[Federal Register: January 25, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 17)]
[
Notices]
[Page 4521-4535]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25ja08-41]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket No.: 071220879-8021-01]
Measurement, Science and Engineering Grants Programs;
Availability of Funds
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
announces that the following programs are soliciting applications for
financial assistance for FY 2008: (1) The Electronics and Electrical
Engineering Laboratory Grants Program; (2) the Manufacturing
Engineering Laboratory Grants Program; (3) the Chemical Science and
Technology Laboratory Grants Program; (4) the Physics Laboratory Grants
Program; (5) the Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory Grants
Program; (6) the Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements
Program; (7) the Fire Research Grants Program; (8) the Information
Technology Laboratory Grants Program; (9) the NIST Center for Neutron
Research Grants Program; (10) Center for Nanoscale Science and
Technology Grants Program; and (11) the NCNR Sample Environment
Equipment Financial Assistance Program. Each program will only consider
applications that are within the scientific scope of the program as
described in this notice and in the detailed program descriptions found
in the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) announcement for these
programs. Prior to preparation of a proposal, it is strongly suggested
that potential applicants contact the Program Manager for the
appropriate field of research, as specified in the FFO announcement
found at http://www.grants.gov, for clarification of the program
objectives and to determine whether their proposal is responsive to
this notice.
DATES: See below.
ADDRESSES: See below.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Name and Number: Measurement
and Engineering Research and Standards--11.609.
Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory (EEEL) Grants Program
Program Description: The Electronics and Electrical Engineering
Laboratory (EEEL) Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative
agreements for
[[Page 4522]]
the development of fundamental electrical metrology and of metrology
supporting industry and government agencies in the broad areas of
semiconductors, electronic instrumentation, radio-frequency technology,
optoelectronics, magnetics, superconductors, electronic commerce as
applied to electronic products and devices, the transmission and
distribution of electrical power, national electrical standards
(fundamental, generally quantum-based physical standards), and law
enforcement standards.
DATES: All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no
later than 5 p.m. Daylight Savings Time on June 15, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Paper applications must be submitted to: Sheilda Bryner,
Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory, National Institute
of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8100, Gaithersburg,
MD 20899-8100. Electronic applications and associated proposal
information should be uploaded to http://www.grants.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For complete information about this
program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically, read
the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) Notice at http://www.grants.gov.
A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling (301) 975-6328.
Program questions should be addressed to Sheilda Bryner, Electronics
and Electrical Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of Standards
and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8100, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-
8100, Tel.: (301) 975-2220, Fax: (301) 975-4091. Grants administration
questions concerning this program should be addressed to: Melinda
Chukran, NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division, (301) 975-
5266; melinda.chukran@nist.gov. For assistance with using http://
www.grants.gov
, contact support@grants.gov.
Funding Availability
In fiscal year 2007, the EEEL Grants Program made 10 new awards,
totaling $636,245. The amount available each year fluctuates
considerably based on programmatic needs and funding availability. For
FY 2008, individual awards are expected to range between $5,000 and
$150,000.
For the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory Grants
Program, proposals will be considered for research projects from one to
three years. When a proposal for a multi-year award is approved,
funding will generally be provided for only the first year of the
program. If an application is selected for funding, NIST has no
obligation to provide any additional funding in connection with that
award. Continuation of an award to increase funding or extend the
period of performance is at the total discretion of NIST. Funding for
each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent upon
satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the
Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory Grants Program, and
the availability of funds. The multi-year awards must have scopes of
work that can be easily separated into annual increments of meaningful
work that represent solid accomplishments if prospective funding is not
made available to the applicant (i.e., the scopes of work for each
funding period must produce identifiable and meaningful results in and
of themselves).
Statutory Authority: As authorized by 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c), the
NIST Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory conducts a basic
and applied research program directly and through grants and
cooperative agreements to eligible recipients.
Eligibility: The Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory
Grants Program is open to institutions of higher education; hospitals;
non-profit organizations; commercial organizations; state, local, and
Indian tribal governments; foreign governments; organizations under the
jurisdiction of foreign governments; and international organizations.
Review and Selection Process: For the Electronics and Electrical
Engineering Laboratory Grants Program, proposals will be reviewed in a
three-step process. First, the EEEL Grants Coordinator, or the Deputy
Director of EEEL, will determine the compatibility of the applicant's
proposal with EEEL Program Areas and the relevance to the objectives of
the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory Grants Program,
described in the Program Description section above. If it is determined
that the proposal is incomplete or non-responsive to the scope of the
stated objectives, the proposal will not be reviewed for technical
merit. If it is determined that all funds available for the EEEL Grants
Program for the given fiscal year have been exhausted, the proposal
will not be reviewed for technical merit. Proposers may contact EEEL at
301-975-2220 to find out if funds have been exhausted for the fiscal
year. EEEL will also post a notice on its Web site, http://
www.eeel.nist.gov/eeel_grants/
, when funds are exhausted for the
fiscal year. EEEL will notify proposers in writing if their proposals
are not reviewed for technical merit.
Second, proposals will be distributed for technical review by the
EEEL Grants Coordinator, or other technical professionals familiar with
the programs of the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory,
to the appropriate Division or Office based on technical area. At least
three independent, objective individuals knowledgeable about the
particular scientific area addressed by the proposal will conduct a
technical review based on the evaluation criteria. If non-Federal
reviewers are used, the reviewers may discuss the proposals with each
other, but scores will be determined on an individual basis, not as a
consensus.
Reviews will be conducted on a monthly basis, and all proposals
received on or before the 15th day of the month will be ranked based on
the reviewers' scores.
Third, the Division Chief or Office Director will make application
selections. In making application selections, the Division Chief or
Office Director will take into consideration the results of the
reviewers' evaluations, the availability of funding, and relevance to
the objectives or research areas of the Electronics and Electrical
Engineering Laboratory Grants Program, as described in the Program
Description section above. 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. 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.
Evaluation Criteria: For the Electronics and Electrical Engineering
Laboratory Grants Program, the evaluation criteria and weights to be
used by the technical reviewers in evaluating the proposals are as
follows:
Proposal addresses specific program objectives as described in this
notice (25%)
[[Page 4523]]
Proposal provides evidence of applicant's expertise in relevant
technical area (20%)
Proposal offers innovative approach (20%)
Proposal provides realistic schedule with defined milestones (20%)
Proposal provides adequate rationale for budget (15%)
Cost Share Requirements: The Electronics and Electrical Engineering
Laboratory Grants Program does not require any matching funds.
Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory (MEL) Grants Program
Program Description: The Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory (MEL)
Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements in the
following fields of research: Dimensional Metrology for Manufacturing,
Mechanical Metrology for Manufacturing, Machine Tool and Machining
Process Metrology, Intelligent Systems, and Information Systems
Integration for Applications in Manufacturing. Specific information
regarding program objectives can be found in the corresponding Federal
Funding Opportunity for this announcement.
Dates: Applications will be considered on a continuing basis.
Applications received after June 1, 2008 may be processed and
considered for funding under this solicitation in the current fiscal
year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds.
Applications, paper and electronic, must be received prior to the
publication date in the Federal Register of the FY 2009 solicitation
for the MEL Grants Program in order to be processed under this
solicitation.
Addresses: Paper applications must be submitted to: Ms. Alana
Glover, Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8200, Building 220,
Room B322, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8200. Electronic applications
and associated proposal information should be uploaded to http://
www.grants.gov
.
For Further Information Contact: For complete information about
this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically,
read the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) Notice at http://
www.grants.gov.
A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling
(301) 975-6328. Program questions should be addressed to Ms. Alana
Glover, Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8200, Building 220,
Room B322, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8200, Tel: (301) 975-3400, E-
mail: aglover@nist.gov. Grants administration questions concerning this
program should be addressed to: Melinda Chukran, NIST Grants and
http://www.grants.gov, contact support@grants.gov.
Funding Availability: In fiscal year 2007, the MEL Grants Program
funded 8 new awards, totaling $729,775.49. In fiscal year 2008 the MEL
Grants Program anticipates funding of approximately $500,000.
Individual awards are expected to range from approximately $25,000 to
$250,000.
For the MEL Grants Program, proposals will be considered for
research projects from one to five years. When a proposal for a multi-
year award is approved, funding will generally be provided for only the
first year of the program. If an application is selected for funding,
NIST has no obligation to provide any additional funding in connection
with that award. Continuation of an award to increase funding or extend
the period of performance is at the total discretion of NIST. Funding
for each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent
upon satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the
MEL program, and the availability of funds. The multi-year awards must
have scopes of work that can be easily separated into annual increments
of meaningful work that represent solid accomplishments if prospective
funding is not made available to the applicant, (i.e., the scopes of
work for each funding period must produce identifiable and meaningful
results in and of themselves).
Statutory Authority: As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c),
the MEL conducts a basic and applied research program directly and
through grants and cooperative agreements to eligible recipients.
Eligibility: The MEL Grants Program is open to institutions of
higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial
organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; foreign
governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign
governments; and international organizations.
Review and Selection Process: For the MEL Grants Program responsive
proposals will be assigned, as received on a rolling basis, to the most
appropriate area for review. Proposals will be reviewed in a three-step
process. First, the MEL Deputy Director or the appropriate MEL Division
Chief will determine the applicability of the proposal with regard to
MEL programs and the relevance of the proposal's objectives to current
MEL research. If it is determined that the proposal is incomplete or
non-responsive to the scope of the stated objectives, the proposal will
not be reviewed for technical merit. Second, the appropriate MEL
Division Chief or MEL Program Manager will determine the possibility
for funding availability within the MEL technical program area most
relevant to the objectives of the proposal. If it is determined that
sufficient funding is not available to consider grants proposals in the
technical area of the proposal, the proposal will not be reviewed for
technical merit. Third, if the proposal passes the first two steps, at
least three independent, objective individuals knowledgeable about the
particular scientific area addressed by the proposal will conduct a
technical review based on the evaluation criteria. If non-Federal
reviewers are used, the reviewers may discuss the proposal with each
other, but scores will be determined on an individual basis, not as a
consensus.
The MEL Director or appropriate MEL Division Chief will make
application selections from the grants proposals submitted. In making
the application selections, the Laboratory Director or Division Chief
will take into consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations,
the availability of funds, and relevance to the objectives or research
areas of the MEL Grants Program. These objectives are described above
in the Program Description section.
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. 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.
Evaluation Criteria: For the MEL Grants Program, the evaluation
criteria the technical reviewers will use in evaluating the proposals
are as follows:
1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the
applicant's approach and the extent to
[[Page 4524]]
which the proposal effectively addresses scientific and technical
issues.
2. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the
potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it
would contribute to the field of manufacturing engineering and
metrology research. Proposals must be relevant to current MEL research
and have a relation to the objectives of ongoing MEL programs and
activities.
3. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider
the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed
personnel to perform the work in the project.
4. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to
which the proposer has access to the necessary facilities and overall
support to accomplish project objectives.
Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation
process.
Cost Share Requirements: The MEL Grants Program does not require
any matching funds.
Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Grants Program
Program Description: The Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory
(CSTL) Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements
consistent with the CSTL mission in the following fields of measurement
science research, focused on reference methods, reference materials and
reference data: Biochemical Science Process Measurements, Surface and
Microanalysis Science, Physical and Chemical Properties, and Analytical
Chemistry. Specific information regarding program objectives can be
found in the corresponding Federal Funding Opportunity for this
announcement.
The Programs are structured to support CSTL's three objectives:
1. Provide the national traceability and international
comparability structure for measurements in chemistry, chemical
engineering, and biochemical sciences.
2. Assure that U.S. industry has access to accurate and reliable
data and predictive models to determine the chemical and physical
properties of materials and processes;
3. Anticipate and address next-generation measurement needs of the
Nation.
Dates: Applications will be considered on a continuing basis.
Applications received after June 1, 2008 may be processed and
considered for funding under this solicitation in the current fiscal
year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds.
Applications, paper and electronic, must be received prior to the
publication date in the Federal Register of the FY 2009 solicitation
for the CSTL Grants Program in order to be processed under this
solicitation.
Addresses: Paper applications must be submitted to: Ms. Donna
Kimball, Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory, National Institute
of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8300, Gaithersburg,
MD 20899-8300. Electronic applications and associated proposal
information should be uploaded to http://www.grants.gov.
For Further Information Contact: For complete information about
this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically,
read the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) Notice at http://
www.grants.gov.
A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling
(301) 975-6328. Program questions should be addressed to Ms. Donna
Kimball, Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory, National Institute
of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8300, Gaithersburg,
MD 20899-8300, Tel (301) 975-8300, E-Mail: donna.kimball@nist.gov.
Grants administration questions concerning this program should be
addressed to: Melinda Chukran, NIST Grants and Agreements Management
Division, (301) 975-5266; melinda.chukran@nist.gov. For assistance with
using http://www.grants.gov, contact support@grants.gov.
Funding Availability
No funds have been set aside specifically for the CSTL Grants
Program. The availability of funds depends upon actual authorization of
funds and other costs expected to be incurred by individual divisions
within the laboratory. Where funds are identified as available for
grants, those funds will be awarded to highly ranked proposals as
determined by the process described in this notice.
In fiscal year 2007, the CSTL Grants Program funded 4 new awards,
totaling $341,195.00. In fiscal year 2008, the CSTL Grants Program
anticipates funding of approximately $1,000,000. Individual awards are
expected to range from approximately $5,000 to $100,000.
For the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Grant Program,
proposals will be considered for research projects from one to three
years. When a proposal for a multi-year award is approved, funding will
generally be provided for only the first year of the program. If an
application is selected for funding, NIST has no obligation to provide
any additional funding in connection with that award. Continuation of
an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at
the total discretion of NIST. Funding for each subsequent year of a
multi-year proposal will be contingent upon satisfactory progress,
continued relevance to the mission of the Chemical Science and
Technology Laboratory program, and the availability of funds. The
multi-year awards must have scopes of work that can be easily separated
into annual increments of meaningful work that represent solid
accomplishments if prospective funding is not made available to the
applicant, (i.e. the scopes of work for each funding period must
produce identifiable and meaningful results in and of themselves).
Statutory Authority: As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c),
the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory conducts a basic and
applied research program directly and through grants and cooperative
agreements to eligible recipients.
Eligibility: The Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Grants
Program is open to institutions of higher education; hospitals; non-
profit organizations; commercial organizations; state, local, and
Indian tribal governments; foreign governments; organizations under the
jurisdiction of foreign governments; and international organizations.
Review and Selection Process: For the Chemical Science and
Technology Laboratory Grants Program, proposals will be reviewed in a
three-step process. First, the Deputy Director of CSTL, or appropriate
CSTL Division Chief, will determine the compatibility of the
applicant's proposal with CSTL Program Areas and the relevance to the
objectives of the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Grants
Program, described in the Program Description section above. If it is
determined that the proposal is incomplete or non-responsive to the
scope of the stated objectives, the proposal will not be reviewed for
technical merit.
Second, at least three independent, objective individuals
knowledgeable about the particular measurement science area addressed
by the proposal will conduct a technical review based on the evaluation
criteria. Reviews will be conducted on a quarterly basis, subject to
the availability of funds, and all responsive, complete proposals
received and reviewed since the last quarter will be ranked based on
the reviewers' scores. If non-Federal reviewers are used, the reviewers
may discuss the proposals with each other,
[[Page 4525]]
but scores will be determined on an individual basis, not as a
consensus.
Third, the Division Chief and the CSTL Deputy Director, in
collaboration, will make application selections, taking into
consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations, the
availability of funds, and the relevance to the objectives or research
areas described in the Program Description section above.
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. The
decisions of the Grants Officer are 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.
Evaluation Criteria: For the Chemical Science and Technology
Laboratory Grants Program, the evaluation criteria the technical
reviewers will use in evaluating the proposals are as follows:
1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the
applicant's approach and the extent to which the proposal effectively
addresses scientific and technical issues.
2. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider
the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed
personnel to perform the work in the project.
3. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to
which the proposer has access to the necessary facilities and overall
support to accomplish project objectives.
4. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the
potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it
would contribute to the field of measurement science, especially as it
pertains to reference methods, reference materials and reference data
in Chemical Science and Technology.
Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation
process.
Cost Share Requirements: The Chemical Science and Technology
Laboratory Grants Program does not require any matching funds.
Physics Laboratory Grants Program
Program Description: The Physics Laboratory (PL) Grants Program
will provide grants and cooperative agreements in the following fields
of research: Electron and Optical Physics, Atomic Physics, Optical
Technology, Ionizing Radiation, Time and Frequency, and Quantum
Physics. Specific information regarding program objectives can be found
in the corresponding Federal Funding Opportunity for this announcement.
Dates: Applications will be considered on a continuing basis.
Applications received after June 1, 2008 may be processed and
considered for funding under this solicitation in the current fiscal
year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds.
Applications, paper and electronic, must be received prior to the
publication date in the Federal Register of the FY 2009 solicitation
for the Physics Grants Program in order to be processed under this
solicitation.
Addresses: Paper applications must be submitted to: Ms. Anita
Sweigert, Physics Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and
Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8400, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8400.
Electronic applications and associated proposal information should be
uploaded to http://www.grants.gov.
For Further Information Contact: For complete information about
this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically,
read the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) Notice at http://
www.grants.gov.
A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling
(301) 975-6328. Program questions should be addressed to Ms. Anita
Sweigert, Physics Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and
Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8400, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8400,
Tel (301) 975-4200, E-mail: anita.sweigert@nist.gov. It is strongly
suggested to first confirm the program objectives with the Program
Manager prior to preparing a detailed proposal. Grants administration
questions concerning this program should be addressed to: Melinda
Chukran, NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division, (301) 975-
5266; melinda.chukran@nist.gov. For assistance with using http://
www.grants.gov
, contact support@grants.gov.
Funding Availability
In fiscal year 2007, the PL Grants Program funded 13 new awards,
totaling $1,718,401.00. In fiscal year 2008, the PL Grants Program
anticipates funding of approximately $2,000,000, including new awards
and continuing projects. Funding availability will be apportioned by
quarter. Individual awards are expected to range from approximately
$5,000 to $500,000 per year.
For the Physics Laboratory Grants Program, proposals will be
considered for research projects from one to five years. When a
proposal for a multi-year project is approved, funding will generally
be provided for only the first year of the program. If an application
is selected for funding, NIST has no obligation to provide any
additional funding in connection with that award. Continuation of an
award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the
total discretion of NIST. Funding for each subsequent year of a multi-
year proposal will be contingent upon satisfactory progress, continued
relevance to the mission of the Physics Laboratory program, and the
availability of funds. The multi-year awards must have scopes of work
that can be easily separated into annual increments of meaningful work
that represent solid accomplishments if prospective funding is not made
available to the applicant (i.e., the scopes of work for each funding
period must produce identifiable and meaningful results in and of
themselves).
Statutory Authority: As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c),
the Physics Laboratory conducts a basic and applied research program
directly and through grants and cooperative agreements to eligible
recipients.
Eligibility: The Physics Laboratory Grants Program is open to
institutions of higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations;
commercial organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments;
foreign governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign
governments; and international organizations.
Review and Selection Process: For the Physics Laboratory Grants
Program, responsive proposals will be considered as follows: First, at
least three independent, objective individuals knowledgeable about the
particular scientific area described in the proposal will conduct a
technical review of each proposal, based on the evaluation criteria.
Reviews will be conducted on a monthly basis within each division of
the Physics Laboratory, and all proposals received during the month
will be ranked based on the reviewers' scores. If non-Federal reviewers
are used, reviewers may discuss the proposals with each other, but
scores will be determined on an individual basis, not as a consensus.
Next, the Division Chief will make final application selections,
taking into consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations,
including rank;
[[Page 4526]]
the compilation of a slate that, when taken as a whole, is likely to
best further the program interests described in the Program Description
section above; and the availability of funds. 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.
The decisions of the Grants Officer are 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.
Evaluation Criteria: For the Physics Laboratory Grants Program, the
evaluation criteria the technical reviewers will use in evaluating the
proposals are as follows:
1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the
applicant's approach and the extent to which the proposal effectively
addresses scientific and technical issues that are relevant to Physics
Laboratory programs.
2. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider
the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed
personnel to perform the work in the project.
3. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to
which the proposer has access to the necessary facilities and overall
support to accomplish project objectives.
4. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the
potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it
would contribute to the field of physics.
Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation
process.
Cost Share Requirements: The Physics Laboratory Grants Program does
not require any matching funds.
MSEL Grants Program
Program Description: The Materials Science and Engineering
Laboratory (MSEL) Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative
agreements in the following fields of research: Ceramics, Metallurgy,
Polymers, and Materials Reliability. Specific information regarding
program objectives can be found in the corresponding Federal Funding
Opportunity for this announcement.
Dates: Applications will be considered on a continuing basis.
Applications received after June 1, 2008 may be processed and
considered for funding under this solicitation in the current fiscal
year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds.
Applications, paper and electronic, must be received prior to the
publication date in the Federal Register of the FY 2009 solicitation
for the MSEL Grants Program in order to be processed under this
solicitation.
Addresses: Paper applications must be submitted to: Ms. Nancy
Selepak, Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory, National
Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8500,
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8500. Electronic applications and
associated proposal information should be uploaded to http://
www.grants.gov
.
For Further Information Contact: For complete information about
this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically,
read the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) Notice at http://
www.grants.gov.
A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling
(301) 975-6328. Program questions should be addressed to Ms. Nancy
Selepak, Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory, National
Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8500,
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8500, Tel: (301) 975-2047, E-mail:
nancy.selepak@nist.gov. Grants administration questions concerning this
program should be addressed to: Melinda Chukran, NIST Grants and
http://www.grants.gov, contact support@grants.gov.
Funding Availability
In fiscal year 2007, the MSEL Grants Program funded 19 new awards,
totaling $1,484,478.66. In fiscal year 2008, the MSEL Grants Program
anticipates funding of approximately $3,300,000, including new awards
and continuing projects. Most grants and cooperative agreements are
expected to be in the $2,000 to $500,000 per year range.
For the MSEL Grants Program, proposals will be considered for
research projects from one to five years. When a proposal for a multi-
year award is approved, funding will generally be provided for only the
first year of the program. If an application is selected for funding,
NIST has no obligation to provide any additional funding in connection
with that award. Continuation of an award to increase funding or extend
the period of performance is at the total discretion of NIST. Funding
for each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent
upon satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the
MSEL program, and the availability of funds. The multi-year awards must
have scopes of work that can be easily separated into annual increments
of meaningful work that represent solid accomplishments if prospective
funding is not made available to the applicant (i.e., the scopes of
work for each funding period must produce identifiable and meaningful
results in and of themselves).
Statutory Authority: As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c),
the MSEL conducts a basic and applied research program directly and
through grants and cooperative agreements to eligible recipients.
Eligibility: The MSEL Grants Program is open to institutions of
higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial
organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; foreign
governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign
governments; and international organizations.
Review and Selection Process: For the MSEL Grants Program,
proposals will be reviewed in a two-step process. First, at least three
independent, objective individuals knowledgeable in the particular
scientific area addressed by the proposal will conduct a technical
review. Proposals are received on a rolling basis and will be reviewed
based on the evaluation criteria. If non-Federal reviewers are used,
the reviewers may discuss the proposals with each other, but scores
will be determined on an individual basis, not as a consensus. Second,
the Division Chief or Laboratory Deputy Director will make application
selections. In making application selections, the Division Chief or
Laboratory Deputy Director will take into consideration the results of
the reviewers' evaluations, the availability of funds, and relevance to
the objectives or research areas of the MSEL Grants Program, described
in the Program Description section of the FFO. For conferences,
workshops, or other technical research meetings, the Division Chief or
Laboratory Deputy Director will also take into consideration whether
they align with ongoing MSEL programmatic activities. The final
approval of selected applications and award of financial assistance
will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance
[[Page 4527]]
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. 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.
Evaluation Criteria: For the MSEL Grants Program, the evaluation
criteria the technical reviewers will use in evaluating the proposals
are as follows:
1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the
applicant's approach and the extent to which the proposal effectively
addresses scientific and technical issues.
2. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider
the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed
personnel to perform the work in the project.
3. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to
which the proposer has access to the necessary facilities and overall
support to accomplish project objectives.
4. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the
potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it
would contribute to the field of materials science and engineering.
Proposals must be relevant to current MSEL research and have a relation
to the objectives of ongoing MSEL programs and activities.
Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation
process.
Cost Share Requirements: The MSEL Grants Program does not require
any matching funds.
Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program
Program Description: The Building Research Grants and Cooperative
Agreements Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements in
the following fields of research: Structures, Construction Metrology
and Automation, Inorganic Materials, Polymeric Materials, HVAC & R
Equipment Performance, Mechanical Systems and Controls, Heat Transfer
and Alternative Energy Systems, Computer Integrated Building Processes,
and Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation.
The Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program
supports the formal mission of the Building and Fire Research
Laboratory, which is to meet the measurement and standards needs of the
Building and Fire communities. All proposals submitted must be in
accordance with the program objectives found in the corresponding
Federal Funding Opportunity for this announcement.
Dates: Applications will be considered on a continuing basis.
Applications received after June 1, 2008 may be processed and
considered for funding under this solicitation in the current fiscal
year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds.
Applications, paper and electronic, must be received prior to the
publication date in the Federal Register of the FY 2009 solicitation
for the Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program in
order to be processed under this solicitation.
Addresses: Paper applications must be submitted to: Karen Perry,
Building and Fire Research Laboratory, National Institute of Standards
and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8602, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-
8602. Electronic applications and associated proposal information
should be uploaded to http://www.grants.gov.
For Further Information Contact: For complete information about
this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically,
read the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) Notice at http://
www.grants.gov.
A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling
(301) 975-6328. Program questions should be addressed to Karen Perry,
Building and Fire Research Laboratory, National Institute of Standards
and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8602, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-
8602, Tel.: (301) 975-5910, karen.perry@nist.gov, Fax: (301) 975-4032,
and Web site http://www.bfrl.nist.gov. Grants administration questions
concerning this program should be addressed to: Melinda Chukran, NIST
http://www.grants.gov, contact support@grants.gov.
Funding Availability
In fiscal year 2007, the Building Research Grants and Cooperative
Agreements Program funded 7 new awards, totaling $378,908.00. No funds
have been set aside specifically for the Building Research Grants and
Cooperative Agreements Program. The availability of funds depends upon
actual authorization of funds and other costs expected to be incurred
by the individual divisions. The amount available each year fluctuates
considerably based on programmatic needs. In FY 2008, individual awards
are expected to range between $5,000 and $150,000.
For the Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements
Program, proposals will be considered for research projects from one to
three years. When a proposal for a multi-year award is approved,
funding will generally be provided for only the first year of the
program. If an application is selected for funding, NIST has no
obligation to provide any additional funding in connection with that
award. Continuation of an award to increase funding or extend the
period of performance is at the total discretion of NIST. Funding for
each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent upon
satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the
Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program, and the
availability of funds. The multi-year awards must have scopes of work
that can be easily separated into annual increments of meaningful work
that represent solid accomplishments if prospective funding is not made
available to the applicant, (i.e., the scopes of work for each funding
period must produce identifiable and meaningful results in and of
themselves).
Statutory Authority: As authorized by 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c), the
NIST Building and Fire Research Laboratory conducts a basic and applied
research program directly and through grants and cooperative agreements
to eligible recipients.
Eligibility: The Building Research Grants and Cooperative
Agreements Program is open to institutions of higher education;
hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial organizations; state,
local, and Indian tribal governments; foreign governments;
organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments; and
international organizations.
Review and Selection Process: All applications received in response
to this announcement will be reviewed to determine whether or not they
are complete and responsive. Incomplete or non-responsive applications
will not be reviewed for technical merit. The Program will retain one
copy of each non-responsive application for three years for
recordkeeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
Responsive proposals will be forwarded to the appropriate Division
Chief, who will assign them to appropriate reviewers. At least three
[[Page 4528]]
independent, objective individuals knowledgeable about the particular
scientific addressed by the proposal will conduct a technical review
based on the evaluation criteria. When non-Federal reviewers are used,
reviewers may discuss the proposals with each other, but scores will be
determined on an individual basis, not as a consensus. Reviews will be
conducted no less than once per quarter, and all proposals since the
last review session will be ranked based on the reviewers' scores.
Next, the Division Chief, Laboratory Deputy Director, or Laboratory
Director will make application selections. In making application
selections, the Division Chief, Laboratory Deputy Director, or
Laboratory Director will take into consideration the results of the
reviewers' evaluations including score, the availability of funds, and
relevance to the objectives or research areas of the Building Research
Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program, as described in the Program
Description section above.
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. The
award decision of the Grants Officer is final. Applicants should allow
up to 90 days processing time.
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.
Evaluation Criteria: The Divisions of the Building and Fire
Research Laboratory will score proposals based on the following
criteria and weights:
1. Technical quality of the research. Reviewers will assess the
rationality, innovation and imagination of the proposal and the fit to
NIST's in-house building research programs. (0-35 points)
2. Potential impact of the results. Reviewers will assess the
potential impact and the technical application of the results to NIST's
in-house programs and the building industry. (0-25 points)
3. Staff and institution capability to do the work. Reviewers will
evaluate the quality of the facilities and experience of the staff to
assess the likelihood of achieving the objective of the proposal. (0-20
points)
4. Match of budget to proposed work. Reviewers will assess the
budget against the proposed work to ascertain the reasonableness of the
request. (0-20 points)
Cost Share Requirements: The Building Research Grants and
Cooperative Agreements Program does not require any matching funds.
Fire Research Grants Program
Program Description: The Fire Research Grants Program will provide
funding for innovative ideas in the fire research area generated by the
proposal writer, who chooses the topic and approach. The Fire Research
Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements in the
following fields of research analysis and prediction, fire metrology,
fire fighting technology, materials and products, and integrated
performance assessment. Specific information regarding program
objectives can be found in the corresponding Federal Funding
Opportunity for this announcement.
Dates: Applications will be considered on a continuing basis.
Applications received after June 1, 2008 may be processed and
considered for funding under this solicitation in the current fiscal
year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds.
Applications, paper and electronic, must be received prior to the
publication date in the Federal Register of the FY 2009 solicitation
for the Fire Research Grants Program in order to be processed under
this solicitation.
Addresses: Paper applications must be submitted to: Ms. Wanda
Duffin-Ricks, Building and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL), National
Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8660,
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8660. Electronic applications and
associated proposal information should be uploaded to http://
www.grants.gov
.
For Further Information Contact: For complete information about
this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically,
read the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) Notice at http://
www.grants.gov.
A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling
(301) 975-6328. Program questions should be addressed to Ms. Wanda
Duffin-Ricks, Building and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL), National
Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8660,
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8660, Tel: (301) 975-6863, E-mail:
wanda.duffin@nist.gov, Web site: http://www.bfrl.nist.gov. Grants
administration questions concerning this program should be addressed
to: Melinda Chukran, NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division,
(301) 975-5266; melinda.chukran@nist.gov. For assistance with using
http://www.grants.gov, contact support@grants.gov.
Funding Availability: For the Fire Research Grants Program, the
annual budget is $1.3 million. Because of commitments for the support
of multi-year projects and because proposals may have been deferred
from the previous year's competition, only a portion of the budget is
available to fund applications received in response to this notice.
Most grants and cooperative agreements are in the $25,000 to $125,000
per year range, with a maximum requested duration of three years. In
fiscal year 2007, the Fire Research Grants Program funded 13 new
awards, totaling $1,028,069.
For the Fire Research Grants Program, proposals will be considered
for research projects from one to three years. When a proposal for a
multi-year project is approved, funding will normally be provided for
only the first year of the program. If an application is selected 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 on satisfactory progress,
continuing relevance to the mission of the NIST Fire Research Program,
and the availability of funds.
Statutory Authority: As authorized by 15 U.S.C. 278f, the NIST
Building and Fire Research Laboratory conducts directly and through
grants and cooperative agreements, a basic and applied fire research
program.
Eligibility: The Fire Research Grants Program is open to
institutions of higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations;
commercial organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments;
foreign governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign
governments; and international organizations.
Review and Selection Process: Prospective proposers are encouraged
to contact the group leaders listed in the FFO announcement to
determine the responsiveness of the proposal and compliance with
program objectives prior to preparation of a detailed proposal;
however, written pre-proposals and white papers are not solicited and
will not be reviewed for other than compliance and responsiveness.
Responsive proposals will be assigned, as received on a rolling basis,
to the most appropriate group.
[[Page 4529]]
Proposals are evaluated for technical merit based on the evaluation
criteria described above by at least three reviewers chosen from NIST
professionals, technical experts from other interested government
agencies, and experts from the fire research community at large. When
non-Federal reviewers are used, reviewers may discuss the proposals
with each other, but scores will be determined on an individual basis,
not as a consensus. The group leaders will make funding recommendations
to the Division Chief based on the technical evaluation score and the
relationship of the work proposed to the objectives of the program.
Proposal submitted to another agency will be considered for possible
joint-funding if approved by the other agency.
In making application selections, the Division Chief will take into
consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations, including the
scores of the reviewers, the group leader's recommendation, the
availability of funds, and relevance to the objectives or research
areas of the Fire Research Grants Program, as described in the Program
Description section above. 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. The award decision of the Grants Officer is final.
Applicants should allow up to 90 days processing time.
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.
Evaluation Criteria: For the Fire Research Grants Program, the
technical evaluation criteria are as follows:
1. Technical quality of the research. Reviewers will assess the
rationality, innovation and imagination of the proposal. (0-35 points)
2. Potential impact of the results. Reviewers will assess the
potential impact and the technical application of the results to the
fire safety community. (0-25 points )
3. Staff and institution capability to do the work. Reviewers will
evaluate the quality of the facilities and experience of the staff to
assess the likelihood of achieving the objective of the proposal. (0-20
points)
4. Match of budget to proposed work. Reviewers will assess the
budget against the proposed work to ascertain the reasonableness of the
request. (0-20 points)
Cost Share Requirements: The Fire Research Grants Program does not
require any matching funds.
Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) Grants Program
Program Description: The Information Technology Laboratory Grants
Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements in the broad
areas of mathematical and computational sciences, advanced network
technologies, information access, and software testing. Specific
objectives of interest in these areas of research include: quantum
information theory, computational materials science, network science,
mathematical foundations of measurement science for information
systems, mathematical knowledge management, visual data analysis,
verification and validation of computer models, computational biology,
semantic data integration, software testing, human-robot interaction,
human factors/security/core requirements/testing of voting systems,
information visualization, systems biology, grid computing, service
oriented architecture and complex systems, security for the IPv6
transition from and coexistence with IPv4, and device mobility among
heterogeneous networks. For details on these various activities, please
see the Information Technology Laboratory Web site at http://
www.itl.nist.gov.
Additionally, the ITL Grant Program will provide
grants and cooperative agreements in support of conferences, workshops,
and other technical research groups that focus on trends and future
focus areas of information technology. Specific information regarding
program objectives can be found in the corresponding Federal Funding
Opportunity for this announcement.
Dates: Applications will be considered on a continuing basis.
Applications received after June 1, 2008 may be processed and
considered for funding under this solicitation in the current fiscal
year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds.
Applications, paper and electronic, must be received prior to the
publication date in the Federal Register of the FY 2009 solicitation
for the ITL Grants Program in order to be processed under this
solicitation.
Addresses: Paper applications must be submitted to: Kamie Roberts,
Information Technology Laboratory (ITL), National Institute of
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8900, Gaithersburg,
Maryland 20899-8900. Electronic applications and associated proposal
information should be uploaded to http://www.grants.gov.
For Further Information Contact: For complete information about
this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically,
read the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) Notice at http://
www.grants.gov.
A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling
(301) 975-6328. Program questions should be addressed to Kamie Roberts,
Information Technology Laboratory (ITL), National Institute of
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8900, Gaithersburg, MD
20899-8900, Tel.: (301) 975-2901, kamie.roberts@nist.gov, Fax: (301)
975-2378, Web site: http://www.itl.nist.gov. It is strongly suggested
to first confirm the program objectives with the Program Manager prior
to preparing a detailed proposal. Grants administration questions
concerning this program should be addressed to: Melinda Chukran, NIST
http://www.grants.gov, contact support@grants.gov.
Funding Availability: In fiscal year 2007, the Information
Technology Laboratory funded 7 new awards, totaling $169,071.00. No
funds have been set aside specifically for the Information Technology
Laboratory Grants Program. The availability of funds depends upon
actual authorization of funds and other costs expected to be incurred
by the individual divisions. The amount available each year fluctuates
considerably based on programmatic needs. In FY 2008, individual awards
are expected to range between $10,000 and $150,000.
For the Information Technology Laboratory Grants Program, proposals
will be considered for research projects from one to five years. When a
proposal for a multi-year award is approved, funding will generally be
provided for only the first year of the program. If an application is
selected for funding, NIST has no obligation to provide any additional
funding in connection with that award. Continuation of an award to
increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the total
discretion of NIST. Funding for each subsequent year of a multi-year
proposal will be contingent upon satisfactory progress,
[[Page 4530]]
continued relevance to the mission of the Information Technology
Laboratory Grants Program, and the availability of funds. The multi-
year awards must have scopes of work that can be easily separated into
annual increments of meaningful work that represent solid
accomplishments if prospective funding is not made available to the
applicant, (i.e., the scopes of work for each funding period must
produce identifiable and meaningful results in and of themselves).
Statutory Authority: As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c),
the ITL conducts a basic and applied research program directly and
through grants and cooperative agreements to eligible recipients.
Eligibility: The ITL Grants Program is open to institutions of
higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial
organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; foreign
governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign
governments; and international organizations.
Review and Selection Process: For the Information Technology
Laboratory (ITL) Grants Program, proposals will be reviewed in a three-
step process. First, the Deputy Director of ITL, or appropriate
designee, will determine the compatibility of the applicant's proposal
with ITL Program Areas and the relevance to the objectives of the ITL
Grants Program, described in the Program Description section above. If
it is determined that the proposal is incomplete or non-responsive to
the scope of the stated objectives, the proposal will not be reviewed
for technical merit. If a proposal is determined to be incomplete or
non-responsive, or if it is determined that all available funds have
been exhausted, the proposal will not be reviewed for technical merit.
Proposers may contact ITL at 301-975-2901 to find out if funds have
been exhausted for the fiscal year. ITL will also post a notice on its
Web site, http://www.itl.nist.gov, when funds are exhausted for the
fiscal year. ITL will notify proposers in writing if their proposals
are not reviewed for technical merit.
Second, at least three independent, objective individuals
knowledgeable about the particular measurement science area described
in the section above that the proposal addresses will conduct a
technical review of each proposal, based on the evaluation criteria.
Reviews will be conducted on a quarterly basis, and all responsive,
complete proposals received and reviewed since the last quarter will be
ranked based on the reviewers' scores. If non-Federal reviewers are
used, the reviewers may discuss the proposals with each other, but
scores will be determined on an individual basis, not as a consensus.
Third, the Division Chief, in accord with the Director of ITL, will
make application selections, taking into consideration the results of
the reviewers' evaluations, the availability of funds, and the
relevance to the objectives or research areas described in the Program
Description section above.
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. The
decisions of the Grants Officer are 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.
For the ITL Grants Program, the evaluation criteria the technical
reviewers will use in evaluating the proposals are as follows:
1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the
applicant's approach and the extent to which the proposal effectively
addresses scientific and technical issues.
2. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the
potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it
would contribute to the field of information technology research.
3. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider
the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed
personnel to perform the work in the project.
4. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to
which the proposer has access to the necessary facilities and overall
support to accomplish project objectives.
Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation
process.
Cost Share Requirements: The ITL Grants Program does not require
any matching funds.
NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) Grants Program
Program Description: The NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR)
Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements for
research involving neutron scattering, for the development of
innovative technologies that advance the state-of-the-art in neutron
research, and for the support of conferences and/or workshops that
advance these objectives. Specific information regarding program
objectives can be found in the corresponding Federal Funding
Opportunity to this announcement.
All proposals submitted to the NCNR Grants Program must be in
accordance with the program objectives. These are to create novel
approaches to advance high resolution cold and thermal neutron
scattering research; to develop new applications of neutron scattering
to physics, chemistry, and macromolecular and materials research; and
to support the development of innovative technologies relevant to
neutron research, including, for example, high resolution two-
dimensional neutron detectors, neutron monochromators, and neutron
focusing and polarizing devices. Awards to universities to help to
promote research by university students at the NIST/NSF Center for High
Resolution Scattering are also funded under this program. Dr. Dan
Neumann should be contacted for any inquiries about the objectives for
this NCNR program. He can be reached at (301) 975-5252 or by e-mail at
dan.neumann@nist.gov.
Dates: All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no
later than 5 p.m. Daylight Savings Time on June 29, 2008.
Addresses: Paper applications must be submitted to: Mr. Michael
Moore, NIST Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8562, Gaithersburg,
Maryland 20899-8562. Electronic applications and associated proposal
information should be uploaded to http://www.grants.gov.
For Further Information Contact: For complete information about
this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically,
read the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) Notice at http://
www.grants.gov.
A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling
(301) 975-6328. Program questions should be addressed to Dr. Dan
Neumann, NIST Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8500, Gaithersburg,
Maryland 20899-8562, Tel: (301) 975-5252, E-mail: dan@nist.gov. Grants
administration questions concerning this program should be addressed
to: Melinda Chukran, NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division,
(301)
[[Page 4531]]
975-5266; melinda.chukran@nist.gov. For assistance with using http://
www.grants.gov
, contact support@grants.gov.
Funding Availability: The NCNR Grants Program will consider
proposals lasting from one to five years. When a proposal for a multi-
year award is approved, funding will generally be provided for only the
first year of the program. If an application is selected for funding,
NIST has no obligation to provide any additional funding in connection
with that award. Continuation of an award to increase funding or extend
the period of performance is at the total discretion of NIST. Funding
for each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent
upon satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the
NCNR program, and the availability of funds. The multi-year awards must
have scopes of work that can be easily separated into annual increments
of meaningful work that represent solid accomplishments if prospective
funding is not made available to the applicant, i.e., the scopes of
work for each funding period must produce identifiable and meaningful
results in and of themselves. In fiscal year 2007, NCNR made three
awards totaling $176,645. Most grants and cooperative agreements are
expected to be in the $25,000 to $100,000 per year range.
Statutory Authority: As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272 (b) and (c),
the NCNR conducts a basic and applied research program directly and
through grants and cooperative agreements to eligible recipients.
Eligibility: The NCNR Grants Program is open to institutions of
higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial
organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; foreign
governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign
governments; and international organizations.
Review and Selection Process: Proposals submitted to the NCNR
Grants Program will be reviewed in a two-step process. First, at least
three independent, objective individuals knowledgeable about the
particular scientific area described in the Program Description section
above that the proposal addresses will conduct a technical review of
proposals, as they are received on a rolling basis, based on the
evaluation criteria. If non-Federal reviewers are used, the reviewers
may discuss the proposals with each other, but scores will be
determined on an individual basis, not as a consensus. Second, the
Center Director will make application selections. In making application
selections, the Center Director will take into consideration the
results of the reviewers' evaluations, the availability of funds, and
the relevance to the objectives or research areas of the NCNR Grants
Program, described in the Program Description section.
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, 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. 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.
Evaluation Criteria: The NCNR Grants Program evaluation criteria
that the technical reviewers will use in evaluating the proposals are
as follows:
1. Rationality. Reviewers will assess the innovation, rationality,
and coherence of the applicant's approach and the extent to which the
proposal effectively addresses important scientific and technical
issues using neutron methods and/or the development of innovative
devices for neutron research. (0 to 35 points)
2. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider
the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed
personnel to perform the work in the project. (0 to 20 points)
3. Resources. Reviewers will consider the extent to which the
proposer has access to the necessary resources, facilities, and overall
support to accomplish project objectives, and will assess the budget
against the proposed work to ascertain the reasonableness of the
request. (0 to 20 points)
4. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the
potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it
would contribute to neutron research. (0 to 25 points)
Cost Share Requirements: The NCNR Grants Program does not require
any matching funds.
Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) Grants and
Cooperative Agreements Program
Program Description: The Center for Nanoscale Science and
Technology (CNST) Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program will offer
financial assistance in the field of nanotechnology specifically aimed
at developing essential measurement methods, instrumentation, and
standards to support nanotechnology development, from discovery to
production, conducting collaborative research with NIST scientists
including research at the CNST Nanofab, a national facility for
nanofabrication and measurement, and assisting visiting researchers at
the CNST.
The primary program objectives of the financial assistance program
in CNST are to develop new measurement methods, instrumentation and
standards for nanotechnology and explore new areas of nanoscale science
and technology in a variety of areas including nanofabrication,
nanomagnetics, theory and modeling, post complementary metal oxide
semiconductor electronics, nano electro mechanical systems, nanomotion
and nanomanipulation, merging length scales, 2-D and 3-D structural and
chemical imaging, electrical and magnetic dynamical response of
nanostructures, electrical characterization of nanostructures,
nanoscale properties of soft matter; to assist and train CNST
collaborators and nanofabrication facility users in their research; and
to conduct other outreach and educational activities that advance the
development of nanotechnology by U.S. university and industrial
scientists. This will entail collaborative research among the selected
financial assistance recipients and CNST.
Dates: Applications will be considered on a continuing basis.
Applications received after June 1, 2008 may be processed and
considered for funding under this solicitation in the current fiscal
year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds.
Applications, paper and electronic, must be received prior to the
publication date in the Federal Register of the FY 2009 solicitation
for the CNST Grants Program in order to be processed under this
solicitation.
Addresses: Paper applications must be submitted to: Donna Lauren,
Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, National Institute of
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 6200, Gaithersburg,
Maryland 20899-6200. Electronic applications and associated proposal
information should be uploaded to grants.gov.
For Further Information Contact: For complete information about
this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically,
read the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO)
[[Page 4532]]
Notice at http://www.grants.gov. A paper copy of the FFO may be
obtained by calling (301) 975-6328. Program questions should be
addressed to Donna Lauren, Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology,
National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop
6200, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-6200. Tel (301) 975-3729, E-Mail:
donna.lauren@nist.gov. Grants administration questions concerning this
program should be addressed to: Melinda Chukran, NIST Grants and
Agreements Management Division, (301) 975-5266;
melinda.chukran@nist.gov. For assistance with using Grants.gov contact
support@grants.gov.
Funding Availability: For the Center for Nanoscale and Science and
Technology, proposals will be considered for research projects from one
to five years. When a proposal for a multi-year award is approved,
funding will generally be provided for only the first year of the
program. If an application is selected for funding, NIST has no
obligation to provide any additional funding in connection with that
award. Continuation of an award to increase funding or extend the
period of performance is at the total discretion of NIST. Funding for
each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent upon
satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the Center
for Nanoscale Science and Technology Grants and Cooperative Agreements
Program, and the availability of funds.
In fiscal year 2007, the CNST Grants and Cooperative Agreements
Program made one award in the amount of $47,000. In fiscal year 2008,
the CNST Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program anticipates funding
of approximately $1,500,000, including new awards and continuing
projects. Individual awards are expected to range from approximately
$40,000 to $150,000 per year.
Statutory Authority: As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272 (b) and (c),
the NCNR conducts a basic and applied research program directly and
through grants and cooperative agreements to eligible recipients.
Eligibility: The Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology is
open to institutions of higher education; hospitals; non-profit
organizations; commercial organizations; state, local, and Indian
tribal governments; foreign governments; organizations under the
jurisdiction of foreign governments; and international organizations.
Review and Selection Process: For the Center for Nanoscale Science
and Technology (CNST) Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program,
responsive proposals will be assigned, as received on a rolling basis,
to the most appropriate area for review. Proposals will be reviewed in
a three-step process. First, the CNST Deputy Director will determine
the applicability of the proposal with regard to CNST programs and the
relevance of the proposal's objectives to current CNST research. If it
is determined that the proposal is incomplete or non-responsive to the
scope of the stated objectives, the proposal will not be reviewed for
technical merit. Second, the appropriate CNST Program Manager will
determine the possibility for funding availability within the CNST
technical program area most relevant to the objectives of the proposal.
If it is determined that sufficient funding is not available to
consider grants and cooperative agreement proposals in the technical
area of the proposal, the proposal will not be reviewed for technical
merit. Third, if the proposal passes the first two steps, at least
three independent, objective individuals knowledgeable about the
particular scientific area addressed by the proposal will conduct a
technical review based on the evaluation criteria. If non-Federal
reviewers are used, the reviewers may discuss the proposal with each
other, but scores will be determined on an individual basis, not as a
consensus.
The CNST Director will make application selections from the grants
and cooperative agreement proposals submitted. In making the
application selections, the Laboratory Director will take into
consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations, the
availability of funds, and relevance to the objectives or research
areas of the CNST Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program. These
objectives are described above in the Program Description section.
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. 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.
Evaluation Criteria: For the Center for Nanoscale Science and
Technology (CNST) Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program, the
technical reviewers will use the following evaluation criteria in
evaluating the proposals:
1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the
applicant's approach and the extent to which the proposal effectively
addresses scientific and technical issues.
2. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider
the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed
personnel to perform the work in this project.
3. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to
which the proposer has access to the necessary facilities and overall
support to accomplish project objectives.
4. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the
potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it
would contribute to the field of physics.
Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation
process.
Cost Share Requirements: The Center for Nanoscale Science and
Technology (CNST) Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program does not
require any matching funds.
NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) Sample Environment Equipment
Financial Assistance Program
Program Description: The purpose of this notice is to inform
potential applicants that the NCNR Sample Environment Equipment
Financial Assistance Program is establishing a financial assistance
program in the field of Neutron Scattering to develop, design, and
construct new ``sample environment equipment'' that shall be made
available for dedicated use by the general scientific user community on
any or all of the NCNR neutron beam stations.
The primary objectives of this financial assistance program are to
develop, design, and construct new, state-of-the-art equipment for
dedicated use by the general scientific community on NCNR neutron beam
stations that provide specific and well-controlled environments of
scientific interest for in-situ studies of the microscopic properties
of a broad range of sample materials such as molecular solids, thin
films, biomolecules and biological membranes, solid state materials,
polymers, and complex fluids, using neutron scattering and imaging
techniques. Examples of sample
[[Page 4533]]
environments include high (and/or pulsed) magnetic fields, high
pressures, high (and/or pulsed) electric fields, variable humidity,
high or low temperatures, variable shear, and various combinations
thereof. A list of all the sample environment equipment at the NCNR
that is currently available to the general user community is located at
http://www.ncnr.nist.gov/equipment/ancequip.html.
Dates: All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no
later than 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Savings Time on May 30, 2008. Late
applications will not be reviewed nor considered.
Addresses: Paper Applications: Each applicant must submit one
signed original and two paper copies of the complete application as
described below to Tanya Burke, National Institute of Standards and
Technology, Center for Neutron Research, 100 Bureau Drive, STOP 6100,
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-6100, phone (301) 975-4711. Electronic
applications and associated proposal information should be uploaded to
http://www.grants.gov. Facsimile, electronic mail, and other forms of
electronic application submissions, other than electronic applications
submitted through http://www.grants.gov, will not be accepted.
For Further Information Contact: For complete information about
this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically,
read the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) Notice at http://
www.grants.gov.
A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling
(301) 975-6328. Technical questions can be directed to Dr. Dan Neumann
at, NCNR, 100 Bureau Drive, MS 6100, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-6100, (301)
975-5252, Dan.Neumann@nist.gov. Grants administration questions
concerning this program should be addressed to: Judy Murphy, NIST
Grants and Agreements Management Division, (301) 975-5603;
judy.murphy@nist.gov. For assistance with using http://www.grants.gov,
contact support@grants.gov.
Funding Availability: Proposals will be considered for cooperative
agreements with durations of up to three years, subject to the
availability of funds, satisfactory progress, and the continuing
relevance to the objectives of the NIST Center for Neutron Research.
The anticipated level of funding is up to $150,000 per year. One to two
awards are likely. The funding instrument used in this program will be
a cooperative agreement. The nature of NIST's ``substantial
involvement'' will generally be collaboration with the recipient(s) by
working jointly with recipient scientists in carrying out the scope of
work, or specifying direction or redirection of the scope of work due
to inter-relationships with other programs requiring such cooperation.
NIST will determine whether to fund one award for the full amount; to
divide available funds into multiple awards of any size, and negotiate
scopes of work and budgets as appropriate; or not to select any
proposal for funding, upon completing the selection process described
below.
Awards are anticipated to contain a start date of September 1,
2008.
Statutory Authority: As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272 (b)(7) and
(c)(8,10,16,17,19), the NCNR conducts a basic and applied research
program directly and through grants and cooperative agreements to
eligible recipients.
Eligibility: The NCNR Grants Program is open to institutions of
higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial
organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; foreign
governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign
governments; and international organizations.
Review and Selection Process: All applications received in response
to this announcement will be reviewed to determine whether or not they
are complete and responsive to the scope of the stated program
objectives. Incomplete or non-responsive applications will not be
reviewed for technical merit. The Program will retain one copy of each
non-responsive application for three years for record keeping purposes
and destroy all other copies.
Responsive proposals will be evaluated using the evaluation
criteria by an independent, objective panel composed of at least four
individuals who are knowledgeable about neutron research, neutron
spectroscopy, and neutron instrumentation. The reviewers will reach a
consensus score resulting in a rank order of applicants. However, if
non-Federal reviewers are used, each reviewer will evaluate and provide
a score for each proposal without reaching a consensus.
The NCNR Director, serving as the Selecting Official, will make the
award selection. In making the award selection, the NCNR Director will
take into consideration the panels' technical evaluation. The NCNR
Director, as the Selecting Official, may choose a proposal out of rank
order based upon one or more of the following factors: (1) Availability
of funds, (2) Redundancy, (3) Balance/distribution of funds by program
objectives or research areas described in the Funding Opportunity
Description section of this Notice, and (4) relevance to Program
objectives described above in the Funding Opportunity Description
section of this Notice, and (5) Logistical concerns that would be
detrimental to the success or timely completion of the proposal
objectives. Therefore, the highest scoring proposals may not
necessarily be selected for an award. If an award is made to an
applicant that deviates from the scores of the reviewers, the NCNR
Director shall justify the selection in writing based on selection
factors described above. The NCNR Director may select all, none, or
some of the applications for funding.
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. The
award decision of the Grants Officer is final. Applicants should allow
up to 90 days processing time.
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.
Evaluation Criteria: For the NCNR Sample Environment Equipment
Financial Assistance Program, the technical reviewers will use the
following criteria to evaluate the proposals:
1. Qualifications and experience of the Principal Investigator in
neutron scattering research, as demonstrated by extensive publications
and invited lectures in condensed matter physics, chemistry, material
science, polymer science, biology, macromolecular science, and/or
related fields. (10%)
2. Qualifications and experience of the proposed university staff
in neutron scattering research or in related scientific or engineering
areas that are key to the activities contained in the proposal, as
demonstrated by resumes of staff proposed for this program. (5%)
3. Feasibility and rationality of the design and construction plan
of the proposed sample environment equipment and its potential impact
on neutron-based research, particularly in the areas of biology,
macromolecular
[[Page 4534]]
science, polymer science, condensed matter physics, and chemistry.
(30%)
4. Quality of the plan in terms of providing assistance to U.S.
researchers using the NCNR neutron facilities through sustained and
dedicated access to unique and novel sample environment equipment.
(20%)
5. Quality of the plan to integrate the sample environment
equipment for dedicated use on one or more of the NCNR research
facility neutron beam stations. (25%)
6. Cost effectiveness of the plan, including the completeness of
the estimate to achieve the objectives stated in the proposal. (10%)
Cost Share Requirements: The NCNR Sample Environment Equipment
Financial Assistance Program does not require any matching funds.
The following information applies to all programs announced in this
notice:
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 are
contained in, 69 FR 78389 (Dec. 30, 2004), applies to this notice. On
the form SF-424, the applicant's 9-digit Dun and Bradstreet Data
Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number must be entered in the
Applicant Identifier block (68 FR 38402).
Collaborations with NIST Employees: All applications should include
a description of any work proposed to be performed by an entity other
than the applicant, and the cost of such work should ordinarily be
included in the budget.
If an applicant proposes collaboration with NIST, the statement of
work should include a statement of this intention, a description of the
collaboration, and prominently identify the NIST employee(s) involved,
if known. Any collaboration by a NIST employee must be approved by
appropriate NIST management and is at the sole discretion of NIST.
Prior to beginning the merit review process, NIST will verify the
approval of the proposed collaboration. Any unapproved collaboration
will be stricken from the proposal prior to the merit review.
Use of NIST Intellectual Property: If the applicant anticipates
using any NIST-owned intellectual property to carry out the work
proposed, the applicant should identify such intellectual property.
This information will be used to ensure that no NIST employee involved
in the development of the intellectual property will participate in the
review process for that competition. In addition, if the applicant
intends to use NIST-owned intellectual property, the applicant must
comply with all statutes and regulations governing the licensing of
Federal government patents and inventions, described at 35 U.S.C. 200-
212, 37 CFR part 401, 15 CFR 14.36, and in section 20 of the Department
of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements 69 FR 78389 (Dec. 30,
2004). Questions about these requirements may be directed to the
Counsel for NIST, 301-975-2803.
Any use of NIST-owned intellectual property by a proposer is at the
sole discretion of NIST and will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis
if a project is deemed meritorious. The applicant should indicate
within the statement of work whether it already has a license to use
such intellectual property or whether it intends to seek one.
If any inventions made in whole or in part by a NIST employee arise
in the course of an award made pursuant to this notice, the United
States government may retain its ownership rights in any such
invention. Licensing or other disposition of NIST's rights in such
inventions will be determined solely by NIST, and include the
possibility of NIST putting the intellectual property into the public
domain.
Collaborations Making Use of Federal Facilities: All applications
should include a description of any work proposed to be performed using
Federal Facilities. If an applicant proposes use of NIST facilities,
the statement of work should include a statement of this intention and
a description of the facilities. Any use of NIST facilities must be
approved by appropriate NIST management and is at the sole discretion
of NIST. Prior to beginning the merit review process, NIST will verify
the availability of the facilities and approval of the proposed usage.
Any unapproved facility use will be stricken from the proposal prior to
the merit review. Examples of some facilities that may be available for
collaborations are listed on the NIST Technology Services Web site,
http://ts.nist.gov/.
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.
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 subject to the requirements of
the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information
displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.
Research Projects Involving Human Subjects, Human Tissue, Data or
Recordings Involving Human Subjects: Any proposal that includes
research involving human subjects, human tissue, data or recordings
involving human subjects must meet the requirements of the Common Rule
for the Protection of Human Subjects, codified for the Department of
Commerce at 15 CFR part 27. In addition, any proposal that includes
research on these topics must be in compliance with any statutory
requirements imposed upon the Department of Health and Human Services
(DHHS) and other federal agencies regarding these topics, all
regulatory policies and guidance adopted by DHHS, FDA, and other
Federal agencies on these topics, and all Presidential statements of
policy on these topics.
NIST will accept the submission of human subjects protocols that
have been approved by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) possessing a
current registration filed with DHHS and to be performed by
institutions possessing a current, valid Federal-wide Assurance (FWA)
from DHHS. NIST will not issue a single project assurance (SPA) for any
IRB reviewing any human subjects protocol proposed to NIST.
On August 9, 2001, the President announced his decision to allow
Federal funds to be used for research on existing human embryonic stem
cell lines as long as prior to his announcement (1) the derivation
process (which commences with the removal of the inner cell mass from
the blastocyst) had already been initiated and (2) the embryo from
which the stem cell line was derived no longer had the possibility of
development as a human being. NIST will follow guidance issued by the
National Institutes of Health at http://ohrp.osophs.dhhs.gov/
humansubjects/guidance/stemcell.pdf
for funding such research.
Research Projects Involving Vertebrate Animals: Any proposal that
includes research involving vertebrate animals must be in compliance
with the National Research Council's ``Guide for the Care and Use of
Laboratory Animals'' which can be obtained from National Academy Press,
2101 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington,
[[Page 4535]]
DC 20055. In addition, such proposals must meet the requirements of the
Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.), 9 CFR parts 1, 2, and 3,
and if appropriate, 21 CFR part 58. These regulations do not apply to
proposed research using pre-existing images of animals or to research
plans that do not include live animals that are being cared for,
euthanized, or used by the project participants to accomplish research
goals, teaching, or testing. These regulations also do not apply to
obtaining animal materials from commercial processors of animal
products or to animal cell lines or tissues from tissue banks.
Limitation of Liability: Funding for the programs listed in this
notice is contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year 2008
appropriations under The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (Pub. L.
110-161). In no event will the Department of Commerce be responsible
for proposal preparation costs if these programs fail to receive
funding or are cancelled because of other agency priorities.
Publication of this announcement does not oblige the agency to award
any specific project or to obligate any available funds. Funding of any
award under any program announced in this notice is subject to the
availability of 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.
Dated: January 22, 2008.
Richard F. Kayser,
Acting Deputy Director, NIST.
[FR Doc. E8-1334 Filed 1-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P