State Damage Prevention Program Grants

The PHMSA State Damage Prevention Program fosters improved damage prevention programs by supporting projects such as enforcement of state excavation damage prevention laws, stakeholder education about digging safely, technologies to improve efficienc

The SDP grant provides funding to eligible states to aid them in establishing a comprehensive program to implement the nine elements of an effective damage prevention program. All states are encouraged to implement the nine elements of an effective damage prevention program

State (including U.S. Territory or possessions) authority designated by the Governor is eligible to apply for a grant as long an agency within the State (including U.S. Territory or possessions) has an annual Section 60105 (49 U.S.C.) certification or Section 60106 (49 U.S.C.) agreement in effect with PHMSA. If a State (including U.S. Territory or possessions) does not have a certification or agreement with PHMSA, then no State (including U.S. Territory or possessions) authority can receive a grant.

State Government, U.S. Territory and possessions would receive the ultimate benefit from this program.

A written application describing the status of the State Damage Prevention Program and plans for improvements.

Personnel, equipment, and activities that are needed by the State authority to improve damage prevention programs.

12 months from date of award.

Detailed information for the application procedures is in the annual notice of funding opportunity announcement Also see: 2 CFR 200 at http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl

The State Damage Prevention grant application process is competitive. Applications will be evaluated against the selection criteria listed below as well as against each other. Submission of an application is not a guarantee of award. PHMSA may award a grant based on an application in its entirety, award only portions of a grant application, or not award an application at all. Each Application will be reviewed against the criteria listed below. The criteria are weighted as follows: Criterion 1. is most heavily weighted; criterion 2 is second most heavily weighted; criterion 3 is third most heavily weighted; criterion 4 is fourth most heavily weighted; criterion 5 is fifth most heavily weighted. An effective damage prevention program as stated in 49 U.S.C. §60134 (b) includes one or more of the nine (9) elements below. Grant funding is available to assist state in aligning with one or more of these nine elements. The number of elements addressed in an application will not affect the evaluation of the application. Criterion 1. Relevance to the Nine Elements - This criterion will be used to evaluate proposed work under each element addressed on the application. This criterion will be used to evaluate proposed projects that: • Clearly link results to one or more of the nine elements. • Have merit for advancing implementation or continued support of one or more of the nine elements within the state. • Align with the meaning and intent of the nine elements as described in PHMSA's Damage Prevention Assistance Program (DPAP) Guide (available at http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/comm/publications/DPAP-Guide-FirstEdition-20080911.pdf). Proposed work under each element will be evaluated separately. Criterion 2. Costs, Results, and Schedule This criterion will be used to evaluate proposed work under each element addressed in the application. This criterion will be used to evaluate proposed projects that: • Will produce tangible results within the proposed project period. • Establish clear goals, objectives, milestones, and estimates of project costs. • Have deliverables that do not overlap with the deliverables of any other PHMSA grant award. • Use funds efficiently and effectively. Proposed work under each element will be evaluated separately. Criterion 3. State's Commitment to the Nine Elements - This criterion will be used to evaluate the applicant's description of existing damage prevention activities as they relate to the nine elements. This criterion will be used to evaluate applications that demonstrate the State has made substantial progress toward, or has clear and concrete plans for, implementing the nine elements. Criterion 4. - State's Commitment to Damage Prevention Program Effectiveness. This criterion will be used to evaluate the applicant's description of any legislative or regulatory actions (including studies, etc.) taken by the State within the past five (5) years pertaining to damage prevention program improvement. This criterion will be used to evaluate applications that demonstrate the State's commitment to ensuring lasting damage prevention program effectiveness and continuing improvement, including any legislative and/or regulatory actions taken within the past five years or other significant activities, such as efforts of study groups or task teams established to analyze the State's damage prevention program. Criterion 5. Past Performance. This criterion will be used to evaluate past performance of applicants who have received a PHMSA State Damage Prevention grant in the past. Past performance includes fulfillment of grant agreements in a timely manner and compliance with grant terms and conditions. Applicants who received funding previously for a project that is ongoing and are requesting grant funding for the continuation of that project should provide a summary of accomplishments and tasks completed during the previous grant period. The information provided should include measurable results and deliverables, and include any information about tasks that were not completed or other challenges encountered during the grant period. Evaluation of applications from applicants who have not received a PHMSA State Damage Prevention grant in the past will not be affected positively or negatively by this criterion.

A committee of pipeline damage prevention stakeholders will review and evaluate the grant applications. Grants will be awarded to applicants with the highest merit based on the evaluation criteria.

From 60 to 90 days of receipt. Award is contingent on a current fiscal year appropriation and enacted budget.