[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 183 (Thursday, September 22, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-23502]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: September 22, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket No. 940949-4249]
RIN 0693-ZA01

 

Precision Measurement Grants Program

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to inform potential applicants 
that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is 
continuing a program of research grants, formally titled Precision 
Measurement Grants, to scientists in U.S. academic institutions for 
significant, primarily experimental research in the field of precision 
measurement and fundamental constants. Applicants must submit an 
abbreviated proposal for preliminary screening: Based on the merit of 
the abbreviated proposal, applicants will be advised whether a full 
proposal should be submitted.

DATES: Abbreviated proposals must be received at the address listed 
below no later than 5 p.m. EDT on February 1, 1995. The semi-finalists 
will be notified of their status by March 24, 1995, and will be 
requested to submit their full proposals to NIST by 5 p.m. EDT on May 
8, 1995. The successful applicants will be notified of their selection 
on or before August 15, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Applicants are requested to submit an abbreviated proposal 
(original and two (2) signed copies), using Standard Form 424 (Rev. 4/
92) with a description of their proposed work of no more than five (5) 
double spaced pages. Standard Form 424A (4-92) and 424B (4-92) are also 
required. Copies should be sent to the following: Dr. Barry N. Taylor, 
Chairman, NIST Precision Measurement Grants Committee, Bldg. 245, Room 
C229, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 
20899-0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Technical questions concerning the 
NIST Precision Measurement Grants Program may be directed to the above 
address or call Dr. Taylor at (301) 975-4220. Prospective candidates 
are urged to contact Dr. Taylor before preparing their abbreviated 
proposal. Inquiries should be general in nature. Specific inquiries as 
to the usefulness or merit of any particular project, or other specific 
inquiries that deal with evaluation criterion can potentially impede 
the competitive selection process and therefore, cannot be answered.
    Administrative questions concerning the NIST Precision Measurement 
Grants Program may be directed to the Grants Office at (301) 975-6329. 
Written inquiries should be forwarded to the following address: Grants 
Office, Acquisition and Assistance Division, Building 301/Room B129, 
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-
0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Name and Number

    Measurement and Engineering Research and Standards; 11.609.

Authority

    As authorized by Section 2 of the Act of March 3, 1901 as amended 
(15 U.S.C. 272 (b)(2) and (c)(3)), NIST conducts directly, and supports 
through grants, a basic and applied research program in the general 
area of precision measurement and the determination of fundamental 
constants of nature. As part of this research program, NIST has since 
1970 awarded Precision Measurement Grants to scientists in U.S. 
academic institutions for significant, primarily experimental research 
in the field of precision measurement and fundamental constants.

Award Period

    NIST is now accepting applications for two new grants in the amount 
of $50,000 per year to be awarded for the period October 1, 1995, 
through September 30, 1996 (fiscal year 1996.) Each grant may be 
renewed for up to two additional years; however, future or continued 
funding will be at the total discretion of NIST based on such factors 
as satisfactory performance and the availability of funds.

Program Description

    NIST sponsors these grants to encourage basic, measurement-related 
research in U.S. colleges and universities and to foster contacts 
between NIST scientists and those researchers in the U.S. academic 
community who are actively engaged in such work. The Precision 
Measurement Grants are also intended to make it possible for workers in 
U.S. academic institutions to pursue new measurement ideas for which 
other sources of support may be difficult to find.

Matching Requirements

    The Precision Management Grants Program does not involve the 
payment of any matching funds and does not directly affect any state or 
local government.

Research Topics

    There is considerable latitude in the kind of research projects 
that will be considered for support under the Precision Measurement 
Grants Program. The key requirement is that they are consistent with 
NIST's mission in the field of basic measurement science, for example:
    (1) Experimental and theoretical studies of fundamental physical 
phenomena to test the basic laws of physics or which may lead to 
improved or new fundamental measurement methods and standards.
    (2) The determination of important fundamental physical constants.
    (3) The development of new standards for physical measurement of 
the highest possible precision and accuracy.
    In general, proposals for experimental research will be given 
preference over proposals for theoretical research because of the 
greater expense of experimental work. Proposals from workers at the 
assistant and associate professor level who have some record of 
accomplishment are especially encouraged in view of the comparative 
difficulty aspiring researchers have in obtaining funds.
    Typical projects which have been funded through the NIST Precision 
Measurement Grants Program include:
    ``Measurement of Fundamental Constants Using Three-Level Resonances 
in Hydrogen,'' Carl E. Wieman, University of Michigan.
    ``Quantum Limited Measurement of a Harmonic Oscillator,'' William 
C. Oelfke, University of Central Florida.
    ``Fine-Structure Constant Determination Using Precision Stark 
Spectroscopy,'' Michael G. Littman, Princeton University.
    ``Eotvos Experiment-Cryogenic Version,'' D.F. Bartlett, University 
of Colorado.
    ``A Test of Local Lorentz Invariance Using Polarized \21\Ne 
Nuclei,'' T.E. Chupp, Harvard University.
    ``A New Method to Search for an Electric dipole Moment of the 
Electron,'' L.R. Hunter, Amherst College.
    ``High Precision Timing of Millisecond Pulsars,'' D.R. Stinebring, 
Princeton University.
    ``Precision Optical Spectroscopy of Positronium,'' S. Chu, Stanford 
University.
    ``Quantum-Limited Cooling and Detection with Stored Ions,'' D.J. 
Heinzen, University of Texas/Austin.

Eligibility

    Eligible applicants under the Precision Measurement Grants Program 
are limited to U.S. universities and colleges, professional institutes 
and associations, nonprofit organizations, and State and local 
governments.

Selection Procedure

    To simplify the proposal writing and evaluation process, the 
following selection procedure will be used:
    On the basis of the abbreviated proposals, four to eight 
semifinalist candidates will be selected by the NIST Precision 
Measurement Grants Committee and the Outside Review Committee to submit 
full proposals. The same committees will evaluate the detailed 
proposals, and on the basis of their evaluation, the two grantees for 
fiscal year 1996 will be selected.

Evaluation Criteria

    The criteria to be used in evaluating the abbreviated proposals and 
final proposals include:
    1. Importance of the proposed research to science--does it have the 
potential of answering some currently pressing questions or of opening 
up a whole new area of activity?
    2. The relationship of the proposed research to measurement 
science--is there a possibility that it will lead to a new or improved 
fundamental measurement method, basic measurement unit, or physical 
standard? (Or to a better understanding of important but already 
existing measurement methods, measurement units, or physical 
standards?)
    3. The feasibility of the research--is it likely that significant 
progress can be made in a three year time period with the funds and 
personnel available?
    4. The past accomplishments of the applicant--is the quality of the 
research previously carried out by the prospective grantee such that 
there is a high probability that the proposed research will be 
successfully carried out?
    Each of these factors are given equal weight in the selection 
process.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Standard Forms 424, 424A, 424B, and LLL mentioned in this 
notice are subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
and have been cleared by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
under Control Numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044, 0348-0040, and 0348-0046.

Application Kit

    An application kit, containing all required application forms and 
certifications is available by calling Vickie Weedon, NIST Precision 
Measurement Grants Committee, (301) 975-6092. An application kit 
includes the following:

SF-424 (Rev 4/92)--Application for federal assistance
SF-424A (Rev 4/92)--Budget information--Non-Construction Programs
SF-424B (Rev 4/92)--Assurances--Non-Construction Programs
CD-511 (7/91)--Certification regarding debarment, suspension, and other 
responsibility matters; drug-free workplace requirements and lobbying
CD-512 (7/91)--Certification regarding debarment, suspension, 
ineligibility and voluntary exclusions--lower tier covered transactions 
and lobbying
SF-LLL--Disclosure of lobbying activities
SF-LLL-A--Disclosure of lobbying activities continuation sheet

Additional Requirements

Past Performance

    Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal awards may result in 
an application not being considered for funding.

Preaward Activities

    Applicants that incur any costs prior to an award being made do so 
solely at their own risk of not being reimbursed by the Government. 
Applicants are also hereby notified that notwithstanding any verbal 
assurance that they may have received, there is no obligation on the 
part of DoC to cover pre-award costs.

Primary Application Certification

    All primary applicants must submit a completed Form CD-511, 
``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other 
Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements and 
Lobbying,'' and the following explanations are hereby provided:
1. Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension
    Prospective participants (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, Section 
105) are subject to 15 CFR Part 26, ``Nonprocurement Debarment and 
Suspension'' and the related section of the certification form 
prescribed above applies;
2. Drug-Free Workplace
    Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, Section 605) are subject to 
15 CFR Part 26, Subpart F, ``Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free 
Workplace (Grants)'' and the related section of the certification form 
prescribed above applies;
3. Anti-Lobbying
    Persons (as defined at 15 CFR Part 28, Section 105) are subject to 
the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352, ``Limitation on use of 
appropriated funds to influence certain Federal contracting and 
financial transactions,'' and the lobbying section of the certification 
form prescribed above applies to applications/bids for grants, 
cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than $100,000, and loans 
and loan guarantees for more than $150,000, or the single family 
maximum mortgage limit for affected programs, whichever is greater, and
4. Anti-Lobbying Disclosure
    Any applicant that has been paid or will pay for lobbying using any 
funds must submit an SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,'' as 
required under 15 CFR Part 28, Appendix B.
5. Lower Tier Certifications
    Grant recipients shall require applicants/bidders for subgrants, 
contracts, subcontracts, or other lower tier covered transactions at 
any tier under the award to submit, if applicable, a completed Form CD-
512, ``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and 
Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered Transactions and Lobbying'' and 
disclosure form, SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.'' Form 
CD-512 is intended for the use of recipients and should not be 
transmitted to DoC. SF-LLL submitted by any tier recipient or 
subrecipient should be submitted to DoC in accordance with the 
instructions contained in the award document.

Name Check Reviews

    All for-profit and nonprofit applicants will be subject to a name 
check review process. Name checks are intended to reveal if any key 
individuals associated with the applicant have been convicted of or are 
presently facing, criminal charges such as fraud, theft, perjury, or 
other matters which significantly reflect on the applicant's management 
honesty or financial integrity.

Executive Order Statement

    This funding notice was determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.

False Statements

    Applicants are reminded that a false statement on an application is 
grounds for denial or termination of funds and grounds for possible 
punishment by fine or imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.

Delinquent Federal Debts

    No award of Federal funds shall be made to an applicant who has an 
outstanding delinquent Federal debt until either:
    1. The delinquent account is paid in full;
    2. A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one 
payment is received or;
    3. Other arrangements satisfactory to DoC are made.

No Obligation for Future Funding

    If an application is accepted for funding, DoC has no obligation to 
provide any additional future funding in connection with that award. 
Renewal of an award, increased funding, or extending the period of 
performance is at the total discretion of NIST.

Federal Policies and Procedures

    Recipients and subrecipients under the Precision Measurement Grants 
Program are subject to all Federal Laws and Federal and Departmental 
policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to Federal financial 
assistance awards. The Precision Measurement Grants Program does not 
directly affect any state or local government. Applications under this 
program are not subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental 
Review of Federal Programs.''

Buy American-Made Equipment or Products

    Applicants are hereby notified that they are encouraged, to the 
extent feasible, to purchase American-made equipment and products with 
funding provided under this program in accordance with Congressional 
intent as set forth in the resolution contained in Public Law 103-121, 
Sections 606 (a) and (b).

Indirect Costs

    The total dollar amount of the indirect costs proposed in an 
application under this program must not exceed the indirect cost rate 
negotiated and approved by a cognizant Federal agency prior to the 
proposed effective date of the award or 100 percent of the total 
proposed direct costs dollar amount in the application, whichever is 
less.

    Dated: September 16, 1994.
Samuel Kramer,
Associate Director.
[FR Doc. 94-23502 Filed 9-21-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-M