[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6724-6726]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3311]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket No. 971201285-7285-01]
RIN 0693-ZA18
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
above below no later than 5 p.m. EST March 12, 1998. The semi-finalists
will be notified of their status by Monday, March 23, 1998, and will be
requested to submit their full proposals to NIST by 5 p.m. EDT on
Friday, May 8, 1998. Selection of the awards will be made by Friday,
August 14, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Applicants are requested to submit an abbreviated proposal
(original and two (2) signed copies), using Standards 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. 225, Rm.
B161, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
20899-0001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Technical questions concerning the
NIST Precision Measurement Grants Programs may be directed to the above
address or to 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 conducts directly, and supports
through grants and cooperative agreement, 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. The annual
awards must have scopes of work that are clearly severable that can be
easily separated into annual increments of meaningful work which
represent solid accomplishments if prospective funding is not made
available to the Applicant. Because of commitments for supporting
multi-year programs, only a portion of the budget is available to
initiate new program 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.
[[Page 6725]]
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, 1998,
through September 30, 1999 (fiscal year 1999). 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 enaged 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 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 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:
``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
elctron,'' L.R. Hunder, Amherst College.
``High precision timing of millisecond pulsars,'' D.R. Stinebring,
Princeton University.
``Precision optical spectroscopy 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 birefrigence 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 1999 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
(PRA) and have been cleared by the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) under control numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044, 0348-0040, and 0348-
0046. 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 PRA, unless that collection of information displays a currently
valid OMB Control Number.
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)--Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other
Responsibility Matters; Drug-free Workplace Requirements and Lobbying
CD-512 (7/91)--Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension,
Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered Transactions
and Lobbying
SF-LLL--Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
Additional Requirements
Past Performance
Unsatifactory 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
[[Page 6726]]
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,
``Certifications 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, 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 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
In 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
greatest extent practicable, 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: February, 4, 1998.
Robert E. Hebner,
Acting Deputy Director.
[FR Doc. 98-3311 Filed 2-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-M