[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 120 (Friday, June 21, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37522-37524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14895]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Docket No. 130426414-3414-01]


Request for Information on Pilots to Inform the Creation of 
Potential New Manufacturing Technology Acceleration Centers (M-TACs)

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 
Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; Request for Information (RFI).

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 
invites interested parties to comment on NIST's planning for a Federal 
Funding Opportunity (FFO), anticipated in fiscal year 2014 (FY14), 
subject to the availability of appropriated funding. The anticipated 
2014 FFO will competitively fund a select number of new Manufacturing 
Technology Acceleration Centers (M-TACs).
    The M-TACs will focus on addressing the technical and business 
challenges encountered by small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers as 
they attempt to integrate, adopt, transition, and commercialize both 
existing and emerging product and process technologies into their 
operations to help them grow and compete within manufacturing supply 
chains as innovative, value-adding components of our nation's economy. 
U.S. small and mid-sized manufacturers are a critical segment of our 
economy, comprising over 90% of all manufacturing establishments and 
approximately 45% of employment.\1\ U.S. small and mid-sized 
manufacturers are also playing a growing role in technology innovation, 
including product and process technologies.\2\ The emphasis of these 
future M-TACs will be to conduct technology transition and 
commercialization activities with small and mid-sized U.S. 
manufacturers to foster their readiness to adopt and/or adapt advanced 
technologies into their manufacturing processes and products.
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    \1\ ``2010 County Business Patterns,'' U.S. Census Bureau Data, 
release date 10/2012. For information on confidentiality protection, 
sampling error, non-sampling error, and definitions, see http://www.census.gov/econ/susb/methodology.html.
    \2\ ``International Benchmarking of Countries' Policies and 
Programs Supporting SME Manufacturers,'' Stephen J. Ezell and Dr. 
Robert Atkinson, The Information Technology and Innovation 
Foundation, September 2011, http://www.itif.org/files/2011-sme-manufacturing-tech-programss-new.pdf.
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    M-TACs will amplify the effectiveness of the current Hollings 
Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) network, establishing teams 
of experts in specific technology/supply chains, offering multiple 
services and deep expertise through the national MEP network.
    This Request For Information (RFI) seeks comments relating to four 
primary issue areas regarding the M-TACs that are further defined 
herein: (1) Technology transition and commercialization tools and 
services that should be provided by M-TACs; (2) M-TAC roles relating to 
supply chain needs; (3) potential business models for M-TACs; and (4) 
M-TAC performance and impact metrics. In addition, NIST seeks comments 
relating to other critical issues that NIST should consider in its 
strategic planning for future M-TAC investments.

DATES: Comments are due on or before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 
22, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Comments will be accepted by email only. Comments must be 
sent to [email protected] with the subject line ``M-TAC RFI 
Comments.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Henderson, 100 Bureau Drive, 
Mail Stop 4800, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-4800, 301-975-5105, 
[email protected]; or David Stieren, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 
4800, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-4800, 301-975-3197, 
[email protected]. Please direct media inquiries to NIST's Office 
of Public Affairs at (301) 975-NIST.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The objective of this RFI is to assist NIST 
in the development of the anticipated 2014 FFO for the creation of M-
TACs, should NIST receive future appropriated funds for this purpose. 
NIST notes that in advance of the targeted 2014 M-TAC FFO that is the 
subject of this RFI, NIST will be releasing an FFO in 2013 to fund 
approximately two pilot projects that will also inform the planning for 
future M-TAC investments.
    Small and mid-sized manufacturers have proven to be flexible and 
adaptable in their approach to profitable growth through new markets, 
customers, products, and processes. Yet there remains a gap between the 
research being performed by universities, federal labs, consortia, and 
other entities, and the readiness of many small and mid-sized 
manufacturers to adopt both existing and emerging technologies into 
their products and processes to respond to the quality and performance 
requirements of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Recent reports 
by the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology,\3\ as 
well as the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation,\4\ point 
out that small and mid-sized manufacturers lack the financial resources 
and technical capabilities that large manufacturers have to be able to 
stay abreast of, and gain access to, the universe of emerging 
technologies and processes being constantly innovated around the globe. 
As a result, technology adoption rates of smaller U.S. manufacturers 
lag those of larger ones.
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    \3\ ``Report to the President on Capturing Domestic Competitive 
Advantage in Advanced Manufacturing,'' President's Council of 
Advisors on Science and Technology, Executive Office of the 
President, July 2012, http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/pcast_amp_steering_committee_report_final_july_27_2012.pdf.
    \4\ ``International Benchmarking of Countries' Policies and 
Programs Supporting SME Manufacturers,'' Stephen J. Ezell and Dr. 
Robert Atkinson, The Information Technology and Innovation 
Foundation, September 2011, http://www.itif.org/files/2011-sme-manufacturing-tech-programss-new.pdf.
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    Through the efforts of its existing network of Centers to provide 
Next Generation innovation services, NIST's Hollings MEP program has 
made strides forward to address these needs. However, to effectively 
assist small and mid-sized manufacturing firms to compete in the global 
economy, deep expertise specific to a given supply chain or sector is 
required.
    The lack of readiness of small and mid-sized manufacturers and the 
corresponding lagging technology adoption rates of smaller 
manufacturers will be primary focus areas of M-TACs. Bridging the gap 
between available technologies and commercial adoption

[[Page 37523]]

by manufacturers is essentially a two-part problem that first requires 
a critical step of translating available technologies into competitive 
market advantage. Second, bridging the gap requires addressing a 
variety of challenges that serve as barriers to small and mid-sized 
manufacturers incorporating technology solutions into their processes 
and new product portfolio. These challenges include technology and 
knowledge transfer, technology transition, and technology diffusion 
steps, along with numerous commercialization interventions needed to 
bring a technology from lab to market. M-TACs will emphasize the 
provision of technical and business assistance to small and mid-sized 
manufacturers along the broad spectrum of process improvement and 
product development services they may need.
    A key success factor of the Administration's focus on enhancing 
U.S. competiveness in advanced manufacturing is the support for highly 
effective supply chains in technology intensive manufacturing sectors. 
NIST envisions that future M-TACs will become the connective fabric for 
efficiently connecting academia, researchers, scientists, engineers and 
manufacturers with valuable supply chain and market demands, with a 
particular focus on the needs of small and mid-sized U.S. 
manufacturers. These M-TACs can serve as a coordination point within 
key supply chains. The anticipated approach should result in increased 
job creation and economic growth.
    This M-TAC effort aligns with the President's plan to launch a 
nationwide network of innovation institutes across the country that 
will develop world-leading manufacturing technologies and capabilities 
that U.S.-based manufacturers can apply in production to support U.S. 
manufacturing sector growth.\5\ The expectation is that M-TACs will 
work in collaboration with existing resources, including research 
consortia and institutions such as those operating as part of or in 
conjunction with the proposed National Network for Manufacturing 
Innovation (NNMI), state and local technology-based economic 
development intermediaries, industry associations, industry-university 
partnerships, and manufacturing organizations. NIST envisions that M-
TACs will operate on a national level using sustainable business models 
that will allow technology commercialization scale-up to occur to serve 
substantial numbers of small and mid-sized manufacturers--on the order 
of several thousand annually.
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    \5\ ``Fact Sheet: The President's Plan to Make America a Magnet 
for Jobs by Investing in Manufacturing,'' The White House Office of 
the Press Secretary, February 13, 2013, http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/13/fact-sheet-president-s-plan-make-america-magnet-jobs-investing-manufactu.
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    By providing direct technical and business assistance in technology 
transition and commercialization areas, M-TACs will address the gap 
between the research being performed by universities, federal labs, 
consortia, and other entities, and the readiness of many small and mid-
sized manufacturers to adopt new and existing technologies into their 
products and processes. The ultimate goal of the M-TACs is to deploy 
scalable resources to increase and accelerate the commercialization of 
existing and emerging technologies that lead to sustainable economic 
growth and job creation through more robust domestic supply chains.
    The goals of future M-TACs include:
     Demonstrating the operation of business models that enable 
small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers to effectively and efficiently 
access--on a continuing and financially sustainable basis--the 
assortment of technology transition and commercialization services they 
need to adopt and/or adapt technology into their products and 
processes;
     Establishing the appropriate partnerships and 
demonstrating the interfaces necessary to enable small and mid-sized 
U.S. manufacturers to effectively access the diverse array of 
technology transition and commercialization services they need;
     Fostering connections between the existing MEP system and 
its network of Centers, and other public and private initiatives tasked 
with linking technologically promising research discoveries and ideas 
for advanced, high-value-added products and processes with existing 
U.S. manufacturers and aspiring start-up firms; and
     Identifying where on the technology development and 
commercialization continuum small and mid-sized manufacturers tend to 
operate by identifying technology transition and commercialization 
areas in which small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers most critically 
need assistance.
    M-TACs are expected to achieve these goals through:
    1. Interacting with small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers through 
the nationwide network of MEP Centers to operate an effort that is 
focused on the provision of technology transition and commercialization 
services to manufacturers, doing so in a manner that is locally driven 
and nationally connected;
    2. Creating teams of experts in specific technology or industrially 
organized supply chains and offering multiple services and deep 
expertise to support small and mid-sized manufacturer needs relating to 
technology transition and commercialization;
     Emphasis will be placed on assisting small and mid-sized 
manufacturers in functions that apply to the spectrum of technology 
transition and commercialization services that small and mid-sized 
manufacturers may need. This may include those services associated with 
technology and process integration, engineering, new product 
development, existing product and process innovation, manufacturing 
scale up, supply chain development, financing, legal (intellectual 
property and regulatory), marketing, market analysis and research, and 
workforce development.
    3. Collaborating with research consortia and institutions such as 
those operating as part of or in conjunction with the proposed NNMI, 
state and local technology-based economic development intermediaries, 
industry associations, industry-university partnerships, and 
manufacturing standards organizations.

Request for Information

    As noted above, this RFI will assist NIST in developing the 
anticipated 2014 FFO for the creation of M-TACs, should NIST receive 
future appropriated funds for this purpose. As such, the questions 
below are intended to assist in the formulation of comments that will 
be used to inform future strategic planning. These questions should not 
be construed as a limitation on the number of comments that interested 
parties may submit, or as a limitation on the issues that may be 
addressed in such comments, and the fifth question here provides an 
opportunity to comment on issues not specifically covered by the first 
four questions. Submissions should clearly indicate which RFI questions 
are being addressed by each comment. Comments containing references, 
studies, research, and other empirical data that are not widely 
published should include copies of the referenced materials. Comment 
submissions must be kept to a maximum of 10 pages, using 12 point, 
single-spaced font. Do not include in comments or otherwise submit 
proprietary or confidential information, as all comments received by 
the deadline will be made publicly available at www.nist.gov/mep/. NIST 
is specifically interested in receiving input

[[Page 37524]]

on one or more of the following questions:
    1. What are the specific types of technology transition and 
commercialization tools and services that should be provided by M-TACs? 
Emphasis is on the alignment of these tools and services with the most 
pressing needs of small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers.
    a. How would M-TAC services complement the services currently 
offered by MEP Centers?
    2. What role should future M-TACs play with respect to supply chain 
needs? How should OEMs participate? How can industry associations, 
professional societies, and other appropriate national organizations 
participate?
    3. Is there a particular long-term scalable and financially 
sustainable business model that should be implemented by future M-TACs 
that will enable small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers to effectively 
access and benefit from the technology transition and commercialization 
assistance and other resources they need?
    a. Because of the programmatic connection to the NIST MEP Program, 
M-TACs may require cost share. Are there cost share models for future 
M-TACs that promote scale up to reach nationally dispersed clusters of 
small and mid-sized manufacturers? If so, what are those models, and 
why might they be successful?
    b. The generation of intellectual property is possible, and even 
likely as a result of M-TAC operations. What types of intellectual 
property arrangements and management constructs would promote active 
engagement of industry in these pilots, especially among small and mid-
sized U.S. manufacturers that would be supportive of the business 
model? As appropriate, please include a set of potential options, and 
please explain your responses.
    4. How should an M-TAC's performance and impact be evaluated? What 
are appropriate measures of success for future M-TACs? Please explain 
your response including the value of the performance measure to 
business growth.
    5. Are there any other critical issues that NIST MEP should 
consider in its strategic planning for future M-TAC investments that 
are not covered by the first four questions? If so, please address 
those issues here and explain your response.

    Dated: June 12, 2013.
Phillip Singerman,
Associate Director for Innovation & Industry Services.
[FR Doc. 2013-14895 Filed 6-20-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P