FY 2025 Competitive Academic Agreement Program (CAAP)

The FY 2025 Pipeline Safety Research Competitive Academic Agreement Program (CAAP), administered by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) within the U.S. Department of Transportation, seeks to fund innovative academic research aimed at resolving technical challenges related to pipeline safety. The primary goal of CAAP is to advance the safety and integrity of pipeline systems in the U.S. by fostering high-risk, high-reward research conducted by nonprofit higher education institutions. Awards will support projects that contribute both to technical advancement and workforce development by involving undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral students. This program aligns with the broader objectives of PHMSA's Pipeline Safety Research and Development Program and adheres to mandates under the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 and the PIPES Act of 2020. The FY 2025 CAAP competition will fund up to $2 million, with individual project funding capped at $1 million. Projects may last between 12 and 36 months. Key focus areas for this year include risk evaluation of vehicle strikes on pipelines, technologies to prevent human error, modeling strain capacity in vintage pipelines, non-metallic pipe inspection, and modeling shrouding for pressurized liquid leaks. Applicants must be U.S.-based nonprofit higher education institutions, and student involvement in research is mandatory. Applications failing to involve students or to provide a cost-sharing commitment will be rejected. A minimum 20% non-federal cost-share is required, and partnership costs may not exceed 40% of the total federal funding. Applications must also include a certification letter signed by an institutional authority, and foreign partnerships are restricted. To apply, institutions must register on Grants.gov and FedConnect, and maintain active registrations in SAM and UEI. Complete applications must include standard forms (e.g., SF-424, budget narrative), the PHMSA Technical Application Template, and all required letters and attachments. Submissions are due by June 20, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EST, with questions accepted until June 13, 2025. Applications will be evaluated on merit, including project relevance to outlined topics, implementation readiness, strength of partnerships, detailed work plans, and student engagement. PHMSA will prioritize proposals offering substantial safety benefits and mitigating key risks. Notifications of award will be sent in Q4 of FY 2025. Recipients must comply with numerous federal reporting and policy requirements and participate in program evaluations and public dissemination of research outcomes. For assistance, applicants may contact Stephen Jones, Agreements Officer (Stephen.Jones@dot.gov, 202-366-4059), or Nusnin Akter, CAAP Program Manager (Nusnin.akter2@dot.gov, 839-273-0528). Technical support for submission platforms is also available via Grants.gov and FedConnect.