[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 70 (Monday, April 12, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19161-19164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-8125]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Docket No.: 040318097-4097-01]
RIN 0693-ZA57


Professional Research Experience Program (PREP); Availability of 
Funds

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 
announces that the Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) is 
soliciting applications for financial assistance from accredited 
colleges and universities to enable those institutions to provide 
laboratory experiences and financial assistance to undergraduate and 
graduate students and post-doctoral associates at the NIST, Boulder 
Laboratories in Boulder, Colorado. In Boulder, NIST carries out 
programs in five laboratories--its Electronics and Electrical 
Laboratory (EEEL), Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory (CSTL), 
Physics Laboratory (PL), Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory 
(MSEL), and Information Technology Laboratory (ITL). The PREP seeks to 
encourage the growth and progress of science and engineering in the 
United States by providing research opportunities for students and 
post-doctoral associates, enabling them to collaborate with 
internationally known NIST scientists, exposing them to cutting-edge 
research. The PREP will promote students' pursuit of degrees in science 
and engineering, and post-doctoral associates' professional development 
in science and engineering. The NIST Administrative Coordinator and 
NIST scientists will work with appropriate department chairs, outreach 
coordinators, and directors of multi-disciplinary academic 
organizations to identify students and programs that would benefit from 
the PREP experience.

DATES: All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no 
later than 5 pm Mountain Standard Time (MST) on May 12, 2004. 
Applications received after this deadline will be returned with no 
further consideration.

ADDRESSES: Paper applications must be submitted to Ms. Phyllis Wright, 
Administrative Coordinator, National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, Division 346.16, 325 Broadway, Building 1, Room 4007, 
Boulder, CO 80305-3328.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Phyllis Wright, Administrative 
Coordinator, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Division 
346.16, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305-3328; Tel.: (303) 497-3244; e-
mail: [email protected] or with assistance for using Grants.gov 
contact [email protected]. Further information regarding this 
announcement may also be found at http://www.grants.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Applications

    Users of Grants.gov (www.grants.gov) will be able to download a 
copy of the application package, complete it off line, and then upload 
and submit the application package and associated proposal information 
via the Grants.gov website.
    For electronic submission--Applicants should follow the Application 
Instructions provided at Grants.gov when submitting a response to this 
Notice. Applicants are encouraged to start early and not wait to the 
approaching due date before logging on and reviewing the instructions 
for submitting an application through Grants.gov.
    For paper submission--Applicants are required to submit one signed 
original and two copies of the full application. All incomplete 
applications will be returned to the applicant. NIST determines whether 
an application has been submitted before the deadline by date/time 
stamping the applications as they are physically received in the PREP 
Administrator's office.

[[Page 19162]]

Funding Availability

    Applications for the PREP will be considered for up to five years. 
Funding for students in the area of materials science and engineering 
will not be available in FY 2004, but may become available in future 
years of an award made pursuant to this notice. Funding for the PREP 
will be provided as fellows are identified by the successful applicant 
and approved by NIST. Fellowship support from NIST under the PREP is 
contingent upon the availability of NIST program funds and the need and 
selection by NIST advisors.
    NIST anticipates awarding one or more cooperative agreements to 
eligible institution(s). In FY 1999, five cooperative agreements were 
awarded to two institutions, providing approximately $7.982 million 
since their inception and supporting 162 PREP fellows. For the most 
recent year of the PREP, FY 2003, NIST supported 89 PREP fellowships 
(some students received more than one fellowship) totaling 
approximately $2.340 million.
    Statutory Authority: 15 U.S.C 278g-1.
    CFDA Name and Number: Measurement and Engineering Research and 
Standards--11.609.
    Eligibility: Eligible applicants are accredited educational 
institutions of higher education in the United States and its 
territories that offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in physics, 
chemistry, mathematics, computer science, or engineering. Undergraduate 
and graduate students who receive fellowships under the PREP must be 
citizens of the United States or lawfully admitted to the United States 
for permanent residence, show evidence of a 3.0 or higher grade point 
average in a curriculum acceptable to the sponsoring educational 
institution and NIST, and must be enrolled full-time at a sponsoring 
institution. Post-doctoral associates who receive fellowships under the 
PREP must be citizens of the United States, show proof of having earned 
a doctorate within the last five years, and must be affiliated with a 
sponsoring institution.
    Review and Selection Process: All PREP applications are submitted 
to the Administrative Coordinator. Each application is examined for 
completeness and responsiveness. Substantially incomplete or non-
responsive proposals will not be considered for funding, and the 
applicant will be notified. The PREP Administrative Coordinator will 
retain one copy of each non-responsive application for three years for 
record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed. 
Applications should include the following:
    (A) Proposal Summary: Proposals may be structured in any way that 
the applicant believes will best present the proposed project. A format 
that NIST offers for consideration by the applicant is as follows:
    (1) Introduction: Describe the institution's qualifications for 
conducting the proposed project. Applicant institutions must insure the 
availability of students for on-site work experiences in Boulder, 
Colorado concurrently with the university classroom studies.
    (2) Needs 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.
    (3) Objectives: Provide detailed expected project outcomes and 
benefits to the college or university expressed in measurable terms.
    (4) Evaluation: Delineate plans for measuring success or 
determining the degree to which the project objectives were met.
    (5) Other: Applicants may provide additional information, which is 
not required to conform to a prescribed format. For example, applicants 
may wish to describe any plans for continuing the project with 
necessary funding beyond the Federal funding currently requested. In 
addition, applicants may wish to describe the application criteria they 
plan to use in selecting undergraduate and graduate students and post-
doctoral associates for the fellowship program.
    (B) Proposal Budget: Applicants should use the SF-424A to complete 
the budget submission. In addition to the SF-424A applicant must 
provide a detailed budget narrative to explain fully and justify all 
proposed project funding including each level of fellowship 
(undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate) and other resources. 
Applications should contain annual budgets using the following 
assumptions:
    Undergraduate Fellowship Program: 10 fellows at 200 hours per 
semester.
    Cost elements to include in annual budget: Stipend or wage 
(Freshman @ $9.00, Sophomores @ $10, Juniors @ $11, and Seniors @ $12 
per hour), full tuition assistance at the in-state rate, fringe 
benefits, and indirect costs.
    Graduate Fellowship Program: 10 fellows at 20 hours per week during 
the school year (9 months); 40 hours per week in the summer (3 months).
    Cost elements to include in annual budget: Stipend or wage 
(equivalent to what a research assistant in the student's given 
department would receive), full tuition assistance at the in-state 
rate, fringe benefits (which may include fees and health insurance), 
and indirect costs.
    Post-Doctorate Fellowship Program: 5 fellows at 40 hours per week.
    Cost elements to include in annual budget: stipend or wage, 
relocation expenses, and other miscellaneous expenses (travel, 
conferences, training).
    Each applicant should include necessary costs to provide oversight 
of the program. All successful applicants will be required to have a 
PREP coordinator. Some the responsibilities of the successful 
applicant's PREP coordinator include: Serving as a single point of 
contact for University staff, PREP applicants and participants, and 
NIST research scientists and engineers; assisting students, University 
sponsors, and NIST sponsors in implementing the program and resolving 
any difficulties that may arise, and serving as the signatory on all 
agreements between NIST, the University and each fellow.
    The number of fellows and number of hours per semester are purely 
illustrative and do not reflect any commitment as to the number of 
fellowships that may be approved under any resulting cooperative 
agreement.
    (C) Applicants must submit the Application for Federal Assistance 
(SF-424), Budget Information, Non-construction Programs (SF-424A), and 
the Assurances, Nonconstruction Programs (SF424B), and Disclosure of 
Lobbying Activities SF-LLL during initial submission of the 
application. The Department of Commerce Form(s) CD-511, Certifications 
Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other responsibility Matters; Drug 
Free Workplace Requirements and Lobbying, and if applicable the 
Department of Commerce Form(s) CD-346 Applicant for Funding Assistance 
(Non-Profits, For-Profits, and Individuals), will be required during 
the final review process. Each complete and responsive PREP application 
packet will be reviewed by at least three independent, objective NIST 
employees, who are knowledgeable in the subject matter of this 
announcement and its objectives and are able to conduct a review based 
on the Evaluation Criteria for the PREP as described in this notice.
    Each application will be reviewed by three independent, objective 
NIST employees who are knowledgeable about the PREP. The selection of 
institutions to be recommended for an award will be made by the 
Director of the NIST Laboratories in Boulder, Colorado (``Director''), 
the Selecting Official. In recommending institutions

[[Page 19163]]

for funding the Director will take into consideration the results of 
the evaluations and scores of the independent reviewers, the interests 
of the NIST laboratories, and the Director's judgment as to which 
institutions, taken as a whole, are likely to best further the goals of 
the PREP. The final selection of institutions and award of cooperative 
agreements will be made by the NIST Grants Officer in Gaithersburg, 
Maryland, based on compliance with application requirements as 
published in this notice, compliance with applicable legal and 
regulatory requirements, compliance with Federal policies that best 
further the objectives of the Department of Commerce, and whether the 
recommended applicants appear to be responsible. Unsatisfactory 
performance on any previous Federal award may result in an application 
not being considered for funding. Applicants may be asked to modify 
objectives, work plans, or budgets, and provide supplemental 
information required by the agency prior to award. The decision of the 
Grants Officer is final.
    Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The PREP 
Administrative Coordinator will retain one copy of each unsuccessful 
application for three years for record keeping purposes. The remaining 
copies will be destroyed.
    Evaluation Criteria: Applicants must be able to insure the 
availability of students for on site work experiences at the NIST 
Laboratories in Boulder, Colorado concurrently with the university 
classroom studies. The student must also be enrolled in an academic 
program acceptable to both the sponsoring institution and NIST while 
working in the Laboratories. The applications will be evaluated and 
scored on the basis of the following evaluation criteria:
    (A) 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).
    (B) Experience in providing students pursuing degrees in physics, 
chemistry, mathematics, computer science, or engineering with work 
experiences in laboratories or other settings consistent with 
furthering the students' education. (30 points).
    (C) Adequacy and reasonableness of plans for administering the 
project and coordinating with the PREP Administrative Coordinator in 
Boulder. (20 points).
    (D) 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).
    Cost Share Requirements: Cost sharing and matching are 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 
cost sharing may include any eligible costs under the applicable cost 
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 share contribution will be taken into consideration 
in reviewing the competitiveness of the proposed project budget.
    Applicants are encouraged to propose to cover indirect costs as 
cost share under this 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.
    The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements: 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 announcement. On the 
form SF-424, the applicant's 9-digit Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number must be entered in the Applicant 
Identifier block.
    Collaborations with NIST Employees: All applications should include 
a description of any work proposed to be performed by an entity other 
than the applicant, and the cost of such work should ordinarily be 
included in the budget.
    If an applicant proposes collaboration with NIST, the statement of 
work should include a statement of this intention, a description of the 
collaboration, and prominently identify the NIST employee(s) involved, 
if known. Any collaboration by a NIST employee must be approved by 
appropriate NIST management and is at the sole discretion of NIST. 
Prior to beginning the merit review process, NIST will verify the 
approval of the proposed collaboration. Any unapproved collaboration 
will be stricken from the proposal prior to the merit review.
    Use of NIST Intellectual Property: If the applicant anticipates 
using any NIST-owned intellectual property to carry out the work 
proposed, the applicant should identify such intellectual property. 
This information will be used to ensure that no NIST employee involved 
in the development of the intellectual property will participate in the 
review process for that competition. In addition, if the applicant 
intends to use NIST-owned intellectual property, the applicant must 
comply with all statutes and regulations governing the licensing of 
Federal government patents and inventions, described at 35 U.S.C. 200-
212, 37 CFR part 401, 15 CFR 14.36, and in section 20 of the Department 
of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements, 66 FR 49917 (2001), as 
amended by the Federal Register notice published on October 30, 2002 
(67 FR 66109). Questions about these requirements may be directed to 
the Counsel for NIST, 301-975-2803.
    Any use of NIST-owned intellectual property by a proposer is at the 
sole discretion of NIST and will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis 
if a project is deemed meritorious. The applicant should indicate 
within the statement of work whether it already has a license to use 
such intellectual property or whether it intends to seek one.
    If any inventions made in whole or in part by a NIST employee arise 
in the course of an award made pursuant to this notice, the United 
States government may retain its ownership rights in any such 
invention. Licensing or other disposition of NIST's rights in such 
inventions will be determined solely by NIST, and include the 
possibility of NIST putting the intellectual property into the public 
domain.
    Initial Screening of all Applications: All applications received in 
response to this announcement will be reviewed to determine whether or 
not they are complete and responsive to the scope of the stated 
objectives for each program. Incomplete or non-responsive applications 
will not be reviewed for technical merit. The Program will retain one 
copy of each non-responsive application for three years for record 
keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.

[[Page 19164]]

    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.
    Paperwork Reduction Act: The standard forms in the application kit 
involve a collection 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 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.
    Research Projects Involving Human Subjects, Human Tissue, Data or 
Recordings Involving Human Subjects: Any proposal that includes 
research involving human subjects, human tissue, data or recordings 
involving human subjects must meet the requirements of the Common Rule 
for the Protection of Human Subjects, codified for the Department of 
Commerce at 15 CFR part 27. In addition, any proposal that includes 
research on these topics must be in compliance with any statutory 
requirements imposed upon the Department of Health and Human Services 
(DHHS) and other federal agencies regarding these topics, all 
regulatory policies and guidance adopted by DHHS, FDA, and other 
Federal agencies on these topics, and all Presidential statements of 
policy on these topics.
    On December 3, 2000, the U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services (DHHS) introduced a new Federal-wide Assurance of Protection 
of Human Subjects (FWA). The FWA covers all of an institution's 
Federally supported human subjects research, and eliminates the need 
for other types of Assurance documents. The Office for Human Research 
Protections (OHRP) has suspended processing of multiple project 
assurance (MPA) renewals. All existing MPAs will remain in force until 
further notice. For information about FWAs, please see the OHRP Web 
site at http://ohrp.osophs.dhhs.gov/humansubjects/assurance/fwas.htm.
    In accordance with the DHHS change, NIST will continue to accept 
the submission of human subjects protocols that have been approved by 
Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) possessing a current, valid MPA from 
DHHS. NIST also will accept the submission of human subjects protocols 
that have been approved by IRBs possessing a current, valid FWA from 
DHHS. NIST will not issue a single project assurance (SPA) for any IRB 
reviewing any human subjects protocol proposed to NIST.
    On August 9, 2001, the President announced his decision to allow 
Federal funds to be used for research on existing human embryonic stem 
cell lines as long as prior to his announcement (1) the derivation 
process (which commences with the removal of the inner cell mass from 
the blastocyst) had already been initiated and (2) the embryo from 
which the stem cell line was derived no longer had the possibility of 
development as a human being. NIST will follow guidance issued by the 
National Institutes of Health at http://ohrp.osophs.dhhs.gov/humansubjects/guidance/stemcell.pdf for funding such research.
    Research Projects Involving Vertebrate Animals: Any proposal that 
includes research involving vertebrate animals must be in compliance 
with the National Research Council's ``Guide for the Care and Use of 
Laboratory Animals'' which can be obtained from National Academy Press, 
2101 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20055. In addition, such 
proposals must meet the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act (7 
U.S.C. 2131 et seq.), 9 CFR parts 1, 2, and 3, and if appropriate, 21 
CFR part 58. These regulations do not apply to proposed research using 
pre-existing images of animals or to research plans that do not include 
live animals that are being cared for, euthanized, or used by the 
project participants to accomplish research goals, teaching, or 
testing. These regulations also do not apply to obtaining animal 
materials from commercial processors of animal products or to animal 
cell lines or tissues from tissue banks.
    Type of Funding Instrument: The funding instrument will be a 
cooperative agreement. NIST will be ``substantially involved'' in the 
project by way of collaboration between NIST scientists and faculty, 
students, and associates of recipient institutions. Please see the 
Department of Commerce Grants and Cooperative Agreements Interim Manual 
which may be found on the Internet at: http://www.osec.doc.gov/oebam/GCA_manual.htm.
    Matching Funds: Although the program described in this notice does 
not require cost share, if it is determined that your proposal falls 
within the authority of 19 U.S.C. 2543-45, cost share will be required 
as follows:
    Pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 2543-45, financial assistance shall not 
exceed 75 percent of such program or activity, when the primary purpose 
of such program or activity is--
    (1) To increase the awareness of proposed and adopted standards-
related activities;
    (2) To facilitate international trade through the appropriate 
international and domestic standards-related activities;
    (3) To provide adequate United States representation in 
international standards-related activities; and
    (4) To encourage United States exports through increased awareness 
of foreign standards-related activities that may affect United States 
exports.
    Limitation of Liability: In no event will the Department of 
Commerce be responsible for proposal preparation costs if these 
programs fail to receive funding or are cancelled because of other 
agency priorities. Publication of this announcement does not oblige the 
agency to award any specific project or to obligate any available 
funds.
    Executive Order 12866: This funding notice was determined to be not 
significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    Executive Order 13132 (Federalism): It has been determined that 
this notice does not contain policies with federalism implications as 
that term is defined in Executive Order 13132.
    Executive Order 12372: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
    Administrative Procedure Act/Regulatory Flexibility Act: Notice and 
comment are not required under the Administrative Procedure Act (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)). 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: April 2, 2004.
Hratch G. Semerjian,
Acting Director, NIST.
[FR Doc. 04-8125 Filed 4-9-04; 8:45 am]
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