The following Project Narrative sections are included in the HMEP Grant Application Template and are required. To facilitate the application review and award process, narratives should be free of grammatical and mathematical errors, where applicable.

PART A: GRANTEE INFORMATION

1.   Contact Information. Provide the name and address of the designated agency. Identify the Authorized Representative (authorized to accept the award), the Program Manager (responsible for programmatic functions), and the Finance Program Manager (responsible for financial functions); include the name, position title, email address, and telephone number of the individual(s). Additionally, if available, identify any other individuals that may be responsible for the management of the grant.

2.   Organization Information. Briefly provide information about your organization. This should include (1) your organization's mission or vision statement and (2) a brief overview of the structure of your organization, programs, leadership, and special expertise. The upload of an organizational chart is optional.

3.   Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs). Provide the number of active and inactive LEPCs in your state or territory. Also provide an estimate, if any, of the number of LEPCs that are projected to receive HMEP funds.

4.    Transportation Fees. Identify whether your state or territory assesses and collects fees on the transportation of hazardous materials (HAZMAT) and what percentage of the fees collected is used solely to carry out purposes related to the transportation of HAZMAT.

PART B: STATEMENT OF WORK

1.  Planning and Training Needs Assessment. Describe the applicant's current capacity and any areas of deficiency as it concerns preparedness for the transportation of HAZMAT. This may include (1) a discussion of whether the applicant has identified a need to assess transportation flow patterns of HAZMAT within the states and territories; (2) providing the number of HAZMAT preparedness plans that need updating; (3) describing the location and need for exercises to be conducted that involve preparation for response to incidents involved in the transportation of HAZMAT; (4) providing the number of responders needing training and the number of persons currently trained in the different disciplines of response functions (e.g., number of firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians, Emergency Medical Services that need training).

2.  Program Goals. List, at maximum, ten overarching program goals that the applicant would like to achieve using the HMEP grant funds. The Program Goals must align with PHMSA's mission and top priorities as outlined in the Notice of Opportunity for Funds.

3.  Planning and Training Activities . Provide an estimate of training and planning activities that are expected to be performed to achieve the program goals recorded previously.

NOTE: estimated activities are required for Year One (FY 2025). But the applicant may also include estimates for the entire grant cycle (FY2025 – 2027).

4.  HMEP Grant Monitoring. Provide a description of the monitoring and evaluation of the activities that will be conducted to ensure that the grant activities are successfully carried out in a timely manner. Include an explanation of quality control measures, including but not limited to random examinations, inspections, and audits of planning activities, to maximize the cost effectiveness and impact of the program.

PART C: BUDGET NARRATIVE

Please refer to the Budget Narrative

PART D: SUPPLEMENTAL ACTIVITIES

Supplemental funding may be available from unexpended obligations of the previous grant cycle. Eligible HMEP recipients must satisfy all the following criteria to be eligible to receive supplemental funding:

1.    are low or medium risk level,
2.    have submitted all FY 2022-2024 financial and progress reports on time, and
3.    have less than 10% of funding remaining in their FY2022-2024 award.

The amount and allocation of supplemental funding has yet to be determined. But, once established, the HMEP Grant Team will notify your organization with details.

Provide the object class category, a brief description of activities that could be funded with supplemental funding and their estimated costs.

PART E: APPLICATION CERTIFICATION

1.    Statement of aggregate expenditures. Certify (by initial) that the aggregate expenditures, for hazardous materials incident preparedness training and planning activities (exclusive of federal funds) will not fall below the average level of its expenditures for its last five fiscal years.

2.    Statement of NFPA 472 or OSHA 29 § 1910.120 consistency. Certify (by initial) that all training activities conducted are consistent with the competencies identified in NFPA 472 or OSHA 29 § 1910.120.

3.    Statement of Sections 301 and 303 of EPCRA compliance. Certify (by initial) that the organization is complying with Sections 301 and 303 of EPCRA (42 U.S.C. 11001, 11003).

4.    Statement of 75% programmatic requirement. Certify (by initial) that 75% of grant funding will be used for HMEP programmatic activities and no more than 25% of federal funding will be used for maintenance and administration costs (M&A).

5.    Statement of National Incident Management System compliance. Certify (by initial) that the organization is compliant with the National Incident Management System (NIMS).

6.    Statement of auditable accounting system. In Part E of application form, certify that the person authorized to provide training agree to have an auditable accounting system.

7.    State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) review of grant application. In Part E of the application form, certify that all members of the SERC were provided the opportunity to review the grant application.