[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 88 (Friday, May 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24588-24590]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11568]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket No. 990309065-9065-01]
RIN 0693-ZA29


Professional Research Experience Program (PREP)

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds for cooperative agreements to 
provide fellowships for undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral 
students.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to invite proposals from accredited colleges 
and universities to participate in the PREP program. Under this 
program, NIST provides financial assistance to accredited colleges and 
universities to enable those institutions to provide laboratory 
experiences and financial assistance to undergraduate, graduate, and 
post-doctoral students at the NIST, Boulder Laboratories in Boulder, 
Colorado. It is anticipated that two (2) or more awards will be made 
contingent on the availability of funds in fiscal year 1999. However, 
in fiscal year 1998, 96 PREP fellowships were provided (some students 
received more than one fellowship). Approximately $1,375,000 in 
fellowships were awarded under this program in 1998.

DATES: Applications must be received at the address below no later than 
5 p.m., Mountain Standard Time on June 7, 1999, in order to be 
considered for the Fall, 1999 awards. Late applications will be 
rejected and returned to the sender.

ADDRESSES: Request application materials from and send applications to: 
PREP Program Coordinator, Division 360, National Institute of Standards 
and Technology, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80303.
    Application materials may also be downloaded from the World Wide 
Web at the following address: http://www.boulder.nist.gov/exec/
bdprepo.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Phyllis Wright, Program Coordinator, 
telephone (303) 497-3244, or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Name and Number: 11.609--
Measurement and Engineering Research and Standards.

    Authority: Section 18 of the NIST Act, as amended (15 USC 278g-
1)

Program Description

    PREP is designed to provide funding to eligible colleges and 
universities to enable them to provide fellowships to undergraduate, 
graduate, and post-doctoral students. Through these fellowships, 
students will participate in valuable laboratory experiences and will 
receive financial assistance. Through this program NIST sponsors will 
often become mentors and work collaboratively with the faculty and 
advisors at the university to further the success of the student. The 
majority of the laboratory research experiences will take place at the 
NIST laboratory in Boulder, Colorado.
    Fellowships will be awarded to students by the selected colleges 
and universities to encourage the growth and progress of science and 
engineering in the United States, including the encouragement of women 
and minority students seeking to further their professional 
development. A major objective is to nurture students considered to be 
potential future NIST employees.
    Undergraduate and graduate students receiving NIST-PREP fellowships 
must be accepted for enrollment for academic credit as full-time 
students at an accredited university and remain affiliated with the 
university during the term of the fellowship. Fellowships may be 
extended after graduation only as long as necessary to complete 
research projects started by the student while enrolled as a student 
with the university. Post-doctoral students must be affiliated with a 
university during the term of the fellowship.

Funding Availability

    Applications for cooperative agreements should be for one year, 
with options for renewal at the discretion of NIST for up to four 
additional years without competition.
    Fellowships will be awarded by the cooperating colleges and/or 
universities contingent solely upon the availability of NIST program 
funds and the selection of students by potential NIST sponsors. 
Fellowships will be negotiated between the university and NIST, and can 
include the following: undergraduate fellowships can include a stipend 
and full tuition payment at the in-state rate; graduate fellowships can 
consist of a stipend, tuition assistance, and insurance; and 
postgraduate fellowships are negotiated between university and NIST as 
part of the cooperative agreement and may consist of a stipend, travel, 
moving expenses, and other miscellaneous expenses.

Matching Requirements

    Cost sharing and matching is not required under this program. 
However, in the interest of furthering the education and development of 
future scientists and engineers, applicants are encouraged to cost 
share on a voluntary basis. Voluntary costs sharing may include any 
eligible costs under the applicable costs principles that meet the test 
of reasonableness, allocability, and allowability. Such voluntary cost 
sharing may include, but is not limited to, cash contributions for 
direct costs, contributions of indirect costs, or in-kind 
contributions. While cost sharing is not required, any cost the share 
contribution will be taken into consideration in reviewing the 
competitiveness of the proposed project budget.

Type of Funding Instrument

    NIST expects to award two or more cooperative agreements. This 
information is provided in the interest of maximum openness of the 
agency's intent. It is not intended to bind the agency to any specific 
number of cooperative agreements. As the funding instrument will be a 
cooperative agreement, NIST anticipates that it will be substantially 
involved with the applicant institution in the implementation and 
management of all cooperative agreements awarded. It is anticipated 
that before fellowships are offered to students, the students will be 
screened by the appropriate officials of the applicant organization and 
NIST sponsors. Criteria for such screening will be mutually developed 
by NIST and the applicant organization.

Eligibility Criteria

    Accedited educational institutions that offer undergraduate and 
graduate degrees in physics, chemistry, materials science, mathematics, 
computer science, or engineering are eligible to participate in this 
program. Students who receive fellowships under the program must be 
citizens of the United States or lawfully admitted to the United States 
for permanent residence, and show evidence of a 3.0 or higher grade 
point average in a curriculum acceptable to the sponsoring educational 
institution and NIST. Undergraduate and graduate students must be 
enrolled full-time, and post-graduate students must be associated with 
the accredited educational institution. Post-doctoral students who 
receive fellowships under the program must begin the program within 
five years of receiving their doctoral degree. In most cases, 
applicants must insure the availability

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of students for on-site work experiences in Boulder, Colorado 
concurrently with the university classroom studies.

Award Period

    Applicants must propose undergraduate fellowships for one semester 
time periods, and graduate and postdoctoral fellowships for one year 
time periods. Undergraduate and graduate fellowships may be renewed as 
long as the student adequate progress toward a degree in a curriculum 
acceptable to the sponsoring educational institution and NIST, and 
maintains a 3.0 or higher grade point average. Proposed graduate 
fellowships must not exceed six years. Proposed post-doctoral 
fellowships may be renewed, but must not exceed a total of three years.

Indirect Costs

    Applicants are encouraged to propose to cover indirect costs as 
cost share under the program. However, indirect costs are eligible 
project costs. Any indirect costs proposed in an application under this 
program must not exceed the indirect cost rate negotiated with the 
applicant's cognizant or oversight Federal agency prior to the proposed 
effective date of the award.

Applicant Forms

    Standard Form (SF)424, Application for Financial Assistance, SF 
424A, SF 424B, and CD-511 shall be used for applying an financial 
assistance. Awards resulting from this competition will be administered 
in accordance with 15 CFR 14, ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for 
Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, 
Other Non-Profits, and Commercial Organizations;'' and OMB Circular A-
21, ``Cost Principles for Educational Institutions;'' and other award 
terms and conditions. An application kit may be requested from the 
contact person at the address listed above. Proposals may be structured 
in any way that the applicants believe will best present their proposed 
project. A format that NIST offers for consideration by applicant is as 
follows:

Proposal Summary

    I. Introduction: Describe the institution's qualifications for 
conducting the proposed project.
    II. Need Assessment: Document and explain the needs to be met by 
the proposed project or problems to be solved as a result of conducting 
the proposed project
    III. Objectives: Provide detailed expected project outcomes and 
benefits to the college or university expressed in measurable terms.
    IV. Evaluation: Delineate plans for measuring success or 
determining the degree to which the project objectives were met.
    V. Budget: Prepare SF-424-A and provide a detailed budget narrative 
to explain fully and justify all proposed project funding including 
each level of fellowships (undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate) 
and other resources.
    VI. Future or Other: Describe plans for continuing the project 
Necessary Funding beyond Federal funding currently requested. It is up 
to the applicant organization to determine appropriate application 
criteria for use by undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral students 
in applying for the fellowship program. There is no prescribed format. 
Examples of criteria previously used can be obtained from the contact 
person listed above or by downloading copies from the PREP web site at 
http://www.boulder.nist.gov/exec/bdprepo.htm.

Project Funding Priorities

    Applicants must be able to provide students for on site work 
experiences at the NIST laboratories in Boulder, Colorado. The student 
must also be enrolled in an academic program acceptable to both the 
sponsoring institution and NIST while working in the laboratories.

Application Evaluation Criteria

    Applications will be evaluated by a panel of at least three 
independent reviewers who are knowledgeable in the subject matter of 
this solicitation and its objectives. All applications will be 
evaluated and scored on the basis of the evaluation criteria delineated 
below:
    1. Experience in providing students pursuing degrees in physics, 
chemistry, materials science, mathematics, computer science or 
engineering with work experiences in laboratories or other settings 
consistent with furthering the students' education. Unsatisfactory 
performance on any previous Federal awards may result in an application 
not being considered for funding. (30 Points)
    2. Soundness of the applicant's academic program, proposed project 
objectives, and appropriateness of proposed student work assignments in 
light of ongoing research at NIST/Boulder and the students' academic 
programs. (30 Points)
    3. Adequacy and reasonableness of plans for administering the 
project and coordinating with the NIST Program Officer in Boulder. (20 
Points)
    4. Cost realism of the proposed project budget (proposed 
fellowships and other proposed costs) in light of the activities 
proposed and the objectives of the sponsoring institution and NIST. (20 
Points)

Selection Procedures

Selection Procedures

    The selection of institutions to be recommended for an award will 
be made by the Executive Officer at the NIST Laboratory in Boulder, 
Colorado. In recommending applications for funding, the Executive 
Officer will take into consideration the results of the evaluations and 
scores of the independent review panel, the needs of the NIST 
laboratories, and the selection official's judgement as to which 
applications, taken as a whole, are likely to best further the goals of 
the PREP program. The final selection of applications and award of 
cooperative agreements will be made by the NIST Grants Officer in 
Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Other Requirements

Federal Policies and Procedures

    Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all Federal laws and 
Federal and DoC policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to 
Federal financial assistance awards.

Past Performance

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

Preaward 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 verbal or written assurance that may have been 
received, there is no obligation on the part of DoC to cover preaward 
costs.

No Obligation for Future Funding

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

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,

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    2. A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one 
payment is receive, or
    3. Other arrangements satisfactory to DoC are made.

Name Check Review

    All non-profit and for-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.

Primary Applicant Certifications

    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. 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 applicants/bids for 
cooperative agreements for more than $100,000; and
    4. Anti-Lobbying Disclosures: Any applicant who has paid or will 
pay for lobbying using any funds must submit in SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of 
Lobbying Activities,'' as required under 15 CFR Part 28, Appendix B.

False Statements

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

Intergovernmental Review

    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.

Executive Order 12866

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

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This Notice involves collections of information subject to the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), which have been approved by the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Numbers 0348-0043, 
0348-0044, 0348-0040, and 0348-0046. Notwithstanding, any other 
provision of law no person is required to respond to nor shall a person 
be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of 
information subject to the requirements of the PRA unless that 
collection displays a current valid OMB control number.

    Dated: May 3, 1999.
Karen H. Brown,
Deputy Director.
[FR Doc. 99-11568 Filed 5-6-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-M