Fy 2026 Pipeline Emergency Response Grant (PERG)

The Pipeline Emergency Response Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. This program is a competitive discretionary grant designed to strengthen the nation’s preparedness and response capabilities for pipeline-related emergencies. The funding opportunity reflects PHMSA’s broader mission to protect people, property, and the environment by improving safety in the transportation of hazardous materials, particularly in high consequence areas where pipeline incidents may have significant impacts. The primary purpose of the program is to support comprehensive emergency planning and training for responders dealing with gas and hazardous liquid pipeline incidents. Applicants are expected to demonstrate a clear need for training and provide detailed documentation on proposed activities, including the number of individuals to be trained, the types of courses offered, and the associated costs. The program prioritizes projects that directly enhance preparedness, coordination, and effectiveness of emergency response personnel operating in areas with heightened risk due to population density, environmental sensitivity, or commercial activity. Funding under this opportunity totals up to 2973681 dollars, with individual awards capped at 200000 dollars per recipient. The period of performance is up to 24 months, and applicants must ensure that all proposed activities can be completed within that timeframe. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which lowers barriers to participation for eligible government entities. However, strict funding restrictions apply. Funds cannot be used for lobbying, regulatory compliance, general operational costs, or expenses already covered by other federal programs. Additionally, general-purpose equipment and non-specific training expenses are not allowable. Eligibility is limited to state, county, and local governments that are responsible for training emergency responders who address pipeline incidents. Eligible activities include pipeline emergency response planning, training exercises, development of training curricula, and acquisition of specialized training equipment. Training must specifically relate to pipeline emergency response; general hazardous materials training without a pipeline component is not eligible. The program emphasizes targeted training in high consequence areas, which include densely populated regions, commercially navigable waterways, and environmentally sensitive locations as defined by federal regulations. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes several mandatory components such as the SF-424 application form, budget information forms, certifications, and detailed project and budget narratives. Applicants must also be registered in SAM.gov and FedConnect. The project narrative must address organizational capacity, statement of need, proposed training activities, measurable outputs, and evaluation strategies. Applications are evaluated based on technical alignment with program goals, programmatic strength, and the ability to deliver measurable safety improvements. The application deadline is June 19, 2026, with questions due by June 17, 2026. PHMSA anticipates making award decisions by September 30, 2026. During the review process, applications undergo administrative, technical, and programmatic evaluation, including risk assessments based on federal compliance and past performance. Successful applicants will be required to submit mid-term and final reports detailing outputs such as number of responders trained and drills conducted, along with financial reporting. Contact for the program includes the Grant Agreement Officer, Dwayne Cross, who can be reached via email or phone for programmatic inquiries. Technical assistance is also available through Grants.gov and FedConnect support channels. The program is issued as an initial announcement and does not explicitly state recurring cycles, though it aligns with annual federal funding processes. Overall, the program provides a structured opportunity for governmental entities to enhance pipeline emergency response capabilities through targeted training and planning initiatives.

Ensure strong alignment with pipeline emergency response objectives; clearly define measurable outputs such as number of responders trained; provide detailed and justified budget narratives; demonstrate need in high consequence areas