[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 7, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 68322-68324] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-31606] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Institute of Standards and Technology [Docket Number: 991019280-9280-01] RIN 0693-ZA34 Partnership for Advancing Technologies in Housing Cooperative Research Program (PATH-CoRP)--Notice of Availability of Funds AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and technology, Commerce. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to inform potential applicants that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is offering financial assistance for the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing Cooperative Research Program (PATH CoRP). PATH is working to expedite the development and use of advanced housing technologies, through partnerships between U.S. businesses and the Federal government. These technologies, which improve the quality, affordability, durability, energy efficiency and environmental performance of a home, help everyone--industry, consumers, and the environment. Specifically, PATH encourages developing innovative housing components and systems, designs, and production methods as well as reducing the amount of time needed to move quality technologies to the market place. With research assistance from NIST, the PATH program is led by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) (http:/ /www.pathnet.org). The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing Cooperative Research Program (PATH CoRP) is seeking proposals for cost-shared, industry-led research projects with the potential to result in new products that can be rapidly implemented in the construction of new site-built, factory-built, and manufactured housing and the upgrade of existing homes in support of the PATH program goals. DATES: The closing date for the submission of applications under this notice is February 7, 2000. Applications must be post-marked on or before February 7, 2000. NIST will not accept applications post-marked after the closing date of this notice. Applicants whose applications are post-marked after the closing date and those that are substantially incomplete are hereby notified that the applications will not be considered and will be returned to the applicants with a reason for the return. Applicants should allow 90 days processing time. ADDRESSES AND CONTACT INFORMATION: Applicants are requested to submit any technical questions to: Dr. H.S. Lew, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Building and Fire Research Laboratory, Structures Divisions, 100 Bureau Drive, STOP 8610, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8610, Telephone: (301) 975-6060, E-mail: [email protected]. Administrative questions should be directed to Joyce F. Brigham, NIST Grants Office, 100 Bureau Drive, STOP 3573, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-3573 Telephone (301) 975-6329. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: The CFDA number is 11.609--Measurement and Engineering Research Standards. Authority: As authorized under 12 U.S.C. Section 1701z-1, 2 and 15 U.S.C. Section 272(b)(1),(8),(c)(15), NIST is participating with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the implementation of the PATH CoRP program. Funds for the PATH CoRP program were transferred from HUD to NIST under the authority of the Economy Act, 31 U.S.C. Section 1535. Program Description/Objectives: The PATH CoRP program is intended to stimulate the research and development of innovative technologies that can be rapidly implemented into new products for new site-built, factory-built, and manufactured housing as well as the upgrade of existing homes to meet the four goals of the PATH program. The goals are as follows: 1. Reduce the monthly cost of new housing by 20%. 2. Cut the environmental impact and energy use of new housing by 50% or more and reduce the energy use in at least 15 million existing homes by 30% or more. 3. Improve durability and reduce maintenance costs by 50%. 4. Reduce by at least 10% the risk of loss of life, injury, and property destruction from natural hazards and reduce by at least 20% residential construction work illnesses and injuries. Proposals will be accepted for research projects in the following seven areas of interest: 1. Labor-saving processes for manufactured, factory-build, and site-constructed housing to reduce cycle-time, enhance worker safety, and simplify construction processes. 2. Advanced materials and systems for structural integrity. 3. Advanced and innovative foundation systems for site-build, factory-built, and manufactured homes for all types of soil conditions. 4. Advanced materials and systems for the building envelope to control moisture in walls or control infestation by termites and other insects. 5. New or innovative methods incorporating traditional exterior finishes with advanced framing systems. 6. Advanced materials and systems for interior finishes (ceiling, walls, built-in equipment). 7. Advanced materials and systems for home function and operation. Research projects must be designed to produce at least one tangible result that can be implemented into a new product addressing the PATH goals within eighteen months. Eligibility The PATH CoRP program is open to participation by for-profit or non-profit industry organizations and industry-led teams of organizations. Applicant organizations and teams must be industrial organizations or industry-led because the focus of the PATH CoRP is on the development of technologies that can be rapidly implemented into products. Although teams are encouraged, an application must be submitted by a [[Page 68323]] single industry organization, which will serve as the project administrator. Team members may participate as subrecipients or contractors. Subrecipients may provide matching funds, but contractors may not. Teams may include universities, state and local governments, and/or Federal government laboratories. A university, state or local government, or Federal government laboratory is not eligible to submit a proposal or administer a project. Federal government laboratories may participate only as authorized by law. Funding Availability The total anticipated funding level of this program is $1 million. It is anticipated that this program will result in 5-10 cooperative agreements ranging from $50,000 to $200,000 each. If additional funds are made available, NIST may make additional awards. Cost-sharing is required. (See Matching Requirements for further details). Proposal Review Process and Evaluation Criteria Proposals will be reviewed by a panel consisting of at least three independent reviewers based upon technical expertise in the research area addressed by the proposal, either from within NIST or from outside organizations. Individual reviewers will be ineligible for participating in any fashion in PATH CoRP proposals or research projects. The Review Panel will evaluate the proposals as follows: All proposals must meet the following requirements: 1. The proposal must demonstrate that the innovation has the potential to address PATH Goal 1 (Reduce the monthly cost of new housing by 20% or more). 2. The proposal must demonstrate that the innovation has the potential to address at least one additional PATH Goal. 3. The proposal must address at least one of the seven research areas identified in the Program Description/Objectives section. 4. The proposer must commit to a cost-share of at least 30% of the total proposed project value. At least 20% of the proposed cost-share must be in cash. Proposals not satisfying any or all of the four requirements will be eliminated from further evaluation. Proposals meeting these requirements will be evaluated against the following criteria: A. The extent to which the proposal demonstrates the capability and past experience of the applicant and its team, if applicable, in successfully conducting research and development related to materials, products, components, assemblies, subsystems, or systems for housing and other applicable technologies and transfer or research results into new products. (Weight: 0-40 points) B. The technical merit of the project and the extent to which the technology transfer plan will lead to a successful transition from research and development to manufacturing and marketing introduction. (Weight: 0-30 points). C. The level and type (cash or in-kind) or cost-sharing commitment to the project over and above the required cost sharing. (Weight: 0-20 points) D. The proposal must include a detailed program plan including scheduled milestones and decision points demonstrating the extent to which the project is likely to meet proposed project objectives and produce at least one significant output within the first 18 months following the award start date that can be implemented into a new product or products that address the PATH Goals (Weight: 0-10 points) The review panel will evaluate all proposals and make recommendations to the Director of the Building and Fire Research Laboratory (``Director'') for application selections. In making application selections, the Director will take into consideration the results of the panel's evaluations, including rank, and the Director's judgment as to which applications, when the slate is taken as a whole, are likely to best further the objectives of the PATH CoRP program. The final approval of selected applications and award of cooperative agreements will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance with program requirements and whether the recommended applicants appear competently managed, responsible, and committed to achieving project objectives. The decision of the Grants Officer is final. Award Period Proposals will be considered for research projects up to 36 months. Matching Requirements A minimum cost-share of 30% of the total project budget is required for this program. Cost-share must be either cash or in-kind and must be described in detail in the proposal. At least 20% of the cost-share must be in cash. Cost-share will be used as an evaluation criterion for this program. Successful applicants will be required to provide the minimum level of cost-sharing (either cash or in-kind) to augment NIST funding. Application Kit Each applicant must submit one signed original and two copies of each proposal along with the Grant Application forms delineated below. An application kit, containing all required application forms and certifications is available by contacting Mr. Alexander Phillips, (301) 975-6069 or e-mail, [email protected]. The application kit includes the following: SF-424 (Rev. 7/97)--Application for Federal Assistance SF-424A (Rev. 7/97)--Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs SF-424B (Rev. 7/97)--Assurances--Non-Construction Programs CD-346 (Rev. 6/97)--Applicant for Funding Assistance 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 Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered Transactions and Lobbying SF-LLL--Disclosure of Lobbying Activities Applications will not be accepted via facsimile machine transmission or electronic mail. Paperwork Reduction Act The Standard Form 424 and other Standard Forms in the application kit are subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act and have been approved by OMB under Control Number 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 of information, subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. Additional Requirements Primary Application Certification: All primary applicant institutions 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 in 15 CFR Part 26, Section 105) are subject to 15 CFR Part 26 ``Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension,'' and the related section of [[Page 68324]] the certification form prescribed above applies; 2. Drug-Free Workplace: Grantees (as defined in 15 CFR Part 26; Section 605) are subject to 15 CFR Part 26, Subpart F, ``Government- wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants),'' and the related section of the certification form prescribed above applies; 3. Anti-Lobbying: Persons (as defined in 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. 4. Anti-Lobbying Disclosure: Any applicant institution that has paid or will pay for lobbying using any funds must submit an SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,'' as required in 15 CFR Part 28, Appendix B. 5. Lower-Tier Certifications: Recipients shall require applicant/ bidder institutions 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 non-profit applicants will be subject to a name check review process. Name checks are intended to reveal if any 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. Preaward Activities Applicants (or their institutions) who incur any costs prior to an award being made do so at their own risk of not being reimbursed by the Government. Notwithstanding any verbal assurance that may have been provided, there is no liability on the part of NIST to cover pre-award costs. 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 the award. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of NIST. Past Performance Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal awards may result in an application not being considered for funding. 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. Sec. 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. Indirect Costs (IDC) Indirect Costs will not be allowable charges against the award unless specifically included as a line item in the approved budget incorporated into the award. If the applicant has not previously established an IDC rate with a Federal Agency, the negotiation and approval of a rate is subject to the procedures in the applicable cost principles and the DoC policy. Regardless of any approved IDC rate applicable to the award, the maximum dollar amount of allocable IDC for which the DoC will reimburse the Recipient shall be the lesser of: (a) The Federal share of the total allocable IDC of the award based on the negotiated rate with the cognizant Federal agency as established by audit or negotiation; or (b) The line item of the Federal share of IDC contained in the approved budget of the award. 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. Federal Policies and Procedures Recipients and subrecipients under this program are subject to all Federal laws and Federal and Departmental regulations, policies, and procedures applicable to financial assistance awards. Executive Order 12372 Applications under this program are not subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs''. This program does not directly affect any state or local government. Executive Order 12866 This funding notice was determined to be ``not significant'' for the purposes of Executive Order 12866. Dated: December 1, 1999. Karen Brown, Deputy Director, NIST. [FR Doc. 99-31606 Filed 12-6-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-13-M