PKG00258178-instructions.pdf

NOFO #693JK320NF0001

U.S. DOT PHMSA Page 1 of 17 FY 2020 Pipeline Safety Research CAAP – NOFO

/P

Pip

U.S. Department of

Transportation

Pipeline and

Hazardous Materials

Safety

Administration

(PHMSA)

Opening Date: February 4, 2020

Closing Date: March 23, 2020, 11:59 p.m. EST

Questions Due Date: February 25, 2020, 11:59 p.m. EST

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 20.724

PHMSA Funding Opportunity Number: 693JK320NF0001

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Pipeline Safety Research Competitive Academic Agreement Program (CAAP)

Fiscal Year (FY) 2020

Applicants 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, which can be retrieved from the SAM, is required to create an account. For instructions on how to register with FedConnect and how to use the portal, view the FedConnect: Ready, Set, Go! Tutorial under the Need

Help? section on the FedConnect homepage.

file:///C:/Users/joshua.arnold/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/6CEXTUTY/www.grants.gov http://www.sam.gov/ https://www.fedconnect.net/

U.S. DOT PHMSA Page 2 of 17

Table of Contents

Mission

Section A – Program Description

Section A.01: Statement of Purpose Section A.02: Program Authority Section A.03-1: Background on Pipelines and PHMSA’s Pipeline R&D Program

Section A.03-2: Background on the CAAP Initiative Section A.04: Research Topics Section A.05: Deliverables/Reporting Requirements

Section B – Federal Award Information

Section B.01: Funding

Section B.02: Period of Performance Section B.03: Type of Award

Section C – Eligibility Information

Section C.01: Eligible Applicants Section C.02: Cost Sharing Section C.03: Minimum Requirements

Section D – Application and Submission Information

Section D.01: Address to Request an Application Package

Section D.02: Content and Form of Application Submission Section D.03: Unique Entity Identifier and SAM Section D.04: Submission Dates and Times

Section D.05: Funding Restrictions

Section E – Application Review Information

Section E.01: Criteria Section E.02: Review and Selection Process

Section F – Federal Award Administration Information

Section F.01: Federal Award Notice

Section F.02: Administrative and National Policy Requirements Section F.03: Reporting

Section G – Agency Contact Information

U.S. DOT PHMSA Page 3 of 17

Program Summary Federal

Agency Name:

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)

PHMSA

Federal Agency Contact:

U.S. DOT/PHMSA

Acquisition Services Division, PHF-20

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE

Room E22-306

Washington, DC 20590

Attn: Ben Patterson

Funding Opportunity Title:

Pipeline Safety Research CAAP – FY 2020

Announcement Type: Initial Announcement

Funding Opportunity Number: 693JK320NF0001

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 20.724

Eligible Applicants:

Applicants must be nonprofit institutions of higher education located in the U.S. or a U.S. territory or possession.

Dates:

NOFO Issue Date:

Question Deadline:

Application Due Date:

February 4, 2020

February 25, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. EST

March 23, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. EST

Grants.gov Questions: Grants.gov Contact Center

1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov mailto:support@grants.gov

U.S. DOT PHMSA Page 4 of 17

MISSION

The mission of the DOT is to ensure our Nation has the safest, most efficient, and most modern transportation system in the world. 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, educates, sets and enforces standards, and conducts research to prevent incidents. Additionally, PHMSA prepares the public and first responders to reduce consequences if an incident occurs. To accomplish this, PHMSA awards grants to states, tribes, territories, and nonprofit organizations that assist in our mission to ensure pipelines operate safely and shipments arrive without incident.

SECTION A – PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Section A.01: Statement of Purpose PHMSA hereby requests applications from nonprofit institutions of higher education for CAAP grant funding to research innovative solutions in three pipeline safety topic areas. CAAP grant funding is subject to the availability of appropriations. PHMSA anticipates awarding up to

$2,000,000 under CAAP in FY 2020, with federal funding not to exceed $250,000 per award.

The research to be conducted under CAAP agreements will pursue a wide set of solutions for known pipeline integrity challenges. PHMSA anticipates the period of performance of each award will be no less than 24 months and will not exceed 36 months.

A strong transportation network is critical to the functioning and growth of the American economy. The Nation’s industry depends on the transportation network to move the goods that it produces and facilitate the movements of the workers who are responsible for that production.

When the Nation’s highways, railways, and ports function well, they connect people to jobs, increase the efficiency of delivering goods and thereby cut the costs of doing business, reduce the burden of commuting, and improve overall wellbeing.

Rural transportation networks play a vital role in supporting our national economic vitality.

Addressing the deteriorating conditions and disproportionately high fatality rates in our rural transportation infrastructure is of critical interest to the Department, as rural transportation networks face unique challenges regarding safety, infrastructure condition, and passenger and freight usage. Consistent with the Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic

Success (ROUTES) Initiative, the Department encourages applicants to consider how a project will address the challenges faced by rural areas in advancing pipeline safety by utilizing university research to address safety gaps.

Section A.02: Program Authority PHMSA’s Pipeline Safety Research and Development (R&D) Program is authorized, pursuant to

Section 12 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-355) to ensure the integrity of pipeline facilities. The authority to offer grants and enter into cooperative agreements in furtherance of the objectives of 49 U.S.C. § 60101, et seq., is codified in 49 U.S.C. §

60117(k).

U.S. DOT PHMSA Page 5 of 17 FY 2020 Pipeline Safety Research CAAP – NOFO

Section A.03-1: Background on Pipelines and PHMSA’s Pipeline R&D Program The pipeline infrastructure in the U.S. is the primary means of transporting natural gas and the majority of hazardous liquids from production basins and ports to areas of consumption. The importance of energy pipelines to the U.S. economy and our standard of living—as well as the risk it poses to health, safety, and the environment—requires that these assets be maintained safely and reliably and expanded appropriately to meet our energy demands.

R&D must play a larger role in finding solutions to national, regional, and local pipeline operational safety, reliability, and environmental challenges. Some of these challenges include ensuring operators have the most suitable technology to efficiently and effectively meet or exceed federal and state regulatory requirements regarding the safety and integrity of pipelines.

Other challenges include keeping critical industry consensus standards updated with the latest scientific information and knowledge to be effective and relevant to their purpose of supporting the safe design, construction, operation, maintenance, and repair of pipelines.

PHMSA’s Core Pipeline R&D program collaborates and coordinates with U.S. Government agencies (both federal and state), pipeline industry trade organizations, and research organizations Since 2002, the Pipeline Safety R&D Program has been focused on providing near-term solutions by fostering the development and commercialization of new technologies so that pipeline operators can improve safety performance and more effectively address regulatory requirements. Additional information on past and existing Pipeline Safety R&D Program activities is available at: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/rd/index.htm.

This R&D enterprise continues to have a tangible impact on developing technology, strengthening consensus standards, and creating and promoting general knowledge to decision makers. More performance details are available on PHMSA's Pipeline Safety Research website:

http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/rd/performance.htm.

Section A.03-2: Background on the CAAP Initiative Section 12 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (Pub. L. No. 107-355) mandates that

DOT and other designated federal agencies must “carry out a program of research, development, demonstration and standardization to ensure the integrity of pipeline facilities.” Specifically, PHMSA’s Pipeline Safety R&D Program’s mission is to sponsor R&D projects focused on providing near-term solutions that will improve the safety, reduce the environmental impact, and enhance the reliability of the Nation’s pipeline transportation system. The goals and objectives of the CAAP initiative, as discussed below, directly support both this mission and the congressional mandate.

The CAAP initiative is intended to spur innovation by enabling academic research focused on high technical risk and high payoff solutions for many pipeline safety challenges. It will potentially deliver solutions that can be handed off to PHMSA’s core research program for demonstration and deployment. The goal is to validate proof of concept for a thesis or theory along a logical path towards commercialization.

https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/rd/index.htm https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/rd/index.htm http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/rd/performance.htm http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/rd/performance.htm

U.S. DOT PHMSA Page 6 of 17 FY 2020 Pipeline Safety Research CAAP – NOFO

The pipeline industry and federal/state regulators are experiencing low numbers of entry-level applicants for engineering or technically focused positions. Consequently, another goal of the

CAAP initiative is to expose undergraduate and graduate research students to subject matter that is common to pipeline safety challenges, encourage them to participate in these subjects, and illustrate how their engineering or technical disciplines are highly needed in the pipeline field.

The ultimate benefit would be to cultivate new talent in all aspects of the pipeline industry.

Section A.04: Research Topics PHMSA is soliciting proposals in three primary R&D focus areas based on technical gaps identified from PHMSA’s open-topic solicitation and from identified topic area needs provided by pipeline safety subject matter experts. PHMSA will only consider proposals that address technical gaps within the onshore pipeline safety program areas listed in this NOFO. Proposals submitted past the closing date and time, or that are outside of the identified program areas listed below, will not be reviewed or considered. The focus areas are intentionally ambitious and broad enough to allow for the acceptance of a wide spectrum of specific proposals that strategically support PHMSA’s mission of pipeline safety.

Proposals are to be focused on high technical risk and high payoff solutions for the many pipeline safety challenges. Anticipated outcomes will potentially deliver solutions that can be handed off to PHMSA’s core research program. Each application must address only one of the following primary pipeline safety program areas per proposal submission. Applicants may submit multiple proposals. PHMSA intends to make one or more awards for each of the focus topic areas.

Research Area #1: Pipeline Safety Academic Collaboration with Industry

PHMSA seeks proposals that focus on research addressing shared interests of academic researchers and pipeline operators or utility companies regarding pipeline safety technology topics, with the goal of commercialization. The research objectives will establish solid scientific and engineering foundations to effect improvements in pipeline safety and the commercialization effort. Pipeline operator involvement will ensure that the research is industrially relevant and commercially viable.

Interdisciplinary research and education projects that enable faculty from different academic departments or institutions to interact with one or more industrial partners in virtual industry-university groups or networks are encouraged to ensure successful technology transfer. CAAP funding can be used for university research activities as described within this document, but

CAAP funds may not be used to support or directly fund activities performed by the pipeline operator research partner. The proposed research should be transformative, beneficial to industry and pipeline safety, and encourage collaboration between the academic and industrial partners.

Research Area #2: Alternating Current Corrosion Affecting Pipelines in Common Corridors

With the continued investment in infrastructure development, utility right of ways are increasingly crowded, leading to the potential for corrosion threats to underground pipelines.

Corrosion was responsible for approximately 16 percent of pipeline incidents from 2010-2019

(as of October 1, 2019). The presence of parallel power lines in close proximity can lead to

U.S. DOT PHMSA Page 7 of 17 FY 2020 Pipeline Safety Research CAAP – NOFO alternating current (AC) corrosion. A successful proposal will examine AC induced current from powerlines on pipelines that share the same right of ways, create a risk profile, and recommend cathodic protection solutions for natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines to help mitigate AC corrosion. Solutions should be applicable for both existing and newly constructed pipelines.

Research Area #3: Performance Degradation of Plastic Pipe

The use of plastic pipe in natural gas pipeline systems is expanding in mileage and application.

Plastic pipe affords many safety and operational benefits, such as a lack of corrosion issues and reduced costs. However, plastic pipe is susceptible to degradation over time via other factors.

These factors may be age, the chemical makeup of the transported fluid, the operating environment, manufacturing defects, or incorrect installation and operation. When performance issues develop in plastic pipe, these issues are too often discovered only after a failure.

Assessment methods for plastic pipe are limited, thereby constraining pipeline operators’ ability to proactively address issues that may develop (for example, operators are still reliant on leak surveys, which indicate that the pipeline is already compromised). Nondestructive evaluation

(NDE) technologies are available, but further investment is needed before they are ready for widespread use. Furthermore, NDE only offers insight into the inspected pipeline segment and cannot be extrapolated to the larger pipeline system without additional predictive techniques.

Therefore, informed models need to be developed to predict plastic pipeline performance. Model input parameters would include measured characteristics of the pipeline and the output would provide the expected performance of the pipe. PHMSA has previously funded work in this area to create a probabilistic estimate of the remaining effective life of vintage polyethylene pipes susceptible to slow crack growth.11 The research indicated the methods developed in the project can be applied to relative, quantitative, and probabilistic risk models. The research also indicated that the methods can be applied to point problems as well as system-wide problems; however, the research indicated “to address system wide problems in a coherent manner it is advisable to transition to probabilistic decision support systems.” Other model inputs may be found in general trend information available to industry, such as voluntary information collection efforts on plastic piping system failures like the government/industry Plastic Pipe Data Collection

Initiative.

A successful project will propose a method to measure degradation from embrittlement, strength decay, and other factors for in-situ plastic pipe, and will develop a model to inform stakeholders regarding plastic pipe performance. Applicants are encouraged to consider previously funded work and previously developed recommendations.

Section A.05: Deliverables/Reporting Requirements Report templates and guidance will be provided once award documents are signed. The following deliverables will be required for all awarded agreements:

Hold kickoff meeting.

1 PHMSA. Final Report: Slow Crack Growth Evaluation of Vintage Polyethylene Pipes (DOT Project #643;

Contract Number: DTPH5615T00007). Retrieved from: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/matrix/PrjHome.rdm?prj=643.

https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/matrix/PrjHome.rdm?prj=643

U.S. DOT PHMSA Page 8 of 17 FY 2020 Pipeline Safety Research CAAP – NOFO

Submit performance progress reports, the format/content of which should be in accordance with the Standard Form for Research Performance Progress Reports (SF-

RPPR).*

o Quarterly progress reports should be submitted via email and uploaded to

PHMSA’s R&D database Management Information System (MIS) no later than

30 days after reporting period ends.

Prepare to travel and present a poster at a designated government and/or public event up to one time per year.

Draft a final research report that is due no later than 30 days prior to the expiration of the agreement, which should be submitted via email and uploaded to the MIS.

Produce a public final research report that has been reviewed and has all comments incorporated.

Deliver a closing presentation that is typically web-based.

*Note: The reporting period begins on the effective date of the grant.

SECTION B – FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Section B.01: Funding Subject to the availability of funds, PHMSA anticipates awarding up to $2,000,000 in CAAP funding for FY 2020, with the amount of federal funding not to exceed $250,000 per award.

Applicants may submit more than one application, but each individual application must not exceed $250,000 in federal funding.

Section B.02: Period of Performance PHMSA anticipates a period of performance of no less than 24 months and no more than 36 months from the date of award for each agreement. Modifications within the scope of the cooperative agreement will be handled between the parties on a case-by-case basis. PHMSA anticipates awarding the agreements during the third quarter (April-June) of FY 2020.

Section B.03: Type of Award All awards resulting from this announcement will be issued as cooperative agreements. For the purposes of the cooperative agreement, PHMSA’s substantial involvement may include assistance with the pipeline industry practices, history, data, methods, means, or requirements.

PHMSA will be involved to advise, educate, coordinate efforts to acquire relevant materials— such as pipe samples—for testing, and provide data and suggestions to aid in the successful completion of the research project. Further, while the collegiate institutions are not likely familiar with pipeline industry companies, trade associations, or principle contacts, PHMSA will be involved to advise and offer collaborative communication with key pipeline contacts to aid in the successful completion of the research project.

U.S. DOT PHMSA Page 9 of 17

SECTION C – ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Section C.01: Eligible Applicants Applicants must be nonprofit institutions of higher education located either in the U.S. or a U.S.

territory or possession. PHMSA will consider an application from an eligible higher education institution that partners with other eligible recipients, the pipeline industry, and/or with any private organization, so long as the cost of the proposed partnership does not exceed 20 percent of the proposed amount of federal contribution to the project (which may be up to $250,000).

Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Institutions are encouraged to submit applications on their own and/or in collaboration with others. However, no portion of this requirement will be set aside or reserved exclusively for either of these groups. Applicants should state whether the project is located in a Qualified Opportunity Zone per 26 U.S.C. §

1400Z-1.

Section C.02: Cost Sharing Pursuant to § 22(b)(2)(C)(ii) of the PIPES Act of 2016 (Pub. L. 114–183), there is a mandatory minimum 20 percent cost-sharing requirement for CAAP agreements. The federal government will fund no more than 80 percent of the total cost of each approved project, up to $250,000.

Firm letters of commitment for resource sharing must be provided with the proposal. Proposals without resource-sharing commitment letters will not be reviewed or considered for an award.

See Section D.02 for additional information regarding budget/cost proposals.

Section C.03: Minimum Requirements The following are minimum requirements that all applicants must meet to be considered. Failure to meet these requirements at any time—whether pre- or post-award—will result in either removal of the application from further consideration or termination of the agreement. The application must include a letter on the submitting institution’s letterhead that certifies these minimum requirements are understood and will be met. The letter must be signed by the Dean or an authority of an equivalent level for that college, department, or program and must then be inserted as Appendix A for the technical application (the first page of the Appendix).

1. Eligible applicants are nonprofit institutions of higher education located in the U.S. or a

U.S. territory or possession.

2. The academic research agreement will be with the institution and not with individual students, faculty, or staff.

3. The research scope must be executed by undergraduate, graduate, and/or PhD research students. Institution faculty/staff should design the scope and oversee student execution of the scope. Applications that do not propose student involvement will be deemed non-responsive and will be removed from consideration. NOTE: Students must be identified no later than the first quarter of the period of performance. Institution faculty, staff, and students who are proposed to be involved with the research agreement must be U.S.

citizens, permanent residents, or possess current visas that will allow them to remain in the country long enough to complete the research project. Federal funding is solely for allowable costs necessary to execute the scope of the research, such as institution

U.S. DOT PHMSA Page 10 of 17 FY 2020 Pipeline Safety Research CAAP – NOFO overhead, the procurement of expendables, and any required labor. Purchasing new or existing testing equipment with federal funds will not be permitted. Also, federal funding cannot be used towards the construction of new facilities or the refurbishing of existing facilities.

4. Applications must meet the cost-sharing requirements stipulated in Section 3.02; failure to meet the required 20 percent cost-sharing threshold will result in an application being removed from consideration.

SECTION D – APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Failure to comply with the requirements described in this section shall result in an application not being approved. Further, please note that PHMSA’s agreement officers and grant specialists may request additional information pertaining to your application during the application review/evaluation process in order to comply with the DOT’s Guide to Financial Assistance and the requirements of 2 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Subpart E.

Section D.01: Address to Request an 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 at Grants.gov. To request a hard copy of the application package, please contact:

Ben Patterson

Agreement Officer

Acquisition Services Division

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, E22-305

Washington, DC 20590

Phone: (202) 366-5102

Email: Ben.Patterson@dot.gov

If you are hearing-impaired, please contact the FR/TTY at 1 (800) 877-8339 or email PHMSA-

Accessibility@dot.gov.

Section D.02: Content and Form of Application Submission Consistent with the Department's ROUTES Initiative, (https://www.transportation.gov/rural), the

Department encourages applicants to describe how activities proposed in their application would address the unique challenges facing rural transportation networks, regardless of the geographic location of those activities. Applicants are required to submit their complete applications through

Grants.gov. To submit an application, applicants must be registered at Grants.gov; new users must register for an account. Please note that 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.

https://www.transportation.gov/rural http://www.grants.gov/

U.S. DOT PHMSA Page 11 of 17 FY 2020 Pipeline Safety Research CAAP – NOFO

Additionally, applicants must register for an account with FedConnect at:

https://www.fedconnect.net before submitting an application. Your organization’s Marketing

Partner ID number, which can be retrieved from SAM (www.SAM.gov), is required to create an account. For instructions on how to register with FedConnect and how to use the portal, view the

FedConnect: Ready, Set, Go! Tutorial under the Need Help? section of the FedConnect home page.

Technical Proposal

In preparing their technical proposal, applicants must use the technical application template attached to this opportunity, which includes instructions regarding required content and information (Attachment A). Applicants must only apply for funding that can reasonably be spent within the proposed period of performance.

Technical Application requirements are summarized below and described in detail in the provided template. Failure to follow these requirements shall result in the removal of an application from consideration.

1. All information supporting the evaluation criteria must be 20 pages or less, which does not include the Cover Page, the Technical Application Information Page, or the

Appendix.

2. The Certification Letter of Minimum Requirements must be the first page in the

Appendix.

3. The Appendix may include additional information; however, this information will not be used by reviewers in evaluating the proposal (except to determine that each applicant has submitted a certification letter regarding minimum requirements; ref: Section 3.02).

4. All documents must be formatted as follows: Times New Roman 12-point font and 1.15 line and paragraph spacing for the body of the text.

5. Technical proposals in the format prescribed by Attachment A must be uploaded to the

Project Narrative section of the Grants.gov application.

Budget/Cost Proposal and Budget Narrative

Applicants must use Standard Form 424A to submit their budget/cost proposal through

Grants.gov. The budget should reflect the applicant’s best terms, from a cost and technical standpoint, to perform the work. No fee or profit should be proposed, as this is a resource-sharing arrangement.

Additional budgetary information, broken out as described in Subparagraphs A through H, below, must provide detailed information on each cost element, consistent with the applicant's cost-accounting system. The amounts requested for each budget category must be justified in a

Budget Narrative document and uploaded to the Budget Narrative section of the application.

Budget Narratives must address the following items:

1. Personnel: List individually all personnel and include for each the requested hours to be funded and the respective compensation rates (salary/wages and fringe benefits). This section of the Budget Narrative must include the following information:

https://www.fedconnect.net/

U.S. DOT PHMSA Page 12 of 17 FY 2020 Pipeline Safety Research CAAP – NOFO

a. The increase and substantiating documentation, if available.

2. Fringe Benefits: Applicants must provide a copy of or a web link to the university’s policy stating the appropriate fringe rates for each labor classification.

3. Travel: Proposed travel must be directly related to the performance of the project. In the

Budget Narrative, state the reason(s) for travel, the type and duration of the travel, and its relation to the project. Additionally, recipients may anticipate travel requested by

PHMSA to present their findings up to once each 12 months of the project. Provide an itemized list of associated travel costs.

4. Equipment/Supplies: Provide an itemized list of proposed supplies. Include individual costs for each item exceeding $5,000 and the basis of estimating the cost (e.g., vendor quotes, catalog prices, prior invoices, etc.). Please reference Section 4.05, which states that “equipment is not an allowable purchase under this announcement.”

5. Contractual (Consultants/Subcontractors): List the names of consultants and describe the activities to be performed, the duration of the service, and the compensation involved.

Provide the hourly or daily rate along with the basis of the rate. Furnish resumes or similar information regarding qualifications and experience. Provide at least two invoices reflecting hourly or daily rates charged to customers other than the Federal Government.

You must provide a statement signed by the consultant certifying his or her availability and salary. If travel or incidental expenses are to be charged, give the basis for these costs. For proposed subcontractors, provide their total cost per year. Detailed subcontractor costs should appear in the subcontractor’s budget explanation. The total cost of consultants and/or subcontractors must not exceed 20 percent of the proposed federal contribution to the project. Contractual agreements must comply with the procurement standards in 2 CFR §§ 200.317-300.326.

6. Other Direct Costs: Provide an itemized list with associated costs for any other item proposed as a direct cost that is not included in another category. State the basis for each proposed item.

7. Indirect Charges: Provide a copy of or a web link to the university’s negotiated indirect rate agreement. Explain or demonstrate how the total indirect charges were calculated.

8. Resource Sharing, In-house Contributions: Cost/budget proposals must show the breakout between federal and non-federal funding sources, and the Budget Narrative must explain what the non-federal sources are comprised of and how the associated values were derived. Non-federal contributions may include cash, personnel, equipment, donated goods or services (provided that the market value of the good or service is substantiated by a letter or other form of evidence from the provider of the good or service), and other resources. All resource-sharing or matching contributions, including cash and third-party contributions, must meet the criteria in 2 CFR §200.306: Cost

Sharing or Matching. These criteria state that viable resource-sharing or matching contributions:

a. Are verifiable from the non-federal entity’s records;

b. Are not included as contributions for any other federal award;

c. Are necessary and reasonable for accomplishment of project or program

U.S. DOT PHMSA Page 13 of 17 FY 2020 Pipeline Safety Research CAAP – NOFO objectives;

d. Are allowable under Subpart E – Cost Principles of this part;

e. Are not paid by the federal government under another federal award, except where the federal statute authorizing a program specifically provides that federal funds made available for such a program can be applied to matching or cost-sharing requirements of other federal programs;

f. Are provided for in the approved budget (when required by the federal awarding agency); and

g. Conform to other provisions of this part, as applicable.

Standard Title VI/Nondiscrimination Assurances

Applicants must sign, date, and return with their application the Standard Title VI/Non-

Discrimination Assurances specified in Attachment B: Standard Title VI/Non-Discrimination

Assurances. Specifically, applicants must complete and return Attachment B. The completed documents should be submitted as an attachment with the other application materials.

Lobbying

Funds may not be used in direct support of litigation, lobbying, for 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. To be considered for award, each application must include a signed Standard Form of

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.

Section D.03: Unique Entity Identifier and SAM Each applicant is required to be registered in SAM before submitting an application, provide a valid DUNS number in its application, and 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. PHMSA will review an applicant’s SAM registration status to make responsibility determination.

Section D.04: Submission Dates and Times Complete applications must be received electronically via Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. EST on

March 23, 2020. No late proposals will be considered for evaluation. Applicants will receive an automated receipt from Grants.gov of the date and time of application submission. If the timeliness of a submission comes into question, the date and time recorded in Grants.gov will take precedence over that of MIS.

Section D.05: Funding Restrictions Construction is not an allowable activity under this announcement. Equipment is not an allowable purchase under this announcement. Funds are not available for reimbursement of pre-federal award costs.

U.S. DOT PHMSA Page 14 of 17

SECTION E – APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

PHMSA will evaluate applications through administrative, technical, and programmatic reviews based on the evaluation criteria. Consistent with the DOT’s ROUTES Initiative, (https://www.transportation.gov/rural), the Department recognizes that rural transportation networks face unique challenges. To the extent that those challenges are reflected in the merit criteria listed in this section, the Department will consider how the activities proposed in the application will address those challenges, regardless of the geographic location of those activities.

Section E.01: 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. Applications will be evaluated against the following evaluation criteria:

1. The extent to which the applicant’s proposal meets the research topic area needs;

2. The extent to which the applicant’s proposed research topic solution can be readily implemented;

3. The extent to which the applicant’s proposal identifies research partnership(s) and subject matter expert involvement, as well as how involved the identified partner(s) will be in the project;

4. The extent to which the applicant’s proposal clearly establishes work scope, tasks, milestones, and estimated project costs that align with project goals and objectives, as well as whether any potential risks have been identified and mitigated;

5. The extent to which the applicant’s proposed plan involves students and defines their specific tasks and commitment to the project; and

6. Whether the location of the project(s) is a Qualified Opportunity Zone designated pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 1400Z-1.

These criteria are intended to identify projects that target high technical risk areas, offer well-defined plans, and produce results that are measurable and transferable to further investigations in CAAP or PHMSA’s core research program. In addition, PHMSA expects the proposed results of the projects to be factual, unbiased, verifiable, and repeatable, to the extent practicable.

Applicants should be aware that a grant award will not convey any authority to grant recipients to secure information or cooperation from pipeline operators.

Section E.02: Review and Selection Process Administrative Review

PHMSA will conduct an administrative review to ensure the application meets the eligibility criteria outlined in Article III: 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 will likely be rejected.

https://www.transportation.gov/rural

U.S. DOT PHMSA Page 15 of 17

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, such as performance measurement, methodology, and technical merit. PHMSA reserves the right to use outside expertise to perform application evaluation. Detailed information for this portion of the review is available in Section E.02: Programmatic Review.

Programmatic Review

PHMSA will conduct a programmatic review to assess the programmatic factors outlined in section E.1, which are relevant and essential to the process of selecting applications that best achieve the program objectives, in accordance with applicable statutes, regulations, policies, and guidelines. Other programmatic factors may include history of performance, program priorities, and other modal needs, such as rural areas and Qualified Opportunity Zones. Based on the results from each review, each application will receive one of the following overall ratings:

Rating Guidelines

Highly Recommended: The application demonstrates that the NOFO requirements are very well understood and the approach will likely result in extremely high-quality performance. The application clearly addresses and exceeds requirements with no weaknesses. The application contains outstanding features that meet or exceed the expectations of the Federal Government on multiple dimensions. The application scope aligns very well with DOT objectives and priorities. The risk of poor performance is extremely 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 applicant addresses some of the requirements, with some weaknesses. The applicant 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 scope does not align with DOT objectives and priorities. The risk of poor performance is high.

Selection Process

Final award recommendations will be made by the PHMSA Administrator after taking into consideration recommendations made during the administrative, technical, and programmatic review and how well the applications address PHMSA’s safety priorities. The Secretary of

Transportation will make final award recommendations.

U.S. DOT PHMSA Page 16 of 17

SECTION F – FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

Section F.01: Federal Award Notice Following the section process, PHMSA will contact the selected applicants via email indicating that they have been selected for award. This email will include the financial assistance award, which will incorporate the terms and conditions included in Attachment C to this notice and will require bilateral signatures to be fully executed.

Section F.02: 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. The recipient must comply with 2 CFR Part 200: Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards.

2. The recipient must comply with 49 CFR Part 20: New Restrictions on Lobbying. 49 CFR

Part 20 is incorporated by reference in this award and is available at:

www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr/ by clicking on Title 49 CFR Part 20.

3. The recipient must comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which provides that no person in the U.S. shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

4. The recipient must comply with 49 CFR Part 21: Nondiscrimination in Federally-assisted

Programs of the Department of Transportation—Effectuation of Title VI of the Civil

Rights Act of 1964. 49 CFR Part 21 is incorporated by reference into this award. 49 CFR is available at: www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr/ by clicking on Title 49 CFR Part 21.

5. The recipient must comply with 49 CFR Part 32: Government-wide Requirements for

Drugfree Workplace (Financial Assistance), which implements the requirements of

Public Law 100-690, Title V, Subtitle D: Drug-free Workplace Act of 1988. 49 CFR Part

32 is incorporated by reference in this award and is available at:

www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr/ by clicking on Title 49 CFR Part 32.

Section F.03: Reporting

1. Performance Progress Reports (format/content in accordance with Standard Form for

Research Performance Progress Reports) submitted via email and uploaded to PHMSA’s

R&D database MIS;

2. Quarterly Progress Reports submitted via email and uploaded to the MIS no later than 30 days after reporting period ends;

3. Final Research Report submitted via email and uploaded to MIS no later than 30 days prior to agreement expiration; and

4. Annual Federal Financial Reports (SF-425) submitted via email and uploaded to MIS within 90 days after the reporting period ends.

U.S. DOT PHMSA Page 17 of 17

SECTION G – AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION

Agreement-related Questions Primary Point of Contact:

Ben Patterson

Agreement Officer (AO)

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

Acquisition Services Division (PHF-20)

Phone: 1 (202) 366-5102

Email: ben.patterson@dot.gov

NOTE: All questions related to the content of this funding opportunity MUST be submitted via the Message Center on FedConnect. Please do not send questions via email.

For technical issues or questions related to FedConnect only, please email fcsupport@unisonglobal.com. An applicant can submit questions through the portal on their website or call 1 (800) 899-6665 and select Option 2.

For technical issues or questions related to Grants.gov only, please email support@grants.gov or call 1 (800) 518-4726.

mailto:ben.patterson@dot.gov mailto:fcsupport@unisonglobal.com mailto:support@grants.gov