June 20, 2014

ANNOUNCEMENT OF FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (FFO)

Business-to-Business Network Pilots

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• Federal Agency Name: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), United States 

Department of Commerce (DoC)

• Funding Opportunity Title: Business-to-Business Network Pilots

• Announcement Type: Initial

• Funding Opportunity Number: 2014-NIST-MEP-B2BN-01

• Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.611, Manufacturing Extension 

Partnership;

• Dates: Electronic applications must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday, 

August 4, 2014. Applications received after the respective deadline will not be reviewed or 

considered. The approximate start date for awards under this FFO is expected to be December 2014.

When developing your submission timeline, keep in mind that a free annual registration process in the 

electronic System for Award Management (SAM) (see Section VI.2.b. of this FFO) takes on average 

fourteen (14) business days for new registrations, and between seven (7) and ten (10) business days 

for renewal registrations. The SAM registration process will likely take more time if problems are 

encountered. Also, please keep in mind that applicants using Grants.gov will receive a series of 

receipts over a period of up to two (2) business days before learning via a validation or rejection 

whether a Federal agency’s electronic system has received its application.

• Application Submission Address: See Section IV in the Full Announcement Text of this FFO.

• Funding Opportunity Description: NIST invites proposals from eligible applicants to deploy and 

maintain one or more Business-to-Business Network (B2B Network) pilot projects. The B2B Network 

pilots shall have the human and information infrastructure needed to conduct real-time business 

opportunity scouting, technology scouting, supplier scouting and market scouting including the active 

content management and human interactions needed to establish and maintain data quality, identify 

opportunities and make matches on behalf of companies.

• Total Amount to be Awarded: Up to $2,500,000. 

• Anticipated Amounts: NIST anticipates making up to 10 awards at approximately $250,000 per 

award. The projects awarded under this FFO will have a budget and performance period of up to two 

(2) years. 

• Funding Instrument: Cooperative Agreement

• Who Is Eligible: Eligible applicants are existing Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership 

(MEP) Centers. Applicants are strongly encouraged to form teaming arrangements involving multiple 

MEP Centers and service providers such that multiple Centers share appropriate infrastructure 

(hardware, software, expertise, knowledge and/or services as examples) to address scouting needs

on a regional level. An eligible organization may work individually or include proposed subawardees 

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and/or contractors or other collaborators in a project proposal, effectively forming a team or 

consortium.

• Cost Sharing Requirements: Cost Sharing is not required for awards under this program.

• Webinar Information Session: NIST MEP will hold an information session for organizations that are 

considering applying to this opportunity. This webinar will provide general information regarding the 

B2B Network pilots program and offer general guidance on preparing proposals. NIST/MEP staff will 

be available on the webinar to answer general questions. During the webinar, proprietary technical 

discussions about specific project ideas will not be permitted. Also, NIST/MEP staff will not critique or 

provide feedback on any project ideas during the webinar or at any time before submission of a 

proposal toB2B Network pilots program. However, NIST/MEP staff will provide information about the 

B2B Network pilots program eligibility, evaluation criteria and selection factors, selection process, and 

the general characteristics of a competitive B2B Network pilots program proposal during this webinar, 

and by phone and email. The webinar will be held approximately 14 business days after posting of 

this FFO. The exact date and time of the webinar will be posted on the MEP website at 

www.nist.gov/mep. The webinar will be recorded and a link to the recording will be posted on the 

MEP website. In addition, the webinar presentation will be available after the webinar on the MEP 

website. Organizations wishing to participate in the webinar must sign up by contacting Diane 

Henderson at diane.henderson@nist.gov.

FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

I. Funding Opportunity Description

1. Program Objectives

NIST invites eligible applicants to submit proposals to establish pilot projects that will develop, deploy 

and maintain a Business-to-Business Network (B2B Network) to support active business opportunity, 

supplier, technology and/or market matching within regions of the Manufacturing Extension 

Partnership System. Regions may be those of individual Centers, multi-Center, state-wide or multistate. Proposed projects should consist of teams with expertise in business opportunity identification, 

technology identification and translation, and market and technology scouting, as detailed further 

below. 

Over the life of the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a frequent need has been 

demonstrated for a business and technology matching system that supports the work of MEP Centers 

with their clients in finding timely business opportunities, meeting outstanding technology needs and 

making known supplier capabilities and capacities to new potential customers. Previous attempts to 

develop and deploy a robust network to achieve these types of matching have not fully met 

expectations for breadth/depth of use and impacts. Several opportunities for improvement were 

identified that should increase the use and impacts including (1) an active, human network to enter 

and extract timely, relevant information on the various opportunities, actively manage content related 

to opportunities and the hands-on client knowledge needed to make effective, efficient matches; (2) a 

flexible IT platform/solution that is responsive to the needs of the MEP system; (3) a sustainable 

business model for B2B Network transactions conducted on the network; (4) more robust content 

management related to the business, technology and market opportunities; and (5) a more robust 

education/awareness effort to demonstrate the benefits of the B2B Network to the manufacturers

themselves.

The envisioned pilot B2B Network pilots are, first and foremost, human networks that are supported 

by underlying, appropriate technology that is easy to access and use and that contains the necessary 

data (i.e. technical and business) of sufficient quality, validity and timeliness that allows matches to be 

made in an effective, efficient manner. The B2B Network pilots must include an approach that 

provides for easy assignment of outcomes which can be linked to Centers in terms of direct impacts 

(projects, connections, commercialization, sales, etc.), postings of opportunities and information that 

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are current or active and in which a matchmaker would have relative confidence in the figures 

provided in terms of value of the opportunities and outcome-based metrics upon which to evaluate 

network performance and efficacy. Specifically, each proposal must address the following objectives:

• Currency, Critical Mass and Validation of Data – How the applicant will identify, vet and assemble

a critical mass of viable opportunities. What constitutes a critical mass will depend on the region 

considered, the demographics of its manufacturers and the resources which can be brought to 

bear to provide solutions and matches. The proposal must also address how the information 

included in the network will be actively managed to ensure the data are validated and maintained 

so that as opportunities are realized or aged out, there is an appropriate action taken within the 

system to remove or update those opportunities. The proposal must also describe how critical 

mass in the network will be maintained over time by ensuring that new opportunities are 

continually sought, vetted, and maintained.

• Functionality –How the functionality of the network (including any web sites or other displays of 

the information associated with it) will be easy to use, developed with the preferences of the 

intended audiences in mind and provide the general ability to search and find viable solutions. 

The human interface is imperative to optimize the matches that are not self-evident from exact 

syntax. That is, matches may become apparent only after analysis of opportunity and careful 

comparison against manufacturer inherent capabilities. It must be manufacturer-friendly. In other 

words, if Centers and the small and mid-size manufacturers are to embrace and utilize it, it needs 

to be designed with that in mind.

• Potential Duplication – In regions where there are existing networks supported by state and/or 

local governments, how the particular B2B Network pilot will build on, complement or supplement 

those networks, not duplicate them. 

• Concrete Successes and Measurable Outputs –How the applicant will define appropriate metrics 

that produce evidence to validate the successful use of the network. Examples of measureable

outcomes include but are not limited to connections made, requests filled, inventions licensed, 

revenue from licenses, fees generated and the variety of impacts (sales, cost savings, new 

products/services introduced over time, investments made or avoided) that companies might 

experience in finding and capturing opportunities.

The B2B Network may include a wide variety of activities including but not limited to face-to-face 

matchmaking events on a local and/or regional basis to bring together companies having needs with 

potential solution providers.

Proposals may address any one or more of the business opportunity, supplier, technology and/or 

market matching services sought under this program announcement. The business opportunity and 

market scouting and matching should, to the extent possible, include international opportunities 

(export sales) and possible reshoring opportunities. “Business opportunities” means a company’s 

purchase of manufactured goods or services related to manufacturing. A viable business opportunity 

is one in which the purchaser is ready to receive bids in preparation for making the purchase. 

“Supplier opportunities” means a company’s description of its services, capacities and capabilities 

that might be used by a company needing manufactured goods or manufacturing-related services. 

“Technology opportunities” means the identification of a technology need or use, or the purchase or 

sale of manufacturing-related intellectual property. “Market scouting and matching” means 

identification of and research into relevant new markets for a company’s products and services. 

It is not the intent of this program that awardees will perform substantial infrastructure development, 

but rather use existing technologies for network support and match management with minimal 

development to connect different networks or functional modules (e.g., project management, 

ticketing, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), if necessary). Technology support should, to 

the extent practicable, be open source, interoperable and scalable to a regional or national level.

One of the ultimate goals of the program is to establish and support a national B2B Network;

therefore, applicants should address how their network’s technologies and frameworks for 

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matchmaking will be interoperable with others, at a minimum. Specific tasks or mechanisms to 

ensure cooperation and interoperability may be added during award negotiations.

The B2B Network pilot projects will add capabilities to the MEP program by offering specific, timely, 

actionable information about opportunities and solutions. The MEP Program places high importance 

on ensuring that projects are well aligned with, and amplify, the work of MEP Centers and partners in 

order to maximize the potential and impact of existing resources for the benefit of U.S. manufacturing.

Additional information on MEP Centers and their partners is provided at http://www.nist.gov/mep/.

2. Program Priorities

The program’s priorities for this competition are noted below. Applicants will need to articulate how 

their particular network makes connections between items a-d below, as required by 15 U.S.C. 

278k(f)(5), and the opportunity identification and matching made through the particular network’s 

people, databases and other essential network elements as defined by the applicant. For example, 

including export opportunities will likely lead to increased business and a need to create jobs and 

train new employees in the nuances required in order to successfully export products to overseas 

markets. Successful proposals must address all of the following priorities:

a. create jobs or train newly hired employees; 

b. promote technology transfer and commercialization of environmentally focused materials, 

products, and processes; 

c. increase energy efficiency; and 

d. improve the competitiveness of industries in the region in which the Center or Centers are 

located. 

Proposals that do NOT address these priorities will be deemed non-responsive and not reviewed.

In addition, the most successful proposals will also address the following:

e. High probability of making matches that result in new or expanded business for manufacturing 

companies and adoption of new-to-the-company technologies that expand its ability to compete. 

To be considered responsive to this priority, applicants must clearly demonstrate how their pilot 

project will identify viable, significant opportunities for companies and make matches based on 

company needs.

f. Directly address major constraints that currently limit development and access to current 

information about needs and opportunities.

g. Involve partnerships and demonstrate resource leveraging such that pilots are replicable in other 

regions. Example partnerships include those with industry, academia and local, state and federal 

agencies that are either sources of opportunities or technologies.

It is not the intent of this program that awardees will perform research.

The statutory authority for the Business-to-Business Network Pilots program is 15 U.S.C. 278k(f).

II. Award Information

1. Funding Instrument. The funding instrument that will be used for these awards is a cooperative 

agreement. The nature of NIST’s “substantial involvement” will generally be collaboration between

NIST MEP and the recipient organizations. This includes NIST MEP collaboration with a recipient on 

its progress and approving changes in the statement of work. Additional forms of substantial 

involvement that may arise are described in Chapter 5.C of the Department of Commerce (DoC)

Grants and Cooperative Agreements Manual, which is available at 

http://www.osec.doc.gov/oam/grants_management/policy/documents/FINAL%20Master%20DOC%20

Grants%20Manual%202013%20(03.01.13)_b.pdf

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2. Funding Availability. NIST anticipates making up to 10 awards at approximately $250,000 per 

award. The projects awarded under this FFO will have a budget and performance period of up to two 

(2) years.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants. Eligible applicants are existing Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership 

(MEP) Centers. Applicants are strongly encouraged to form teaming arrangements involving multiple 

MEP Centers and service providers such that multiple Centers share appropriate infrastructure 

(hardware, software and/or services as examples) to address scouting needs on a regional level. An 

eligible organization may work individually or include proposed subawardees and/or contractors or 

other collaborators in a project proposal, effectively forming a team or consortium. 

2. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement. Cost Sharing is not required for awards under this 

program. 

3. Other

a. Pre-Applications. NIST is not accepting pre-applications or white papers under this funding 

opportunity.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package. The standard application package, consisting of the 

standard forms, i.e., SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, SF-LLL, and the CD-511, is available at 

www.grants.gov. For applicants without Internet access, the standard application package may be 

requested by contacting the NIST personnel listed below. 

Diane Henderson, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Manufacturing Extension 

Partnership, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 4800, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-4800 (Phone: 301-975-

5105, email: diane.henderson@nist.gov).

2. Content and Form of Application/Submission.

Complete applications must, at a minimum, include the following forms and documents:

a. Required Forms and Documents

(1) SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance. The SF-424 must be signed by an 

authorized representative of the applicant organization. The FFO number 2014-NISTMEP-B2BN-01 must be identified in item 12 of the SF-424. The list of certifications and 

assurances referenced in item 21 of the SF-424 is contained in the SF-424B.

(2) SF-424A, Budget Information - Non-Construction Programs (The budget should 

reflect anticipated expenses for up to two (2) years, considering all potential cost 

increases, including cost of living adjustments.)

(3) SF-424B, Assurances - Non-Construction Programs 

(4) CD-511, Certification Regarding Lobbying

(5) SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable)

(6) Technical Proposal. The Technical Proposal is a word-processed document not 

exceeding 20 pages that is responsive to the program description (see Section I of this 

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FFO) and the evaluation criteria (see Section V.1 of this FFO). The following is a sample 

format that applicants may use for the technical proposal.

a) Executive Summary. Briefly describe the proposed project, consistent with the 

evaluation criteria (see Section V.1 of this FFO). The Executive Summary should 

be limited to one (1) page.

b) Project Narrative. A description of the proposed project, sufficient to permit 

evaluation of the proposal, in accordance with the evaluation criteria (see Section 

V.1 of this FFO). The narrative should include a section addressing each of the 

following paragraphs:

i. Types of Opportunities. Describe the categories and types of

opportunities to be presented on the network (buying, technology, 

supplier, market) including but not limited to those related to the program 

priorities listed in Section I.2.a-d of this FFO in sufficient detail to permit 

evaluation in accordance with this FFO’s evaluation criteria (see Section 

V.1.a of this FFO). Describe the linkages between successful matches 

and job creation and training.

ii. Strength and Depth of the Network. Describe the applicant’s market 

analysis, geographic location proposed to be reached and management 

of content needed by the network in sufficient detail to permit evaluation 

in accordance with this FFO’s evaluation criteria (see Section V.1.b of 

this FFO). Describe how the applicant will engage with the companies 

and other resources to understand the opportunities and respond to 

them. 

iii. Technology Infrastructure Needed to Support the Network. Include 

plans and requirements for any needed technology platform or services 

needed to support the network and the provision of appropriate, timely, 

high quality information on opportunities and potential matches to the 

individuals accessing the network. Include plans for interoperability with 

other, similar networks in order to ensure scalability to a national level.

Provide sufficient detail to permit evaluation in accordance with this 

FFO’s evaluation criteria (see Section V.1.c of this FFO).

iv. Resources. Describe the technical personnel and programmatic 

resources, staff, facilities, equipment, and linkages to external sources of 

business opportunities and technologies needed to carry out the various 

matching tasks (business opportunity, technology, market and supplier).

“Linkages” means the partnerships or connections to third parties such 

as industry, universities, nonprofit economic organizations, and state 

governments to supplement/complement the applicant’s ability to actively 

identify and match business opportunities; supplier needs, capabilities 

and capacities; technology needs and opportunities and market needs 

and opportunities to reach a large number of manufacturers. Describe 

the approach to partnerships that will ensure project success, including 

roles of participating organizations and qualifications and proposed 

operational or management activities of key personnel who will be 

assigned to work on the proposed project. This may include, for 

example, research laboratories, innovation institutes, sources of capital, 

sources of shared physical infrastructure, and other commercializationfocused entities and resources. Provide sufficient detail to permit 

evaluation in accordance with the FFO’s evaluation criteria (see Section 

V.1.d of this FFO). Applicants are strongly encouraged to form teaming 

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arrangements involving multiple MEP Centers such that manufacturing 

supply chain needs can be addressed on a local or regional level, and 

also have a broad geographic reach to facilitate leveraging of resources 

and access to manufacturers on a national scale. Applicants are also 

strongly encouraged to adequately demonstrate the leveraging of 

resources and competencies tied to the industry sectors, supply chains, 

and technology areas that are relevant to the local regions where the 

applicant team resides. This may include organizations that are working 

with, or as part of, state or local technology-based economic 

development strategies such as innovation clusters. Applicants are 

encouraged to consider how the proposed model will be scaled as new 

resources emerge within the region that can be brought to bear on the 

program.

v. Business Model. Articulate one or more business models that will be 

tested and deployed to ensure the long-term scalable delivery beyond 

the period of performance to, and participation of, small- and mid-sized 

manufacturers. Discuss potential future financial and partnership 

strategies that the applicant will use to achieve outreach and financial 

viability in sufficient detail to permit evaluation in accordance with this 

FFO’s evaluation criteria (see Section V.1.e of this FFO).

c) Statement of Work. Discuss the specific tasks to be carried out, including a 

schedule of measurable events and milestones, in accordance with the evaluation 

criteria (see Section V.1.f of this FFO). Include a coordination task for meeting with 

and sharing information with other awardees.

d) Management and Financial Plan. Address details associated with organizational 

structure, finances and pilot project management including past performance as 

identified in the Evaluation Criteria found in Section V.1.g.(1), (2) and (4) of this 

FFO. Include sufficient budget detail to allow linkage to and assessment of the 

tasks to be carried out per the statement of work. Identify and describe 

measurable performance outcomes that demonstrate the validity, value and 

success of the network. Include a plan for the allocation of intellectual property 

rights associated with any invention or copyright which may result from the 

involvement in the pilot project’s technology transfer or research activities. 

e) Past Performance. Provide specific information that addresses whether the 

applicant’s and partners’ past performance with the MEP program is indicative of 

expected performance under a possible new award and describing how and why 

performance is expected to be the same or different.

(7) Budget Narrative. There is no set format for the Budget Narrative; however, it should 

provide a detailed breakdown of each of the object class categories as reflected on the 

SF-424A. It should include all expenses for up to two (2) years of operation of the pilot, 

and it should address the Evaluation Criterion found at Section V.1.g.(3).

(8) Indirect Cost Rate Agreement. If indirect costs are included in the proposed budget, 

provide a copy of the approved negotiated agreement if this rate was negotiated with a 

cognizant Federal audit agency. If the rate was not established by a cognizant Federal 

audit agency, provide a statement to this effect. The successful applicant will be required 

to obtain such a rate.

(9) Resumes. One-page resumes of no more than five key personnel may be included; these 

do not count toward the page limit; any information beyond one-page for each resume and 

any additional resumes submitted will not be considered.

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(10)Letters of Commitment or Interest. Letters are not included in the page count. 

(a) Letters of commitment to participate, as applicable. If the applicant’s proposal 

identifies third parties including contractors, subawardees, and/or other collaborators who 

will participate in the proposed project, effectively forming a team or consortium, then a 

letter from each currently known participant, describing its participation is needed. Each 

letter should indicate the organization’s willingness to participate and what they will be 

doing for the project. A letter is required whether or not the organization is receiving 

Federal funds. 

(b) Letters of Interest, optional. Letters of interest may be provided from parties who might 

become customers for the solutions discussed in the proposed project.

When submitting electronically via Grants.gov, items IV.2.a. (1) through IV.2.a.(5) above are part of the 

standard application package in Grants.gov and can be completed through the download application 

process. Items IV.2.a.(6) through IV.2.a.(10) must be completed and attached by clicking on “Add 

Attachments” found in item 15 of the SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance. This will create 

a zip file that allows for transmittal of the documents electronically via Grants.gov. Applicants 

should carefully follow specific Grants.gov instructions at www.grants.gov to ensure the attachments will 

be accepted by the Grants.gov system. A receipt from Grants.gov indicating an application is received 

does not provide information about whether attachments have been received.

b. Application Format

(1) E-mail submissions. Will not be accepted.

(2) Facsimile submissions (fax). Will not be accepted.

(3) Figures, graphs, images, and pictures. Should be of a size that is easily readable or 

viewable and may be landscape orientation.

(4) Font. Easy to read font (11-point minimum). Smaller type may be used in figures and tables 

but must be clearly legible.

(5) Line spacing. Single.

(6) Margins. One (1) inch top, bottom, left, and right.

(7) Paper copies. Will not be accepted. All submissions must be made via www.grants.gov. 

(8) Page layout. Portrait orientation only (except figures, graphs, and pictures (see Section 

IV.2.b.(4)).

(9) Page Limit. Twenty (20) pages.

Page limit includes: Table of contents (if included), Technical Proposal with all required 

sections, figures, graphs, tables, images, and pictures. 

Page limit excludes: SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance; SF-424A, Budget 

Information – Non-Construction Programs; SF-424B, Assurances – Non-Construction 

Programs; SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities; CD-511, Certification Regarding 

Lobbying; Budget Narrative; Indirect Cost Rate Agreement; Resumes; and Letters of 

Commitment or Interest.

(10) Page numbering. Number pages sequentially.

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(11) Paper size. 21.6 by 27.9 centimeters (8 1⁄2 by 11 inches).

(12) Application language. English.

(13) Typed document. All applications, including forms, must be typed.

3. Submission Dates and Times. Electronic applications must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. 

Eastern Time, Monday, August 4, 2014.

Applications not received by the specified due date and time will not be considered and will not be

reviewed. NIST will consider the date and time stamped on the validation generated by 

www.grants.gov as the official submission time.

NIST strongly recommends that applicants do not wait until the last minute to submit an application.

NIST will not make any allowances for late submissions, including but not limited to incomplete 

Grants.gov registration. To avoid any potential processing backlogs due to last minute Grants.gov 

registrations, applicants are highly encouraged to start their Grants.gov registration process at least 

four (4) weeks prior to the application due date.

When developing your submission timeline, keep in mind that (1) a free annual registration process in 

the electronic System for Award Management (SAM) (see Section VI.2.b. of this FFO) may take more 

than two weeks, and (2) applicants using Grants.gov will receive a series of receipts over a period of 

up to two business days before learning via a validation or rejection notification whether a Federal 

agency’s electronic system has received its application.

4. Intergovernmental Review. Applications under this Program are not subject to Executive Order 

12372.

5. Other Submission Requirements

a. Applications must be submitted electronically.

(1) Electronic applications must be submitted via Grants.gov at www.grants.gov, under 

announcement 2014-NIST-MEP-B2BN-01.

a) Submitters should carefully follow specific Grants.gov instructions to ensure the 

attachments will be accepted by the Grants.gov system. A receipt from Grants.gov 

indicating an application is received does not provide information about whether 

attachments have been received. For further information or questions regarding applying 

electronically for the 2014-NIST-MEP-B2BN-01 announcement, contact Christopher 

Hunton by phone at 301-975-5718 or by e-mail at christopher.hunton@nist.gov.

b) Applicants are strongly encouraged to start early and not wait until the approaching due 

date before logging on and reviewing the instructions for submitting an application

through Grants.gov. The Grants.gov registration process must be completed before a

new registrant can apply electronically. If all goes well, the registration process takes 

three (3) to five (5) business days. If problems are encountered, the registration process 

can take up to two (2) weeks or more. Applicants must have a Dun and Bradstreet Data 

Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number (see Section VI.2.b of this FFO) and must 

maintain a current registration in the Federal government’s primary registrant database, 

the System for Award Management (https://www.sam.gov/), as explained on the 

Grants.gov Web site. After registering, it may take several days or longer from the initial 

log-on before a new Grants.gov system user can submit an application. Only authorized 

individual(s) will be able to submit the application, and the system may need time to 

process a submitted application. Applicants should save and print the proof of submission 

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they receive from Grants.gov. If problems occur while using Grants.gov, the applicant is 

advised to (a) print any error message received and (b) call Grants.gov directly for 

immediate assistance. If calling from within the United States or from a U.S. territory, 

please call 800-518-4726. If calling from a place other than the United States or a 

U.S. territory, please call 606-545-5035. Assistance from the Grants.gov Help Desk will 

be available around the clock every day, with the exception of Federal holidays. Help 

Desk service will resume at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time the day after Federal holidays. For 

assistance using Grants.gov, you may also contact support@grants.gov.

c) To find instructions on submitting an application on Grants.gov, Applicants should refer to the 

“Applicants” tab in the banner just below the top of the www.grants.gov home page. Clicking 

on the “Applicants” tab produces the “Grant Applicants” page.

In addition to following the “Steps” and instructions described in the “Applicant Actions” 

section and its sub-categories, further detailed instructions are described in “Applicant 

Resources” and all of its subcategories. This appears in the box near the top left of the Grant 

Applicants page. Applicants should follow the links associated with each subcategory.

Applicants will receive a series of receipts during a process of up to two business days before 

the application is either validated as electronically received by the Federal agency system, or 

rejected by it. Closely following the detailed information in these subcategories will increase 

the likelihood of acceptance of the application by the Federal agency’s electronic system. 

Applicants should pay close attention to the instructions under “Applicant FAQs,” as it 

contains information important to successful submission on Grants.gov, including essential 

details on the naming conventions for attachments to Grants.gov applications.

All applicants should be aware that adequate time must be factored into applicants’ schedules for delivery 

of their application. Applicants are advised that volume on Grants.gov may be extremely heavy on the 

deadline date.

Refer to important information in Section IV.3. Submission Dates and Times, to help ensure your 

application is received on time. 

If timely application submissions are interrupted by the manifestation a natural disaster, such as a 

hurricane, blizzard, or similar extreme inclement weather event, or by the aftermath of such an event, 

such as power outages and/or Federal, public and/or private institution closures, NIST may: (1) consider 

an appeal for an individual situation involving such circumstances, or (2) extend the due date for all 

applicants. For an individual appeal, an applicant must request a deadline waiver and present in writing 

compelling circumstances, related only to such unavoidable causes involving forces of nature, which must 

be received by the NIST Programmatic and Technical Questions Point of Contact as listed in Section VII., 

within three business days of the deadline, by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. In addition, in the event of 

Federal government closure on the application deadline day, the deadline will be extended for all 

applicants to the next business day, under the same conditions described in the FFO. In the event of 

Federal government closure(s) during the week before the application deadline, NIST will post a 

statement at the top of the FFO on www.grants.gov and at www.nist.gov/mep/ as soon as practicable 

indicating whether the deadline is extended for all applicants, under the same conditions described in the 

FFO. The FFO may be amended to extend the deadline under these and other circumstances. For 

information on signing up for any amendments to the FFO that may arise, refer to Section IV.5.b. of this 

FFO. 

b. Amendments. Any amendments to this FFO will be announced through Grants.gov. Applicants may 

sign up on Grants.gov to receive amendments by email or may request copies from Diane Henderson

by telephone at (301) 975-5105 or by email to diane.henderson@nist.gov.

V. Application/Review Information

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1. Evaluation Criteria. The applications will be evaluated based on the evaluation criteria described 

below, which are set in the context of the applicant’s ability to align the application for accomplishing 

the objectives outlined by this FFO: provide active business opportunity, supplier, technology and 

market scouting and matching services to small- and mid-size manufacturers.

The criteria that will be used in evaluating applications and the number of points assigned to each 

criterion are as follows:

a. Types of Opportunities (20 points). The extent to which the proposal identifies and describes 

the variety of opportunities (buying, technology, supplier and/or market) and their viability, 

consistent with the program priorities listed in Section I.2.a-d. The extent to which the proposal 

demonstrates practical linkages between the opportunities described and job creation and 

training. Additional opportunities beyond the energy efficiency, environmental and regional 

industries will be evaluated in terms of their potential economic contribution to the applicant’s 

stated geography.

b. Strength and Depth of Network (20 points total). The extent to which the proposal identifies 

and describes the team’s ability to identify and describe for others the various needs (business 

opportunity, supplier, technology, market) and make matches between those needs and 

companies that can meet those needs. Collectively, the knowledge, skills and abilities should 

include knowledge of manufacturing businesses and how they operate; marketing, market 

intelligence and analysis, including how to evaluate new market opportunities; application of new 

technologies to new or existing products, processes and services; and supply chain analysis and 

development. The evaluation of the strength and depth of the network will specifically include:

(1) Market Analysis (7 points). The applicant’s knowledge of the service region’s 

manufacturing base and resources available to provide solutions to needs as described in the 

proposal will be evaluated taking into consideration the region’s business sizes, industry 

types, existing and emerging supply chains, product mix, technology requirements and 

technology resources.

(2) Geographical Location (3 points). The extent to which a target service region is clearly 

defined will be evaluated. The breadth and comprehensiveness to which manufacturing and 

resource providers across the region are proposed to be reached will be evaluated.

(3) Active Content Management (10 points). The methods and extent to which the data upon 

which matching opportunities and companies are identified and such information managed 

and made available to the individuals responsible for opportunity identification and matching, 

including entry, deletion, extraction and modification on a regular basis to ensure timeliness, 

validity and quality of the data.

c. Technology Infrastructure Needed to Support Network Activities (20 points). The 

combination of hardware, software and databases, whether internal to the proposer’s team or 

purchased as a service, to support the creation, modification, deletion and extraction of the 

various opportunities and matches. The ability of the infrastructure to support creation and 

maintenance of the various outputs and outcomes of the matching process(es).

d. Resources (20 points). The strength in technical personnel and programmatic resources, staff, 

facilities, equipment, and linkages to external sources of business opportunities and technologies

will be assessed in the context of services needed by the manufacturers targeted for service.

The degree to which the applicant identifies qualified individuals with the knowledge, skills and 

abilities needed to describe needs and make appropriate matches will be assessed. The degree 

to which the applicant identifies and links with qualified partners to identify opportunities or 

11
provide solutions also will be considered. The proposed contractual relationships and monitoring 

plans for relevant partnerships will be evaluated in terms of linkages as described below:

Linkages. The applicant’s description of the types of third party organizations which are 

participating with the applicant in the network, and the arrangements by which they do so. 

Third parties include but are not limited to industry, universities, non-profit economic 

development organizations and state governments. The strength of these linkages will be 

assessed with respect to the region’s needs, its existing industry capabilities and efforts, and 

the potential for substantive impacts within the region, as described in b.(2) above.

e. Business Model(s) (20 points). The quality of one or more business models, described in the 

proposal, to achieve long-term scalable service delivery to, and participation of, small- and midsized manufacturers will be evaluated and include a time frame beyond the period of 

performance. The appropriateness and viability of the identified business models will be 

assessed in the context of the proposed project’s plan to address potential future partnership 

strategies that promote scale up to a national level.

f. Statement of Work (20 points). The quality, completeness and appropriateness of the 

proposed tasks needed to create, populate, use and maintain the pilot network will be assessed.

g. Management and Financial Plan (20 points total). The quality of the management structure 

described in the proposal will be evaluated. The degree to which the proposed project assures

management personnel can carry out development and operation of an effective pilot project will 

be evaluated. The appropriateness of the identified management structure and personnel, in 

relation to the proposed project, will be evaluated. In addition, the proposal will be assessed in 

the following five areas:

(1) Organizational Structure (3 points). The completeness and appropriateness of the 

organizational structure across all project participants will be assessed. The extent to which 

the organizational structure focuses on and promotes the execution of the mission of the 

proposed pilot project will be evaluated.

(2) Pilot Project Management (7 points). The effectiveness of the planned methodology of 

proposed pilot project management will be evaluated, taking into consideration the quality 

and appropriateness of the identification of committed local partners and demonstrated 

experience of the leadership team in manufacturing, outreach and partnership development.

The appropriateness of the plan to ensure both the successful conduct of the pilot project’s 

business opportunity, supplier, technology and market scouting and matching activities, as 

well as documentation of project learning for use as a baseline for potential future NIST 

investment in a national B2B Network, will be evaluated.

(3) Budget (5 points). The relevancy and cost effectiveness of the applicant’s detailed two (2) 

year budget for meeting the program objectives and program priorities of this FFO (see

Section I. of this FFO) will be evaluated.

(4) Outcomes (5 points). Steps proposed to be undertaken to assess network impact will be 

evaluated. The comprehensiveness and appropriateness of measures identified to provide 

data on efficacy of the network activities will be evaluated along with direct and indirect 

indicators that demonstrate depth and breadth of impacts of network outcomes.

Each of these criteria (a. through g.) will be given equal weight (20 points) in the evaluation process

with a total score of up to 140 being possible. Subcriteria weights are listed for each subcriterion 

above.

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2. Selection Factors. The Selecting Official shall select applications for award based upon the rank 

order of the applications. The Selecting Official may select an application out of rank based on one or 

more of the following additional selection factors: 

a. The availability of Federal funds.

b. Whether the project duplicates other projects funded by the Department of 

Commerce (DoC) or by other Federal agencies.

c. Diversity of geographic distribution of awardees.

d. Diversity of business models proposed by applicants.

e. Diversity of industry sectors and/or supply chains proposed to be addressed by

applicants.

f. Program priorities and policy factors as given in section I.

3. Review and Selection Process.

a. Initial Administrative Review of Applications. An initial review of timely received applications will 

be conducted to determine eligibility, completeness, and responsiveness to this FFO and the scope of 

the stated program objectives. Applications determined to be ineligible, incomplete, and/or nonresponsive may be eliminated from further review. However, NIST, in its sole discretion, may continue 

the review process for an application that is missing non-substantive information which may easily be 

rectified or cured.

b. Full Review of Eligible, Complete, and Responsive Proposals. Proposals that are determined to 

be eligible, complete, and responsive will proceed for full reviews in accordance with the review and 

selection processes below: 

1) Evaluation/Review and Ranking. All eligible, complete and responsive applications will be 

peer reviewed by at least three (3) independent, objective individuals with appropriate 

professional and technical expertise relating to the topics covered in this FFO. Reviews will 

be limited to technical and cost matters, based on the evaluation criteria (see Section V.1 of 

this FFO). A mix of Federal and non-Federal reviewers may be used. The reviewers’ scores 

will be determined on an individual basis, not as a consensus. The reviewers may ask 

questions of some or all applicants in writing. Reviewers will assign each application a score, 

based on the application’s responsiveness to the FFO evaluation criteria, with a maximum 

score of 140. 

A rank order will be prepared based on the average of the reviewers’ scores and assigned 

adjectival ratings in accordance with the following scale: 

Fundable, Outstanding (109-140);

Fundable, Very Good (95-108);

Fundable (81-94); or 

Unfundable (0-80).

The Competition Manager will review the peer reviewers’ comments and the ranking of the 

proposals, and make funding recommendations to the Selecting Official. The Competition 

Manager may recommend to the Selecting Official that awards be made out of rank order 

based upon one or more of the selection factors described in section V.2 of this FFO.

2) Selection. The Selecting Official, who is the Acting Director of the NIST MEP Program, will 

make funding recommendations to the NIST Grants Officer based upon the adjectival ratings 

and the selection factors in Section V.2. of this FFO. Recommendations for awards will be 

made by the Selecting Official in rank order unless a proposal is justified to be selected out of 

rank based upon one or more of the selection factors described in Section V.2. of this FFO. If 

the Selecting Official makes a funding recommendation out of rank order, a justification 

13
memorandum will be provided by the Selecting Official to the NIST Grants Officer stating 

which selection factors are used and how they apply to the identified application(s).

NIST reserves the right to negotiate the budget costs with any applicant selected to receive an award, 

which may include requesting that the applicant remove certain costs. Additionally, NIST may request 

that the successful applicant(s) modify objectives or work plans and provide supplemental information 

required by the agency prior to award. NIST also reserves the right to reject an application where 

information is uncovered that raises a reasonable doubt as to the responsibility of the applicant, its 

subcontractors or subrecipients. NIST may select some, all, or none of the applications, or part(s) of 

any particular application. The final approval of selected applications and issuance of awards will be 

by the NIST Grants Officer. The award decisions of the NIST Grants Officer are final.

4. Anticipated Announcement and Award Date. Review, selection, and award processing is expected 

to be completed in November 2014. The earliest anticipated start date for awards made under this 

FFO is expected to be December 2014. 

5. Additional Information

a. Application Replacement Pages. Applicants may not submit replacement pages and/or missing 

documents once an application has been submitted. Any revisions must be made by submission of a 

new application that must be received by NIST by the submission deadline. 

b. Notification to Unsuccessful Applicants. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing.

c. Retention of Unsuccessful Applications. An electronic copy of each non-selected application will 

be retained for three (3) years for record keeping purposes. After three (3) years, it will be destroyed..

.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices. Successful applicants will receive an award from the NIST Grants Officer. The 

award cover page, i.e., CD-450, Financial Assistance Award is available at 

http://ocio.os.doc.gov/s/groups/public/@doc/@os/@ocio/@oitpp/documents/content/dev01_002513.p

df and the DoC Financial Assistance Standard Terms and Conditions (January 2013) are available at 

http://www.osec.doc.gov/oam/grants_management/policy/documents/DOC_Standard_Terms_and_C

onditions_01_10_2013.pdf.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements.

a. DoC Pre-Award Notification Requirements. The DoC Pre-Award Notification Requirements for 

Grants and Cooperative Agreements, which are contained in the Federal Register notice of 

December 17, 2012 (77 FR 74634), are applicable to this FFO and are available at

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/12/17/2012-30228/department-of-commerce-pre-awardnotification-requirements-for-grants-and-cooperative-agreements. 

b. Employer/Taxpayer Identification Number (EIN/TIN), Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 

Numbering System (DUNS), and System for Award Management (SAM). All applicants for 

Federal financial assistance are required to obtain a universal identifier in the form of DUNS number 

and maintain a current registration in the Federal government’s primary registrant database, SAM. On 

the form SF-424 items 8.b. and 8.c., the applicant’s 9-digit EIN/TIN and 9-digit DUNS number must 

be consistent with the information in SAM (https://www.sam.gov/) and Automated Standard 

Application for Payment System (ASAP). For complex organizations with multiple EIN/TIN and DUNS 

numbers, the EIN/TIN and DUNS numbers MUST be the numbers for the applying organization.

Organizations that provide incorrect/inconsistent EIN/TIN and DUNS numbers may experience 

significant delays in receiving funds if their application is selected for funding. Applicants should 

14
confirm that the EIN/TIN and DUNS number are consistent with the information on the SAM and 

ASAP. Please note that a federal assistance award cannot be issued if the designated 

recipient’s registration in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) is not current at the 

time of the award.

Per 2 C.F.R. Part 25, each applicant must:

(1) Be registered in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) before submitting an application

noting the CCR now resides in SAM;

(2) Maintain an active CCR registration, noting that the CCR now resides in SAM, with 

current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an

application under consideration by an agency; and

(3) Provide its DUNS number in each application or application it submits to the agency.

The applicant can obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet. A DUNS number can be created 

within one business day. The CCR or SAM registration process may take five or more business days 

to complete. If you are currently registered with the CCR, you may not need to make any changes.

However, please make certain that the EIN/TIN associated with your DUNS number is correct. Also 

note that you will need to update your CCR registration annually. This may take three or more 

business days to complete. Information about SAM is available at SAM.gov. See also 2 C.F.R. Part 

25 and the Federal Register notice published on September 14, 2010, at 75 FR 55671.

Please note that a federal assistance award cannot be issued if the designated recipient’s registration 

in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) is not current at the time of the award.

c. 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 application prior to the merit review.

d. 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 in 

35 U.S.C. §§ 200-212, 37 C.F.R. Part 401, 15 C.F.R. § 14.36, and in Section B.21 of the DoC PreAward Notification Requirements, 77 FR 74634 (December 17, 2012). Questions about these 

requirements may be directed to the Chief Counsel for NIST, (301) 975-2803. 

Any use of NIST-owned intellectual property by an applicant 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 FFO, 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.

15
e. Funding Availability and Limitation of Liability. Funding for the program listed in this FFO is 

contingent upon the availability of appropriations. In no event will NIST or DoC be responsible for 

application preparation costs if the program fails to receive funding or is cancelled because of agency 

priorities. Publication of this FFO does not oblige NIST or DoC to award any specific project or to 

obligate any available funds. 

f. Certifications Regarding Federal Felony and Federal Criminal Tax Convictions, Unpaid Federal 

Tax Assessments and Delinquent Federal Tax Returns. In accordance with Federal 

appropriations law, an authorized representative of the selected applicant(s) may be required to 

provide certain pre-award certifications regarding federal felony and federal criminal tax convictions, 

unpaid federal tax assessments, and delinquent federal tax returns. 

g. OMB Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements. Please 

note that on December 26, 2013, OMB published final guidance titled “Uniform Administrative 

Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements” (OMB Uniform Guidance) 

(https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2013/12/26/2013-30465/uniform-administrativerequirements-cost-principles-and-audit-requirements-for-federal-awards), which streamlines the 

language from eight existing OMB circulars, including Cost Principles (OMB Circulars A-21, A-87, A‐

122) and administrative requirements (OMB Circulars A-102 and A‐110), into one consolidated set of 

guidance applicable to federal assistance awards. Once adopted by the Department of Commerce 

through the promulgation of updated financial assistance regulations, the OMB Uniform Guidance will 

supersede DOC’s uniform administrative requirements for financial assistance awards, currently set 

forth in 15 C.F.R. parts 14 and 24. The DOC expects to adopt the OMB Uniform Guidance by 

December 26, 2014, meaning that the OMB Uniform Guidance will apply to all new awards and to 

additional funding to existing awards made after December 26, 2014. In addition, the audit 

requirements of the OMB Uniform Guidance will apply to audits of non‐Federal entities beginning on 

or after December 26, 2014. Therefore, applicants should familiarize themselves with the OMB 

Uniform Guidance. Additional information on the substance of and transition to the OMB Uniform 

Guidance may be found at https://cfo.gov/cofar/.

3. Reporting 

a. Reporting Requirements. In lieu of the reporting requirements described in sections A.01 Financial 

Reports and B.01 Performance (Technical) Reports of the DoC Financial Assistance Standard Terms 

and Conditions dated January 2013 

(http://www.osec.doc.gov/oam/grants_management/policy/documents/DOC_Standard_Terms_and_C

onditions_01_10_2013.pdf) the following reporting requirements shall apply:

(1) Financial Reports. Each award recipient will be required to submit an SF-425, Federal Financial 

Report into the MEP's Enterprise Information System (MEIS) on a quarterly basis for the periods 

ending March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 of each year. Reports will be due 

within 30 days after the end of the reporting period.

(2) Performance (Technical) Reports. Each award recipient will be required to submit a technical 

progress report into the MEP's Enterprise Information System (MEIS) on a quarterly basis for the 

periods ending March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 of each year. Reports will 

be due within 30 days after the end of the reporting period. A final technical progress report shall 

be submitted within 90 days after the expiration date of the award. Technical progress reports 

shall contain information as prescribed in the NIST MEP Reporting Guidelines (OMB Control 

Number 0693-0032). The NIST MEP Reporting Guidelines may be requested by contacting the 

NIST personnel listed below:

Diane Henderson, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Manufacturing Extension

Partnership, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 4800, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-4800 (Phone: 301-975-

5105, email: diane.henderson@nist.gov).

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b. Audit Requirements. Single or program-specific audits shall be performed in accordance with the 

requirements contained in OMB Circular A-133, “Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit 

Organizations,” and the related Compliance Supplement. OMB Circular A-133 requires any nonFederal entity (i.e., including non-profit institutions of higher education and other non-profit 

organizations) that expends Federal awards of $500,000 or more in the recipient’s fiscal year to 

conduct a single or program-specific audit in accordance with the requirements set out in the Circular.

Applicants are reminded that NIST, the DoC Office of Inspector General, or another authorized 

Federal agency may conduct an audit of an award at any time. Additionally, applicants should take 

note of the new financial assistance audit requirements set forth in the recently published OMB 

Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements, which is cited and 

discussed above in Section VI.2.g. of this FFO.

c. Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006. In accordance with 2 C.F.R. Part 

170, all recipients of a Federal award made on or after October 1, 2010, are required to comply with 

reporting requirements under the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Pub. 

L. No. 109-282). In general, all recipients are responsible for reporting sub-awards of $25,000 or 

more. In addition, recipients that meet certain criteria are responsible for reporting executive 

compensation. Applicants must ensure they have the necessary processes and systems in place to 

comply with the reporting requirements should they receive funding. Also see the Federal Register 

notice published September 14, 2010, at 75 FR 55663.

d. Third Party Evaluation. NIST intends to retain a third party to interface with NIST and award

recipients for ongoing evaluation and best practice identification during the performance of B2B

Network pilot program awards. Award recipients will be required to participate in this third party 

evaluation. More detail will be provided as part of the award documentation and at kickoff activities.

4. Post Client Project Follow-Up. The recipient will be required to provide client and project data in 

the specified format to the organization identified by NIST/MEP in order for post-project follow-up data 

to be obtained (OMB Control Number 0693-0021).

VII. Agency Contact(s)

Questions should be directed to the following contact persons:

Subject Area Point of Contact

Administrative, budget, cost-sharing, eligibility 

questions and other programmatic questions.

Diane Henderson

Manufacturing Extension Partnership

NIST

Phone: 301-975-5105

Fax: 301-963-6556

E-mail: diane.henderson@nist.gov

Grants.gov - application submission Christopher Hunton

Administrative Support & Document Control Office

NIST

Phone: 301-975-5718

Fax: 301-840-5976

E-mail: christopher.hunton@nist.gov

Grant rules and regulations Jannet Cancino

Grants Management Division

NIST

Phone: 301-975-6544

E-mail: jannet.cancino@nist.gov

Fax: 301-975-6319

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VIII. Other Information

Webinar Information Session. NIST MEP will hold an information session for organizations that are 

considering applying to this opportunity. This webinar will provide general information regarding the B2B

Network pilots program and offer general guidance on preparing proposals. NIST/MEP staff will be 

available on the webinar to answer general questions. During the webinar, proprietary technical 

discussions about specific project ideas will not be permitted. Also, NIST/MEP staff will not critique or 

provide feedback on any project ideas during the webinar or at any time before submission of a proposal 

to B2B Network pilots program. However, NIST/MEP staff will provide information about the B2B Network

pilots program eligibility, evaluation criteria and selection factors, selection process, and the general 

characteristics of a competitive B2B Network pilots program proposal during this webinar, and by phone 

and email. The webinar will be held approximately 14 business days after posting of this FFO. The exact 

date and time of the webinar will be posted on the MEP website at www.nist.gov/mep. The webinar will 

be recorded and a link to the recording will be posted on the MEP website. In addition, the webinar 

presentation will be available after the webinar on the MEP website. Organizations wishing to participate 

in the webinar must sign up by contacting Diane Henderson at diane.henderson@nist.gov.

18