[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 126 (Friday, June 29, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38770-38771]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16015]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Notice of Consortium on ``nSoft Consortium''

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: On June 3, 2011, the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology (NIST) held a public meeting on its campus to explore the 
feasibility of establishing a NIST/Industry Consortium on Neutron 
Metrology for Soft Materials Manufacturing. The notice stated the 
membership fees would be on the order of Twenty Thousand ($20,000) per 
year. The initial term of the consortium was intended to be three 
years. As a result of the October 3, 2011, public meeting, revisions 
have

[[Page 38771]]

been made to the membership fee structure and the initial period of 
time for the consortium. Also, the consortium is open to a limited 
number of for-profit and not-for-profit institutions.

DATES: This notice is effective on June 29, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Questions about joining the consortium should be sent to 
Ronald Jones at the National Institute of Standards and Technology; 100 
Bureau Drive; MS 8615; Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8615.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald L. Jones, Eric K. Lin, or Dan 
Neumann National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau 
Drive, Stop 8514, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8514, USA; (301) 975-4624; Fax 
(301) 975-3928; Email: [email protected], [email protected], 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NIST will form the ``nSoft Consortium'' to 
advance and transfer neutron based measurement methods for soft 
materials manufacturing. The goals of nSoft are to develop neutron-
based measurements that address critical needs for manufacturers of 
soft materials such as polymers, complex fluids, and protein-based 
materials. Advances in neutron-based measurement science are 
anticipated through the development of sample environments that closely 
mimic manufacturing processes, measurement methods to probe and analyze 
complex mixtures, and data analysis models that support routine 
measurements with high information content. The consortium will be 
supervised and administered by NIST. Consortium research and 
development will be conducted by NIST staff members along with at least 
one technical representative from each participating member company.
    Each member of the consortium will be required to sign a 
Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (``CRADA'') with NIST. 
Membership is limited to 40 for-profit institutions and 15 not-for-
profit institutions. For-profit membership fees are Twenty Thousand 
($20,000) per year, payable by Member to NIST at the time of CRADA 
execution and annually in August thereafter. For-profit membership fees 
for members who join in the second half of the year (February through 
July) will be Ten Thousand ($10,000), payable at the time of CRADA 
execution. Subsequent membership payments of Twenty Thousand ($20,000) 
shall be paid each year in August thereafter. Non-profit organizations 
in lieu of membership fees will contribute personal expertise and 
materials that are mutually acceptable to NIST and Member. The 
consortium is designated to last for an initial period of two years.

    Dated: June 25, 2012.
Willie E. May,
Associate Director for Laboratory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2012-16015 Filed 6-28-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P