FY 2026 Competitive Academic Agreement Program (CAAP)
Can you apply?
This grant is for nonprofit institutions of higher education conducting pipeline safety research. Applicants must propose research addressing one of six focus areas: corrosion prediction, microbial-induced corrosion mitigation, composite repair design, standards interpretation tools, cast iron inspection, or leak detection. Research institutions with capacity to conduct federally-funded R&D and institutional infrastructure for grant management are eligible to apply.
Cost sharing is required as part of the application. Eligible institutions must be able to meet compliance requirements for federal cooperative agreements.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
This grant is for nonprofit institutions of higher education conducting pipeline safety research. Applicants must propose research addressing one of six focus areas: corrosion prediction, microbial-induced corrosion mitigation, composite repair design, standards interpretation tools, cast iron inspection, or leak detection. Research institutions with capacity to conduct federally-funded R&D and institutional infrastructure for grant management are eligible to apply.
Cost sharing is required as part of the application. Eligible institutions must be able to meet compliance requirements for federal cooperative agreements.
Program description
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration¿s (PHMSA) FY 2026 CAAP NOFO solicits research proposals from nonprofit institutions of higher education for the Pipeline Safety Research and Development (R&D) Program. This program is authorized by section 12 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-355) and 49¿U.S.C. § 60117(l). The CAAP competitive research announcement will focus on the following objectives: – Early corrosion prediction for pipelines and implementing appropriate mitigation measures. – Economical and novel agents to mitigate internal or external pipeline corrosion due to microbial-induced corrosion.- Artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted software package to assist with composite repair design.¿¿- AI-assisted software tool for interpretation of standards/regulations and properly applying the requirements.¿- Non-destructive inspection technology for cast iron pipeline inspection.- AI-enhanced liquid pipeline leak detection methodologies. ¿
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Details
This grant is for nonprofit institutions of higher education conducting pipeline safety research. Applicants must propose research addressing one of six focus areas: corrosion prediction, microbial-induced corrosion mitigation, composite repair design, standards interpretation tools, cast iron inspection, or leak detection. Research institutions with capacity to conduct federally-funded R&D and institutional infrastructure for grant management are eligible to apply.
Cost sharing is required as part of the application. Eligible institutions must be able to meet compliance requirements for federal cooperative agreements.
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Federal Application Form)
- Project Narrative/Proposal
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Cost Share Documentation
- Institutional Capability Statement
- References and CV of Key Personnel
Program contact
- 👤 Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Admin
- 📧 dwayne.cross@dot.gov
- 📞 2023664243
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 20.724 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$1,445,355
-
$1,000,000
-
$1,000,000
-
$999,742
-
$774,996
-
$735,723
-
$722,035
-
$665,370
-
$580,271
-
$550,000
Top States by Funding
- OH 5 awards $3.0M
- NJ 4 awards $2.6M
- TX 5 awards $2.2M
- LA 2 awards $1.7M
- WI 1 awards $0.7M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 20.724). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $2,201,496 | |
| 2025 | $1,951,611 | |
| 2026 est. | $4,000,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply to this grant?
Nonprofit institutions of higher education can apply. Your institution must have capacity to conduct federal research and manage cooperative agreements.
What research topics are eligible?
Six focus areas are funded: corrosion prediction, microbial corrosion mitigation, AI-assisted composite repair design, AI tools for standards interpretation, non-destructive inspection of cast iron pipes, and AI-enhanced leak detection.
Is cost sharing required?
Yes. You must provide a cost share as part of your application. The amount will depend on your project scope.
What is the funding range?
Awards typically range from $250,000 to $1,000,000. Total program funding is $4 million for FY 2026.
When is the deadline?
The application deadline is June 19, 2026. This is a fixed deadline, not rolling acceptance.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Align your research proposal directly to one of the six named focus areas. Projects outside these topics are unlikely to be competitive.
- Build a strong cost-share commitment early. Reviewers assess whether your institution has committed resources to the project.
- Include a clear research plan with measurable milestones. PHMSA funds applied R&D, not basic research.
- Partner with industry when possible. Pipeline companies can validate your work and strengthen industry relevance.
- Demonstrate how your research improves pipeline safety or reduces failure risk. Emphasize practical impact, not just technical novelty.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Projects failing to align with one of the six stated research objectives are rejected. Weak or vague cost-sharing commitments reduce competitiveness. Proposals treating this as basic research rather than applied R&D addressing operator needs often score poorly.
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