Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
Office of Hazardous Materials Safety Research Initiative – FY2026 BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA)
Department of Transportation · Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
AI summaryPhase I white papers (short concept papers, 9 pages at most): due November 18, 2026, 11:59 AM Eastern. Only firms invited after Phase I may send Phase II full proposals; the Phase II due date comes in the invitation letter. The Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) wants research on hazardous materials transportation safety, with contracts of up to $2,000,000 and up to 36 months. More in the summary
AI summary Beta
This summary may miss requirements: 1 of 8 attachments weren't read (5- Cost Proposal Template.xlsx). Check the attachments on SAM.gov.
Phase I white papers (short concept papers, 9 pages at most): due November 18, 2026, 11:59 AM Eastern. Only firms invited after Phase I may send Phase II full proposals; the Phase II due date comes in the invitation letter. The Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) wants research on hazardous materials transportation safety, with contracts of up to $2,000,000 and up to 36 months.
Who can bid (4)
- U.S.-based industry (including small businesses), accredited universities, non-profits, or permitted federally affiliated research centers. Federal, State and local government bodies are not eligible to be the prime bidder.
- The prime bidder must be a U.S.-based entity. Foreign entities, including foreign universities, may only join as research partners or subcontractors, and not from a comprehensively sanctioned country or region.
- For Phase II, an invitation from PHMSA after the Phase I white paper evaluation.
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- A Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code on the cover page; the System for Award Management (SAM) clause FAR 52.204-7 is part of the solicitation.
How to submit: Email to tremayne.terry@dot.gov. The subject must include the topic area code, in the form "[Topic area #] 2026 PHMSA BAA White Paper Submission" (for example 26HM-ESS).. What to include is under Full summary below. Check the solicitation's instructions on SAM.gov.
Things to watch (7)
From the version posted Oct 15, 2026.
- Serious: Two phases: Phase II is by invitation only. This notice is for Phase I white papers, due November 18, 2026, 11:59 AM Eastern. Only firms PHMSA invites after Phase I may send Phase II full proposals, with a separate due date in the invitation letter.
- Worth checking: Strict format and page limits are screened first. PHMSA checks formatting, page limits and eligibility before technical review, so a white paper over 9 pages or in the wrong format may never be scored.
- Worth checking: U.S.-based prime bidder required. Foreign companies and universities can only be subcontractors or partners, and government bodies cannot be the prime bidder.
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- Minor: AI use must be disclosed on the cover page. Any AI tool use needs the tool, the approximate share of the document and the purpose; DOT may reject a submission it finds used AI unreasonably.
- Minor: Number of awards depends on funding. No set number of awards is planned for each topic area, and all awards are subject to available funds.
- Minor: Contract type is set at award. The award may be firm-fixed-price (one set price, whatever the work ends up costing) or cost-reimbursement (the Government pays allowable costs), so the pricing and billing terms are not known up front.
- Minor: Paperwork Reduction Act clearance may apply. Projects that engage more than 9 outside stakeholders may need federal Paperwork Reduction Act clearance, which adds time to the project schedule.
Read from the notice and 7 attachments. 1 of 8 not read. Show which files.
- 1- BAA Solicitation_PHMSA-26HM-BAA.docx (read)
- 1-BAA_Solicitation_PHMSA-26HM-BAA_AMD_0003.docx (read)
- 1-BAA_Solicitation_PHMSA-26HM-BAA_AMD_0002.docx (read)
- 1-BAA_Solicitation_PHMSA-26HM-BAA_AMD_0001.docx (read)
- 2- Clauses and Contract Requirements.docx (read)
- 3- Final White Paper Template.docx (read)
- 4- Final Proposal Template.docx (read)
- 5- Cost Proposal Template.xlsx: not read (the AI doesn't read this file type yet): open it on SAM.gov
Full summary
What they want
- Research ideas under a broad agency announcement (BAA): an open call for research proposals. Phase I asks for a white paper on one research question in one topic area.
- 26HM-ESS, Efficient Safety Standards: research to modernize safety standards and testing, streamline certification, use safety data and reduce regulatory burden while keeping safety.
- 26HM-SST, Safe Energy Storage Technologies: transportation risks of batteries and energy storage systems, thermal runaway (battery overheating) detection and mitigation, and critical mineral recovery.
- 26HM-IPG, Innovative Packaging: new packaging materials and containment designs, monitoring of package integrity, and simulations that predict failures.
- 26HM-RER, Risk Reduction for Emergency Response: technologies, data analysis and materials that improve emergency responder safety, communication and preparedness.
- 26HM-RTS, Hazardous Materials Rail Transportation Safety: rail tank car performance in derailments, crashworthiness materials, thermal shielding and predictive risk modeling.
- Awarded projects deliver a project management plan, a data management plan, monthly progress reports, a one-pager, kickoff, midpoint and final technical briefings, a final technical report with executive summary, and a closeout report.
- Reports must be accessible under Section 508 (the federal accessibility rules), and milestone and final reports are published in DOT's public access repository.
- Contract type
- Firm-fixed-price (one set price, whatever the work ends up costing) or cost-reimbursement (the Government pays allowable costs); the final type is decided at award. Contracts only.
- Period of performance
- Base period up to 24 months; option years may be included, up to 36 months in total including the base and options
- Place of performance
- Washington, DC, USA
- Estimated value
- Awards of no more than $2,000,000 each; the $2,000,000 ceiling applies to each separate submission
- Contract vehicle
- Broad Agency Announcement PHMSA-26HM-BAA under FAR 35.016
- How they'll choose
- Two steps. Phase I white papers are scored on their own merit (not against each other) on four weighted factors, and PHMSA invites some firms to Phase II. Invited full proposals are scored on five weighted factors; past performance is reviewed but not weighted.
- Offers due
- November 18, 2026, 11:59 AM Eastern
- How to submit
- Email to tremayne.terry@dot.gov. The subject must include the topic area code, in the form "[Topic area #] 2026 PHMSA BAA White Paper Submission" (for example 26HM-ESS).
- Page limits
- Phase I white paper: one file, 9 pages at most (cover page 1, summary page 1, technical concept up to 4, expected outcomes and impacts up to 2, cost estimate 1), 5 MB at most; the limit includes images, charts and figures. Phase II technical proposal (invited firms only): up to 15 pages.
What they'll judge offers on
- Phase I, Technical Merit and Feasibility (35%): innovation, technical and practical feasibility including the timeline, completeness, risks and how they are reduced
- Phase I, Relevance to Program Mission and Objectives (35%): fit with DOT strategic goals, filling knowledge gaps, fit with the topic area, potential to reduce hazardous materials incidents
- Phase I, Experience, Qualifications, and Facilities (20%): team experience, facilities and equipment, subcontracting and consulting plans
- Phase I, Submission Quality (10%): clarity of writing and effectiveness of graphics and figures
- Phase II (invited only): Technical Merit and Feasibility (30%), Relevance to Program Mission and Objectives (30%), Experience, Qualifications, and Facilities (20%), Cost and Pricing / Cost Realism (10%), Submission Quality (10%); Past Performance reviewed but not weighted
What to include when you submit
- Use the white paper template. Format: 8.5 x 11 inches, single-spaced, 1-inch margins, 12 pt body text, in Verdana, Aptos, Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri or Helvetica.
- Send one file, PDF preferred. The file may not be password-protected, encrypted or zipped, and must be searchable.
- Do not submit capability statements, project lists or slides.
- Cover page: title "WHITE PAPER," procurement sensitive, BAA number, research area, project title, estimated cost, period of performance in months, principal investigator, technical and business points of contact, institution address, UEI, CAGE code, NAICS code and authorized officer signature. The taxpayer ID number may be left out if it is in the SAM.gov profile.
- Provide at least two points of contact, and make sure replies are not blocked by spam filters.
- If AI tools were used, state on the cover page which tools, the approximate percentage of the document generated or assisted by AI, and the purpose.
- Send each white paper on a single research question in a single topic area, standing on its own with its own cost estimate; up to 5 distinct white papers per research group, a separate paper for each topic area.
- Make images, charts and graphics Section 508 compliant.
- Disclose any foreign nationals involved in the research and follow export control rules; do not submit classified material unless requested.
- Later, only if invited to Phase II: send each proposal component as a separate file in one email, with subject "[Topic area #] 2026 PHMSA BAA Proposal Submission," and follow the separate due date in the invitation letter.
Not in the notice text
- The Phase II due date and any further steps are not given; the invitation letter will set them.
- The total funding, the number of awards and when awards are expected are not stated.
- The Cost Proposal template (5- Cost Proposal Template.xlsx) is attached but not read; the BAA lists it as the Cost Proposal and Narrative Spreadsheet for the Phase II cost proposal.
- The white paper template's cost table shows fringe benefits of 36.06%, labor overhead of 50.62% and general and administrative expense of 35.80%; the documents do not say whether bidders must use those rates or their own.
- The BAA introduction still says the BAA stays open from August 20, 2026 through December 22, 2026 or until superseded; the amendments set November 18, 2026 as the Phase I white paper due date.
- Where bidders return the completed FAR 52.240-90 security representation is not stated for Phase I.
- No incumbent, past contract or competition numbers are given.
Eligibility and how to respond
- No set-aside: any business, large or small, can bid unless the notice says otherwise.
- How to submit, from the AI summary: Email to tremayne.terry@dot.gov. The subject must include the topic area code, in the form "[Topic area #] 2026 PHMSA BAA White Paper Submission" (for example 26HM-ESS). Check it in the notice before you send anything.
Notice details
- Posted
- Oct 15, 2026
- Notice type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- Office
- 693JK3 Acquisition Services Div., Washington, DC
- Product/service code
- AJ12 · General Science and Technology R&D Services; General Science and Technology; Applied Research
- Business type
- Engineering, architecture & research (FedReady's grouping, from NAICS 541715)
- Versions
5 versions have been posted, newest first.
- Oct 15, 2026 · Amendment 0003 (this version)Due Nov 18, 2026
- Oct 13, 2026 · AmendmentDue Nov 18, 2026
- Sep 21, 2026 · AmendmentDue Nov 18, 2026
- Aug 24, 2026 · AmendmentDue Nov 18, 2026 (changed)
- Aug 20, 2026 · Combined Synopsis/SolicitationDue Dec 22, 2026
- Attachments
Past awards and competition
Who has won work like this before, the likely incumbent, and what similar contracts paid, from USAspending.gov.
Before you respond
- How to respond to a solicitation (8 steps)
- How to read a government solicitation
- How to price a government contract
Terms on this notice: Solicitation
Full notice text from SAM.gov
AMENDMENT 03 (10/13/2026): The purpose of this Amendment 0003 is to incorporate additional responses to inquiries concerning the solicitation as a continuation of questions 1 through 13 under Amendment 0002 (See attached). All other terms and conditions of the solicitation remain unchanged. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AMENDMENT 02 (09/21/2026): The purpose of this amendment is to incorporate PHMSA’s Responses to Vendor Inquiries regarding Phase I white paper submissions, subcontractor eligibility for foreign entities, submission limits, deadlines, and multi-topic proposals under the solicitation (See attached). All other terms and conditions of the solicitation remain unchanged. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AMENDMENT 01 (08/24/2026): The purpose of this amendment is to (1) change the Phase I White Paper due date from December 22, 2026, to November 18, 2026, and (2) add the contact email address tremayne.terry@dot.gov to Section X.A. in Attachment 1- BAA Solicitation_PHMSA-26HM-BAA. All other terms and conditions of the solicitation remain unchanged. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Office of Hazardous Materials Safety (OHMS), is soliciting white papers and full proposals under Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) PHMSA-26HM-BAA pursuant to FAR 35.016. The objective of this announcement is to award competitive research contracts that advance scientific, technical, engineering, and policy solutions to prevent incidents and enhance safety during the transportation of hazardous materials across all modes. Offerors are invited to submit innovative research proposals addressing one or more of the following core topic areas: 26HM-ESS (Efficient Safety Standards): Research to modernize safety standards and testing, streamline certification, leverage safety data, and evaluate risk landscapes to reduce regulatory burden while maintaining safety. 26HM-SST (Safe Energy Storage Technologies): Research assessing transportation risks of energy storage systems, battery chemistries, thermal runaway detection and mitigation, and critical mineral recovery. 26HM-IPG (Innovative Packaging): Development and evaluation of advanced packaging materials, containment designs, integrity monitoring, and predictive failure simulations. 26HM-RER (Risk Reduction for Emergency Response): Innovations, technologies, data analysis, and materials to enhance emergency responder safety, communication, and preparedness. 26HM-RTS (Hazardous Materials Rail Transportation Safety): Research advancing scientific understanding of rail tank car performance under derailment conditions, crashworthiness materials, thermal shielding, and predictive risk modeling. A two-phase selection process (Phase I: White Paper; Phase II: Invited Full Proposal) will be used. Awards will be procurement contracts (Firm-Fixed-Price or Cost-Reimbursement) up to $2,000,000 with a total performance period of up to 36 months. Full eligibility, formatting, and submission instructions are detailed in the solicitation document attached to this notice.
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