[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 1, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6072-6074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-2370]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket No. 941257-4357]
RIN 0693-ZA03


Fire Research Grants Program--Availability of Funds

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 Fire Research Program, National Institute of Standards and 
Technology (NIST), is continuing its Fire Research Grants Program. 
Previous notices of this research grant program were published in the 
Federal Register on February 20, 1991 (46 FR 13250, November 19, 1984 
(49 FR 45636), May 6, 1986 (51 FR 16730), June 5, 1987 (52 FR 21342) 
June 6, 1988 (53 FR 20675), May 31, 1989 (54 FR 23243), July 23, 1990 
(FR 90-17041), May 7, 1991 (FR 91-10717), April 22, 1992 (FR 57-14695), 
March 17, 1993 (FR DoC. 93-6157), May 11, 1994 (FR DoC 94-11351), and 
FR 58-14379.

DATES: Applications will be received through September 30, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Applicants must submit one signed original plus two (2) 
copies of the proposal along with Standard Form 424 (Rev. 4/92) and 
other required forms, as referenced under the provisions of OMB 
Circular A-110 to: Building and Fire Research Laboratory, Attention: 
Sonya Cherry, Building 226, Room B206, National Institute of Standards 
and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Technical questions concerning the NIST Fire Research Grants Program 
should be directed to Sonya Cherry at (301) 975-6854. Administrative 
questions concerning the NIST Fire Research 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 16 of the Act of March 3, 
1901, as amended (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 grants 
program. This program has been in existence for several years at 
approximately $1.5 million per fiscal year. No increase in funds has 
taken place. The Fire Research Grants Program is limited to 
innovative ideas which [[Page 6073]] are generated by the proposal 
writer on what research to be performed and how. All proposals 
submitted must be in accordance with the programs and objectives 
listed below. Grants awarded under the Fire Research Grants Program 
will generally provide financial assistance to a recipient without 
substantial NIST involvement in the projects. Cooperative Agreements 
awarded for Fire Research Grants Program projects will generally 
involve a close working relationship between a group of NIST experts 
and the recipient.

Program Description

    A. Fire Modeling and Applications: Performs research, develops, and 
demonstrates the application of analytical models for the quantitative 
prediction of the consequences of fires and the means to assess the 
accuracy of those models. This includes: Developing methods to assess 
fire hazard and risk; creating advanced, usable models for the 
calculation of the effluent from building fires; modeling the ignition 
and burning of furniture, contents, and building elements such as 
walls; developing methods of evaluating and predicting the performance 
of building safety design features; developing a protocol for 
determining the accuracy of algorithms and comprehensive models; and 
development data bases to facilitate use of fire models.
    b. Large Fire Research: Performs research on and develops 
techniques to measure, predict the behavior of, and mitigate large fire 
events. This includes: Understanding the mechanisms of large fires that 
control the gas phase combustion, burning rate, thermal and chemical 
emissions, transport processes; developing techniques for computer 
simulation; developing field measurement techniques to assess the near 
and far field impact of large fires and their plumes; performing 
research on the use of combustion for environmental cleanup; predicting 
the performance and environmental impact of fire protection measures 
and fire fighting systems and techniques; developing and operating the 
Fire Research Grants Program large scale experiment facility.
    c. Smoke Dynamics Research: Produces scientifically sound 
principles, metrology, data, and predictive methods for the formation/
evolution of smoke components in flames for use in understanding and 
predicting general fire phenomena. This includes: Research on the 
effects of within-flame and post-flame fluid mechanics on the formation 
and emission of smoke, including particulates, aerosols, and combustion 
gases; understanding the mechanistic pathway for soot from chemical 
inception to post-flame agglomerates; developing calculation methods 
for the prediction of the yields of CO (and eventually other toxicant) 
as a function of fuel type, availability of air, and fire scale.
    d. Materials Fire Research: Performs research to understand 
fundamentally the mechanisms that control the ignition, flame spread, 
and burning rate of materials and the chemical and physical 
characteristics that affect these aspects of flammability; develops 
methods of measuring and predicting the response of a material to a 
fire. This includes: Characterizing the burning rates of charring and 
non-charring polymers and composites; delineating and modeling the 
enthalpy and mass transfer mechanisms of materials combustion; and 
developing computational molecular dynamics and other mechanistic 
approaches to understand the relationships between polymer structure 
and flammability.
    e. Fire Sensing and Extinguishment: Develops understanding, 
metrology, and predictive methods to enable high-performance fire 
sensing and extinguishment systems; devises new approaches to 
minimizing the impact of unwanted fires and the suppression process. 
This includes: Research for the identification and in-situ measurements 
of the symptoms of pending and nascent fires or explosions, and the 
consequences of suppression; devising or adapting monitors for these 
variables and creating the intelligence for timely interpretation of 
the data; determining mechanisms for deflagration and detonation 
suppression by advanced agents and principles for their optimal use; 
modeling the extinguishment process; and developing performance 
measures for the effectiveness of suppression system design.
    Award Period: Proposals will be considered for research projects 
from one to three years. When a proposal for a multi-year award is 
approved, funding will be provided for only the first year of the 
program. There is no definite commitment to fund future years of the 
project. The work performed during the year being funded must represent 
solid accomplishments if prospective funding is not made available to 
the applicant.
    Matching Requirements:  The Fire Research Grants Program does not 
involve the payment of any matching funds and does not directly affect 
any state or local government.
    Eligibility: Academic institutions, non-Federal agencies, and 
independent and industrial laboratories are eligible to apply.
    Proposal Review Process: All proposals are assigned to the 
appropriate group leader of the five programs listed above for review, 
including external peer review, and recommendations on funding. Both 
technical value of the proposal and the relationship of the work 
proposed to the needs of the specific program are taken into 
consideration in the group leader's recommendation to the Deputy 
Director. Applicants should allow up to 60 days processing time. 
Proposals are evaluated for technical merit by at least three 
professionals from NIST, the Building and Fire Research Laboratory, or 
technical experts from other interested government agencies; and 
experts from the fire research community at large.
    Evaluation Criteria:
    a. Rationality: 0-20.
    b. Qualification of Technical Personnel: 0-20.
    c. Resources Availability: 0-20.
    d. Technical Merit of Contribution: 0-40.
    Selection Procedure: The results of the evaluations are transmitted 
to the group leader of the appropriate research unit in the Building 
and Fire Research Laboratory who prepares an analysis of comments and 
makes a recommendation. The Building and Fire Research Laboratory will 
also consider compatibility with programmatic goals and financial 
feasibility.
    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 approved 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 Sonya 
Cherry, NIST Fire Research Grants Program (301) 975-6854. 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 [[Page 6074]] 
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 preaward 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. 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 NIST. SF-LLL 
submitted by any tier recipient or subrecipient should be submitted to 
NIST 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.
    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 Fire Research Grants Program are subject to all Federal laws and 
Federal and Departmental policies, regulations, and procedures 
applicable to Federal financial assistance awards. The Fire Research 
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.''
    Purchase of American-Made Equipment and Products--Applicants are 
hereby notified that they are encouraged, to the greatest extent 
practicable, 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 103-317, 
Sections 607 (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.
    Executive Order 12866: This funding notice has been determined to 
be ``not significant'' for purposes of E.O. 12866.

    Dated: January 26, 1995.
Samuel Kramer,
Associate Director.
[FR Doc. 95-2370 Filed 1-31-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-M