Pipeline Safety Research and Development Research Announcement

The U.S. Department of Transportation, through its Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), has released Research Announcement #693JK325RA0001 to solicit applications for research projects related to pipeline safety. This opportunity supports research conducted under Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs), which allow flexibility beyond traditional grant and contract mechanisms. Proposals are intended to address specific safety-related research topics identified by PHMSA through stakeholder input, accident data, and prior research forums. The program is designed to advance knowledge and technology that directly contribute to pipeline safety and align with U.S. regulatory and policy frameworks. Applicants should note that all research topics require cost-sharing from non-Federal sources. For projects involving technology development, a minimum 50 percent cost share is required, while knowledge-focused projects must include at least 20 percent cost sharing. Proposals must include firm letters of commitment for resource sharing, and applications without such commitments will not be considered. PHMSA emphasizes the importance of collaboration, requiring each awarded project to establish a Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) that includes pipeline or facility operators, academic representatives, and subject matter experts. TAP members must sign confidentiality and conflict-of-interest agreements to ensure research integrity. Proposals will undergo comprehensive technical and administrative review. The Merit Review Panel will evaluate submissions based on four equally weighted criteria: understanding the research challenge, comprehensiveness of the project design, collaboration and technology transfer strategies, and the applicant’s capacity for successful commercialization or knowledge dissemination. Proposals must not exceed 20 single-sided pages (excluding required appendices and attachments) and must follow specific formatting guidelines, including plain language use. Resumes of key personnel should be included in Appendix A, and details of other related proposals must be included in Appendix B. Funding will be awarded on a fixed-price milestone basis, with payments tied to the completion of defined deliverables. Projects may run for up to 36 months, with quarterly reporting required. Awardees must also agree to present results in a final virtual debrief and disseminate findings through at least one public venue such as a conference, workshop, or journal publication. Equipment and construction costs will not be funded under this program, though costs for personnel, travel, supplies, consultants, and subcontractors may be allowable with proper justification. The total cost of consultants and subcontractors must not exceed 50 percent of the federal contribution. Any responsible non-Federal source may apply, including universities, nonprofit organizations, hospitals, private individuals, and commercial businesses. However, foreign entities and government agencies at the federal, state, or local levels are ineligible. All applicants must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) and the PHMSA Pipeline Safety R&D Management Information System (MIS) prior to submission. Only electronic submissions via the MIS system will be accepted, and proposals must be received no later than November 3, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. EST. Late submissions will not be considered. Questions related to the announcement must be directed by email to Stephen Jones at stephen.jones@dot.gov, with a copy to Tremayne Terry at tremayne.terry@dot.gov, no later than October 14, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. EST. Responses to timely submitted questions will be posted publicly on SAM.gov by October 18, 2025. PHMSA reserves the right to make multiple awards, a single award, or no awards, and submission of a proposal indicates acceptance of all terms and conditions outlined in the solicitation and attachments:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.

Review prior PHMSA research forum materials, partner with multiple entities, and follow formatting/submission rules strictly.