Technical Assistance Grants

Advancement of pipeline safety through the funding of local communities and organizations for technical assistance related to pipeline safety issues. Technical assistance is defined as engineering, research, and other scientific analysis of pipeline

The Technical Assistance Grants program provides funding to local communities and groups of individuals for technical assistance related to pipeline safety. Through meaningful public involvement, the program also provides opportunities that strengthen the depth and quality of public participation in the safe operation of pipelines in and around communities.

Eligible applicants include cities, towns, villages, counties, parishes, townships, and similar governmental subdivisions, or consortiums of such subdivisions; Indian Tribes; and groups of individuals (not including for-profit entities) with proposed projects 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.). States, universities, and for-profit entities are not eligible for the TAG program.

The grant program provides funding to cities; towns; villages; counties; Indian Tribes; parishes; townships; and similar governmental subdivisions, or consortiums of such subdivisions; and groups of individuals and organizations (non-profit) for technical assistance in the form of engineering or other scientific analysis of pipeline safety issues in addition to promoting public participation in official proceedings.

Funds are intended for technical assistance, increasing public participation, education/outreach, training, planning, and other non‑operational community safety activities - not for procuring or operating pipeline infrastructure. Funds may not be used for activities associated with regulatory compliance or for ordinary operations and maintenance of pipeline facilities; equipment purchases or operational uses are prohibited under the TAG program as described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

12 months from date of award.

PHMSA developed evaluation criteria for project proposals to rate and select among competing applications. Each criterion is weighted equally and is intended to align with the challenges and strategies impacting pipeline safety. Submission of an application is not a guarantee of award. The evaluation criteria are as follows: (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 C.F.R 195.6); (2) The extent to which the Applicant's project scope identifies specific pipeline safety concerns or risks that affected pipelines pose to the 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 proposal aligns with the challenges and strategies in PHMSA's Strategic Plan and seeks to improve performance and safety over time in areas such as engineering, damage prevention, land use, public education, 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; and, (7) The extent to which the Applicant's project scope provides the potential for learning or technology transfer to other groups and communities.

A committee of pipeline safety stakeholders will review and evaluate the grant applications. Grants will be awarded to applicants with the highest merit based on the evaluation criteria until the available funds are exhausted.