Pipeline Emergency Response Grant (PERG)

Advance and promote training and community involvement in pipeline emergency preparedness and response, particularly in high-consequence areas.

To increase State, county, and local government's effectiveness to safely and efficiently handle pipeline accidents and incidents. Training conducted will ensure that emergency responders have the ability to protect nearby persons and property from the effects of accidents or incidents involving gas or hazardous liquid pipelines in high consequence areas, in accordance with existing regulations.

State, county, and local governments in high consequence areas.

Advance the abilities of emergency responders to manage pipeline emergencies through improved training, cooperation, and communication.

The length of project periods may extend from the time of initial award for 24 months, through the end of the following fiscal year; however phased accomplishments or budget periods will limit the time frame for the funds awarded. Payments will generally be reimbursable, paid based on submission of Reimbursement Form 270. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Reimbursed periodically after submission of incurred costs by grantee.

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.

PHMSA will review applications based upon merit, including the clarity of the project narrative and reasonableness of cost as described in the budget narrative. PHMSA reserves the right to make adjustments that are beneficial to the goals of the PERG program. A review panel of federal agency representatives and potential emergency response representatives will evaluate the grant applications. Each grant application will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria listed in the NOFO. Special emphasis will be placed on reviewing whether or not the application has a coherent project narrative that follows the outline of this funding announcement, and whether or not the costs described in the budget narrative appear to be necessary, reasonable, allowable and allocable.

Administrative Review: PHMSA will conduct an administrative review to ensure the application meets the eligibility criteria outlined in Section C on Eligibility Information. Each application will be reviewed for completeness to ensure it includes all required elements to qualify for the grant. If the application does not meet the required elements, then the application is likely to be rejected. Technical Review: PHMSA will conduct a technical review of the application(s) to assess how the proposed work is to be performed and whether the application(s) are responsive to the applicable program requirements (i.e., performance measurement, methodology, and technical merit). PHMSA may use outside stakeholders as part of the technical review panel. Outside stakeholder members may be comprised of pipeline safety groups with expertise in pipeline safety. Programmatic Review: PHMSA will conduct a programmatic review to assess programmatic factors. Programmatic factors 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. Programmatic factors may include history of performance, Administration priorities, program priorities, and other modal needs.

Extensions are granted on a case-by-case basis.