FY 2026 Competitive Academic Agreement Program (CAAP)

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is soliciting research proposals under the FY 2026 Competitive Academic Agreement Program (CAAP) to advance pipeline safety through innovation in corrosion prediction, leak detection, inspection technologies, and regulatory compliance tools. Eligible applicants are nonprofit institutions of higher education in the United States, and awards will be made as grants or cooperative agreements with a maximum funding cap of $1,000,000 per project from a total pool of $4,000,000. Proposals must directly address one or more of the following priority areas: early prediction of pipeline corrosion and mitigation using economical novel agents, AI-assisted design of composite repairs, AI-driven interpretation of federal regulations for compliance, non-destructive inspection methods for cast iron pipelines, and enhanced AI-based leak detection for liquid pipelines. All research must be aligned with 49 CFR Parts 192 and 195, API 579, ASME PCC-2, and NIST cybersecurity guidelines, with an emphasis on field applicability, real-world validation, and integration into PHMSA’s Core Research Program. The proposal must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov by June 19, 2026, and is strictly limited to 20 pages in the main narrative using Times New Roman 12-point font with single spacing, excluding the cover page, technical information page, and appendix. Required attachments include the PHMSA Technical Application Template, Budget Narrative, Indirect Cost Agreement or de minimis statement, and Letters of Support. Applications must demonstrate clear involvement of students and faculty, defined milestones, risk mitigation strategies, and partnerships with industry or standards organizations. The award period is fixed at 12 months from the effective date of the agreement, with no automatic extensions. Recipients must comply with 2 CFR Part 200, have an active Unique Entity Identifier in SAM, certify adherence to federal anti-discrimination laws including Executive Order 14173, maintain a drug-free workplace, and prohibit lobbying. Funding is disbursed via the DOT Delphi eInvoicing System using Standard Form SF-270, and performance occurs at the recipient’s facility. All innovations must be manufactured substantially in the United States, and no confidentiality agreements restricting reporting of fraud or abuse are permitted. Evaluation prioritizes technical merit, feasibility of deployment, student engagement, and alignment with public safety outcomes, using a trade-off approach rather than lowest-price selection