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 safety issues, including the promotion of public participation on technical pipeline safety issues.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
20.710
Federal Agency/Office
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
B - Project Grants
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2016 The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 (P.L. 114-113) did not appropriate funding for the TAG program. PHMSA will not solicit applications or issue TAG awards in FY 2016. Future funding of the TAG program is contingent upon reauthorization of the program and an enacted appropriation. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 (P.L. 114-113) did not appropriate funding for the TAG program. PHMSA did not solicit applications or issue TAG awards in FY 2016.
Fiscal Year 2017 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 or other scientific analysis of pipeline safety issues. TAG funding was also used to help promote public participation in official proceedings.
Fiscal Year 2018 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 or other scientific analysis of pipeline safety issues. TAG funding was also used to help promote public participation in official proceedings.
Fiscal Year 2019 In FY 2019, the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation created an online training module to educate workers in dredging and construction aquatic environments on marine damage prevention; the Permian Basin Regional Planning Commission implemented a pipeline safety awareness project to address public safety, environmental issues, and pipeline infrastructure hazards in the Permian Basin; the Bear River Water Conservatory District completed a GIS-driven risk assessment and developed an asset management system to better understand the risks associated with the hazardous liquid pipelines within the District; and, the Home Energy Efficiency Team conducted a leak detection study to better understand new volume based on leak grade classifications in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and provided pipeline safety education and community awareness to the public, first responders, and municipalities about gas leak classifications and their repair prioritization.
Fiscal Year 2020 TAG awards have successfully funded activities for improvement of local pipeline emergency response capabilities, development of pipeline safety information resources, community and pipeline awareness campaigns, and enhancements in public participation in official proceedings pertaining to pipelines.
Fiscal Year 2021 The program provides funding to increase the scope and quality of public participation in the safe planning and operation of pipelines located in and around local communities.
Fiscal Year 2022 As a result of the TEP evaluation and programmatic review, PHMSA awarded TAG funding for 16 applications for training courses, public awareness, e-learning, outreach, gas detection equipment and leak detection equipment.
Authorization
Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement and Safety Act of 2006, Public Law 109-468
Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011, Public Law 112-90
Protecting Our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2016, Public Law 114-183
Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002, Public Law 107-355, 49 U.S.C. 60130
Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act of 2020.
This program was reauthorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Division R- Protecting Our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-260).
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
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.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Not applicable.
Credentials/Documentation
A written application addressing the evaluation criteria.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Detailed information for the application procedures is in the annual funding opportunity announcement. Also see: 2 CFR 200 at http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl.
Award Procedure
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.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
From 60 to 90 days.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
Not applicable.
How are proposals selected?
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.
How may assistance be used?
The grant program provides funding to local communities 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.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Not applicable.
Auditing
Also see: 2 CFR 200 at http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl
Records
Grant recipient must maintain, for a period of 3 years beyond the end of the grant project period of performance: (a) documentation supporting the costs incurred under the grant, and (b) information regarding any sub-awards made using grant funds.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
12 months from date of award. Electronic Funds Transfer
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
None/Not specified.
Headquarters Office
Zach Barrett
1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, DC 20590 US
Zach.Barrett@dot.gov
Phone: 4058348344
Website Address
https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/grants/pipeline/technical-assistance-grants-tag
Financial Information
Account Identification
69-1400-0-2-407
Obligations
(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 22$3,199,491.00; FY 23 est $2,000,580.00; FY 24 est $2,000,000.00; FY 21$2,151,536.00; FY 20$1,184,506.00; FY 19$1,074,274.00; FY 18$1,487,634.00; FY 17$1,500,000.00; FY 16$0.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
The range is $36,128-100,000
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Pipeline Safety Regulations, 49 CFR 192.614, 49 CFR 192.616, 49 CFR 195.440, 49 CFR 195.442, 49 CFR 198.37, and 49 CFR 198.39 available on-line at http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title49/49cfrv3_02.tpl
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2016 The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 (P.L. 114-113) did not appropriate funding for the TAG program. PHMSA will not solicit applications or issue TAG awards in FY 2016. Future funding for the TAG program is contingent upon reauthorization of the program and an enacted appropriation. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 (P.L. 114-113) did not appropriate funding for the TAG program. PHMSA did not solicit applications or issue TAG awards in FY 2016.
Fiscal Year 2017 Project awards will be similar in scope to projects awarded in the past. TAG awards have funded a broad range of activities, including: improvement of local pipeline emergency response capabilities; improvement of safe digging or damage prevention programs; development of pipeline safety information resources; implementation of local land use practices that enhance pipeline safety; community and pipeline awareness campaigns; and, enhancements in public participation in official proceedings pertaining to pipelines.
Fiscal Year 2018 TAG awards have funded a broad range of activities, including: improvement of local pipeline emergency response capabilities; improvement of safe digging or damage prevention programs; development of pipeline safety information resources; implementation of local land use practices that enhance pipeline safety; community and pipeline awareness campaigns; and, enhancements in public participation in official proceedings pertaining to pipelines.
Fiscal Year 2019 Examples of past projects include public awareness to increase awareness of pipelines and the Call “811” program; leak detection study to examine gas leaks; development of information and technologies that aid in pipeline emergency response; pipeline excavation damage prevention; and, risk-informed land use planning, community awareness, and public education.
Fiscal Year 2021 Examples of current projects include pipeline safety and risk assessment studies; GIS mapping; public awareness and public engagement to increase awareness of pipelines; development of a website and training tools that aid in pipeline emergency response; and community awareness and public education.
Fiscal Year 2022 Public engagement, awareness and outreach; training courses (including e-learning); gas and leak detection equipment; GIS mapping.

 



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