Overview

The CAAP initiative is intended to spur innovation by enabling an academic research focus on pipeline safety challenges. It will help deliver solutions that can be transitioned to PHMSA’s core research program of demonstration and deployment in many respects. For instance, the goal is 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 for entry-level positions that are technically focused. As such, another goal of the CAAP program is to help with workforce development by exposing graduate and PhD research students to subject matter that is common to pipeline safety challenges and illustrating how their engineering or technical disciplines are highly needed in the field. The ultimate benefit would be cultivating 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. This program is authorized by Section 12 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-355) and 49 U.S.C. § 60117(l).

In other respects, CAAP and PHMSA’s core research programs may overlap when addressing similar topic areas, conserving resources and collaborators, or in some cases, allowing a path where applicants that initially started in CAAP may eventually apply for and get awards through the core program.

Award Eligibility

Applicants must be non-profit institutions of higher education located in the United States (U.S.) or a U.S. territory. PHMSA encourages applications from eligible higher education institutions that partner with other higher education institutions, including minority-serving institutions (MSIs).

Award Funding Information

Awards will be Cooperative Agreements that are competitively selected and can run up to 36 months in duration. However, the number of awards is dependent upon the quality of submissions and budget limitations. According to § 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 will fund no more than 80 percent of the total cost of each approved project, which will be up to $1 million.

Listing of grant awards:  Annual summaries and project information are available here. 

Budget/Cost Application and Budget Narrative (Standard Form)

For additional questions or information, email: nusnin.akter2@dot.gov.