[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 6, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29827-29830]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-13764]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket No. 950519137-5137-01]


Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology invites 
proposals from qualified organizations for funding projects to provide 
manufacturing extension services to small- and medium-sized 
manufacturers in the United States. These projects correspond to the 
Manufacturing Technology Centers component of the Manufacturing 
Extension Partnership (MEP).
    Manufacturing extension centers must be affiliated with a U.S.-
based not-for-profit institution or organization. Support may be 
provided for a period not to exceed six years. Applicants are required 
to provide 50% or more of the operating costs for providing these 
manufacturing extension services in year 1 through 3 and an increasing 
percentage in years 4 through 6.

DATES: Proposals from qualified applicants must be received at the 
address below by August 7, 1995. Selection of awards will be made in 
September 1995.

ADDRESSES: Applicants must submit one signed original and six (6) 
copies of their proposal along with a Standard Form 424, 424-A, and 
424-B (Rev 4-92) and Form CD-511 to the Manufacturing Extension 
Partnership, Building 301, Room C121, National Institute of Standards 
and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-0001. Plainly mark on the 
outside of the package that it contains a manufacturing extension 
center proposal.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For information regarding this announcement, contact Roger Kilmer of 
the Manufacturing Extension Partnership by calling (301) 975-5020; or 
by mailing information requests to the Manufacturing Extension 
Partnership, Building 301, Room C121, National Institute of Standards 
and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20899-0001. Information 
packets, which include background materials on MEP, existing centers 
and the necessary application forms, should be requested via a one page 
fax sent to (301) 963-6556. Please include name, organization, mailing 
address, telephone number, and fax number on this request.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

    The catalog number for the award of Manufacturing Technology 
Centers funds in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance is 11.611.

Background

    In accordance with the provisions of Section 5121 of the Omnibus 
Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (Public Law 100-418), codified in 
15 U.S.C. Sec. 278k, and final rule 15 CFR 290 published September 17, 
1990 and amendment published May 2, 1994, NIST will provide assistance 
for the creation and support of manufacturing extension centers. The 
objective of these centers is to enhance productivity, technological 
performance, and strengthen the global competitiveness of small- and 
medium-sized U.S.-based manufacturing firms.
    These manufacturing extension centers will become part of the MEP 
national system of extension service providers. Currently, MEP is 
managing 44 centers located throughout the United States. Information 
regarding MEP and these centers is provided in the information packet 
which can be obtained as explained above.

Funding Availability

    It is anticipated that approximately $41,000,000 will be available 
to support manufacturing extension centers under this program. The 
funding level for individual awards is not prescribed. The funding 
requested by the applicant should be directly related to the level of 
activity of the center, which is a function of the number of 
manufacturers in the designated service region, and to the availability 
of applicant-provided cash and in-kind contributions to be used as cost 
share.

Invitation for Proposals

    Proposals must be received at the address listed above by August 7, 
1995.

Award Period

    The projects awarded under this program will have an initial 
performance period of one year. These [[Page 29828]] projects are 
renewable on an annual basis up to a maximum of six (6) years subject 
to the review requirements described in 15 CFR 290.8. Renewal of these 
projects shall be at the sole discretion of NIST and shall be based 
upon satisfactory performance, priority of the need for the service, 
existing legislative authority, and availability of funds.

Cost Share Requirements

    A cost sharing contribution from the applicant is required. The 
applicant must provide 50% or more of the total capital, operating and 
maintenance costs for the center for years 1 through 3. The applicant's 
cost share requirement increases to 60% or more in year 4 and 66\2/3\% 
or more in years 5 and 6. The applicant's share of the center expenses 
may include cash and in-kind contributions. In each of the six years, 
at least 50% of the applicant's total cost share (cash plus in-kind) 
must be in cash. The source of the cost share, both cash and in-kind, 
must be documented in the budget submitted in the proposal.
    In all cases, a contribution will only be treated as cash cost 
share if the center director has suitable authority and discretion to 
control its expenditure. Acceptable cash cost share, which must come 
from non-federal sources, includes:

--Dollar contributions from state, country, city, industrial or other 
sources
--Income from fees charged for services performed
--Revenue from licensing, royalties, dividends, and capital gains
--Contributions of full-time personnel from other organizations
--Other contributions as approved by NIST

    To qualify as in-kind cost share, the claimed items must be 
directly related to the tasks to be accomplished and must be utilized 
solely for the center activities or the cost share must be prorated 
based upon the percentage of time they are used for these activities. 
Acceptable in-kind cost share includes:

--Contributions of full-time personnel for which the center director 
lacks suitable authority and discretion to qualify as cash cost share
--Contributions of part-time personnel from other organizations
--Contributions of equipment, software, rental value of office, 
laboratory or other space
--Other contributions as approved by NIST
Proposal Content

    The proposal must, at a minimum, include the following:

A. An executive summary of the proposed project, consistent with the 
Evaluation Criteria stated in this notice.
B. A description of the proposed project, sufficient to permit 
evaluation of the proposal, in accordance with the proposal Evaluation 
Criteria stated in this notice.
C. A detailed budget for the proposed project which breaks out all 
expenses for year 1 of operation and identifies all sources of funds to 
pay these expenses.
D. A budget outline for annual costs and sources of funds for years 2 
through 6. It is expected, especially for newly created centers, that 
year one costs are lower because of a ramp-up of operations from start-
up to the point where the center is fully operational and services are 
being provided. If such a ramp-up of operations is to occur, this 
should be reflected in the budget outline for years 2 through 6.
E. A description of the qualifications of key personnel who will be 
assigned to work on the proposed project.
F. A statement of work that discusses the specific tasks to be carried 
out, including a schedule of measurable events and milestones.
G. A Standard Form 424, 424-A, and 424-B (Rev 4-92) prescribed by OMB 
circular A-110 and Form CD-511, Certification Regarding Debarment, 
Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace 
Requirements and Lobbying. The 424 series of forms and form CD-511 will 
not be considered part of the page count of the proposal.

Proposal Format

    The proposal must not exceed 25 typewritten pages in length. The 
proposal must contain both technical and cost information. The proposal 
page count shall include every page, including pages that contain 
words, table of contents, executive summary, management information and 
qualifications, resumes, figures, tables, and pictures. All proposals 
shall be printed such that pages are single-sided, with no more than 
fifty-five (55) lines per page. Use 21.6 x 27.9 cm (8\1/2\'' x 11'') 
paper or A4 metric paper. Use an easy-to-read font of not more than 
about 5 characters per cm (fixed pitch font of 12 or fewer characters 
per inch or proportional font of point size 10 or larger). Smaller type 
may be used in figures and tables, but must be clearly legible. Margins 
on all sides (top, bottom, left and right) must be at least 2.5 cm. 
(1''). The applicant may submit a separately bound document of 
appendices containing other supporting information. The proposal should 
be self-contained and not rely on the appendices for meeting criteria. 
Excess pages in the proposal will not be considered in the evaluation. 
Applicants must submit one signed original plus six (6) copies of the 
proposal.

Manufacturing Extension Centers

a. Project Objective

    The objective of the projects funded under this program is to 
provide manufacturing extension services to small- and medium-sized 
manufacturers in the United States. These services are provided through 
the coordinated efforts of a regionally-based manufacturing extension 
center and local technology resources.
    The management and operational structure of the manufacturing 
extension center is not prescribed, but should be based upon the 
characteristics of the manufacturers in the region and locally 
available resources. The center should include plans for integration 
into the MEP national system and linkages to appropriate national 
resources.
    The focus of the center is to provide those manufacturing extension 
services required by the small- and medium-sized manufacturers in their 
service region using the most cost effective sources for those 
services. It is not the intent of this program that centers perform 
research and development.

b. Evaluation Criteria

    All qualified proposals will be evaluated and rated on the basis of 
the following criteria by an impartial review panel. Each proposal 
should address all four evaluation criteria, which are assigned equal 
weighting. Selection will be based upon the total evaluation score of 
qualified proposals.
    (1) Identification of Target Firms in Proposed Region. Does the 
proposal define an appropriate service region with a large enough 
population of target firms of small- and medium-sized manufacturers 
which the applicant understands and can serve, and which is not 
presently served by an existing center?
    (i) Market Analysis. Demonstrated understanding of the service 
region's manufacturing base, including business size, industry types, 
product mix, and technology requirements.
    (ii) Geographical Location. Physical size, concentration of 
industry, and economic significance of the service 
[[Page 29829]] region's manufacturing base. Geographical diversity of 
the centers will be a factor in evaluation of proposals; a proposal for 
a center located near an existing center may be considered only if the 
proposal is unusually strong and the population of manufacturers and 
the technology to be addressed justify it.
    (2) Technology Resources. Does the proposal assure strength in 
technical personnel and programmatic resources, full-time staff, 
facilities, equipment, and linkages to external sources of technology 
to develop and transfer technologies related to NIST research results 
and expertise in the technical areas noted in these procedures?
    (3) Technology Delivery Mechanisms. Does the proposal clearly and 
sharply define an effective methodology for delivering advanced 
manufacturing technology to small- and medium-sized manufacturers?
    (i) Linkages. Development of effective partnerships or linkages to 
third parties such as industry, universities, nonprofit economic 
organizations, and state governments who will amplify the center's 
technology delivery to reach a large number of clients in its service 
region.
    (ii) Program Leverage. Provision of an effective strategy to 
amplify the center's technology delivery approaches to achieve the 
proposed objectives as described in 15 CFR 290.3(e).
    (4) Management and Financial Plan. Does the proposal define a 
management structure and assure management personnel to carry out 
development and operation of an effective center?
    (i) Organizational Structure. Completeness and appropriateness of 
the organizational structure, and its focus on the mission of the 
center. Assurance of full-time top management of the center.
    (ii) Program Management. Effectiveness of the planned methodology 
of program management.
    (iii) Internal Evaluation. Effectiveness of the planned continuous 
internal evaluation of program activities.
    (iv) Plans for Financial Matching. Demonstrated stability and 
duration of the applicants funding commitments as well as the 
percentage of operating and capital costs guaranteed by the applicant. 
Identification of matching fund sources and the general terms of the 
funding commitments. Evidence of the applicant's ability to become 
self-sustaining in six years.
    (v) Budget. Suitability and focus of the applicants detailed one-
year budget and six-year budget outline.

c. Eligibility Criteria

     Eligible applicants for these projects must be affiliated 
with a non-profit institution or organization.
     The applicant must provide the necessary cost share as 
specified above.
     Proposals for a center which provides services in a region 
in which another center already exists may be considered only if the 
proposal presents strong evidence that the number of manufacturers and 
the service it proposes to provide justifies it.
     Proposals for an industry sector-specific center or for 
expansion of an existing center will be considered. These proposals 
will be evaluated using the same selection criteria as for all other 
proposals.
Proposal Selection Process

    Proposal evaluation and selection will consist of four principal 
phases: proposal qualification, proposal review, site visits and award 
determination.

a. Proposal Qualification

    All proposals will be reviewed by NIST to assure compliance with 
the proposal content as described in 15 CFR 290.5 and other basic 
provisions of this notice. Proposals which satisfy these requirements 
will be designated as qualified proposals. Non-qualified proposals will 
not be evaluated and will be returned to the applicant.

b. Proposal Review

    NIST will appoint an evaluation panel to review and evaluate all 
qualified proposals in accordance with the evaluation criteria set 
forth in this notice. Based upon this review, the panel will select a 
group of finalists to be site visited.

c. Site Visits

    Finalists will be notified and a site visit scheduled. Finalists 
will be reviewed and assigned numeric scores, assigning equal weight to 
each of the four criteria. Based upon these scores, the panel will 
submit recommendations to the Director of NIST, or a designee, for 
final award determination.

d. Award Determination

    The Director of NIST, or a designee, shall make final determination 
of whether an award should be made to the proposing organization based 
on a review of the panel's recommendations.

Additional Requirements

    (a) Federal Policies and Procedures. Recipients and sub-recipients 
are subject to all Federal laws and Federal and NIST policies, 
regulations, and procedures applicable to Federal financial assistance 
awards.
    (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.
    (c) Pre-award Activities. If applicants incur any costs prior to an 
award being made, they do so solely at their own risk of not being 
reimbursed by the Government. Notwithstanding any written or verbal 
assurance that may have been received, there is no obligation on the 
part of NIST to cover pre-award costs.
    (d) 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 NIST are made.

    (e) Past Performance. Unsatisfactory performance under prior 
Federal awards may result in an application not being considered for 
funding.
    (f) Name Check Review. All non-profit applicants are 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.
    (g) Primary Applicant Certification. All primary applicants must 
submit a completed Form CD-511, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, 
Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace 
Requirements and Lobbying,'' and the following explanations are hereby 
provided.
    (1) Non Procurement Debarment and Suspension. Prospective 
participants (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, Section 105) are subject to 
15 CFR 26, ``Non procurement Debarment and Suspension'' and the related 
section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
    (2) Drug-free Workplace. Recipients (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, 
Section 605) are subject to 15 CFR Part 26, Subpart F, ``Government-
wide [[Page 29830]] 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 Disclosures. Any applicant that has 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.
    (h) 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, ``Certifications 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 sub-recipient should be submitted to 
NIST in accordance with the instructions contained in the award 
document.
    (i) False Statements. A false statement on an application is 
grounds for denial or termination of funds and grounds for possible 
punishment by a fine or imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001
    (j) 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 the funding 
provided under this program in accordance with Congressional intent.
    (k) North American Free Trade Agreement Patent Notification 
Procedures. Pursuant to Executive Order 12889, the Department of 
Commerce (DoC) is required to notify the owner of any valid patent 
covering technology whenever the DoC or its financial assistance 
recipient, without making a patent search, knows (or has demonstrable 
reasonable grounds to know) that technology covered by a valid United 
States patent has been or will be used without a license from the 
owner. Applicants selected for awards under this program are required 
to comply with this executive order.
    (l) Intergovernmental Review. Applications under this program are 
not subject to the requirements of Executive Order 12372, 
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs''.
    (m) Paperwork Reduction Act. This notice contains collection of 
information requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act which 
have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB Control 
Number 0693-0005, 0348-0043 and 0348-0044).

Program Execution

    (a) Cooperative Agreement. The formal agreement between NIST and 
the applicant will be in the form of a cooperative agreement. Under 
this agreement, the NIST MEP will have substantial interactions with 
the applicant in planning and executing this project. This may include 
the following:

--Assisting in developing required plans
--Providing access to standard manufacturing extension and related 
tools
--Facilitating partnering with appropriate organizations both within 
and outside of the MEP
--Defining measures for evaluation of performance
--Direct involvement in helping to understand, define, and resolve 
problems in the center's operations

    (b) Operating Plan. All recipients of awards are required to submit 
an Operating Plan within ninety (90) days of the project start date. 
The Operating Plan is a more detailed statement of work based on 
project objectives and activities the applicant will undertake to 
achieve the objectives and incorporates recommendations provided by the 
evaluation panel and the NIST Program Officer. The Operating Plan must 
be reviewed and approved by NIST and will be incorporated into the 
cooperative agreement by amendment. Operating Plan guidelines will be 
distributed to award recipients.
    (c) Project Reporting. Quarterly reports will be submitted to the 
NIST Program Officer no later than thirty (30) days after the end of 
each quarter of the award year. The information provided is used to 
characterize the projects, develop detailed case studies, and evaluate 
individual examples of outcomes. Quarterly reporting instructions will 
be distributed to award recipients.

    Dated: May 31, 1995.
Samuel Kramer,
Associate Director.
[FR Doc. 95-13764 Filed 6-5-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-M