Supplemental Public Sector Training Grants

Supplemental Public Sector Training Grants (SPST): to facilitate the training of instructors, thereby increasing the number of training instructors available to conduct hazardous materials responder training programs for individuals with statutory re

SPST grants are used to train instructors to conduct hazardous materials response training programs, to purchase training equipment used exclusively to train instructors to conduct training programs and to disseminate information and materials necessary for the conduct of training programs.

The SPST Grant Program is open to national nonprofit fire service organizations to train instructors to conduct HAZMAT response training programs for individuals with statutory responsibility to respond to HAZMAT accidents and incidents; and to train individuals with the responsibility to respond to accidents and incidents involving HAZMAT. For the purposes of the SPST Grant Program, a nonprofit organization is a business that has been granted tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) because it furthers a social cause and provides a public benefit. As described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code, eligible nonprofit organizations cannot use Federal funds for lobbying activities defined in Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. "For-profit" organizations are not eligible applicants for the SPST grant program.

SPST grants will be used to train instructors to conduct hazardous materials response training programs, to purchase training equipment used exclusively to train instructors to conduct training programs and to disseminate information and materials necessary for the conduct of training programs.

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 period of performance is a minimum of 12 months from the effective date of the award. An applicant may request a period of performance up to 24 months. Applicants must only apply for funding that can be reasonably expended within this time frame and for allowable projects that can be completed within the period of performance.

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.

SPST: Grants made to national nonprofit fire service organizations will be in accordance with the following selection criteria: How applicants intend to accomplish training for instructors of individuals with statutory responsibility to respond to accidents and incidents involving hazardous materials supporting diverse States and Tribes curriculum ; the applicant's analysis of the regions or locations in which fire departments or other organizations providing emergency response to hazardous materials transportation accidents and incidents are in need of hazardous materials training and the applicant's method of identifying these needs ; the applicant's prioritization of training needs and the applicant's explanation of the means for identifying additional specific future training needs ; the applicant's prioritization of specific program tasks to be performed and the cost of each task. Since PHMSA expects that the number of applications will exceed the amount of funding, the prioritization is critical; the applicant's statement of work for the upcoming budget period that describes and set priorities for the activities and tasks to be conducted, the costs associated with each activity, the number and types of deliverables and products to be completed, and a schedule for implementation.

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 grant program. PHMSA Federal agency 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 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.