[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 3, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30194-30196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14733]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket No. 970520119-7284-02]
RIN 0693-ZA15


Grant Funds--Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory--
Availability of Funds

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to inform potential applicants 
that the Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory (MSEL), National 
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is continuing its program 
for grants and cooperative agreements in the following fields of 
research: Ceramics, Metallurgy, Polymer Sciences, Neutron Scattering 
Research and Spectroscopy. Each applicant must submit one signed 
original and two copies of each proposal along with a Grant 
Application, (Standard Form 424 REV. 7/95 and other required forms), as 
referenced under the provisions of OMB Circular A-110 and 15 CFR 24.

DATES: Applications must be received no later than the close of 
business September 30, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Applications should be submitted to the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology, Materials Science and Engineering 
Laboratory, Building 223, Room A305, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-0001; 
Attention: Patty Salpino. Each application package should be clearly 
marked to identify the field of research.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Technical inquiries should be directed 
to the following Program Managers: Dr. Ronald Munro--(301) 975-6127 
[Ceramics Division], Bruno Fanconi--(301) 975-6762 [Polymers Division], 
John Manning--(301) 975-6157 [Metallurgy Division--transformations, 
phases, microstructure and kinetic processes in metals and their 
alloys], Dr. Neville Pugh--(301) 975-5960 [Metallurgy Division--sensors 
for analytical models for metallurgical processes], Richard Ricker--
(301) 975-6023 [Metallurgy Division--degradation of materials in their 
service environment], John Rush--(301) 976-6220 [NIST Center for 
Neutron Research]. Inquiries should be general in nature.
    Specific inquiries as to a laboratory's needs, the usefulness or 
merit of any particular project, or other inquiries with the potential 
to provide and

[[Page 30195]]

competitive advantage to an applicant are not acceptable.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: ``Measurement and 
Engineering Research and Standards'', No. 11.609.
    Eligibility: Academic institutions, non-Federal agencies, 
independent and industrial laboratories are eligible to apply.
    Authority: As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272(b)(6) and (c)(16), the 
MSEL conducted a basic and applied research program directly and 
through grants and cooperative agreements to eligible recipients.
    Funding Availability: Approximately $500,000 is available to 
support grants and cooperative agreements under this program. All 
awards are contingent on the availability of funds.
    Type of Funding Instrument: The MSEL Grants Program is limited to 
innovative ideas generated by the proposal writer on what research will 
be performed and how. Grants awarded under the MSEL program will 
generally provide financial assistance to the recipient without 
substantial NIST involvement in the projects. Cooperative agreements 
awarded for MSEL projects will generally involve a close working 
relationship between a group of NIST experts and the recipient.
    Award Period: Proposals will be considered for research projects 
from one to three years. When a proposal for a multi-year award is 
approved, funding will initially 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. Renewal 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, in relation to the mission of the MSEL program, 
and the availability of funds. The annual awards must have scopes of 
work that are clearly severable and can be easily separated into annual 
increments of meaningful work, which 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).

Program Objectives

    All proposals submitted must be in accordance with the program 
objectives listed below. The appropriate Program Manager for each field 
of research may be contacted for clarification of the program 
objectives.
    I. Ceramics Division, 852--The primary objective is to supplement 
division activities in the area of ceramic processing, tribology, 
composites, machining, interfacial chemistry, and microstructural 
analysis.
    II. Polymers Division, 854--The primary objective is to support 
division programs in polymer blends, composites, electrical 
applications, as well as, dental and medical polymeric materials 
through participation in research on metrology, synthesis, processing 
and characterization of structure, mechanical, thermal and electrical 
properties.
    III. Metallurgy Division, 855--The primary objective is to develop 
techniques to predict, measure and control transformations, phases, 
microstructure and kinetic processes as well as mechanical, physical 
and chemical properties in metals and their alloys.
    IV. Metallurgy Division, 855--The primary objective is to develop 
new and improved sensors, measurement techniques, and analytical models 
for metallurgical structures and processes in order to facilitate the 
development and adoption of intelligent processing systems for 
materials.
    V. NIST Center for Neutron Research, 856--The primary objective is 
to develop high resolution cold and thermal neutron research approaches 
and related physics, chemistry, macromolecular and materials 
applications.

Proposal Review Process

    Proposals will be reviewed in a two-step process. First, a panel of 
at least three individuals knowledgeable about the particular 
scientific area described above that the proposal addresses, and that 
are not employed by the applicable division, will conduct a technical 
review of proposals. Second, the chief of each division will make final 
award selections.

Technical Evaluation Criteria

    The 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 necessary facilities and other 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.
    Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation 
process.

Selection Procedure

    In making final award selections, the chief of each division will 
take into account the score received by the applicant and the 
compatibility of the applicant's proposal with the program objectives 
of the particular division that the proposal addresses. These 
objectives are described above in the ``Program Objectives'' section. 
If an award is made to an applicant that does not receive the highest 
score in its category by technical reviewers, the division chief shall 
justify the selection in writing.

Application Process

    Matching Requirements: There are no matching requirements.
    Application Kit: An application kit, containing all required 
applications forms and certifications is available by calling Patty 
Salpino at (301) 975-5731. An application kit includes the following:

SF 424 (Rev 7/97)--Application for Federal Assistance
SF 424 A (Rev 7/97)--Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs
SF 424B (Rev 7/97)--Assurances--Non Construction Programs
CD 511 (7/91)--Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other 
Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements and Lobbying
CD 512 (7/91)--Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, 
Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusions--Lower Tier Covered Transactions 
and Lobbying
SF-LLL--Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

    Paperwork Reduction Act: The Standard Form 424 and Standard Form 
LLL mentioned in this notice are subject to the requirements of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act and have been approved by OMB under Control 
Numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044, 0348-0040 and 0348-0046. Notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, no person is required to respond to nor 
shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply

[[Page 30196]]

with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information displays 
a current valid OMB control number.
    Primary Application Certification: all primary applicants must 
submit a completed form CD-511, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, 
Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace 
Requirements and Lobbying,'' and the following explanations are hereby 
provided:
    1. Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension. Prospective 
participants (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, Section 105) are subject to 
15 CFR Part 26, ``Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension'' and the 
related section of the certification form prescribed above applies.
    2. Drug-Free Workplace. Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, 
Section 605) are subject to 15 CFR Part 26, Subpart F, ``Governmentwide 
Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)'' and the related section 
of the certification form prescribed above applies.
    3. Anti-Lobbying. Persons (as defined at 15 CFR Part 28, Section 
105) are subject to the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352, 
``Limitation on use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal 
contracting and financial transactions,'' and the lobbying section of 
the certification form prescribed above applies to applications/bids 
for grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than 
$100,000, and loans and loan guarantees for more than $150,000, or the 
single family maximum mortgage limit for affected programs, whichever 
is greater.
    4. Anti-Lobbying Disclosure. Any applicant that has paid or will 
pay for lobbying using any funds must submit an SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of 
Lobbying Activities,'' as required under 15 CFR Part 28, Appendix B.
    5. Lower-Tier Certifications. Recipients shall require applicants/
bidders for subgrants, contracts, subcontracts, or other lower tier 
covered transactions at any tier under the award to submit, if 
applicable, a completed Form CD-512, ``Certifications Regarding 
Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion--Lower 
Tier Covered Transactions and Lobbying'' and disclosure form, SF-LLL, 
``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.'' Form CD-512 is intended for the 
use of recipients and should not be transmitted to NIST. SF-LLL 
submitted by any tier recipient or subrecipient should be submitted to 
NIST in accordance with the instructions contained in the award 
document.
    Preaward Activities: Applicants who incur any costs prior to an 
award being made do so solely at their own risk of not being reimbursed 
by the Government. Notwithstanding any verbal assurance that may have 
been provided, there is no obligation on the part of NIST to cover 
preaward costs.
    No obligation for Future Funding: If an application is accepted for 
funding, NIST has no obligation to provide any additional future 
funding in connection with that award. Renewal of an award to increase 
funding or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion 
of NIST.
    Past Performance: Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal 
awards may result in an application not being considered for funding.
    Name Check Reviews: All for-profit and nonprofit applicants will be 
subject to a name check review process. Name checks are intended to 
reveal if any key individuals associated with the applicant have been 
convicted of or are presently facing criminal charges such as fraud, 
theft, perjury, or other matters which significantly reflect on the 
applicant's management, honesty, or financial integrity.
    False Statements: A false statement on an application is grounds 
for denial or termination of funds, and grounds for possible punishment 
by a fine or imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.
    Delinquent Federal Debts: No award of Federal funds shall be made 
to an applicant who has an outstanding delinquent Federal debt until 
either:
    1. The delinquent account is paid in full,
    2. A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one 
payment is received, or
    3. Other arrangements satisfactory to DoC are made.
    Purchase of American-Made Equipment and Products: Applicants are 
hereby notified that they are encouraged to the greatest extent 
practicable, to purchase American-made equipment and products with 
funding provided under this program.
    Indirect Costs: The total dollar amount of the indirect costs 
proposed in an application under this program must not exceed the 
indirect cost rate negotiated and approved by a cognizant Federal 
agency prior to the proposed effective date of the award or 100 percent 
of the total proposed direct costs dollar amount in the application, 
whichever is less.
    Federal Policies and Procedures: Awards under the MSEL Grants 
Research Program shall be subject to all Federal laws and Federal and 
Departmental regulations, policies, and procedures applicable to 
financial assistance awards. The MSEL Grants Program does not directly 
affect any state or local government. Accordingly, the Department of 
Commerce has determined that Executive Order 12372 is not applicable to 
the MSEL Grants Program.
    This funding notice has been determined not to be not significant 
for purposes of Executive Order 12866.

    Dated: May 27, 1998.
Robert E. Hebner,
Acting Deputy Director, NIST.
[FR Doc. 98-14733 Filed 6-2-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-M