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Technical Assistance Grants
Fiscal Year 2016: 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: 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.
The Department of Transportation's mission is to ensure fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation that meets vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people, today and into the future.
Selected Recipients for this Program
| Recipient | Amount | Start Date | End Date | |
| Evanston, City Of | $ 86,584 | 2020-09-30 | 2021-09-29 | |
| Pipeline Safety Trust | $ 99,132 | 2020-09-30 | 2021-09-29 | |
| Permian Basin Regional Planning Commission | $ 100,000 | 2020-09-30 | 2021-09-29 | |
| College Place City Hall | $ 99,540 | 2020-09-30 | 2021-09-29 | |
| Oklahoma Municipal Management Services | $ 100,000 | 2020-09-30 | 2021-09-29 | |
| East Central Florida Regional Planning Council Inc | $ 100,000 | 2020-09-30 | 2021-09-29 | |
| Gunnison, County Of | $ 99,590 | 2020-09-30 | 2021-09-29 | |
| Palisade Town Government | $ 99,660 | 2020-09-30 | 2021-09-29 | |
| Center For Rural Development, Inc.,the | $ 100,000 | 2020-09-30 | 2021-09-29 | |
| Damage Prevention Council Of Texas | $ 100,000 | 2020-09-30 | 2021-09-29 |
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2016: 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 may also be 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 may also be used to help promote public participation in official proceedings.
Uses and Use Restrictions
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.
Grant funds may not be used for lobbying, for indirect/direct advocacy for or against a pipeline construction or expansion project, in direct support of litigation, or for activities associated with regulatory compliance and typical operations and maintenance of pipeline facilities.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Use with Transportation as well as Private nonprofit institution/organization and Public nonprofit institution/organization.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Public nonprofit institution/organization and Local.
Credentials/Documentation
A written application addressing the evaluation criteria. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication coordination is required.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
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 Procedures
A committee of pipeline safety stakeholders will review 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 office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Authorization
Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 , Public Law 107-355, 49 U.S.C 60130; 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.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time from 120 to 180 days. Applications are typically due 60 to 90 days after funding opportunity announcement is posted to www.Grants.gov.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
Not Applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula. This program has no matching requirements. This program does not have MOE requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
12 months from date of award. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Funds are available (a) reimbursement for costs incurred, or (b) 50% at award, 50% after delivery of mid-year report.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Program reports are not applicable.
SF-425 and SF-270.
Each grant recipient will be required to provide a mid-term and a final report to PHMSA demonstrating progress and completion of the work as outlined in the grant agreement.
Further, each recipient of a grant must ensure that: (1) the technical findings made possible by the grants are made available to the relevant operators; and,
(2) open communication is maintained between the grant recipients, local operators, local communities and other interested parties.
SF-425.
No performance monitoring is required.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503. 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.
Financial Information
Account Identification
69-5172-0-2-407.
Obigations
(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 16 $0; FY 17 est $1,500,000; and FY 18 est $1,500,000 - FY2016: $0.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
The range is $0 - $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 Individual copies of regulations may be requested from: Office of Pipeline Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, East Building, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20590, Telephone: (202) 366-4595, Fax: (202) 366-4566. Also, available on-line at http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title49/49cfrv3_02.tpl
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Karen Lynch 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., E22-105, Washington, District of Columbia 20590 Email: karen.lynch@dot.gov Phone: 202-366-6855
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
PHMSA developed evaluation criteria for project proposals to rate and select 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 measureable 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.
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