Pipeline Safety Research Competitive Academic Agreement Program (CAAP)

The CAAP initiative is intended to spur innovation by enabling an academic research focus on high-risk and high pay-off solutions for the many pipeline safety challenges. It will potentially deliver solutions that can be �hand-offs� to PHMSA�s core research program of demonstration and deployment. The goal would be to validate proof of concept of a thesis or theory all the way to commercial introduction into the market. Further, the pipeline industry and federal/state regulators are experiencing low numbers of applicants to entry level positions that are technically focused. As such, another goal of the CAAP program is to expose graduate and PhD research students to subject matter that is common to pipeline safety challenges and to illustrate how their engineering or technical disciplines are highly needed in the field. The ultimate benefit would be to cultivate new talent in all aspects of pipelines, similar to how programs at other Federal Agencies and non-profit organizations have encouraged talent to consider a career in a certain field.

Applicants must be non-profit institutions of higher education located in the United States or a U.S. territory or possession.

PHMSA developed evaluation criteria to rate and select competing applications. Submission of an application is not a guarantee of award. PHMSA may, at its discretion, award a grant based on an application in its entirety, award only portions of a grant based on its application, or not award a grant at all. Applications will be evaluated against the following evaluation criteria: 1. The extent to which the applicant�s proposal meets the research topic area needs; 2. The extent to which the applicant�s proposed research topic solution can be readily implemented; 3. The extent to which the applicant�s proposal identifies research partnership(s) and subject matter expert involvement, as well as how involved the identified partner(s) will be in the project; 4. The extent to which the applicant�s proposal clearly establishes work scope, tasks, milestones, and estimated project costs that align with project goals and objectives, as well as whether any potential risks have been identified and mitigated; and 5. The extent to which the applicant�s proposed plan involves students and defines their specific tasks and commitment to the project. In addition, PHMSA expects the proposed results of the projects to be factual, unbiased, verifiable, and repeatable to the extent practicable. Applicants should also be aware that a cooperative agreement will not convey any authority to recipients to secure information or cooperation from pipeline operators.

Pursuant to section 22(b)(2)(C)(ii) of the PIPES Act of 2016 (Pub. L. 114�183), there is a mandatory minimum 20 percent cost-sharing requirement for CAAP agreements. The Federal government cost share shall not exceed 80 percent of the total cost, capped at $1 million. Firm commitment letters for cost sharing must accompany applications, or proposals will not be reviewed.

Fiscal year 2025: In FY 2025, PHMSA awarded projects within five topics as solicited by the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) # 693JK325NF0003 : 1) Risk Evaluation of Vehicle Strikes on Aboveground Pipeline Equipment and Facilities; 2) Technology, Equipment, or Procedures to Prevent Human Error; 3) Testing, Modeling, and Verifying Strain Capacity in Vintage Pipelines; 4) Non-Metallic Pipe Inspection Technology; and 5) Acceptable Methods for Modeling Shrouding or Obstructions for Pressurized Liquid Releases