[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 5, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 781-789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-183]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Docket No.: 041220354-4354-01]


Small 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 2005: (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; and (7) the Fire Research Grants 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 objective 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 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, video, 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. eastern standard time on September 30, 2005. 
Proposals received between July 1, 2005 and September 30, 2005 be 
processed and considered for funding under this solicitation, but if 
selected, proposals may be funded in the next fiscal year, subject to 
the availability of funds.

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 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. All grants related 
administration questions concerning this program should be addressed 
to: Joyce Brigham, NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division, 
(301) 975-6328; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#771d180e14125915051e101f161a37191e040359101801"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="aac0c5d3c9cf84c8d8c3cdc2cbc7eac4c3d9de84cdc5dc">[email protected]</span></a>. For assistance with using 
Grants.gov contact <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#75060005051a0701354914551d07101348" http: grants.gov">grants.gov</a>">support@grants.gov</a>.
    Funding Availability: In fiscal year 2004, the EEEL Grants Program 
made five new awards, totaling $184,490. The amount available each year 
fluctuates considerably based on programmatic needs. 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 distributed to 
the appropriate Division Chief or Office Director or designee based on 
technical area by one

[[Page 782]]

or more technical professionals familiar with the programs of the 
Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory. The proposals 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 each proposal, 
based on the evaluation criteria described below. 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 quarterly basis, and all proposals 
received during the quarter will be ranked based on the reviewers' 
scores.
    Second, 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 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, compliance with 
Federal policies that best further the objectives of the Department of 
Commerce, 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. 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 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%).
    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, Intelligent Systems, and 
Information Systems Integration for Applications in Manufacturing.

DATES: All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no 
later than 5 p.m. eastern standard time on September 30, 2005. 
Proposals received between July 1, 2005 and September 30, 2005 will be 
processed and considered for funding under this solicitation, but if 
selected, proposals may be funded in the next fiscal year, subject to 
the availability of funds.

ADDRESSES: Paper applications must be submitted to: Mrs. Mary Lou 
Norris, 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 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 Mrs. Mary Lou Norris, 
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: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#adc0c3c2dfdfc4deedc3c4ded983cac2db"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="264b484954544f5566484f555208414950">[email protected]</span></a>. All grants related administration questions 
concerning this program should be addressed to: Joyce Brigham, NIST 
Grants and Agreements Management Division, (301) 975-6328; 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fe9491879d9bd09c8c9799969f93be90978d8ad0999188"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8de7e2f4eee8a3efffe4eae5ece0cde3e4fef9a3eae2fb">[email protected]</span></a>. For assistance with using Grants.gov contact 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0f7c7a7f7f607d7b4f336e2f677d6a6932" http: grants.gov">grants.gov</a>">support@grants.gov</a>.
    Funding Availability: In fiscal year 2004, the MEL Grants Program 
funded 2 new awards, totaling $187,987. In fiscal year 2005 the MEL 
Grants Program anticipates funding of approximately $500,000, including 
new awards and continuing projects. Individual awards are expected to 
range from approximately $25,000 to $300,000.
    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. 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 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. The Division 
Chief or Laboratory Director will make application selections. In 
making application

[[Page 783]]

selections, the Division Chief or Laboratory Director will take into 
consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations, the 
availability of funds, and relevance to the objectives of the MEL 
Grants Program. These objectives are described above 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, compliance with Federal policies that best further the 
objectives of the Department of Commerce, 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 original application will be returned 
to the applicant.
    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 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.
    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 in 
the following fields of measurement science research, focused on 
reference methods, reference materials and reference data: 
Biotechnology, Process Measurements, Surface and Microanalysis Science, 
Physical and Chemical Properties, and Analytical Chemistry.

DATES: All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no 
later than 5 p.m. eastern standard time on September 30, 2005. 
Proposals received between July 1, 2005 and September 30, 2005 will be 
processed and considered for funding under this solicitation, but if 
selected, proposals may be funded in the next fiscal year, subject to 
the availability of funds.

ADDRESSES: Paper applications must be submitted to: Dr. William F. 
Koch, 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 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. William F. Koch, Chemical 
Science and Technology Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8300, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8300, 
Tel (301) 975-8301, e-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8bfce2e7e7e2eae6a5e0e4e8e3cbe5e2f8ffa5ece4fd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="53243a3f3f3a323e7d383c303b133d3a20277d343c25">[email protected]</span></a>. All grants related 
administration questions concerning this program should be addressed 
to: Joyce Brigham, NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division, 
(301) 975-6328; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0b616472686e256979626c636a664b6562787f256c647d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="600a0f1903054e0212090708010d200e0913144e070f16">[email protected]</span></a>. For assistance with using 
Grants.gov contact <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#61121411110e1315215d0041091304075c" http: grants.gov">grants.gov</a>">support@grants.gov</a>.
    Funding Availability: No funds have been set aside specifically for 
support of 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 2004, the CSTL Grants Program funded 2 new awards, 
totaling $343,184. In fiscal year 2005, the CSTL Grants Program 
anticipates funding of approximately $500,000. 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. If it is determined that all funds available for the 
CSTL Grants Program for the given year have been exhausted, the 
proposal

[[Page 784]]

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 CSTL Grants Program will 
retain one copy of the proposal for three years for record keeping 
purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
    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 
described below. 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 will make application selections, taking 
into consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations, the 
availability of funds, and the relevance of the proposal to the program 
objectives 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, compliance with 
Federal policies that best further the objectives of the Department of 
Commerce, 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.

DATES: All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no 
later than 5 p.m. eastern standard time on September 30, 2005. 
Proposals received between July 1, 2005 and September 30, 2005 will be 
processed and considered for funding under this solicitation, but if 
selected, proposals may be funded in the next fiscal year, subject to 
the availability of funds.

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 
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: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b5d4dbdcc1d49bc6c2d0dcd2d0c7c1f5dbdcc6c19bd2dac3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3f5e51564b5e114c485a56585a4d4b7f51564c4b11585049">[email protected]</span></a>. It is strongly suggested to first 
confirm the program objectives with the Program Manager prior to 
preparing a detailed proposal. All grants related administration 
questions concerning this program should be addressed to: Joyce 
Brigham, NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division, (301) 975-
6328; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f19b9e889294df9383989699909cb19f988285df969e87"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="43292c3a20266d21312a242b222e032d2a30376d242c35">[email protected]</span></a>. For assistance with using Grants.gov 
contact <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2e5d5b5e5e415c5a6e124f0e465c4b4813" http: grants.gov">grants.gov</a>">support@grants.gov</a>.
    Funding Availability: In fiscal year 2004, the PL Grants Program 
funded 17 new awards, totaling $2,326,458. In fiscal year 2005, the PL 
Grants Program anticipates funding of approximately $1,700,000, 
including new awards and continuing projects. Funding availability will 
be apportioned by quarter. Individual awards are expected to range from 
approximately $5,000 to $300,000.
    For the Physics Laboratory 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 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

[[Page 785]]

will conduct a technical review of each proposal, based on the 
evaluation criteria described below. 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; 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, compliance with 
Federal policies that best further the objectives of the Department of 
Commerce, 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.
    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; 
Polymer Sciences; Materials Reliability; and Neutron Scattering 
Research and Spectroscopy.

DATES:  All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no 
later than 5 p.m. eastern standard time on September 30, 2005. 
Proposals received between July 1, 2005 and September 30, 2005 will 
continue to be processed and considered for funding under this 
solicitation, but if selected, proposals may be funded in the next 
fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds.

ADDRESSES: Paper applications must be submitted to: Dr. Stephen W. 
Freiman, 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 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. Stephen W. Freiman, 
Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8500, Gaithersburg, 
Maryland 20899-8500, Tel: (301) 975-5658, E-mail: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4b383f2e3b232e25652d392e22262a250b2522383f652c243d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="90e3e4f5e0f8f5febef6e2f5f9fdf1fed0fef9e3e4bef7ffe6">[email protected]</span></a>. All grants related administration questions 
concerning this program should be addressed to: Joyce Brigham, NIST 
Grants and Agreements Management Division, (301) 975-6328; 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c5afaabca6a0eba7b7aca2ada4a885abacb6b1eba2aab3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6f0500160c0a410d1d0608070e022f01061c1b41080019">[email protected]</span></a>. For assistance with using Grants.gov contact 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#196a6c6969766b6d5977706a6d377e766f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="72010702021d0006321c1b01065c151d04">[email protected]</span></a>.
    Funding Availability: In fiscal year 2004, the MSEL Grants Program 
funded 11 new awards, totaling $1,122,796. In fiscal year 2005, the 
MSEL Grants Program anticipates funding of approximately $4,500,000, 
including new awards and continuing projects. Most grants and 
cooperative agreements are expected to be in the $25,000 to $100,000 
per year range.
    For the MSEL 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 
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 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 Division Chief or 
Center Director or Laboratory Deputy Director will make application 
selections. In making application selections, the Division Chief or 
Center Director or Laboratory Deputy Director will take into 
consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations, the 
availability

[[Page 786]]

of funds, and relevance to the objectives of the MSEL Grants Program, 
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, compliance with Federal policies 
that best further the objectives of the Department of Commerce, 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 and 
neutron research.
    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.

DATES: All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no 
later than 5 p.m. eastern standard time on September 30, 2005. 
Proposals received between July 1, 2005 and September 30, 2005 will be 
processed and considered for funding under this solicitation, but if 
selected, proposals may be funded in the next fiscal year, subject to 
the availability of funds.

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 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, Fax: (301) 975-4032, http://www.bfrl.nist.gov. All grants 
related administration questions concerning this program should be 
addressed to: Joyce Brigham, NIST Grants and Agreements Management 
Division, (301) 975-6328; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d1bbbea8b2b4ffb3a3b8b6b9b0bc91bfb8a2a5ffb6bea7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2b414452484e054959424c434a466b4542585f054c445d">[email protected]</span></a>. For assistance with 
using Grants.gov contact <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a0d3d5d0d0cfd2d4e09cc180c8d2c5c69d" http: grants.gov">grants.gov</a>">support@grants.gov</a>.
    Funding Availability: In fiscal year 2004, the Building Research 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program funded 3 new awards, totaling 
$529,835. No funds have been set aside specifically for support of 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. 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 
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 each 
proposal, based on the evaluation criteria described below. 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

[[Page 787]]

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 
evaluations, the scores of the reviewers, the availability of funds, 
and relevance to the objectives 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, compliance with 
Federal policies that best further the objectives of the Department of 
Commerce, 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 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 our 
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.

DATES: All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no 
later than 5 p.m. eastern standard time on September 30, 2005. 
Proposals received between May 1, 2005 and September 30, 2005 be 
processed and considered for funding under this solicitation, but if 
selected, proposals may be funded in the next fiscal year, subject to 
the availability of funds.

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 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: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7403151a10155a100112121d1a341a1d07005a131b02"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6b1c0a050f0a450f1e0d0d02052b0502181f450c041d">[email protected]</span></a>, Web site: http://www.bfrl.nist.gov. All grants 
related administration questions concerning this program should be 
addressed to: Joyce Brigham, NIST Grants and Agreements Management 
Division, (301) 975-6328; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ec8683958f89c28e9e858b848d81ac82859f98c28b839a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="63090c1a00064d01110a040b020e230d0a10174d040c15">[email protected]</span></a>. For assistance with 
using Grants.gov contact <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#592a2c2929362b2d19653879312b3c3f64" http: grants.gov">grants.gov</a>">support@grants.gov</a>.
    Funding Availability: For the Fire Research Grants Program, the 
annual budget is approximately $1.0 to $1.5 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 2004, the Fire Research Grants 
Program funded 7 new awards, totaling $517,970.
    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, DoC 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 extent of interest prior to preparation of a detailed 
proposal. Responsive proposals will be assigned, as received on a 
rolling basis, to the most appropriate group. 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.
    In making application selections, the Division Chief will take into 
consideration the results of the evaluations, the scores of the 
reviewers, the group leader's recommendation, the availability of 
funds, and relevance to the objectives 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

[[Page 788]]

notice, compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, 
compliance with Federal policies that best further the objectives of 
the Department of Commerce, 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.
    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 
contained in the Federal Register notice of October 1, 2001 (66 FR 
49917), as amended by the Federal Register notice published on October 
30, 2002 (67 FR 66109), are applicable to this announcement. 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. sec. 
200-212, 37 CFR part 401, 15 CFR 14.36, and in section 20 of the 
Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements, 66 FR 49917 
(2001), as amended by the Federal Register notice published on October 
30, 2002 (67 FR 66109). 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.
    Initial Screening of all Applications: 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 
objectives for each program. 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. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
    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.
    On December 3, 2000, the U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services (DHHS) introduced a new Federal-wide Assurance of Protection 
of Human Subjects (FWA). The FWA covers all of an institution's 
Federally supported human subjects research, and eliminates the need 
for other types of Assurance documents. The Office for Human Research 
Protections (OHRP) has suspended processing of multiple project 
assurance (MPA) renewals. All existing MPAs will remain in force until 
further notice. For information about FWAs, please see the OHRP Web 
site at http://ohrp.osophs.dhhs.gov/humansubjects/assurance/fwas.htm

[[Page 789]]

    In accordance with the DHHS change, NIST will continue to accept 
the submission of human subjects protocols that have been approved by 
Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) possessing a current, valid MPA from 
DHHS. NIST also will accept the submission of human subjects protocols 
that have been approved by IRBs possessing a current, valid 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, 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: 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.
    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: December 23, 2004.
Hratch G. Semerjian,
Acting Director, NIST.
[FR Doc. 05-183 Filed 1-4-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P


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