[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 17 (Friday, January 25, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4521-4535]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1334]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Docket No.: 071220879-8021-01]


Measurement, Science and Engineering Grants Programs; 
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 following programs are soliciting applications for 
financial assistance for FY 2008: (1) The Electronics and Electrical 
Engineering Laboratory Grants Program; (2) the Manufacturing 
Engineering Laboratory Grants Program; (3) the Chemical Science and 
Technology Laboratory Grants Program; (4) the Physics Laboratory Grants 
Program; (5) the Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory Grants 
Program; (6) the Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements 
Program; (7) the Fire Research Grants Program; (8) the Information 
Technology Laboratory Grants Program; (9) the NIST Center for Neutron 
Research Grants Program; (10) Center for Nanoscale Science and 
Technology Grants Program; and (11) the NCNR Sample Environment 
Equipment Financial Assistance Program. Each program will only consider 
applications that are within the scientific scope of the program as 
described in this notice and in the detailed program descriptions found 
in the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) announcement for these 
programs. Prior to preparation of a proposal, it is strongly suggested 
that potential applicants contact the Program Manager for the 
appropriate field of research, as specified in the FFO announcement 
found at http://www.grants.gov, for clarification of the program 
objectives and to determine whether their proposal is responsive to 
this notice.

DATES: See below.

ADDRESSES: See below.

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

Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory (EEEL) Grants Program

    Program Description: The Electronics and Electrical Engineering 
Laboratory (EEEL) Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative 
agreements for

[[Page 4522]]

the development of fundamental electrical metrology and of metrology 
supporting industry and government agencies in the broad areas of 
semiconductors, electronic instrumentation, radio-frequency technology, 
optoelectronics, magnetics, superconductors, electronic commerce as 
applied to electronic products and devices, the transmission and 
distribution of electrical power, national electrical standards 
(fundamental, generally quantum-based physical standards), and law 
enforcement standards.

DATES: All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no 
later than 5 p.m. Daylight Savings Time on June 15, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Paper applications must be submitted to: Sheilda Bryner, 
Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory, National Institute 
of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8100, Gaithersburg, 
MD 20899-8100. Electronic applications and associated proposal 
information should be uploaded to http://www.grants.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For complete information about this 
program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically, read 
the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) Notice at http://www.grants.gov. 
A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling (301) 975-6328. 
Program questions should be addressed to Sheilda Bryner, Electronics 
and Electrical Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of Standards 
and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8100, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-
8100, Tel.: (301) 975-2220, Fax: (301) 975-4091. Grants administration 
questions concerning this program should be addressed to: Melinda 
Chukran, NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division, (301) 975-
5266; [email protected]. For assistance with using http://www.grants.gov, contact grants.gov">support@grants.gov.

Funding Availability

    In fiscal year 2007, the EEEL Grants Program made 10 new awards, 
totaling $636,245. The amount available each year fluctuates 
considerably based on programmatic needs and funding availability. For 
FY 2008, individual awards are expected to range between $5,000 and 
$150,000.
    For the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory Grants 
Program, proposals will be considered for research projects from one to 
three years. When a proposal for a multi-year award is approved, 
funding will generally be provided for only the first year of the 
program. If an application is selected for funding, NIST has no 
obligation to provide any additional funding in connection with that 
award. Continuation of an award to increase funding or extend the 
period of performance is at the total discretion of NIST. Funding for 
each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent upon 
satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the 
Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory Grants Program, and 
the availability of funds. The multi-year awards must have scopes of 
work that can be easily separated into annual increments of meaningful 
work that represent solid accomplishments if prospective funding is not 
made available to the applicant (i.e., the scopes of work for each 
funding period must produce identifiable and meaningful results in and 
of themselves).
    Statutory Authority: As authorized by 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c), the 
NIST Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory conducts a basic 
and applied research program directly and through grants and 
cooperative agreements to eligible recipients.
    Eligibility: The Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory 
Grants Program is open to institutions of higher education; hospitals; 
non-profit organizations; commercial organizations; state, local, and 
Indian tribal governments; foreign governments; organizations under the 
jurisdiction of foreign governments; and international organizations.
    Review and Selection Process: For the Electronics and Electrical 
Engineering Laboratory Grants Program, proposals will be reviewed in a 
three-step process. First, the EEEL Grants Coordinator, or the Deputy 
Director of EEEL, will determine the compatibility of the applicant's 
proposal with EEEL Program Areas and the relevance to the objectives of 
the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory Grants Program, 
described in the Program Description section above. If it is determined 
that the proposal is incomplete or non-responsive to the scope of the 
stated objectives, the proposal will not be reviewed for technical 
merit. If it is determined that all funds available for the EEEL Grants 
Program for the given fiscal year have been exhausted, the proposal 
will not be reviewed for technical merit. Proposers may contact EEEL at 
301-975-2220 to find out if funds have been exhausted for the fiscal 
year. EEEL will also post a notice on its Web site, http://www.eeel.nist.gov/eeel_grants/, when funds are exhausted for the 
fiscal year. EEEL will notify proposers in writing if their proposals 
are not reviewed for technical merit.
    Second, proposals will be distributed for technical review by the 
EEEL Grants Coordinator, or other technical professionals familiar with 
the programs of the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory, 
to the appropriate Division or Office based on technical area. At least 
three independent, objective individuals knowledgeable about the 
particular scientific area addressed by the proposal will conduct a 
technical review based on the evaluation criteria. If non-Federal 
reviewers are used, the reviewers may discuss the proposals with each 
other, but scores will be determined on an individual basis, not as a 
consensus.
    Reviews will be conducted on a monthly basis, and all proposals 
received on or before the 15th day of the month will be ranked based on 
the reviewers' scores.
    Third, the Division Chief or Office Director will make application 
selections. In making application selections, the Division Chief or 
Office Director will take into consideration the results of the 
reviewers' evaluations, the availability of funding, and relevance to 
the objectives or research areas of the Electronics and Electrical 
Engineering Laboratory Grants Program, as described in the Program 
Description section above. The final approval of selected applications 
and award of financial assistance will be made by the NIST Grants 
Officer based on compliance with application requirements as published 
in this notice, compliance with applicable legal and regulatory 
requirements, and whether the recommended applicants appear to be 
responsible. 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 Program 
will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years 
for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
    Evaluation Criteria: For the Electronics and Electrical Engineering 
Laboratory Grants Program, the evaluation criteria and weights to be 
used by the technical reviewers in evaluating the proposals are as 
follows:

Proposal addresses specific program objectives as described in this 
notice (25%)

[[Page 4523]]

Proposal provides evidence of applicant's expertise in relevant 
technical area (20%)
Proposal offers innovative approach (20%)
Proposal provides realistic schedule with defined milestones (20%)
Proposal provides adequate rationale for budget (15%)

    Cost Share Requirements: The Electronics and Electrical Engineering 
Laboratory Grants Program does not require any matching funds.

Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory (MEL) Grants Program

    Program Description: The Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory (MEL) 
Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements in the 
following fields of research: Dimensional Metrology for Manufacturing, 
Mechanical Metrology for Manufacturing, Machine Tool and Machining 
Process Metrology, Intelligent Systems, and Information Systems 
Integration for Applications in Manufacturing. Specific information 
regarding program objectives can be found in the corresponding Federal 
Funding Opportunity for this announcement.
    Dates: Applications will be considered on a continuing basis. 
Applications received after June 1, 2008 may be processed and 
considered for funding under this solicitation in the current fiscal 
year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds. 
Applications, paper and electronic, must be received prior to the 
publication date in the Federal Register of the FY 2009 solicitation 
for the MEL Grants Program in order to be processed under this 
solicitation.
    Addresses: Paper applications must be submitted to: Ms. Alana 
Glover, Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8200, Building 220, 
Room B322, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8200. Electronic applications 
and associated proposal information should be uploaded to http://www.grants.gov.
    For Further Information Contact: For complete information about 
this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically, 
read the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) Notice at http://www.grants.gov. A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling 
(301) 975-6328. Program questions should be addressed to Ms. Alana 
Glover, Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8200, Building 220, 
Room B322, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8200, Tel: (301) 975-3400, E-
mail: [email protected]. Grants administration questions concerning this 
program should be addressed to: Melinda Chukran, NIST Grants and 
Agreements Management Division, (301) 975-5266; 
[email protected]. For assistance with using http://www.grants.gov, contact grants.gov">support@grants.gov.
    Funding Availability: In fiscal year 2007, the MEL Grants Program 
funded 8 new awards, totaling $729,775.49. In fiscal year 2008 the MEL 
Grants Program anticipates funding of approximately $500,000. 
Individual awards are expected to range from approximately $25,000 to 
$250,000.
    For the MEL Grants Program, proposals will be considered for 
research projects from one to five years. When a proposal for a multi-
year award is approved, funding will generally be provided for only the 
first year of the program. If an application is selected for funding, 
NIST has no obligation to provide any additional funding in connection 
with that award. Continuation of an award to increase funding or extend 
the period of performance is at the total discretion of NIST. Funding 
for each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent 
upon satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the 
MEL program, and the availability of funds. The multi-year awards must 
have scopes of work that can be easily separated into annual increments 
of meaningful work that represent solid accomplishments if prospective 
funding is not made available to the applicant, (i.e., the scopes of 
work for each funding period must produce identifiable and meaningful 
results in and of themselves).
    Statutory Authority: As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c), 
the MEL conducts a basic and applied research program directly and 
through grants and cooperative agreements to eligible recipients.
    Eligibility: The MEL Grants Program is open to institutions of 
higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial 
organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; foreign 
governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign 
governments; and international organizations.
    Review and Selection Process: For the MEL Grants Program responsive 
proposals will be assigned, as received on a rolling basis, to the most 
appropriate area for review. Proposals will be reviewed in a three-step 
process. First, the MEL Deputy Director or the appropriate MEL Division 
Chief will determine the applicability of the proposal with regard to 
MEL programs and the relevance of the proposal's objectives to current 
MEL research. If it is determined that the proposal is incomplete or 
non-responsive to the scope of the stated objectives, the proposal will 
not be reviewed for technical merit. Second, the appropriate MEL 
Division Chief or MEL Program Manager will determine the possibility 
for funding availability within the MEL technical program area most 
relevant to the objectives of the proposal. If it is determined that 
sufficient funding is not available to consider grants proposals in the 
technical area of the proposal, the proposal will not be reviewed for 
technical merit. Third, if the proposal passes the first two steps, at 
least three independent, objective individuals knowledgeable about the 
particular scientific area addressed by the proposal will conduct a 
technical review based on the evaluation criteria. If non-Federal 
reviewers are used, the reviewers may discuss the proposal with each 
other, but scores will be determined on an individual basis, not as a 
consensus.
    The MEL Director or appropriate MEL Division Chief will make 
application selections from the grants proposals submitted. In making 
the application selections, the Laboratory Director or Division Chief 
will take into consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations, 
the availability of funds, and relevance to the objectives or research 
areas of the MEL Grants Program. These objectives are described above 
in the Program Description section.
    The final approval of selected applications and award of financial 
assistance will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance 
with application requirements as published in this notice, compliance 
with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, and whether the 
recommended applicants appear to be responsible. 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 Program 
will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years 
for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
    Evaluation Criteria: For the MEL Grants Program, the evaluation 
criteria the technical reviewers will use in evaluating the proposals 
are as follows:
    1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the 
applicant's approach and the extent to

[[Page 4524]]

which the proposal effectively addresses scientific and technical 
issues.
    2. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the 
potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it 
would contribute to the field of manufacturing engineering and 
metrology research. Proposals must be relevant to current MEL research 
and have a relation to the objectives of ongoing MEL programs and 
activities.
    3. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider 
the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed 
personnel to perform the work in the project.
    4. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to 
which the proposer has access to the necessary facilities and overall 
support to accomplish project objectives.
    Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation 
process.
    Cost Share Requirements: The MEL Grants Program does not require 
any matching funds.

Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Grants Program

    Program Description: The Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory 
(CSTL) Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements 
consistent with the CSTL mission in the following fields of measurement 
science research, focused on reference methods, reference materials and 
reference data: Biochemical Science Process Measurements, Surface and 
Microanalysis Science, Physical and Chemical Properties, and Analytical 
Chemistry. Specific information regarding program objectives can be 
found in the corresponding Federal Funding Opportunity for this 
announcement.
    The Programs are structured to support CSTL's three objectives:
    1. Provide the national traceability and international 
comparability structure for measurements in chemistry, chemical 
engineering, and biochemical sciences.
    2. Assure that U.S. industry has access to accurate and reliable 
data and predictive models to determine the chemical and physical 
properties of materials and processes;
    3. Anticipate and address next-generation measurement needs of the 
Nation.
    Dates: Applications will be considered on a continuing basis. 
Applications received after June 1, 2008 may be processed and 
considered for funding under this solicitation in the current fiscal 
year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds. 
Applications, paper and electronic, must be received prior to the 
publication date in the Federal Register of the FY 2009 solicitation 
for the CSTL Grants Program in order to be processed under this 
solicitation.
    Addresses: Paper applications must be submitted to: Ms. Donna 
Kimball, Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory, National Institute 
of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8300, Gaithersburg, 
MD 20899-8300. Electronic applications and associated proposal 
information should be uploaded to http://www.grants.gov.
    For Further Information Contact: For complete information about 
this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically, 
read the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) Notice at http://www.grants.gov. A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling 
(301) 975-6328. Program questions should be addressed to Ms. Donna 
Kimball, Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory, National Institute 
of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8300, Gaithersburg, 
MD 20899-8300, Tel (301) 975-8300, E-Mail: [email protected]. 
Grants administration questions concerning this program should be 
addressed to: Melinda Chukran, NIST Grants and Agreements Management 
Division, (301) 975-5266; [email protected]. For assistance with 
using http://www.grants.gov, contact grants.gov">support@grants.gov.

Funding Availability

    No funds have been set aside specifically for the CSTL Grants 
Program. The availability of funds depends upon actual authorization of 
funds and other costs expected to be incurred by individual divisions 
within the laboratory. Where funds are identified as available for 
grants, those funds will be awarded to highly ranked proposals as 
determined by the process described in this notice.
    In fiscal year 2007, the CSTL Grants Program funded 4 new awards, 
totaling $341,195.00. In fiscal year 2008, the CSTL Grants Program 
anticipates funding of approximately $1,000,000. Individual awards are 
expected to range from approximately $5,000 to $100,000.
    For the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Grant Program, 
proposals will be considered for research projects from one to three 
years. When a proposal for a multi-year award is approved, funding will 
generally be provided for only the first year of the program. If an 
application is selected for funding, NIST has no obligation to provide 
any additional funding in connection with that award. Continuation of 
an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at 
the total discretion of NIST. Funding for each subsequent year of a 
multi-year proposal will be contingent upon satisfactory progress, 
continued relevance to the mission of the Chemical Science and 
Technology Laboratory program, and the availability of funds. The 
multi-year awards must have scopes of work that can be easily separated 
into annual increments of meaningful work that represent solid 
accomplishments if prospective funding is not made available to the 
applicant, (i.e. the scopes of work for each funding period must 
produce identifiable and meaningful results in and of themselves).
    Statutory Authority: As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c), 
the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory conducts a basic and 
applied research program directly and through grants and cooperative 
agreements to eligible recipients.
    Eligibility: The Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Grants 
Program is open to institutions of higher education; hospitals; non-
profit organizations; commercial organizations; state, local, and 
Indian tribal governments; foreign governments; organizations under the 
jurisdiction of foreign governments; and international organizations.
    Review and Selection Process: For the Chemical Science and 
Technology Laboratory Grants Program, proposals will be reviewed in a 
three-step process. First, the Deputy Director of CSTL, or appropriate 
CSTL Division Chief, will determine the compatibility of the 
applicant's proposal with CSTL Program Areas and the relevance to the 
objectives of the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Grants 
Program, described in the Program Description section above. If it is 
determined that the proposal is incomplete or non-responsive to the 
scope of the stated objectives, the proposal will not be reviewed for 
technical merit.
    Second, at least three independent, objective individuals 
knowledgeable about the particular measurement science area addressed 
by the proposal will conduct a technical review based on the evaluation 
criteria. Reviews will be conducted on a quarterly basis, subject to 
the availability of funds, and all responsive, complete proposals 
received and reviewed since the last quarter will be ranked based on 
the reviewers' scores. If non-Federal reviewers are used, the reviewers 
may discuss the proposals with each other,

[[Page 4525]]

but scores will be determined on an individual basis, not as a 
consensus.
    Third, the Division Chief and the CSTL Deputy Director, in 
collaboration, will make application selections, taking into 
consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations, the 
availability of funds, and the relevance to the objectives or research 
areas described in the Program Description section above.
    The final approval of selected applications and award of financial 
assistance will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance 
with application requirements as published in this notice, compliance 
with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, and whether the 
recommended applicants appear to be responsible. Applicants may be 
asked to modify objectives, work plans, or budgets and provide 
supplemental information required by the agency prior to award. The 
decisions of the Grants Officer are final.
    Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program 
will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years 
for record-keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
    Evaluation Criteria: For the Chemical Science and Technology 
Laboratory Grants Program, the evaluation criteria the technical 
reviewers will use in evaluating the proposals are as follows:
    1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the 
applicant's approach and the extent to which the proposal effectively 
addresses scientific and technical issues.
    2. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider 
the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed 
personnel to perform the work in the project.
    3. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to 
which the proposer has access to the necessary facilities and overall 
support to accomplish project objectives.
    4. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the 
potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it 
would contribute to the field of measurement science, especially as it 
pertains to reference methods, reference materials and reference data 
in Chemical Science and Technology.
    Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation 
process.
    Cost Share Requirements: The Chemical Science and Technology 
Laboratory Grants Program does not require any matching funds.

Physics Laboratory Grants Program

    Program Description: The Physics Laboratory (PL) Grants Program 
will provide grants and cooperative agreements in the following fields 
of research: Electron and Optical Physics, Atomic Physics, Optical 
Technology, Ionizing Radiation, Time and Frequency, and Quantum 
Physics. Specific information regarding program objectives can be found 
in the corresponding Federal Funding Opportunity for this announcement.
    Dates: Applications will be considered on a continuing basis. 
Applications received after June 1, 2008 may be processed and 
considered for funding under this solicitation in the current fiscal 
year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds. 
Applications, paper and electronic, must be received prior to the 
publication date in the Federal Register of the FY 2009 solicitation 
for the Physics Grants Program in order to be processed under this 
solicitation.
    Addresses: Paper applications must be submitted to: Ms. Anita 
Sweigert, Physics Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8400, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8400. 
Electronic applications and associated proposal information should be 
uploaded to http://www.grants.gov.
    For Further Information Contact: For complete information about 
this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically, 
read the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) Notice at http://www.grants.gov. A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling 
(301) 975-6328. Program questions should be addressed to Ms. Anita 
Sweigert, Physics Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8400, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8400, 
Tel (301) 975-4200, E-mail: [email protected]. It is strongly 
suggested to first confirm the program objectives with the Program 
Manager prior to preparing a detailed proposal. Grants administration 
questions concerning this program should be addressed to: Melinda 
Chukran, NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division, (301) 975-
5266; [email protected]. For assistance with using http://www.grants.gov, contact grants.gov">support@grants.gov.

Funding Availability

    In fiscal year 2007, the PL Grants Program funded 13 new awards, 
totaling $1,718,401.00. In fiscal year 2008, the PL Grants Program 
anticipates funding of approximately $2,000,000, including new awards 
and continuing projects. Funding availability will be apportioned by 
quarter. Individual awards are expected to range from approximately 
$5,000 to $500,000 per year.
    For the Physics Laboratory Grants Program, proposals will be 
considered for research projects from one to five years. When a 
proposal for a multi-year project is approved, funding will generally 
be provided for only the first year of the program. If an application 
is selected for funding, NIST has no obligation to provide any 
additional funding in connection with that award. Continuation of an 
award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the 
total discretion of NIST. Funding for each subsequent year of a multi-
year proposal will be contingent upon satisfactory progress, continued 
relevance to the mission of the Physics Laboratory program, and the 
availability of funds. The multi-year awards must have scopes of work 
that can be easily separated into annual increments of meaningful work 
that represent solid accomplishments if prospective funding is not made 
available to the applicant (i.e., the scopes of work for each funding 
period must produce identifiable and meaningful results in and of 
themselves).
    Statutory Authority: As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c), 
the Physics Laboratory conducts a basic and applied research program 
directly and through grants and cooperative agreements to eligible 
recipients.
    Eligibility: The Physics Laboratory Grants Program is open to 
institutions of higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; 
commercial organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; 
foreign governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign 
governments; and international organizations.
    Review and Selection Process: For the Physics Laboratory Grants 
Program, responsive proposals will be considered as follows: First, at 
least three independent, objective individuals knowledgeable about the 
particular scientific area described in the proposal will conduct a 
technical review of each proposal, based on the evaluation criteria. 
Reviews will be conducted on a monthly basis within each division of 
the Physics Laboratory, and all proposals received during the month 
will be ranked based on the reviewers' scores. If non-Federal reviewers 
are used, reviewers may discuss the proposals with each other, but 
scores will be determined on an individual basis, not as a consensus.
    Next, the Division Chief will make final application selections, 
taking into consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations, 
including rank;

[[Page 4526]]

the compilation of a slate that, when taken as a whole, is likely to 
best further the program interests described in the Program Description 
section above; and the availability of funds. The final approval of 
selected applications and award of financial assistance will be made by 
the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance with application 
requirements as published in this notice, compliance with applicable 
legal and regulatory requirements, and whether the recommended 
applicants appear to be responsible.
    Applicants may be asked to modify objectives, work plans, or 
budgets and provide supplemental information required by the agency 
prior to award.
    The decisions of the Grants Officer are final.
    Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program 
will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years 
for record-keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
    Evaluation Criteria: For the Physics Laboratory Grants Program, the 
evaluation criteria the technical reviewers will use in evaluating the 
proposals are as follows:
    1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the 
applicant's approach and the extent to which the proposal effectively 
addresses scientific and technical issues that are relevant to Physics 
Laboratory programs.
    2. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider 
the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed 
personnel to perform the work in the project.
    3. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to 
which the proposer has access to the necessary facilities and overall 
support to accomplish project objectives.
    4. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the 
potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it 
would contribute to the field of physics.
    Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation 
process.
    Cost Share Requirements: The Physics Laboratory Grants Program does 
not require any matching funds.

MSEL Grants Program

    Program Description: The Materials Science and Engineering 
Laboratory (MSEL) Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative 
agreements in the following fields of research: Ceramics, Metallurgy, 
Polymers, and Materials Reliability. Specific information regarding 
program objectives can be found in the corresponding Federal Funding 
Opportunity for this announcement.
    Dates: Applications will be considered on a continuing basis. 
Applications received after June 1, 2008 may be processed and 
considered for funding under this solicitation in the current fiscal 
year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds. 
Applications, paper and electronic, must be received prior to the 
publication date in the Federal Register of the FY 2009 solicitation 
for the MSEL Grants Program in order to be processed under this 
solicitation.
    Addresses: Paper applications must be submitted to: Ms. Nancy 
Selepak, Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory, National 
Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8500, 
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8500. Electronic applications and 
associated proposal information should be uploaded to http://www.grants.gov.
    For Further Information Contact: For complete information about 
this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically, 
read the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) Notice at http://www.grants.gov. A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling 
(301) 975-6328. Program questions should be addressed to Ms. Nancy 
Selepak, Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory, National 
Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8500, 
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8500, Tel: (301) 975-2047, E-mail: 
[email protected]. Grants administration questions concerning this 
program should be addressed to: Melinda Chukran, NIST Grants and 
Agreements Management Division, (301) 975-5266; 
[email protected]. For assistance with using http://www.grants.gov, contact grants.gov">support@grants.gov.

Funding Availability

    In fiscal year 2007, the MSEL Grants Program funded 19 new awards, 
totaling $1,484,478.66. In fiscal year 2008, the MSEL Grants Program 
anticipates funding of approximately $3,300,000, including new awards 
and continuing projects. Most grants and cooperative agreements are 
expected to be in the $2,000 to $500,000 per year range.
    For the MSEL Grants Program, proposals will be considered for 
research projects from one to five years. When a proposal for a multi-
year award is approved, funding will generally be provided for only the 
first year of the program. If an application is selected for funding, 
NIST has no obligation to provide any additional funding in connection 
with that award. Continuation of an award to increase funding or extend 
the period of performance is at the total discretion of NIST. Funding 
for each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent 
upon satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the 
MSEL program, and the availability of funds. The multi-year awards must 
have scopes of work that can be easily separated into annual increments 
of meaningful work that represent solid accomplishments if prospective 
funding is not made available to the applicant (i.e., the scopes of 
work for each funding period must produce identifiable and meaningful 
results in and of themselves).
    Statutory Authority: As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c), 
the MSEL conducts a basic and applied research program directly and 
through grants and cooperative agreements to eligible recipients.
    Eligibility: The MSEL Grants Program is open to institutions of 
higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial 
organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; foreign 
governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign 
governments; and international organizations.
    Review and Selection Process: For the MSEL Grants Program, 
proposals will be reviewed in a two-step process. First, at least three 
independent, objective individuals knowledgeable in the particular 
scientific area addressed by the proposal will conduct a technical 
review. Proposals are received on a rolling basis and will be reviewed 
based on the evaluation criteria. If non-Federal reviewers are used, 
the reviewers may discuss the proposals with each other, but scores 
will be determined on an individual basis, not as a consensus. Second, 
the Division Chief or Laboratory Deputy Director will make application 
selections. In making application selections, the Division Chief or 
Laboratory Deputy Director will take into consideration the results of 
the reviewers' evaluations, the availability of funds, and relevance to 
the objectives or research areas of the MSEL Grants Program, described 
in the Program Description section of the FFO. For conferences, 
workshops, or other technical research meetings, the Division Chief or 
Laboratory Deputy Director will also take into consideration whether 
they align with ongoing MSEL programmatic activities. The final 
approval of selected applications and award of financial assistance 
will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance

[[Page 4527]]

with application requirements as published in this notice, compliance 
with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, and whether the 
recommended applicants appear to be responsible. 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 Program 
will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years 
for record-keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
    Evaluation Criteria: For the MSEL Grants Program, the evaluation 
criteria the technical reviewers will use in evaluating the proposals 
are as follows:
    1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the 
applicant's approach and the extent to which the proposal effectively 
addresses scientific and technical issues.
    2. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider 
the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed 
personnel to perform the work in the project.
    3. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to 
which the proposer has access to the necessary facilities and overall 
support to accomplish project objectives.
    4. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the 
potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it 
would contribute to the field of materials science and engineering. 
Proposals must be relevant to current MSEL research and have a relation 
to the objectives of ongoing MSEL programs and activities.
    Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation 
process.
    Cost Share Requirements: The MSEL Grants Program does not require 
any matching funds.

Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program

    Program Description: The Building Research Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements in 
the following fields of research: Structures, Construction Metrology 
and Automation, Inorganic Materials, Polymeric Materials, HVAC & R 
Equipment Performance, Mechanical Systems and Controls, Heat Transfer 
and Alternative Energy Systems, Computer Integrated Building Processes, 
and Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation.
    The Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program 
supports the formal mission of the Building and Fire Research 
Laboratory, which is to meet the measurement and standards needs of the 
Building and Fire communities. All proposals submitted must be in 
accordance with the program objectives found in the corresponding 
Federal Funding Opportunity for this announcement.
    Dates: Applications will be considered on a continuing basis. 
Applications received after June 1, 2008 may be processed and 
considered for funding under this solicitation in the current fiscal 
year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds. 
Applications, paper and electronic, must be received prior to the 
publication date in the Federal Register of the FY 2009 solicitation 
for the Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program in 
order to be processed under this solicitation.
    Addresses: Paper applications must be submitted to: Karen Perry, 
Building and Fire Research Laboratory, National Institute of Standards 
and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8602, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-
8602. Electronic applications and associated proposal information 
should be uploaded to http://www.grants.gov.
    For Further Information Contact: For complete information about 
this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically, 
read the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) Notice at http://www.grants.gov. A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling 
(301) 975-6328. Program questions should be addressed to Karen Perry, 
Building and Fire Research Laboratory, National Institute of Standards 
and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8602, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-
8602, Tel.: (301) 975-5910, [email protected], Fax: (301) 975-4032, 
and Web site http://www.bfrl.nist.gov. Grants administration questions 
concerning this program should be addressed to: Melinda Chukran, NIST 
Grants and Agreements Management Division, (301) 975-5266; 
[email protected]. For assistance with using http://www.grants.gov, contact grants.gov">support@grants.gov.

Funding Availability

    In fiscal year 2007, the Building Research Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements Program funded 7 new awards, totaling $378,908.00. No funds 
have been set aside specifically for the Building Research Grants and 
Cooperative Agreements Program. The availability of funds depends upon 
actual authorization of funds and other costs expected to be incurred 
by the individual divisions. The amount available each year fluctuates 
considerably based on programmatic needs. In FY 2008, individual awards 
are expected to range between $5,000 and $150,000.
    For the Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements 
Program, proposals will be considered for research projects from one to 
three years. When a proposal for a multi-year award is approved, 
funding will generally be provided for only the first year of the 
program. If an application is selected for funding, NIST has no 
obligation to provide any additional funding in connection with that 
award. Continuation of an award to increase funding or extend the 
period of performance is at the total discretion of NIST. Funding for 
each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent upon 
satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the 
Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program, and the 
availability of funds. The multi-year awards must have scopes of work 
that can be easily separated into annual increments of meaningful work 
that represent solid accomplishments if prospective funding is not made 
available to the applicant, (i.e., the scopes of work for each funding 
period must produce identifiable and meaningful results in and of 
themselves).
    Statutory Authority: As authorized by 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c), the 
NIST Building and Fire Research Laboratory conducts a basic and applied 
research program directly and through grants and cooperative agreements 
to eligible recipients.
    Eligibility: The Building Research Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements Program is open to institutions of higher education; 
hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial organizations; state, 
local, and Indian tribal governments; foreign governments; 
organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments; and 
international organizations.
    Review and Selection Process: All applications received in response 
to this announcement will be reviewed to determine whether or not they 
are complete and responsive. 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 
recordkeeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
    Responsive proposals will be forwarded to the appropriate Division 
Chief, who will assign them to appropriate reviewers. At least three

[[Page 4528]]

independent, objective individuals knowledgeable about the particular 
scientific addressed by the proposal will conduct a technical review 
based on the evaluation criteria. When non-Federal reviewers are used, 
reviewers may discuss the proposals with each other, but scores will be 
determined on an individual basis, not as a consensus. Reviews will be 
conducted no less than once per quarter, and all proposals since the 
last review session will be ranked based on the reviewers' scores.
    Next, the Division Chief, Laboratory Deputy Director, or Laboratory 
Director will make application selections. In making application 
selections, the Division Chief, Laboratory Deputy Director, or 
Laboratory Director will take into consideration the results of the 
reviewers' evaluations including score, the availability of funds, and 
relevance to the objectives or research areas of the Building Research 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program, as described in the Program 
Description section above.
    The final approval of selected applications and award of financial 
assistance will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance 
with application requirements as published in this notice, compliance 
with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, and whether the 
recommended applicants appear to be responsible. Applicants may be 
asked to modify objectives, work plans, or budgets and provide 
supplemental information required by the agency prior to award. The 
award decision of the Grants Officer is final. Applicants should allow 
up to 90 days processing time.
    Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program 
will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years 
for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
    Evaluation Criteria: The Divisions of the Building and Fire 
Research Laboratory will score proposals based on the following 
criteria and weights:
    1. Technical quality of the research. Reviewers will assess the 
rationality, innovation and imagination of the proposal and the fit to 
NIST's in-house building research programs. (0-35 points)
    2. Potential impact of the results. Reviewers will assess the 
potential impact and the technical application of the results to NIST's 
in-house programs and the building industry. (0-25 points)
    3. Staff and institution capability to do the work. Reviewers will 
evaluate the quality of the facilities and experience of the staff to 
assess the likelihood of achieving the objective of the proposal. (0-20 
points)
    4. Match of budget to proposed work. Reviewers will assess the 
budget against the proposed work to ascertain the reasonableness of the 
request. (0-20 points)
    Cost Share Requirements: The Building Research Grants and 
Cooperative Agreements Program does not require any matching funds.

Fire Research Grants Program

    Program Description: The Fire Research Grants Program will provide 
funding for innovative ideas in the fire research area generated by the 
proposal writer, who chooses the topic and approach. The Fire Research 
Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements in the 
following fields of research analysis and prediction, fire metrology, 
fire fighting technology, materials and products, and integrated 
performance assessment. Specific information regarding program 
objectives can be found in the corresponding Federal Funding 
Opportunity for this announcement.
    Dates: Applications will be considered on a continuing basis. 
Applications received after June 1, 2008 may be processed and 
considered for funding under this solicitation in the current fiscal 
year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds. 
Applications, paper and electronic, must be received prior to the 
publication date in the Federal Register of the FY 2009 solicitation 
for the Fire Research Grants Program in order to be processed under 
this solicitation.
    Addresses: Paper applications must be submitted to: Ms. Wanda 
Duffin-Ricks, Building and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL), National 
Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8660, 
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8660. Electronic applications and 
associated proposal information should be uploaded to http://www.grants.gov.
    For Further Information Contact: For complete information about 
this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically, 
read the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) Notice at http://www.grants.gov. A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling 
(301) 975-6328. Program questions should be addressed to Ms. Wanda 
Duffin-Ricks, Building and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL), National 
Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8660, 
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8660, Tel: (301) 975-6863, E-mail: 
[email protected], Web site: http://www.bfrl.nist.gov. Grants 
administration questions concerning this program should be addressed 
to: Melinda Chukran, NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division, 
(301) 975-5266; [email protected]. For assistance with using 
http://www.grants.gov, contact grants.gov">support@grants.gov.
    Funding Availability: For the Fire Research Grants Program, the 
annual budget is $1.3 million. Because of commitments for the support 
of multi-year projects and because proposals may have been deferred 
from the previous year's competition, only a portion of the budget is 
available to fund applications received in response to this notice. 
Most grants and cooperative agreements are in the $25,000 to $125,000 
per year range, with a maximum requested duration of three years. In 
fiscal year 2007, the Fire Research Grants Program funded 13 new 
awards, totaling $1,028,069.
    For the Fire Research Grants Program, proposals will be considered 
for research projects from one to three years. When a proposal for a 
multi-year project is approved, funding will normally be provided for 
only the first year of the program. If an application is selected for 
funding, NIST has no obligation to provide any additional future 
funding in connection with that award. Funding for each subsequent year 
of a multi-year proposal will be contingent on satisfactory progress, 
continuing relevance to the mission of the NIST Fire Research Program, 
and the availability of funds.
    Statutory Authority: As authorized by 15 U.S.C. 278f, the NIST 
Building and Fire Research Laboratory conducts directly and through 
grants and cooperative agreements, a basic and applied fire research 
program.
    Eligibility: The Fire Research Grants Program is open to 
institutions of higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; 
commercial organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; 
foreign governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign 
governments; and international organizations.
    Review and Selection Process: Prospective proposers are encouraged 
to contact the group leaders listed in the FFO announcement to 
determine the responsiveness of the proposal and compliance with 
program objectives prior to preparation of a detailed proposal; 
however, written pre-proposals and white papers are not solicited and 
will not be reviewed for other than compliance and responsiveness. 
Responsive proposals will be assigned, as received on a rolling basis, 
to the most appropriate group.

[[Page 4529]]

Proposals are evaluated for technical merit based on the evaluation 
criteria described above by at least three reviewers chosen from NIST 
professionals, technical experts from other interested government 
agencies, and experts from the fire research community at large. When 
non-Federal reviewers are used, reviewers may discuss the proposals 
with each other, but scores will be determined on an individual basis, 
not as a consensus. The group leaders will make funding recommendations 
to the Division Chief based on the technical evaluation score and the 
relationship of the work proposed to the objectives of the program. 
Proposal submitted to another agency will be considered for possible 
joint-funding if approved by the other agency.
    In making application selections, the Division Chief will take into 
consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations, including the 
scores of the reviewers, the group leader's recommendation, the 
availability of funds, and relevance to the objectives or research 
areas of the Fire Research Grants Program, as described in the Program 
Description section above. The final approval of selected applications 
and award of financial assistance will be made by the NIST Grants 
Officer based on compliance with application requirements as published 
in this notice, compliance with applicable legal and regulatory 
requirements, and whether the recommended applicants appear to be 
responsible. Applicants may be asked to modify objectives, work plans, 
or budgets and provide supplemental information required by the agency 
prior to award. The award decision of the Grants Officer is final. 
Applicants should allow up to 90 days processing time.
    Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program 
will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years 
for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
    Evaluation Criteria: For the Fire Research Grants Program, the 
technical evaluation criteria are as follows:
    1. Technical quality of the research. Reviewers will assess the 
rationality, innovation and imagination of the proposal. (0-35 points)
    2. Potential impact of the results. Reviewers will assess the 
potential impact and the technical application of the results to the 
fire safety community. (0-25 points )
    3. Staff and institution capability to do the work. Reviewers will 
evaluate the quality of the facilities and experience of the staff to 
assess the likelihood of achieving the objective of the proposal. (0-20 
points)
    4. Match of budget to proposed work. Reviewers will assess the 
budget against the proposed work to ascertain the reasonableness of the 
request. (0-20 points)
    Cost Share Requirements: The Fire Research Grants Program does not 
require any matching funds.

Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) Grants Program

    Program Description: The Information Technology Laboratory Grants 
Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements in the broad 
areas of mathematical and computational sciences, advanced network 
technologies, information access, and software testing. Specific 
objectives of interest in these areas of research include: quantum 
information theory, computational materials science, network science, 
mathematical foundations of measurement science for information 
systems, mathematical knowledge management, visual data analysis, 
verification and validation of computer models, computational biology, 
semantic data integration, software testing, human-robot interaction, 
human factors/security/core requirements/testing of voting systems, 
information visualization, systems biology, grid computing, service 
oriented architecture and complex systems, security for the IPv6 
transition from and coexistence with IPv4, and device mobility among 
heterogeneous networks. For details on these various activities, please 
see the Information Technology Laboratory Web site at http://www.itl.nist.gov. Additionally, the ITL Grant Program will provide 
grants and cooperative agreements in support of conferences, workshops, 
and other technical research groups that focus on trends and future 
focus areas of information technology. Specific information regarding 
program objectives can be found in the corresponding Federal Funding 
Opportunity for this announcement.
    Dates: Applications will be considered on a continuing basis. 
Applications received after June 1, 2008 may be processed and 
considered for funding under this solicitation in the current fiscal 
year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds. 
Applications, paper and electronic, must be received prior to the 
publication date in the Federal Register of the FY 2009 solicitation 
for the ITL Grants Program in order to be processed under this 
solicitation.
    Addresses: Paper applications must be submitted to: Kamie Roberts, 
Information Technology Laboratory (ITL), National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8900, Gaithersburg, 
Maryland 20899-8900. Electronic applications and associated proposal 
information should be uploaded to http://www.grants.gov.
    For Further Information Contact: For complete information about 
this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically, 
read the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) Notice at http://www.grants.gov. A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling 
(301) 975-6328. Program questions should be addressed to Kamie Roberts, 
Information Technology Laboratory (ITL), National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8900, Gaithersburg, MD 
20899-8900, Tel.: (301) 975-2901, [email protected], Fax: (301) 
975-2378, Web site: http://www.itl.nist.gov. It is strongly suggested 
to first confirm the program objectives with the Program Manager prior 
to preparing a detailed proposal. Grants administration questions 
concerning this program should be addressed to: Melinda Chukran, NIST 
Grants and Agreements Management Division, (301) 975-5266; 
[email protected]. For assistance with using http://www.grants.gov, contact grants.gov">support@grants.gov.
    Funding Availability: In fiscal year 2007, the Information 
Technology Laboratory funded 7 new awards, totaling $169,071.00. No 
funds have been set aside specifically for the Information Technology 
Laboratory Grants Program. The availability of funds depends upon 
actual authorization of funds and other costs expected to be incurred 
by the individual divisions. The amount available each year fluctuates 
considerably based on programmatic needs. In FY 2008, individual awards 
are expected to range between $10,000 and $150,000.
    For the Information Technology Laboratory Grants Program, proposals 
will be considered for research projects from one to five years. When a 
proposal for a multi-year award is approved, funding will generally be 
provided for only the first year of the program. If an application is 
selected for funding, NIST has no obligation to provide any additional 
funding in connection with that award. Continuation of an award to 
increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the total 
discretion of NIST. Funding for each subsequent year of a multi-year 
proposal will be contingent upon satisfactory progress,

[[Page 4530]]

continued relevance to the mission of the Information Technology 
Laboratory Grants Program, and the availability of funds. The multi-
year awards must have scopes of work that can be easily separated into 
annual increments of meaningful work that represent solid 
accomplishments if prospective funding is not made available to the 
applicant, (i.e., the scopes of work for each funding period must 
produce identifiable and meaningful results in and of themselves).
    Statutory Authority: As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c), 
the ITL conducts a basic and applied research program directly and 
through grants and cooperative agreements to eligible recipients.
    Eligibility: The ITL Grants Program is open to institutions of 
higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial 
organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; foreign 
governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign 
governments; and international organizations.
    Review and Selection Process: For the Information Technology 
Laboratory (ITL) Grants Program, proposals will be reviewed in a three-
step process. First, the Deputy Director of ITL, or appropriate 
designee, will determine the compatibility of the applicant's proposal 
with ITL Program Areas and the relevance to the objectives of the ITL 
Grants Program, described in the Program Description section above. If 
it is determined that the proposal is incomplete or non-responsive to 
the scope of the stated objectives, the proposal will not be reviewed 
for technical merit. If a proposal is determined to be incomplete or 
non-responsive, or if it is determined that all available funds have 
been exhausted, the proposal will not be reviewed for technical merit. 
Proposers may contact ITL at 301-975-2901 to find out if funds have 
been exhausted for the fiscal year. ITL will also post a notice on its 
Web site, http://www.itl.nist.gov, when funds are exhausted for the 
fiscal year. ITL will notify proposers in writing if their proposals 
are not reviewed for technical merit.
    Second, at least three independent, objective individuals 
knowledgeable about the particular measurement science area described 
in the section above that the proposal addresses will conduct a 
technical review of each proposal, based on the evaluation criteria. 
Reviews will be conducted on a quarterly basis, and all responsive, 
complete proposals received and reviewed since the last quarter will be 
ranked based on the reviewers' scores. If non-Federal reviewers are 
used, the reviewers may discuss the proposals with each other, but 
scores will be determined on an individual basis, not as a consensus.
    Third, the Division Chief, in accord with the Director of ITL, will 
make application selections, taking into consideration the results of 
the reviewers' evaluations, the availability of funds, and the 
relevance to the objectives or research areas described in the Program 
Description section above.
    The final approval of selected applications and award of financial 
assistance will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance 
with application requirements as published in this notice, compliance 
with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, and whether the 
recommended applicants appear to be responsible. Applicants may be 
asked to modify objectives, work plans, or budgets and provide 
supplemental information required by the agency prior to award. The 
decisions of the Grants Officer are final.
    Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program 
will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years 
for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
    For the ITL Grants Program, the evaluation criteria the technical 
reviewers will use in evaluating the proposals are as follows:

    1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the 
applicant's approach and the extent to which the proposal effectively 
addresses scientific and technical issues.
    2. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the 
potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it 
would contribute to the field of information technology research.
    3. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider 
the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed 
personnel to perform the work in the project.
    4. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to 
which the proposer has access to the necessary facilities and overall 
support to accomplish project objectives.

    Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation 
process.
    Cost Share Requirements: The ITL Grants Program does not require 
any matching funds.

NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) Grants Program

    Program Description: The NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) 
Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements for 
research involving neutron scattering, for the development of 
innovative technologies that advance the state-of-the-art in neutron 
research, and for the support of conferences and/or workshops that 
advance these objectives. Specific information regarding program 
objectives can be found in the corresponding Federal Funding 
Opportunity to this announcement.
    All proposals submitted to the NCNR Grants Program must be in 
accordance with the program objectives. These are to create novel 
approaches to advance high resolution cold and thermal neutron 
scattering research; to develop new applications of neutron scattering 
to physics, chemistry, and macromolecular and materials research; and 
to support the development of innovative technologies relevant to 
neutron research, including, for example, high resolution two-
dimensional neutron detectors, neutron monochromators, and neutron 
focusing and polarizing devices. Awards to universities to help to 
promote research by university students at the NIST/NSF Center for High 
Resolution Scattering are also funded under this program. Dr. Dan 
Neumann should be contacted for any inquiries about the objectives for 
this NCNR program. He can be reached at (301) 975-5252 or by e-mail at 
[email protected].
    Dates: All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no 
later than 5 p.m. Daylight Savings Time on June 29, 2008.
    Addresses: Paper applications must be submitted to: Mr. Michael 
Moore, NIST Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8562, Gaithersburg, 
Maryland 20899-8562. Electronic applications and associated proposal 
information should be uploaded to http://www.grants.gov.
    For Further Information Contact: For complete information about 
this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically, 
read the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) Notice at http://www.grants.gov. A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling 
(301) 975-6328. Program questions should be addressed to Dr. Dan 
Neumann, NIST Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8500, Gaithersburg, 
Maryland 20899-8562, Tel: (301) 975-5252, E-mail: [email protected]. Grants 
administration questions concerning this program should be addressed 
to: Melinda Chukran, NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division, 
(301)

[[Page 4531]]

975-5266; [email protected]. For assistance with using http://www.grants.gov, contact grants.gov">support@grants.gov.
    Funding Availability: The NCNR Grants Program will consider 
proposals lasting from one to five years. When a proposal for a multi-
year award is approved, funding will generally be provided for only the 
first year of the program. If an application is selected for funding, 
NIST has no obligation to provide any additional funding in connection 
with that award. Continuation of an award to increase funding or extend 
the period of performance is at the total discretion of NIST. Funding 
for each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent 
upon satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the 
NCNR program, and the availability of funds. The multi-year awards must 
have scopes of work that can be easily separated into annual increments 
of meaningful work that represent solid accomplishments if prospective 
funding is not made available to the applicant, i.e., the scopes of 
work for each funding period must produce identifiable and meaningful 
results in and of themselves. In fiscal year 2007, NCNR made three 
awards totaling $176,645. Most grants and cooperative agreements are 
expected to be in the $25,000 to $100,000 per year range.
    Statutory Authority: As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272 (b) and (c), 
the NCNR conducts a basic and applied research program directly and 
through grants and cooperative agreements to eligible recipients.
    Eligibility: The NCNR Grants Program is open to institutions of 
higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial 
organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; foreign 
governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign 
governments; and international organizations.
    Review and Selection Process: Proposals submitted to the NCNR 
Grants Program will be reviewed in a two-step process. First, at least 
three independent, objective individuals knowledgeable about the 
particular scientific area described in the Program Description section 
above that the proposal addresses will conduct a technical review of 
proposals, as they are received on a rolling basis, based on the 
evaluation criteria. If non-Federal reviewers are used, the reviewers 
may discuss the proposals with each other, but scores will be 
determined on an individual basis, not as a consensus. Second, the 
Center Director will make application selections. In making application 
selections, the Center Director will take into consideration the 
results of the reviewers' evaluations, the availability of funds, and 
the relevance to the objectives or research areas of the NCNR Grants 
Program, described in the Program Description section.
    The final approval of selected applications and award of financial 
assistance will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance 
with application requirements as published in this notice, compliance 
with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, whether the 
recommended applicants appear to be responsible. 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 Program 
will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years 
for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
    Evaluation Criteria: The NCNR Grants Program evaluation criteria 
that the technical reviewers will use in evaluating the proposals are 
as follows:

    1. Rationality. Reviewers will assess the innovation, rationality, 
and coherence of the applicant's approach and the extent to which the 
proposal effectively addresses important scientific and technical 
issues using neutron methods and/or the development of innovative 
devices for neutron research. (0 to 35 points)
    2. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider 
the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed 
personnel to perform the work in the project. (0 to 20 points)
    3. Resources. Reviewers will consider the extent to which the 
proposer has access to the necessary resources, facilities, and overall 
support to accomplish project objectives, and will assess the budget 
against the proposed work to ascertain the reasonableness of the 
request. (0 to 20 points)
    4. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the 
potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it 
would contribute to neutron research. (0 to 25 points)

    Cost Share Requirements: The NCNR Grants Program does not require 
any matching funds.

Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) Grants and 
Cooperative Agreements Program

    Program Description: The Center for Nanoscale Science and 
Technology (CNST) Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program will offer 
financial assistance in the field of nanotechnology specifically aimed 
at developing essential measurement methods, instrumentation, and 
standards to support nanotechnology development, from discovery to 
production, conducting collaborative research with NIST scientists 
including research at the CNST Nanofab, a national facility for 
nanofabrication and measurement, and assisting visiting researchers at 
the CNST.
    The primary program objectives of the financial assistance program 
in CNST are to develop new measurement methods, instrumentation and 
standards for nanotechnology and explore new areas of nanoscale science 
and technology in a variety of areas including nanofabrication, 
nanomagnetics, theory and modeling, post complementary metal oxide 
semiconductor electronics, nano electro mechanical systems, nanomotion 
and nanomanipulation, merging length scales, 2-D and 3-D structural and 
chemical imaging, electrical and magnetic dynamical response of 
nanostructures, electrical characterization of nanostructures, 
nanoscale properties of soft matter; to assist and train CNST 
collaborators and nanofabrication facility users in their research; and 
to conduct other outreach and educational activities that advance the 
development of nanotechnology by U.S. university and industrial 
scientists. This will entail collaborative research among the selected 
financial assistance recipients and CNST.
    Dates: Applications will be considered on a continuing basis. 
Applications received after June 1, 2008 may be processed and 
considered for funding under this solicitation in the current fiscal 
year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds. 
Applications, paper and electronic, must be received prior to the 
publication date in the Federal Register of the FY 2009 solicitation 
for the CNST Grants Program in order to be processed under this 
solicitation.
    Addresses: Paper applications must be submitted to: Donna Lauren, 
Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 6200, Gaithersburg, 
Maryland 20899-6200. Electronic applications and associated proposal 
information should be uploaded to grants.gov.
    For Further Information Contact: For complete information about 
this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically, 
read the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO)

[[Page 4532]]

Notice at http://www.grants.gov. A paper copy of the FFO may be 
obtained by calling (301) 975-6328. Program questions should be 
addressed to Donna Lauren, Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, 
National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 
6200, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-6200. Tel (301) 975-3729, E-Mail: 
[email protected]. Grants administration questions concerning this 
program should be addressed to: Melinda Chukran, NIST Grants and 
Agreements Management Division, (301) 975-5266; 
[email protected]. For assistance with using Grants.gov contact 
grants.gov">support@grants.gov.
    Funding Availability: For the Center for Nanoscale and Science and 
Technology, proposals will be considered for research projects from one 
to five years. When a proposal for a multi-year award is approved, 
funding will generally be provided for only the first year of the 
program. If an application is selected for funding, NIST has no 
obligation to provide any additional funding in connection with that 
award. Continuation of an award to increase funding or extend the 
period of performance is at the total discretion of NIST. Funding for 
each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent upon 
satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the Center 
for Nanoscale Science and Technology Grants and Cooperative Agreements 
Program, and the availability of funds.
    In fiscal year 2007, the CNST Grants and Cooperative Agreements 
Program made one award in the amount of $47,000. In fiscal year 2008, 
the CNST Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program anticipates funding 
of approximately $1,500,000, including new awards and continuing 
projects. Individual awards are expected to range from approximately 
$40,000 to $150,000 per year.
    Statutory Authority: As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272 (b) and (c), 
the NCNR conducts a basic and applied research program directly and 
through grants and cooperative agreements to eligible recipients.
    Eligibility: The Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology is 
open to institutions of higher education; hospitals; non-profit 
organizations; commercial organizations; state, local, and Indian 
tribal governments; foreign governments; organizations under the 
jurisdiction of foreign governments; and international organizations.
    Review and Selection Process: For the Center for Nanoscale Science 
and Technology (CNST) Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program, 
responsive proposals will be assigned, as received on a rolling basis, 
to the most appropriate area for review. Proposals will be reviewed in 
a three-step process. First, the CNST Deputy Director will determine 
the applicability of the proposal with regard to CNST programs and the 
relevance of the proposal's objectives to current CNST research. If it 
is determined that the proposal is incomplete or non-responsive to the 
scope of the stated objectives, the proposal will not be reviewed for 
technical merit. Second, the appropriate CNST Program Manager will 
determine the possibility for funding availability within the CNST 
technical program area most relevant to the objectives of the proposal. 
If it is determined that sufficient funding is not available to 
consider grants and cooperative agreement proposals in the technical 
area of the proposal, the proposal will not be reviewed for technical 
merit. Third, if the proposal passes the first two steps, at least 
three independent, objective individuals knowledgeable about the 
particular scientific area addressed by the proposal will conduct a 
technical review based on the evaluation criteria. If non-Federal 
reviewers are used, the reviewers may discuss the proposal with each 
other, but scores will be determined on an individual basis, not as a 
consensus.
    The CNST Director will make application selections from the grants 
and cooperative agreement proposals submitted. In making the 
application selections, the Laboratory Director will take into 
consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations, the 
availability of funds, and relevance to the objectives or research 
areas of the CNST Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program. These 
objectives are described above in the Program Description section.
    The final approval of selected applications and award of financial 
assistance will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance 
with application requirements as published in this notice, compliance 
with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, and whether the 
recommended applicants appear to be responsible. 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 Program 
will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years 
for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
    Evaluation Criteria: For the Center for Nanoscale Science and 
Technology (CNST) Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program, the 
technical reviewers will use the following evaluation criteria in 
evaluating the proposals:

    1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the 
applicant's approach and the extent to which the proposal effectively 
addresses scientific and technical issues.
    2. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider 
the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed 
personnel to perform the work in this project.
    3. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to 
which the proposer has access to the necessary facilities and overall 
support to accomplish project objectives.
    4. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the 
potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it 
would contribute to the field of physics.

    Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation 
process.
    Cost Share Requirements: The Center for Nanoscale Science and 
Technology (CNST) Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program does not 
require any matching funds.

NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) Sample Environment Equipment 
Financial Assistance Program

    Program Description: The purpose of this notice is to inform 
potential applicants that the NCNR Sample Environment Equipment 
Financial Assistance Program is establishing a financial assistance 
program in the field of Neutron Scattering to develop, design, and 
construct new ``sample environment equipment'' that shall be made 
available for dedicated use by the general scientific user community on 
any or all of the NCNR neutron beam stations.
    The primary objectives of this financial assistance program are to 
develop, design, and construct new, state-of-the-art equipment for 
dedicated use by the general scientific community on NCNR neutron beam 
stations that provide specific and well-controlled environments of 
scientific interest for in-situ studies of the microscopic properties 
of a broad range of sample materials such as molecular solids, thin 
films, biomolecules and biological membranes, solid state materials, 
polymers, and complex fluids, using neutron scattering and imaging 
techniques. Examples of sample

[[Page 4533]]

environments include high (and/or pulsed) magnetic fields, high 
pressures, high (and/or pulsed) electric fields, variable humidity, 
high or low temperatures, variable shear, and various combinations 
thereof. A list of all the sample environment equipment at the NCNR 
that is currently available to the general user community is located at 
http://www.ncnr.nist.gov/equipment/ancequip.html.
    Dates: All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no 
later than 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Savings Time on May 30, 2008. Late 
applications will not be reviewed nor considered.
    Addresses: Paper Applications: Each applicant must submit one 
signed original and two paper copies of the complete application as 
described below to Tanya Burke, National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, Center for Neutron Research, 100 Bureau Drive, STOP 6100, 
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-6100, phone (301) 975-4711. Electronic 
applications and associated proposal information should be uploaded to 
http://www.grants.gov. Facsimile, electronic mail, and other forms of 
electronic application submissions, other than electronic applications 
submitted through http://www.grants.gov, will not be accepted.
    For Further Information Contact: For complete information about 
this program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically, 
read the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) Notice at http://www.grants.gov. A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling 
(301) 975-6328. Technical questions can be directed to Dr. Dan Neumann 
at, NCNR, 100 Bureau Drive, MS 6100, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-6100, (301) 
975-5252, [email protected]. Grants administration questions 
concerning this program should be addressed to: Judy Murphy, NIST 
Grants and Agreements Management Division, (301) 975-5603; 
[email protected]. For assistance with using http://www.grants.gov, 
contact grants.gov">support@grants.gov.
    Funding Availability: Proposals will be considered for cooperative 
agreements with durations of up to three years, subject to the 
availability of funds, satisfactory progress, and the continuing 
relevance to the objectives of the NIST Center for Neutron Research. 
The anticipated level of funding is up to $150,000 per year. One to two 
awards are likely. The funding instrument used in this program will be 
a cooperative agreement. The nature of NIST's ``substantial 
involvement'' will generally be collaboration with the recipient(s) by 
working jointly with recipient scientists in carrying out the scope of 
work, or specifying direction or redirection of the scope of work due 
to inter-relationships with other programs requiring such cooperation. 
NIST will determine whether to fund one award for the full amount; to 
divide available funds into multiple awards of any size, and negotiate 
scopes of work and budgets as appropriate; or not to select any 
proposal for funding, upon completing the selection process described 
below.
    Awards are anticipated to contain a start date of September 1, 
2008.
    Statutory Authority: As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272 (b)(7) and 
(c)(8,10,16,17,19), the NCNR conducts a basic and applied research 
program directly and through grants and cooperative agreements to 
eligible recipients.
    Eligibility: The NCNR Grants Program is open to institutions of 
higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial 
organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; foreign 
governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign 
governments; and international organizations.
    Review and Selection Process: 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 program 
objectives. 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 
and destroy all other copies.
    Responsive proposals will be evaluated using the evaluation 
criteria by an independent, objective panel composed of at least four 
individuals who are knowledgeable about neutron research, neutron 
spectroscopy, and neutron instrumentation. The reviewers will reach a 
consensus score resulting in a rank order of applicants. However, if 
non-Federal reviewers are used, each reviewer will evaluate and provide 
a score for each proposal without reaching a consensus.
    The NCNR Director, serving as the Selecting Official, will make the 
award selection. In making the award selection, the NCNR Director will 
take into consideration the panels' technical evaluation. The NCNR 
Director, as the Selecting Official, may choose a proposal out of rank 
order based upon one or more of the following factors: (1) Availability 
of funds, (2) Redundancy, (3) Balance/distribution of funds by program 
objectives or research areas described in the Funding Opportunity 
Description section of this Notice, and (4) relevance to Program 
objectives described above in the Funding Opportunity Description 
section of this Notice, and (5) Logistical concerns that would be 
detrimental to the success or timely completion of the proposal 
objectives. Therefore, the highest scoring proposals may not 
necessarily be selected for an award. If an award is made to an 
applicant that deviates from the scores of the reviewers, the NCNR 
Director shall justify the selection in writing based on selection 
factors described above. The NCNR Director may select all, none, or 
some of the applications for funding.
    The final approval of selected applications and award of financial 
assistance will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance 
with application requirements as published in this notice, compliance 
with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, and whether the 
recommended applicants appear to be responsible. Applicants may be 
asked to modify objectives, work plans, or budgets and provide 
supplemental information required by the agency prior to award. The 
award decision of the Grants Officer is final. Applicants should allow 
up to 90 days processing time.
    Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program 
will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years 
for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
    Evaluation Criteria: For the NCNR Sample Environment Equipment 
Financial Assistance Program, the technical reviewers will use the 
following criteria to evaluate the proposals:
    1. Qualifications and experience of the Principal Investigator in 
neutron scattering research, as demonstrated by extensive publications 
and invited lectures in condensed matter physics, chemistry, material 
science, polymer science, biology, macromolecular science, and/or 
related fields. (10%)
    2. Qualifications and experience of the proposed university staff 
in neutron scattering research or in related scientific or engineering 
areas that are key to the activities contained in the proposal, as 
demonstrated by resumes of staff proposed for this program. (5%)
    3. Feasibility and rationality of the design and construction plan 
of the proposed sample environment equipment and its potential impact 
on neutron-based research, particularly in the areas of biology, 
macromolecular

[[Page 4534]]

science, polymer science, condensed matter physics, and chemistry. 
(30%)
    4. Quality of the plan in terms of providing assistance to U.S. 
researchers using the NCNR neutron facilities through sustained and 
dedicated access to unique and novel sample environment equipment. 
(20%)
    5. Quality of the plan to integrate the sample environment 
equipment for dedicated use on one or more of the NCNR research 
facility neutron beam stations. (25%)
    6. Cost effectiveness of the plan, including the completeness of 
the estimate to achieve the objectives stated in the proposal. (10%)

    Cost Share Requirements: The NCNR Sample Environment Equipment 
Financial Assistance Program does not require any matching funds.
    The following information applies to all programs announced in this 
notice:
    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 are 
contained in, 69 FR 78389 (Dec. 30, 2004), applies to this notice. 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 (68 FR 38402).
    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 69 FR 78389 (Dec. 30, 
2004). 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.
    Collaborations Making Use of Federal Facilities: All applications 
should include a description of any work proposed to be performed using 
Federal Facilities. If an applicant proposes use of NIST facilities, 
the statement of work should include a statement of this intention and 
a description of the facilities. Any use of NIST facilities 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 availability of the facilities and approval of the proposed usage. 
Any unapproved facility use will be stricken from the proposal prior to 
the merit review. Examples of some facilities that may be available for 
collaborations are listed on the NIST Technology Services Web site, 
http://ts.nist.gov/.
    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.
    NIST will accept the submission of human subjects protocols that 
have been approved by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) possessing a 
current registration filed with DHHS and to be performed by 
institutions possessing a current, valid Federal-wide Assurance (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,

[[Page 4535]]

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.
    Limitation of Liability: Funding for the programs listed in this 
notice is contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year 2008 
appropriations under The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (Pub. L. 
110-161). 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. Funding of any 
award under any program announced in this notice is subject to the 
availability of 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 rules 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 
rules 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: January 22, 2008.
Richard F. Kayser,
Acting Deputy Director, NIST.
 [FR Doc. E8-1334 Filed 1-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P