[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 52 (Tuesday, March 18, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12890-12893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6349]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Docket No.: 030123018-3018-01]
RIN 0693-ZA51


Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program; Availability of 
Funds

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology invites 
proposals from qualified organizations for funding projects that 
provide manufacturing extension services to small- and medium-sized 
manufacturers in the United States. These projects will establish 
Manufacturing Technology Centers under the Manufacturing Extension 
Partnership (MEP) Program.
    Proposals are invited for the expansion of manufacturing extension 
service capacity within three discrete geographic areas in the United 
States. The first area encompasses the entirety of the state of 
Florida. The second area encompasses the entirety of the state of 
Hawaii. The third area encompasses the entirety of the state of South 
Dakota. All organizations meeting the eligibility requirements provided 
herein are invited to submit proposals. As these states had previous 
MEP centers, applicants are required to provide 66 \2/3\% or more of 
the operating costs for providing these manufacturing extension 
services.

DATES: Proposals must be received no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight 
Time on May 19, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Applicants must submit one signed original and two (2) 
copies of their proposal along with a Standard Form 424, 424-A, and 
424-B (Rev 7/97), Form CD-511 (Rev 7/91), and Form CD-346 to the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology,

[[Page 12891]]

Manufacturing Extension Partnership, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 4800, 
Building 301, Room C100, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-4800. 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 Diane Henderson of the Manufacturing Extension 
Partnership by calling (301) 975-5020; or by mailing information 
requests to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 
Manufacturing Extension Partnership, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 4800, 
Building 301, Room C100, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-4800. 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. Information 
is also available on-line at http://www.mep.nist.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 278k, as implemented in 15 CFR part 290.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Name and Number

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

Program Description and Objectives

    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, the MEP 
national system consists of over 400 centers and field offices located 
throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. Information regarding MEP 
and these centers is provided in the information packet that can be 
obtained as explained above or on-line at http://www.mep.nist.gov.
    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 its 
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.

Funding Availability

    It is anticipated that approximately $4 million will be available 
to support manufacturing extension centers under this announcement. 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.

Matching Requirements

    A cost sharing contribution from the applicant is required. The 
applicant must provide 66\2/3\ % or more of the total capital, 
operating and maintenance costs for the center, as all of these states 
have had previously existing MEP centers. The applicant's share of the 
center expenses may include cash and in-kind contributions. However, 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.

Funding Instrument

    The formal agreement between NIST and a successful 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 will 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 national system.
--Defining measures for evaluation of performance.
--Direct involvement in helping to understand, define, and resolve 
problems in the center's operations.

Eligibility Criteria

    Manufacturing extension centers must be affiliated with a U.S.-
based not-for-profit institution or organization. MEP interprets not-
for-profit organizations to include universities and state and local 
governments. Eligible applicants may be consortia of non-profit 
institutions. Existing MEP manufacturing extension centers are 
eligible.

Award Period

    The projects awarded under this program will have a budget and 
performance period of one year. These projects may be renewable on an 
annual basis 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.

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.
    (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 
that 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 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

[[Page 12892]]

technology to develop and transfer technologies related to NIST 
research results and expertise in the technical areas noted in the MEP 
regulations found at 15 CFR part 290?
    (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.
    (v) Budget. Suitability and focus of the applicant's detailed one-
year budget and budget outline for years 2-5 and beyond.

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 that 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, consisting of one non-
Federal Government employee and at least two Federal Government 
employees, to conduct an independent and objective review and 
evaluation of all qualified proposals in accordance with the evaluation 
criteria set forth in this notice. Based upon this review, the panel 
will deliberate, and each panelist will assign a numeric score based on 
the evaluation criteria. Proposals with an average score of 70 or 
higher will be deemed finalists and will receive site visits.

c. Site Visits

    Finalists will be notified and a day, time, and location for a site 
visit will be established. The panel will review finalists again on 
site, based on the evaluation criteria. Subsequently, the panel will 
deliberate again, and each panelist may revise his or her numeric 
scores based on the evaluation criteria, assessing equal weight to each 
of the four criteria. Proposals are then ranked based on the sum of the 
panelists' final numeric scores. The ranked proposals are then 
submitted to the Director of NIST or the Director of the NIST MEP 
Program for final award recommendation to the NIST Grants Officer.

d. Award Determination

    The Director of NIST or the Director of the NIST MEP Program shall 
make final recommendation of whether an award should be made to the 
proposing organization based on a review of the panel's adherence to 
program objectives and program procedures and the availability of 
funds. The final approval of the 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.

Application Forms and Kit

    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 that 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 
potential years 2 through 5 and beyond. 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 5 and beyond. A detailed budget and budget 
narrative will be required prior to each of years 2 through 5.
    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 (SF) 424, 424-A, and 424-B (Rev 7/97) prescribed 
by 15 CFR part 14 (OMB Circular A-110), Form CD-511, Certification 
Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-
Free Workplace Requirements and Lobbying, and Form CD-346, Applicant 
For Funding Assistance (Name Check). The SF 424 and CD series of forms 
will not be considered part of the page count of the proposal.
    In addition, the proposal must contain the requirements identified 
in 15 CFR 290.5(a)(3), which are:
    A. A plan for the allocation of intellectual property rights 
associated with any invention or copyright which may result from the 
involvement in the Center's technology transfer or research activities 
consistent with the conditions of 15 CFR 290.9.
    B. A statement that provides adequate assurances that the host 
organization will contribute the required cost share. (Although the MEP 
regulation, 15 CFR 290.5(a)(3)(ii), states that applicants should 
provide evidence that the proposed Center will be self-supporting after 
six years, this requirement is no longer in effect, as indicated 
above.)
    C. A statement describing linkages to industry, government, and 
educational organizations within its service region.
    D. A statement defining the initial service region including a 
statement of the constituency to be served and the level of service to 
be provided, as well as outyear plans.
    E. A statement agreeing to focus the mission of the Center on 
technology transfer activities and not to exclude companies based on 
state boundaries.

[[Page 12893]]

    F. A proposed plan for the annual evaluation of the success of the 
Center by the Program, including appropriate criteria for 
consideration, and weighting of those criteria.
    G. A plan to focus the Center's technology emphasis on areas 
consistent with NIST technology research programs and organizational 
expertise.
    H. A description of the planned Center sufficient to permit NIST to 
evaluate the proposal in accordance with 15 CFR 290.6.
    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 two (2) copies of the 
proposal.

Additional Information

    The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register 
notice of October 1, 2001 (66 FR 49917) , as amended by the Federal 
Register notice published on October 30, 2002 (67 FR 66109), are 
applicable to this solicitation.
    Where Web sites are referenced within this notice, those who do not 
have access to the Internet websites may contact the appropriate 
Program official to obtain information.
    Unsuccessful Applications: Unsuccessful applicants will be held in 
the Program Office for two years and then destroyed.
    Fees and/or Profit: It is not the intent of NIST to pay fee or 
profit for any of the financial assistance awards that may be issued 
pursuant to this announcement.
    Automated Standardized Application for Payment System (ASAP): The 
Department of Commerce is using the Department of Treasury's ASAP. In 
order to receive payments for services under these awards, recipients 
will be required to register with the Department of Treasury and 
indicate whether or not they will use the on-line or voice response 
method of withdrawing funds from their ASAP established accounts. More 
information regarding ASAP can be found on-line at http://www.fms.treas.gov/asap/index.html.
    Paperwork Reduction Act: The standard forms in the application kit 
involve collections of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction 
Act. The use of Standard Forms 424, 424A, 424B, SF-LLL, and CD-346 have 
been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the 
respective Control Numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044, 0348-0040, 0348-0046, 
and 0605-0001.
    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 Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information 
displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.
    Classification: This funding notice was determined to be ``not 
significant'' for purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies 
with Federalism implications as that term is defined in Executive Order 
13132.
    Applications under these programs are not subject to Executive 
Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''
    Because notice and comment are not required under 5 U.S.C. 553, or 
any other law, for notices relating to public property, loans, grants, 
benefits or contracts (5 U.S.C. 553(a)), a Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis is not required and has not been prepared for this notice, 5 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.

    Dated: March 11, 2003.
Karen H. Brown,
Deputy Director, NIST.
[FR Doc. 03-6349 Filed 3-17-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P