[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 210 (Tuesday, October 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55787-55789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-27706]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket No. 960924270-6270-01]
RIN 0693-ZA09


Precision Measurement Grants

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 faculty members of U.S. universities or colleges 
for significant, primarily experimental research, in the field of 
fundamental measurement or the determination of 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. EST on February 3, 1997. The semi-finalists 
will be notified of their status by March 24, 1997, and will be 
requested to submit their full proposals to NIST by 5 p.m. EDT on May 
9, 1997. Selection of the awards will be made in August 1997.

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 From 424A(4-92) and 424B(4-92) are also 
required. Copies should be sent to the following address: Dr. Barry N. 
Taylor, Chairman, NIST Precision Measurement Grants Committee, Building 
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 applicants 
with general questions may contact Dr. Taylor before preparing their 
abbreviated proposal. Specific inquiries as to the usefulness or merit 
of any particular project or other specific inquiries that deal with 
evaluation criteria 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 conduct, 
directly and supports through grants and cooperative agreements, a 
basic and applied research program in the general area of 
fundamental measurement and the determination of fundamental 
constants of nature. The annual budget for Precision Measurement 
Grants is approximately $300,000. Because of the commitments for the 
support of multi-year programs, only a portion of the budget is 
available to initiate new programs in any one year. The issuance of 
awards is contingent upon availability of funding. As part of this 
research program, since 1970 NIST has awarded Precision Measurement 
Grants to faculty members of U.S. universities and colleges for 
significant, primarily experimental research in the field of 
fundamental measurement or the determination of 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, 1997, through September 30, 1998 (fiscal year 1998). Each grant may 
be renewed for up to two additional years; however, future or continued 
funding will be at the 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. universities and colleges and to 
foster contacts between NIST scientists and those faculty members of 
U.S. academic institutions who are actively engaged in such work. The 
Precision Measurement Grants are also intended to make it possible for 
such faculty members to pursue new, fundamental measurement ideas for 
which other sources of support may be difficult to find.
    Matching Requirements: The Precision Measurement Grant Program does 
not involve the payment of any matching funds and does not directly 
affect any state or local government.
    Research Topics: There is some 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 which test the basic laws of physics or which may lead to new 
or improved 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:

[[Page 55788]]

    ``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 21Ne 
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 sectroscopy of positronium,'' S. Chu, Stanford 
University.
    ``Spectroscopy of Francium: Towards a precise parity non-
conservation measurement in a laser trap,'' L. Orozco, State University 
of New York at Stony Brook.
    ``Measurement of the magnetically-induced birefringence of the 
vacuum,'' S.A. Lee, Colorado State University.
    Eligibility: Eligible applicants under the Precision Measurement 
Grants Program are limited to U.S. universities and colleges.
    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 
Measurements Grants Committee and the Outside Review Committee and 
requested 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 1998 will be selected.
    Evaluation Criteria: The criteria to be used in evaluating the 
preapplication proposals and full proposals include:
    1. Importance of the proposed research to science--does it have the 
potential of answering some currently pressing question 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 or to a better understanding of 
important, but already existing, measurement methods 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 is 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 Michelle 
Hane, NIST Precision Measurement Grants Committee, (301) 975-4397. 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

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 must be 
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, contacts, 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 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, prejury, or other matters which significantly reflect on the 
applicant's management honesty or financial integrity.
    Excutive 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

[[Page 55789]]

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.''
    Purchase of American-Made Equipment and Products: Applicants are 
hereby notified that they are encouraged, to the greatest practicable 
extent, to purchase American-made equipment and products with funding 
provided under this program.
    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: October 22, 1996.
Samuel Kramer,
Associate Director.
[FR Doc. 96-27706 Filed 10-28-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-M