chosen for funding will receive electronic notification of the Federal Award. Upon notification, an applicant’s authorized official must sign the award within the timeframe prescribed by PHMSA. PHMSA plans to make awards by September 30, 2019.

SECTION F – FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

F.1 Federal Award Notices PHMSA’s awarding official will make grants to those responsible, eligible applicants 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 granted in accordance with the approved application and budget, regulations, terms and conditions of the award, applicable Federal cost principles, and the U.S. DOT financial assistance regulations. Funds may not be used in direct support of litigation, lobbying, for

Rating Guideline

Exceptional - 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 the DOT objectives and priorities. The risk of poor performance is very low.

Acceptable - 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 the DOT objectives and priorities. The risk of poor performance is low.

Marginal - The application demonstrates that the NOFO requirements are mostly understood and the approach will likely result in satisfactory performance for part of the request. The applicant addresses some of the requirements with some correctable weaknesses. The applicant demonstrates some experience, qualifications, and/or performance capabilities. The application scope marginally aligns with the DOT objectives and priorities. The risk of poor performance is moderate.

Unacceptable - 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 scope does not align with the DOT objectives and priorities. The risk of poor performance is high.

US DOT/PHMSA Page 8 of 9 direct advocacy for or against a pipeline construction or expansion project or other pipeline policy matters, or for activities associated with regulatory compliance or typical operations and maintenance of pipeline facilities.

The grant agreement 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 (FAIN) assigned by PHMSA;

5) Period of performance;

6) Total amount of financial assistance 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 including category of spending; and,

11) Other information or provisions deemed necessary by PHMSA.

F.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements Several Federal statutes and regulations apply to grant applications considered for review and grants awarded under this program. See Attachment 1: Terms and Conditions of this NOFO for a list of statutes and regulations that are applicable to this funding opportunity.

F.3 Reporting

Six months after the effective date of the grant award (progress report) and 90 calendar days after the end of the grant period (final report), each recipient must submit a written report that includes the following information:

1. A comparison of actual accomplishments to the objectives established for the period;

2. Where the output of the project can be quantified, a computation of the cost per unit of output; and,

3. The reasons for delays if established objectives were not met.

Further, the final report must demonstrate completion of the work as outlined in the grant agreement.

In addition, each recipient of a grant must ensure that:

1) The technical findings made possible by the grants are made available to the relevant pipeline operators; and,

2) Open communication is maintained between the grant recipients, local operators, local communities, and other interested parties.

In total, four reports (a mid-term progress report, a mid-term financial status report, a final progress report, and a final financial report) is required. Standard Form 425 (SF-425)

US DOT/PHMSA Page 9 of 9 must be used for submission of the mid-term and final financial status reports.

F.4 Payments

Recipients may request up to 50 percent of the total amount of the award upon execution of the grant agreement. The remaining amount may be requested upon receipt and approval (by the

PHMSA Agreement Officer) of the mid-term progress report.

SECTION G – FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

Grant Related Questions

Primary Point of Contact

Dwayne Cross, Agreement Administrator (AA)

Phone: (202) 366-4429

Email: dwayne.cross@dot.gov

Secondary Point of Contact

Warren Osterberg, Agreement Officer (AO)

Phone: (202) 366-6942

Email: warren.osterberg@dot.gov

For quicker response please submit questions via the Message Center in Fedconnect.