[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 114 (Tuesday, June 15, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33769-33772]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-14393]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket Number: 1006080242-0242-01]
Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Availability of Funds
for Projects To Develop and Demonstrate Integrated Tools, Training, and
Methodologies for Growth Transformation and To Share With the MEP
Program and Information Session for Potential Applicants
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST),
Department of Commerce (DOC).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
invites proposals from qualified organizations for projects that
address new and emerging competitive needs of manufacturers in areas
consistent with the NIST MEP Program's five Strategic Growth Areas
(Supply Chain, Sustainability, Technology Acceleration, Workforce and
Continuous Improvement). Funded projects will improve the
competitiveness of industries in the applicant's region, and contribute
to the long-term economic stability of the region. Please see the NIST
MEP Web site, http://www.nist.gov/mep for details on these strategies.
Funded projects will use innovative or collaborative approaches to
develop and demonstrate integrated tools, training and methodologies
for growth transformation that meet the Strategic Growth Area needs and
to share those approaches with the MEP National System. NIST MEP will
hold a webinar information session for organizations considering
applying to this opportunity.
DATES: All applications must be received or postmarked no later than
5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Saving Time on July 15, 2010. Late proposals
will not be reviewed. NIST MEP will hold a free webinar information
session for organizations considering applying to this opportunity on
June 22, 2010 at 2 p.m. Eastern Daylight Saving Time.
Information Sessions: NIST MEP will hold an information session for
organizations considering applying to this opportunity. The information
session will be in the form of a webinar to be held on the date stated
in the DATES section of this Federal Register Notice (7 days following
the posting of the announcement). Registration information will be
posted on the NIST MEP public Web site http://www.nist.gov/mep.
ADDRESSES: Hard copy submissions should be sent to: National Institute
of Standards and Technology, Manufacturing Extension Partnership, c/o
Diane Henderson, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 4800, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-
4800. Electronic submissions should be uploaded to http://www.Grants.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A paper copy of the Federal Register
Notice (FRN) may be obtained by calling (301) 975-6328. Administrative,
budget, cost-sharing, and eligibility questions should be addressed to
Diane Henderson at Tel: (301) 975-5105; E-mail:
[email protected]; Fax: (301) 963-6556. Project evaluation
criteria and other programmatic questions should be addressed to Alex
Folk at Tel: (301) 975-8089; E-mail: [email protected]; Fax: (301)
963-6556. Grants Administration questions should be addressed to:
Grants and Agreements Management Division, National Institute of
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 1650, Gaithersburg, MD
20899-1650; Tel: (301) 975-6328. For assistance with using Grants.gov
contact [email protected] or call 800-518-4726. All questions and
responses will be posted on the MEP Web site, http://www.nist.gov/mep.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic access: Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the
Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) announcement available at http://
www.grants.gov for complete information about this program, including
all program requirements and instructions for applying by paper or
electronically. The FFO may be found by searching under the Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance Name and Number provided below.
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 278(k)(f).
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Name and Number:
Manufacturing Extension Partnership--11.611)
Information Session: NIST MEP will hold a free information session
for organizations considering applying to this opportunity. The
information session will be in the form of a free webinar to be held on
the date specified in the DATES section above at 2 p.m. Eastern
Daylight Saving Time. Organizations wishing to participate in the
webinar must register at the NIST MEP public Web site http://www.nist.gov/mep.
Program Description: The objective of NIST MEP program is to
increase productivity, enhance technological performance, and
strengthen the global
[[Page 33770]]
competitiveness of small- and medium-sized U.S. based manufacturing
firms. In accordance with 15 U.S.C. 278k(f), the NIST Director, in
consultation with the Director of the MEP Centers Program, the MEP
Advisory Board, and small and medium-sized manufacturers, has
identified five Strategic Growth Areas that address new or emerging
manufacturing problems, which are addressed in this competition. The
five Strategic Growth Areas upon which the competition will focus are:
Supply Chain, Sustainability, Technology Acceleration, Workforce and
Continuous Improvement. NIST invites proposals from qualified
organizations for funding projects that address the five Strategic
Growth Areas. Please see the NIST MEP Web site, http://www.nist.gov/mep
for details on these Strategic Growth Areas. Funded projects will
improve the competitiveness of industries in the applicant's region,
and contribute to the long-term economic stability of the region.
Competitive projects will use innovative or collaborative approaches to
develop and demonstrate integrated tools, training and methodologies
for growth transformation that meet the Strategic Growth Area needs and
to share those approaches with the MEP National System.
All organizations meeting eligibility requirements provided herein
are invited to submit proposals.
It is important that these awards be well aligned with the MEP
national system of extension service providers in order to maximize the
potential and impact of existing resources available to manufacturers
through the MEP Program. Further information regarding this MEP Program
is provided in the information packet, which can be obtained at http://
www.grants.gov, with additional background information provided at
http://www.nist.gov/mep.
The proposal should include plans for integration into the MEP
national system and linkages to appropriate national resources.
Funding Availability: The total amount awarded under this
solicitation will not exceed $3,500,000.
Projects initiated under this category may be carried out over a
period of up to three years. If NIST selects a proposal for a multi-
year award, funding will generally be provided for only the first year
of the program. Continuation of an award or extensions of the period of
performance is at the total discretion of the NIST. If NIST selects an
application for funding, NIST has no obligation to provide any
additional future funding in connection with that award. Funding for
each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent upon
satisfactory progress and the availability of funds. Projects are
expected to start within 30 days of award notice.
Cost Share Requirements: Recipients of awards under this
solicitation are not required to provide cost share.
Eligibility: Eligible applicants include existing MEP extension
centers or consortia of centers. A consortium of MEP centers is
strongly encouraged to adequately demonstrate the leveraging of
resources and competencies tied to the strategic areas.
Application Requirements: Applications must be submitted in
accordance with the requirements set forth in the corresponding FFO
announcement.
Evaluation Criteria: All qualified proposals will be evaluated
based on the following seven criteria, which are assigned equal
weighting.
(1) Demonstration that the proposed project outputs and objectives
are aligned with and will meet the technical assistance needs of
technical assistance providers and manufacturers. The proposal must
clearly articulate the needs to be addressed and solutions to be
demonstrated within the proposed scope. The proposal should show that
the efforts being proposed meet the needs identified and clearly
defined deliverables.
Factors that may be considered include: a clear articulation of the
tools, training and methodologies to be developed; an articulation of
the five MEP Strategic Growth Areas (Supply Chain, Sustainability,
Technology Acceleration, Workforce and Continuous Improvement); and
demonstration of what and how the proposed integration of the areas
will be achieved.
(2) Development methodology and leverage of existing resources. The
proposal must describe the technical plan for the development of the
tool(s) or resource(s), including a clearly articulated project plan
for development, training and demonstration of the products or
deliverables. Sources of expertise to be used should be clearly
delineated and may include sources internal to the proposer or from
other organizations. Factors that may be considered include: adequacy
of the proposed technical plan; strength of core competency in the
proposed area of activity; and demonstrated access to relevant subject
matter expertise external to the organization.
(3) Degree of integration with the manufacturing extension
partnership. The proposal must demonstrate that the tool or resource
will be integrated into and will be of service to the NIST
Manufacturing Extension Centers. Factors that may be considered
include: ability to access the tool or resource especially by MEP
extension centers; adequacy of methodology for disseminating or
promoting use of the tool or technique especially within the MEP
system; and demonstrated interest in using the tool or technique
especially by MEP extension centers. A plan that reflects not only the
development activities but the specific actions needed to educate,
train and deploy within the MEP system is critical.
(4) Coordination with other relevant organizations. Wherever
possible the project should be coordinated with and leverage other
organizations including other MEP extension centers which are
developing or have expertise on similar tools, techniques, practices,
or analyses. If no such organizations exist, the proposal should show
that this is the case. Applicants will need to describe how they will
coordinate to allow for increased economies of scale and to avoid
duplication. Factors that may be considered include: demonstrated
understanding of existing organizations and resources relevant to the
proposed project; adequate linkages and partnerships with existing
organizations and clear definition of those organizations' roles in the
proposed activities; and demonstration that the proposed activity does
not duplicate existing services or resources.
(5) Program evaluation. The applicant should specify plans for
evaluation of the effectiveness of the proposed tool(s), or
technique(s) or methodologies and for ensuring continuous improvement
of each. Factors that may be considered include: Thoroughness of
evaluation plans, (including internal evaluation for management
control); use of adequate case studies for the use of external
evaluation for assessing outcomes of the activity; adoption by MEP
centers of products developed; and adequate ``customer satisfaction''
measures of performance.
(6) Management experience and plans. Applicants should specify
plans for proper project staffing, and management of the project.
Factors that may be considered include: appropriateness and authority
of the organization to conduct the proposed activities; qualifications
of the project team and the project team's leadership to conduct the
proposed activity; and appropriateness of the organizational approach
for carrying out the proposed project.
(7) Financial plan. Applicants should show the relevance and cost
effectiveness of the financial plan for
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meeting the objectives of the project; and the firmness and level of
the applicant's total financial capacity for the project. Factors that
may be considered include: Reasonableness of the budget; strength of
commitment; effectiveness of management plans for control of budget;
and demonstration of past successful experience on similar projects.
Selection Factors
The Selecting Official, who is the Director of the NIST MEP
Program, anticipates recommending proposals for funding in rank order
of scores based on the criteria listed above unless a proposal is
justified to be awarded out of rank order based on one or more of the
following selection factors:
1. Availability of Federal funds.
2. Appropriate consideration for coverage of all five MEP Strategic
Growth Areas.
3. Whether this project duplicates other projects funded by
Department of Commerce or other Federal agencies.
Proposal Review and Selection Process
a. Proposal Qualification
All proposals will be reviewed by NIST to assure that they are
complete and responsive.
All complete and responsive proposals will be designated qualified
proposals; all others will be disqualified at this phase of the
evaluation and selection process.
b. Proposal Review and Selection of Finalists
NIST will appoint an evaluation panel to review and evaluate all
qualified proposals in accordance with the evaluation criteria set
forth in this part. The evaluation panel will consist of NIST
employees, and in some cases, other federal employees or non-federal
experts who sign non-disclosure agreements. If the review panel is
composed of non-federal employees, the reviewers will provide
individual scores, and no consensus advice will be given. A site visit
may be required to fully evaluate a proposal. If NIST determines that
site visits are necessary, the site visits would take place after the
review panel conducts its initial review. The Evaluation Panel and
Chair will conduct site visits for all proposals that meet a minimum
threshold score to be determined by NIST. All proposals will be
numerically ranked and then submitted to the Selecting Official, the
Director of the NIST MEP Program for selection based on the ranking,
site visit comments if conducted, and the selection factors listed
above.
NIST may enter into negotiations with the finalists concerning any
aspect of their proposal.
c. Award Determination
The Selecting Official shall select awardees based on total
evaluation scores/rank and the selection factors provided above and
make funding recommendations to the NIST Grants Officer. Upon the final
award decision, a notification will be made to each of the proposing
organizations.
The final approval of selected applications and award of financial
assistance will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance
with application requirements as published in this notice, compliance
with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, and whether the
recommended applicants appear to be responsible. Applicants may be
asked to modify objectives, work plans, or budgets and provide
supplemental information required by the agency prior to award. As a
result of the selection process, NIST may fund all, some, or parts of
the eligible applications submitted, or none at all. The decision of
the Grants Officer is final.
Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program
will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years
for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for
Grants and Cooperative Agreements: The Department of Commerce Pre-Award
Notification Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements, which
are contained in the Federal Register Notice of February 11, 2008 (73
FR 7696), are applicable to this notice. Please refer to http://
www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/.
Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System: On the form SF-
424 items 8.b. and 8.c., the applicant's 9-digit Employer/Taxpayer
Identification Number (EIN/TIN) and 9-digit Dun and Bradstreet Data
Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number must be consistent with the
information on the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) (http://
www.ccr.gov) and Automated Standard Application for Payment System
(ASAP). For complex organizations with multiple EIN/TIN and DUNS
numbers, the EIN/TIN and DUNS number MUST be the numbers for the
applying organization. Organizations that provide incorrect/
inconsistent EIN/TIN and DUNS numbers may experience significant delays
in receiving funds if their proposal is selected for funding. Please
confirm that the EIN/TIN and DUNS number are consistent with the
information on the CCR and ASAP.
Paperwork Reduction Act: The standard forms in the application kit
involve a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction
Act. The use of Standard Forms 424, 424A, 424B, SF-LLL, and CD-346 have
been approved by OMB under the respective Control Numbers 0348-0043,
0348-0044, 0348-0040, 0348-0046, and 0605-0001. MEP program-specific
application requirements have been approved by OMB under Control Number
0693-0056.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is
required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty
for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of
information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.
Funding Availability and Limitation of Liability: The funding
periods and funding amounts referenced in this notice and request for
proposals are subject to the availability of funds, as well as to
Department of Commerce and NIST priorities at the time of award. The
Department of Commerce and NIST will not be held responsible for
proposal preparation costs. Publication of this notice does not
obligate the Department of Commerce or NIST to award any specific grant
or cooperative agreement or to obligate all or any part of available
funds.
Executive Order 12866: This funding notice was determined to be not
significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866.
Executive Order 13132 (Federalism): It has been determined that
this notice does not contain policies with federalism implications as
that term is defined in Executive Order 13132.
Executive Order 12372: Applications under this program are not
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs.''
Administrative Procedure Act/Regulatory Flexibility Act: Notice and
comment are not required under the Administrative Procedure Act (5
U.S.C. 553) or any other law, for rules relating to public property,
loans, grants, benefits or contracts (5 U.S.C. 553 (a)). Because notice
and comment are not required under 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other law, for
rules relating to public property, loans, grants, benefits or contracts
(5 U.S.C. 553(a)), a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is not required
and has not been prepared for this notice, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.
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Dated: June 10, 2010.
David M. Robinson,
Chief Financial Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-14393 Filed 6-14-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P