Applicants must use Standard Form 424A to submit their budget/cost application through www.grants.gov. Budget Narratives must address the following items:

1.    Personnel: List individually all personnel and include for each the requested hours to be funded and the respective compensation rates (salary/wages and fringe benefits).

2.    Fringe Benefits: Applicants must provide a copy of or a Web link to the university’s policy stating the appropriate fringe rates for each labor classification.

3.    Travel: Proposed travel must be directly related to the performance of the project. In the Budget Narrative, state the reason(s) for travel, the type and duration of the travel, and its relation to the project. Additionally, recipients may anticipate travel requested by PHMSA to present their findings up to once each 12 months of the project. Provide an itemized list of associated travel costs.

4.    Supplies: Provide an itemized list of proposed supplies. Include individual costs for each item exceeding $5,000 and the basis of estimating the cost (e.g., vendor quotes, catalog prices, prior invoices, etc.).

5.    Equipment: Provide an itemized list of proposed equipment. Include individual costs for each item and the basis of estimating the cost (e.g., vendor quotes, catalog prices, prior invoices, etc.) 

6.    Contractual (Consultants/Subcontractors): List the names of consultants and describe the activities to be performed, the duration of the service, and the compensation involved. Provide the hourly or daily rate along with the basis of the rate. Furnish resumes or similar information regarding qualifications and experience. Provide at least two invoices reflecting hourly or daily rates charged to customers other than the federal government. You must provide a statement signed by the consultant certifying his or her availability and salary. If travel or incidental expenses are to be charged, give the basis for these costs. For proposed subcontractors, provide their total cost per year. Detailed subcontractor costs should appear in the subcontractor’s budget explanation. The total cost of consultants and/or subcontractors must not exceed 40 percent of the proposed federal contribution to the project. Contractual agreements must comply with the procurement standards in 2 CFR §§ 200.317-300.326.

7.    Other Direct Costs: Provide an itemized list with associated costs for any other item proposed as a direct cost that is not included in another category. State the basis for each proposed item.

8.   Indirect Charges: Provide a copy of or a Web link to the university’s negotiated Indirect Rate Agreement. Explain or demonstrate how the total indirect charges were calculated.

9.    Grant Funds, Sources, and Uses of Project Funds: Project budgets should show how different funding sources will share in each activity and present those data in dollars and percentages. The budget should identify other federal funds the applicant is applying for, has been awarded, or intends to use. Funding sources should be grouped into three categories: non-federal, CAAP funds, and other federal with specific amounts from each funding source. 

10.    Cost Sharing or Matching: All resource-sharing or matching contributions, including cash and third-party contributions, must meet the criteria in 2 CFR § 200.306. These criteria state that viable resource-sharing or matching contributions are:

• Verifiable from the non-federal entity’s records.
• Not included as contributions for any other federal award.
• Necessary and reasonable to accomplish the project or program objectives.
• Allowable under Subpart E – Cost Principles of 2 CFR Part 200.
• Not paid by the federal government under another federal award, except where the federal statute authorizing a program specifically provides that federal funds made available for such a program can be applied to matching or cost-sharing requirements of other federal programs.
• Provided for in the approved budget (when required by the federal awarding agency).
• In accordance with other provisions of 2 CFR Part 200, as applicable.

11.    Safety: Applicants must address how their proposed research project provides substantial safety benefits. If applicable, applicants should include a discussion of how their proposed research project will not negatively impact the overall safety of the traveling public.