PHMSA Pipeline Safety Research and Development “Other Transaction Agreements”

 

To sponsor research and development (R&D) projects that focus on providing near-term solutions which will improve safety, reduce environmental impact, and enhance reliability of the nations pipeline transportation system.

Active 20.723 Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Department of Transportation B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2016 TBD Program made three new awards addressing the further development of robotic inspection solutions capable of inspecting natural gas pipelines that are not piggable by traditional technology. The program also entered into two cooperative agreements. One with the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement where a project developing inspection criteria for offshore risers was co-funded and one with the National Institute of Standards and Technology that is investigating the characterization of modern high toughness steels for fracture propagation and arrest assessment. All projects have a public page for more information and are sortable by FY via https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/matrix/ .
Fiscal Year 2017 PHMSA and the pipeline industry recognize the role of research in removing mutual challenges and, since 2002, have coordinated and collaborated on more than 270 projects and invested approximately $109M of PHMSA funding, plus $100M worth of shared resources.
Fiscal Year 2018 Funded a number of projects in the areas of Anomaly Detection/Characterization, Leak Detection, Liquefied Natural Gas, Threat Prevention, Underground Natural Gas Storage.
Fiscal Year 2019 The following project registered technology transfer during FY 2019. Rapid Aerial Small Methane Leak Survey https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/matrix/PrjHome.rdm?prj=651
Fiscal Year 2020 The following project registered technology transfer during FY 2020. In-Ditch Validation Methodology for Determination of Defect Sizing https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/matrix/PrjHome.rdm?prj=503
Fiscal Year 2021 The following project registered technology transfer during FY 2021. Development, Field Testing and Commercialization of a Crack and Mechanical Damage Sensor for Unpiggable Natural Gas Transmission Pipelines https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/matrix/PrjHome.rdm?prj=496
Fiscal Year 2022 PHMSA’s research supports regulatory and enforcement activities and provides the technical and analytical foundation necessary for planning, evaluating, and implementing the pipeline safety program. PHMSA annually sponsors R&D projects that focus on providing near-term solutions to help ensure the safe, reliable, and environmentally-sound operation of the Nation's pipeline system. Recent R&D projects have focused on the following areas: leak detection; detection of mechanical damage; damage prevention; improved pipeline system controls, monitoring, operations, improvements in pipeline materials, underground natural gas storage (UNGS) and liquid natural gas (LNG). These projects develop innovative technology, strengthen consensus standards, and promote knowledge to decision makers that can be implemented to improve pipeline system safety. PHMSA maintains a collaborative process in the program by holding annual peer reviews on all post-award or active research projects. This action ensures that quality is addressed throughout the lifecycle of research (pre-solicitation, pre-award, and post-award). These projects must stay true to the goals conceived in consensus at R&D Forums and as promised by researchers receiving the government research award. If projects deviate, feedback from peer review panels is used to adjust or modify them. Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002, Public Law 107-355, 49 U.S.C. 60101 Any eligible source may submit proposals for consideration. Eligible entities include, but are not limited to, universities or institutions of higher education, hospitals, non-profit organizations, private individuals, corporations, and businesses or commercial organizations. All offerors must be registered in the Federal Government's System for Award Management (SAM) prior to submitting a proposal (www.sam.gov). Small Disadvantaged (SD), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Concerns, Veteran-Owned (VO), Woman-Owned (WO), Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned, and Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Small Business Concerns, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Minority Institutions (MIs) are encouraged to submit proposals on their own and/or in collaboration with others. However, no portion of this RA will be set aside or reserved exclusively for any of the groups identified above. Anyone/general public can receive benefits from the eligible applicant. Proposals should be direct and concise and must not exceed a total of 20 single-sided pages, not including the Title Page or Table of Contents. The merit review panel uses the first 20 pages to complete its evaluation. Any "appendix" submitted is not included with in the 20-page limitation and should include Resumes, Letters of Co-Funding Commitment(s), and Audit Reports (Accounting System Approval). Each proposal must also include completed versions of Attachments 1 through 6 of this announcement in its appendix. Proposals must be typed, double-spaced, and must use 12-point font on 8- 1/2 by 11-inch paper with 1-inch margins on all sides. Tables/graphs may use a smaller font. Proposals that do not meet these format specifications may be removed from the review. Directive 2 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 200, Subpart E--Cost Principles--applies to this program. Preapplication coordination is required. An environmental impact statement is required for this listing. 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. Preapplication coordination is required. An environmental impact statement is required for this listing. This program is eligible for coverage under Executive Order (EO) 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. Preapplication coordination is required. An environmental impact statement is required for this listing. This program is eligible for coverage under EO 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. Yes, if the awardee is a state or local government. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. In response to a PHMSA Research Announcement. Full proposals will be awarded by "Other Transaction Agreement," requiring the relevant resource sharing stated within this document. In response to a PHMSA RA. Full proposals will be awarded by "Other Transaction Agreement," requiring the relevant resource sharing stated within this document. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines 30-45 days for review of proposals (if requested). Not applicable. Not applicable. Specific evaluation criteria for each PHMSA Research Announcement (RA) is located in the announcement document. This research program is used for: fostering the development of new technologies so that pipeline operators can improve safety performance and more effectively address regulatory requirements; targeting and feeding new knowledge into the process of keeping standards relevant to their purpose; and generating and promoting general knowledge to decision makers. Performance Reports: Peer Reviews are conducted on the project. They normally occur during the first quarter of each calendar year. Not applicable. Financial records are subject to Government examination or audit, and must be maintained for 3 years from the completion of the "Other Transaction Agreement." Statutory Formula: Title 49 Chapter 12 Part 60101 Public Law 112-90 49

Matching is mandatory. 30%. Statutory Formula: The Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2016 Public Law 114-183 requires the following matching funds in Section 22 (b)(2)(C): ‘‘(i) at least 30 percent of the costs of technology research and development activities may be carried out using non-Federal sources; ‘‘(ii) at least 20 percent of the costs of basic research and development with universities may be carried out using non-Federal sources; and ‘‘(iii) up to 100 percent of the costs of research and development for purely governmental purposes may be carried out using Federal funds.’’ If selected for award an “Other Transaction Agreement” is awarded by PHMSA. Matching requirements are mandatory.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. The term of an “Other Transaction Agreement” is normally between 1 and 3 years. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: quarterly method of awarding/releasing assistance: quarterly. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Quarterly. None/Not specified. Andrea S. Ceartin P.E.
U.S. DOT, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Office of Pipeline Safety
1200 NJ Ave S.E.
Washington, DC 20590 USA
andrea.ceartin@dot.gov
Phone: 406-577-6818 http://www.phmsa.dot.gov 69-5172-0-2-407 (Project Grants) FY 22$7,542,887.00; FY 23 est $8,000,000.00; FY 24 est $15,000,000.00; FY 21$12,392,937.00; FY 20$21,666,259.00; FY 19$9,595,721.00; FY 18$10,029,765.00; FY 17$644,695.00; FY 16$2,381,849.00; - The awards range from $150,000 to $1,000,000. The average is $375,000. An in depth description of the PHMSA Pipeline Safety R&D Program can be found at http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/rd/. A listing of OTA awards can be found at: http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/matrix/. Fiscal Year 2016 Program made three new awards addressing the further development of robotic inspection solutions capable of inspecting natural gas pipelines that are not piggable by traditional technology. The program also entered into two cooperative agreements. One with the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement where a project developing inspection criteria for offshore risers was co-funded and one with the National Institute of Standards and Technology that is investigating the characterization of modern high toughness steels for fracture propagation and arrest assessment. All projects have a public page for more information and are sortable by FY via https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/matrix/ .
Fiscal Year 2017 This program awards funding to eligible entities to stimulate research into new technologies and to promote commercialization of those technologies. This research focuses on the following topics: a. Threat Prevention; b. Leak Detection; c. Anomaly Detection/Characterization; d. Underground Natural Gas Storage; and e. Liquefied Natural Gas.
Fiscal Year 2019 The following are 3 project examples funded in FY 2019. 1. Develop Remote Sensing and Leak Detection Platform that can Deploy Multiple Sensor Types https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/matrix/PrjHome.rdm?prj=860 2. Develop an Evaluation Protocol for Non-LNG Release Hazards – Modeling https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/matrix/PrjHome.rdm?prj=854 3. Improving Subsurface Non-metallic Utility Locating Using Self-Aligning Robotic Ground Penetrating Radar https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/matrix/PrjHome.rdm?prj=861
Fiscal Year 2020 The following are 3 topic area examples that were funded in FY 2020. 1. Minimizing Damage to Underground Plastic Pipes 2. Developing Sensors to Detect Mercaptan Gas 3. Validating Models for Predicting Gas Migration and Mitigating its Occurrence/Consequence
Fiscal Year 2021 The following are 3 topic area examples that will be funded in FY 2021. 1. Corrosion, Erosion-Corrosion, Material Compatibility, and Associated Design of Gas Gathering Pipelines; 2. Investigating Cement and Other Materials as a Barrier in Underground Gas Storage Wells; and 3. Evaluating/Demonstrating the Feasibility of LNG Storage Tank Operations Without Bottom Fill Capabilities.