FY 2026 Competitive Academic Agreement Program (CAAP)

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is soliciting research proposals through the FY 2026 Competitive Academic Agreement Program (CAAP) to advance pipeline safety innovation, with a focus on corrosion prediction, AI-driven regulatory interpretation, non-destructive inspection technologies, and leak detection methodologies. Eligible applicants are nonprofit institutions of higher education, and proposals must address one or more of the following priority areas: early corrosion detection and mitigation—particularly for microbial-induced corrosion—AI-assisted software for composite repair design and regulatory interpretation under 49 CFR Parts 192 and 195, non-destructive inspection methods for cast iron pipelines, and enhanced AI-based liquid pipeline leak detection. The solicitation, numbered 693JK326NF0003, was posted on May 18, 2026, with a submission deadline of June 19, 2026, and awards are expected to be made no later than September 30, 2026. Proposals must strictly adhere to the PHMSA Technical Application Template, including a 20-page narrative (excluding cover and appendix) written in Times New Roman 12-point font, and must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov as PDFs following a specified naming convention. Funding is available up to $4 million for the entire program, with individual awards ranging between $1 million and $4 million, and the period of performance is limited to a maximum of 12 months. Applicants must comply with extensive federal grant requirements, including 2 CFR Part 200, which governs administrative, cost, and audit standards, and must maintain active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) with a valid Unique Entity ID. Key compliance obligations include adherence to nondiscrimination laws, maintaining a drug-free workplace, prohibiting the use of funds for lobbying or litigation, and affirming compliance with Executive Order 14173 against discriminatory DEI programs. Technical data generated under the award becomes government property, and research results must be made publicly accessible. Invoicing must be executed through the DOT Delphi eInvoicing System using SF-270 forms, and payments are processed via Electronic Funds Transfer. Recipients are required to include meaningful student participation with defined roles, establish clear partnerships with subject matter experts, and provide detailed work plans with milestones and risk mitigation strategies. Deliverables, including software tools, inspection prototypes, and validated models, must be verifiable,