Community Safety Grants

The Hazardous Materials Community Safety Grants (CS) : to conduct national outreach and training programs to assist communities in preparing for and responding to accidents and incidents involving the transportation of hazardous materials, including

CS grants are to be used to provide national outreach and training programs to assist communities in preparing for and responding to accidents and incidents involving the transportation of hazardous materials, including Class 3 flammable liquids by rail; and train State and local personnel responsible for enforcing the safe transportation of hazardous materials, including Class 3 flammable liquids. Emergency Preparedness grants are intended to support the direct costs of planning and training activities, in accordance with an approved budget, plus indirect costs at a pre-established rate. Both the award and use of funds are subject to applicable provisions of basic statutory authorities, appropriations acts, pertinent regulations, and operating policies of PHMSA.

Public nonprofit institution/organization, Private nonprofit institution/organization

CS: Public nonprofit institution/organization, Private nonprofit institution/organization. All segments of the U.S., including Territories and tribal populations that are involved with the management of or possible exposure to hazardous materials, benefit. Specifically, Federal, State, and local authorities are assisted through the HMEP grant program with their responsibilities. Students and trainees in emergency response and local emergency planning activities are program beneficiaries since grant funds will be used to benefit local programs.

CS grants will provide national outreach and training programs to assist communities in preparing for and responding to accidents and incidents involving the transportation of hazardous materials, including Class 3 flammable liquids by rail; and train State and local personnel responsible for enforcing the safe transportation of hazardous materials, including Class 3 flammable liquids. Transportation, Civil Defense/Disaster Prevention and Relief/Emergency Preparedness

The following costs are not eligible for reimbursement under the FY 2025 CSG program: 1. Personnel costs such as overtime, backfill, stipends, and fees for the personnel receiving training. 2. Entertainment, alcohol, or morale costs. 3. Excessive costs for general office supplies, equipment, computer software, printing, and copying. 4. Expenses claimed or reimbursed by another program. 5. Expenses counted as match funds towards another Federal program. 6. Any costs disallowed or stated as ineligible in 2 CFR Part 200.

The length of project periods may extend from time of initial award for 12 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 a Request for Advance or Reimbursement Form 270. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Reimbursed periodically after submission of incurred costs by grantee.The length of project periods may extend from time of initial award for 12 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 a Request for Advance or Reimbursement Form 270. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Reimbursed periodically after submission of incurred costs by grantee.

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

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 current FY CS Grant program. PHMSA Federal agency representatives will evaluate the grant applications. Each grant application will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria listed below. 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. Applications will be evaluated as exceptional, acceptable, or unacceptable.

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 CS grant. A review panel of Federal agency representatives will evaluate the grant applications for CS grant. Each grant application will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria listed in the NOFO. Special emphasis will be placed on reviewing whether the application has a coherent project narrative that follows the outline of this funding announcement, and whether the costs described in the budget narrative appear to be necessary, reasonable, allowable and allocable.

From 60 to 180 days. Grant awards will be signed by the PHMSA Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.

Grantee submits written extension requests with reasons for requests to the grant program for review and approval