Opportunity Information: Apply for 693JK326NF0003
The FY 2026 Competitive Academic Agreement Program (CAAP) is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) that supports applied research through the Pipeline Safety Research and Development (R&D) Program. It is issued as a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and is intended to fund research proposals submitted by nonprofit institutions of higher education, including both public/state-controlled universities and private universities. The legal authority for this program comes from Section 12 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-355) and 49 U.S.C. 60117(l), which together provide PHMSA the mandate to sponsor research aimed at improving pipeline safety, integrity, and associated regulatory effectiveness.
This competition (Funding Opportunity Number 693JK326NF0003; CFDA 20.724) will make awards using a Cooperative Agreement, which typically means PHMSA expects to have substantial involvement during the project period (for example, coordination on technical direction, deliverables, milestones, data sharing, or alignment with agency needs). The funding activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and PHMSA anticipates making around six awards. The stated award ceiling is $1,000,000 per award, indicating projects can be relatively substantial in scope, potentially covering multi-year research plans, prototype development, validation testing, and documentation suitable for operational use.
The research priorities are tightly focused on pipeline integrity and modern analytic and inspection capabilities, with an emphasis on corrosion, leak detection, and practical decision-support tools. One major objective is early corrosion prediction for pipelines along with the development or implementation of appropriate mitigation measures. This signals interest in moving from reactive corrosion management to predictive approaches, such as improved sensing, modeling, forecasting, risk-based prioritization, or methods that help operators intervene earlier and more cost-effectively. Another core objective is identifying economical, novel agents to mitigate internal or external pipeline corrosion caused by microbial-induced corrosion (MIC). MIC is a persistent, complex problem influenced by microbiology, chemistry, operating conditions, and materials, so PHMSA is pointing applicants toward solutions that are not only technically effective but also practical to deploy at scale and cost-conscious for real-world operations.
Several priorities explicitly call for artificial intelligence-enabled tools. PHMSA is seeking an AI-assisted software package to support composite repair design, which suggests interest in tools that can help engineers select repair configurations, evaluate load/defect scenarios, and ensure repairs meet performance and safety needs with appropriate documentation. PHMSA is also interested in an AI-assisted software tool that helps interpret standards and regulations and apply requirements correctly. That points to a compliance and engineering workflow need: translating complex regulatory text and technical standards into clear, actionable guidance, checks, or decision logic to reduce misapplication and improve consistency. Another priority area is AI-enhanced liquid pipeline leak detection methodologies, indicating an interest in improving detection sensitivity, speed, and reliability, likely by leveraging machine learning on operational data streams, improving signal discrimination, reducing false alarms, and enhancing situational awareness for controllers and integrity teams.
Beyond AI, PHMSA is also highlighting inspection technology needs, specifically non-destructive inspection technology for cast iron pipeline inspection. Cast iron infrastructure, particularly in legacy gas distribution systems, presents unique inspection challenges due to material properties, joint types, and degradation modes. PHMSA is signaling that advances in nondestructive evaluation methods, sensors, tools, and field-deployable inspection approaches are a priority, likely with an eye toward better condition assessment, risk management, and targeted replacement or remediation strategies.
Key administrative details include an original closing date of June 19, 2026, and an opportunity creation date of May 18, 2026. In practical terms, this means eligible universities should prepare proposals that clearly align with one or more of the listed objectives, define measurable deliverables (such as validated models, prototype software, tested mitigation agents, inspection performance metrics, or leak detection improvements), and anticipate collaboration and ongoing engagement with PHMSA consistent with a cooperative agreement structure.Apply for 693JK326NF0003
- The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Admin in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2026 Competitive Academic Agreement Program (CAAP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.724.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-18.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-06-19. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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FY 2026 Competitive Academic Agreement Program (CAAP) - FAQs
What is the FY 2026 Competitive Academic Agreement Program (CAAP)?
The FY 2026 Competitive Academic Agreement Program (CAAP) is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) that supports applied research through PHMSA's Pipeline Safety Research and Development (R&D) Program.
Which agency is offering this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is offered by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).
What kind of notice is used to announce this opportunity?
This opportunity is issued as a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this competition?
The Funding Opportunity Number is 693JK326NF0003.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 20.724.
What type of award will PHMSA make under this opportunity?
PHMSA will make awards using a Cooperative Agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a Cooperative Agreement?
A Cooperative Agreement typically means PHMSA expects to have substantial involvement during the project period. Examples mentioned include coordination on technical direction, deliverables, milestones, data sharing, or alignment with PHMSA needs.
Who is eligible to submit proposals?
Research proposals are intended to be submitted by nonprofit institutions of higher education, including public/state-controlled universities and private universities.
Is the program aimed at applied research or basic research?
The opportunity is described as supporting applied research through PHMSA's Pipeline Safety R&D Program.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The program is intended to sponsor research aimed at improving pipeline safety, pipeline integrity, and associated regulatory effectiveness.
What legal authorities support the CAAP program?
The legal authority is cited as Section 12 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-355) and 49 U.S.C. 60117(l).
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
How many awards does PHMSA anticipate making?
PHMSA anticipates making around six awards.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The stated award ceiling is $1,000,000 per award.
Does the award ceiling suggest anything about project scope?
Based on the stated ceiling, projects may be substantial in scope, potentially supporting multi-year research plans, prototype development, validation testing, and documentation suitable for operational use.
What are the main research priority areas?
The priorities are focused on pipeline integrity and modern analytic and inspection capabilities, emphasizing corrosion, leak detection, and practical decision-support tools.
What is one of the corrosion-related objectives?
One major objective is early corrosion prediction for pipelines, along with development or implementation of appropriate mitigation measures.
What does "early corrosion prediction" imply for proposed research?
It signals interest in moving from reactive corrosion management to predictive approaches, including improved sensing, modeling, forecasting, risk-based prioritization, or methods that help operators intervene earlier and more cost-effectively.
What is PHMSA seeking regarding microbial-induced corrosion (MIC)?
PHMSA is seeking economical, novel agents to mitigate internal or external pipeline corrosion caused by microbial-induced corrosion (MIC).
What characteristics are emphasized for MIC mitigation solutions?
PHMSA highlights solutions that are technically effective, practical to deploy at scale, and cost-conscious for real-world operations.
Are artificial intelligence (AI) tools included in the research priorities?
Yes. Several priorities explicitly call for AI-enabled tools.
What AI-related tool is requested for composite repairs?
PHMSA is seeking an AI-assisted software package to support composite repair design.
What kind of capabilities might an AI-assisted composite repair design tool support?
Based on the description, it suggests tools that help engineers select repair configurations, evaluate load/defect scenarios, and ensure repairs meet performance and safety needs with appropriate documentation.
Is there an AI-related priority focused on standards and regulations?
Yes. PHMSA is interested in an AI-assisted software tool that helps interpret standards and regulations and apply requirements correctly.
What need is PHMSA pointing to with an AI tool for interpreting standards and regulations?
The described need is a compliance and engineering workflow aid that translates complex regulatory text and technical standards into clear, actionable guidance, checks, or decision logic to reduce misapplication and improve consistency.
Is leak detection included in the priorities?
Yes. Leak detection is specifically highlighted.
What leak detection objective does PHMSA describe?
PHMSA is interested in AI-enhanced liquid pipeline leak detection methodologies.
What improvements are implied for AI-enhanced leak detection?
The description points to improving detection sensitivity, speed, and reliability, potentially by leveraging machine learning on operational data streams, improving signal discrimination, reducing false alarms, and enhancing situational awareness for controllers and integrity teams.
Are there priorities related to inspection technology beyond AI?
Yes. PHMSA highlights non-destructive inspection technology for cast iron pipeline inspection.
Why is cast iron pipeline inspection called out as a priority?
Cast iron infrastructure is described as presenting unique inspection challenges due to material properties, joint types, and degradation modes. The priority suggests interest in better condition assessment, risk management, and targeted replacement or remediation strategies.
What kinds of outcomes or deliverables should proposals consider?
The opportunity emphasizes measurable deliverables such as validated models, prototype software, tested mitigation agents, inspection performance metrics, or leak detection improvements.
What is the opportunity creation date?
The opportunity creation date is May 18, 2026.
What is the original closing date for submissions?
The original closing date is June 19, 2026.
How should applicants align their proposals to be responsive to the NOFO?
Based on the description, proposals should clearly align with one or more listed objectives, define measurable deliverables, and anticipate collaboration and ongoing engagement with PHMSA consistent with the cooperative agreement structure.
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