[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 17, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7756-7759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: X98-10217]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket No. 971029258-7258-01]
RIN: 0693-ZA17


Physics Laboratory 1998 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships 
(SURF)--Partnerships in Atomic, Molecular and Optical (AMO) Physics and 
Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory (MSEL) 1998 Summer 
Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF)

agency: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

action: Notice.

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summary: Through Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF), the 
programs ``SURFing the Physics Lab: A Partnership for AMO Physics'' and 
``SURFing the Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory'' will 
provide an opportunity for the Physics Laboratory (PL) and the 
Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory (MSEL) of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Science 
Foundation (NSF) to join in partnership with American colleges and 
universities to encourage outstanding undergraduate students to pursue 
careers in science and engineering. The MSEL program will function by 
providing research opportunities with internationally known NIST 
scientists in the fields of ceramics, solid state chemistry, 
metallurgy, polymers, neutron condensed matter science, and materials 
reliability. The PL program will function by exposing students to world 
class atomic, molecular, optical (AMO) and radiation physicists and 
facilities in the NIST Physics Laboratory, and by strengthening 
undergraduate AMO physics curricula by forming the basis for ongoing 
collaborations. The NIST Program Directors will work with physics and 
materials science department chairs and directors of multi-disciplinary 
centers of excellence to identify outstanding undergraduates (including 
graduating seniors) who would benefit from off-campus summer research 
in an honors academy environment. Each program recommends that a group 
of two candidates plus one alternate be nominated by each institution, 
although larger or smaller groups will be given equal consideration. 
For the PL program the selected group of about twenty-five (25) 
students will spend approximately twelve (12) weeks at the Physics

[[Page 7757]]

Laboratory's Gaithersburg, MD site, working one-on-one with NIST staff 
physicists, actively engaged in projects that combine the quest for 
fundamental knowledge and direct applications to problems of national 
importance. For the MSEL program the selected group of about eight (8) 
students will spend approximately twelve (12) weeks at the Materials 
Science and Engineering Laboratory's Gaithersburg, MD site, working 
one-on-one with NIST staff metallurgists, ceramists, polymer 
scientists, chemists, and physicists actively engaged in projects that 
combine the quest for fundamental knowledge and direct applications to 
problems of national importance. The 12-week stipend for the summer of 
1998 will be $3,600. Students and NIST research advisors will be paired 
based on the student's background and interests soon after the 
application deadline to allow for adequate dialogue between the 
student, the student's undergraduate advisor, and the NIST advisor, to 
ensure that the student arrives at NIST ready to contribute and to 
prepare the student's undergraduate advisor for follow-up in the fall. 
Good overlap of research interests will facilitate collaborations 
between NIST and the participating academic partners. The students will 
live in a nearby furnished apartment complex and participate in the 
many NIST seminars and in a weekly SURFing the PL or MSEL Laboratory 
Summer Seminar Series. The students will all present a research seminar 
at NIST and will be encouraged to participate in a local or national 
scientific conference during the following academic year. Given the 
significant lack of diversity in the present physics and materials 
science work force, we encourage students from under-represented groups 
to apply. Costs for this program (stipend, travel, and housing) will be 
shared by NIST, NSF and the participating schools.

dates: Proposals must be received no later than the close of business 
March 19, 1998.

addresses: Applicant institutions must submit one signed original plus 
one (1) copy of the proposal along with the Grant Application, Standard 
Form 424 (Rev. 4/97) to:

Physics Laboratory, Attn: Dr. Paul D. Lett, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, Building 221, Room A-167, Gaithersburg, MD 
20899-0001
    or
Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory, Attn: Dr. Kenneth L. 
Jewett, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Building 223, 
Room B-309, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-0001.

for further information contact: For MSEL: Dr. Kenneth L. Jewett, (301) 
975-2608; For PL: Dr. Paul D. Lett, (301) 975-6559.

supplementary information:

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

Authority

    The Act of March 3, 1901, as amended (15 USC 278g-1) authorizes the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology to expend up to 1 per 
centum of the funds appropriated for activities of NIST in any fiscal 
year, as the Director deems appropriate, for financial assistance 
awards in the form of cooperative agreements to students at 
institutions of higher learning within the United States. These 
students must show promise as present or future contributors to the 
missions of NIST. Cooperative Agreements are awarded to assure 
continued growth and progress of science and engineering in the United 
States, including the encouragement of women and minority students to 
continue their professional development.

Program Description

    The objective of this partnership is to build a mutually beneficial 
relationship between the student, the institution of higher learning, 
and NIST. This is the fifth year of a program partially funded by the 
NSF Physics Division as a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) 
site. This is the first year of a proposed five year program funded by 
the NSF Materials Science Division as a Research Experience for 
Undergraduates (REU) site. Between ten and fifty percent of the 
associated student stipends, travel, and housing is provided in cost 
sharing by the individual participating institutions.
    NIST is one of the nation's premiere research institutions for the 
physical sciences and, as the lead Federal agency for technology 
transfer, is providing a strong interface between government, industry, 
and academia. On-site researchers at NIST come from a broad range of 
institutions. Owing to its unique mission to support the U.S. economy 
by working with industry, NIST embodies a special science culture, 
developed from a large and well-equipped research staff that 
enthusiastically blends programs that address the immediate needs of 
industry with longer-term research that anticipates future needs. This 
occurs in few other places and enables the Physics Laboratory and the 
Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory to offer unique research 
and training opportunities for undergraduates, providing them a 
research-rich environment and exposure to state of the art equipment, 
to scientists at work, and to professional contacts that represent 
future employment possibilities.
    Attending to the long term needs of many U.S. high-technology 
industries, NIST's Physics Laboratory conducts basic research in the 
areas of quantum, electron, optical, atomic, molecular, and radiation 
physics and NIST's Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory 
conducts basic research in the electronic, magnetic, optical, 
superconducting, mechanical, thermal, chemical, and structural 
properties of metals, ceramics polymers, and composites. Much of this 
applied research is devoted to overcoming barriers to the next 
technological revolution, in which individual atoms and molecules will 
serve as the fundamental building blocks of devices.
    To achieve these goals, PL staff develop and utilize highly 
specialized equipment, such as polarized electron microscopes, scanning 
tunneling microscopes, lasers, and x-ray and synchrotron radiation 
sources. Research projects can be theoretical or experimental and will 
range in focus from computer modeling of fundamental processes through 
trapping atoms and choreographing molecular collisions, to 
standardization for radiation therapy.
    Preparation of unique materials by atomic level tailoring of multi-
layers, perfect single crystals, and nanocomposites are just some of 
the future technologies being developed and explored in NIST's MSEL. To 
achieve these goals, staff develop and utilize highly specialized 
equipment, such as high resolution electron microscopes, atomic force 
microscopes, a nuclear reactor, x-ray diffration sources, lasers, 
magnetometers, plasma furnaces, melt spinners, molecular beam epitaxy 
systems, and powder atomization chambers. Research projects can be 
theoretical or experimental and will range in focus from the 
structural, chemical, and morphological characterization of advanced 
materials made in the NIST laboratories to the accurate measurement of 
the unique properties possessed by these special materials.
    SURF students will work one-on-one with our nation's top physical 
scientists both from NIST and from some of our nation's leading, high 
tech industries. It is anticipated that successful SURF students will 
move from a position of reliance on guidance from their research

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advisors to one of research independence during the twelve-week period. 
One goal of this partnership is to provide opportunities for our 
nation's next generation of scientists and engineers to engage in 
world-class scientific research at NIST, especially in ground-breaking 
areas of emerging technologies. This carries with it the hope of 
motivating these individuals to pursue a Ph.D. in physics or materials 
science and to consider research careers. SURFing the Physics Lab and 
SURFing the Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory will help to 
forge partnerships with NSF and with post-secondary institutions that 
demonstrate strong, hands-on undergraduate science curricula, 
especially those with a demonstrated commitment to the education of 
women, minorities, and students with disabilities. This program will be 
open to all U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents interested in AMO 
physics or materials science.

Eligibility

    Colleges and universities in the United States with degree granting 
programs in materials science, chemistry, or physics.

Funding Availability

    The NIST Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory is 
anticipates receiving funding as a NSF REU Program at the level of 
$50,000 per year. It is anticipated that this funding would provide for 
the direct and indirect cost for stipends, travel and housing, and 
conference attendance for eight students. The actual number of awards 
made under this announcement will depend on the level of cost sharing 
by our academic partners. the issuance of awards is contingent upon the 
availability of funding.
    The NIST Physics Laboratory will commit approximately $50,000 to 
support cooperative agreements under this program. The NIST Physics 
Laboratory's REU Program is anticipating renewal of funding by the NSF 
at the level of $70,000 per year. The anticipated direct and indirect 
cost for stipends, travel and housing and conference attendance for 
twenty-five students is about $150,000. The actual number of awards 
made under this announcement will depend on the level of cost sharing 
by our academic partners. The issuance of awards is contingent upon the 
availability of funding.

Proposal Review Process

    All proposals will be reviewed by a panel of three NIST scientists 
appointed by the Program Directors. Proposals should include the 
following:
    (A) Student Information:
    (1) Official transcript for each student nominated with a 
recommended G.P.A. of 3.0 or better;
    (2) A personal statement from each student and statement of 
commitment to participate in the 1998 SURF program, including a 
description of the student's prioritized research interests;
    (3) A resume for each student; and
    (4) Two letters of recommendations for each student.
    All references to student include the proposed alternate.
    (B) Information About the Applicant Institution:
    (1) Description of the institution's education and research 
philosophy, faculty interests, on-campus research program(s) and 
opportunities, and overlapping research interests of NIST and the 
institution; and
    (2) A statement addressing issues of academic credit and commitment 
to cost sharing.

Application Kit

    An application kit, containing all required application forms and 
certifications is available by calling Erica Fosburg at (301) 975-5112, 
for the PL program; Susan Roth at (301) 975-5655, for the MSEL program. 
The application kit includes the following:

SF 424 (Rev 7/97)--APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE
SF 424A (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 EXCLUSION--LOWER TIER COVERED TRANSACTIONS 
AND LOBBYING
SF-LLL--DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES

Evaluation Criteria

    Evaluation of Student's Academic Ability and Commitment to Program 
Goals (35%): Includes, but is not limited to, evaluation of the 
following: Completed course work; expressed research interest; prior 
research experience; grade point average in courses relevant to 
program; career plans; honors and activities.
    Evaluation of Applicant Institution's Commitment to Program Goals 
(35%): Includes, but is not limited to, evaluation of the following: 
Institution's focus on AMO physics or materials science; overlap 
between research interests of the institution and NIST; emphasis on 
undergraduate hands-on research; undergraduate participation in 
research conferences/programs; on-campus research facilities; past 
participation by students/institution in such programs; and commitment 
to educate women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
    Evaluation of Applicant Institution's Cost Sharing (30%): In the 
spirit of a true partnership, successful applicant institutions will be 
encourage to contribute matching funds. A suggested level of 
participation would be to directly cover student travel (one round trip 
by common carrier) or housing costs (approximately $1500); a higher 
level of participation, such as partial payment of the student's 
stipend, stated intent to support the participating students at a 
research conference, indirect costs, and/or awarding of academic 
credit, will be given extra merit in the evaluation process.
    Award decisions shall be based upon total evaluation score.

Award Period

    The 1998 Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory SURFing 
Partnership and the 1998 Physics Laboratory SURFing Partnership are 
anticipated to run between May 26 through August 14, 1998; adjustments 
may be made to accommodate specific academic schedules (e.g., a limited 
number of 10-week cooperative agreements).

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Standard Form 424 and other Standard Forms in the application 
kit are subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act and 
have been approved by OMB under Control No. 0348-0043, 0348-0044, 0348-
0040, and 0348-0046.
    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.

Additional Requirements

    Primary Application Certifications: All primary applicant 
institutions must submit a completed form CD-511, ``Certifications 
Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-
Free Workplace

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Requirements and Lobbying,'' and the following explanations must be 
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 institution 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 applicant/
bidder institutions 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.

Name Check Reviews

    All for-profit and non-profit applicants will be subject to a name 
check review process. Name checks are intended to reveal if any 
individuals associated with the applicant have been convicted or 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.

Preaward Activities

    Applicants (or their institutions) 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 pre-
award costs.

No Obligation for Future Funding

    If an application is accepted for funding, DOC 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.

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.

Indirect Costs

    No Federal funds will be authorized for Indirect Costs (IDC); 
however, an applicant may provide for IDC under their portion of Cost 
Sharing. (For additional information refer to the ``Evaluation of 
Applicant Institution's Cost Sharing (30%):'' section of this notice 
under Evaluation Criteria.
    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.

Purchase of American-Made Equipment and Products

    Applicants are hereby notified that they are encouraged, to the 
greatest practicable extent, to purchase American-made equipment and 
products with funding provided under this program.

Federal Policies and Procedures

    Recipients and subrecipients under the Materials Science and 
Engineering Laboratory Program and the Physics Laboratory Program shall 
be subject to all Federal laws and Federal and Departmental 
regulations, policies, and procedures, applicable to financial 
assistance awards. The SURF program does not directly affect any state 
or local government.
    Applicants are reminded of the applicability of Executive Order 
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''

Executive Order Statement

    This funding notice was determined to be ``not significant'' for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.

    Dated: February 10, 1998.
Robert E. Hebner,
Acting Deputy Director.
[FR. Doc. 98-3853 Filed 2-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-M