MAKING AN IMPACT ON U.S. MANUFACTURING

NIST MEP Advisory Board

May 19, 2015
MEP Overview

Agenda

Time Topic Lead

8:30am Meeting Logistics Kari Reidy, NIST MEP

8:35am Welcome Introductions and Opening Remarks Vickie Wessel, Chair

8:45am Audience Introductions

8:55am MEP Director Update on Activities Phil Singerman, NIST

Carroll Thomas, NIST MEP

9:45am Technology Acceleration Subcommittee Update Jeff Wilcox, Committee Chair

Mark Troppe, NIST MEP Lead

10:45am Break

11:00am Board Governance Subcommittee Update Vickie Wessel, Committee Chair

Mike Simpson, NIST MEP Lead

12:00pm Lunch

1:00pm Board Discussion on Subcommittee Recommendations

1:45pm Workforce Activities Mary Ann Pacelli, NIST MEP

3:00pm Break

3:15pm Competition Update Bill Kinser, NIST MEP

3:45pm Board Discussion

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MEP Overview

NIST MEP Update

Phillip Singerman, NIST

Carroll Thomas, NIST MEP

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MEP Overview

Agenda

• Budget

• Strategic Planning

• MEP: The Next Chapter

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MEP Overview

NIST MEP Budget

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MEP Overview

NIST MEP Appropriations History 

FY 2010 $124.7

FY 2011 $128.4

FY 2012 $128.4

FY 2013 $120.0

FY 2014 $128.0

FY 2015 $130.0

FY 2016 (President’s request) $141.0

House Appropriations Committee Mark $130.0

Senate Appropriations Committee Mark TBD

6

($ million)

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MEP Overview

NIST MEP FY 2015 Spend Plan

7

($ million)

Existing MEP Center Renewals $92.0A

MEP Center Competitions – Rounds I, II 14.6

MEP Center Strategic Competitions 2.5

(Business to Business (B2B) Network Awards) 

Centralized MEP System Support 6.2

(Programmatic and Non-programmatic Contracts/Cooperative Agreements)

NIST MEP (Staff Labor, Benefits, Supplies, Travel, etc.) 10.6B

NIST Overhead 5.6

Total Expenditures $131.5

A. 12 months of funding for existing center cooperative agreements

B. Assumes full NIST MEP Staffing

One Time Funding:

Supplemental Funding to Centers (est.) $ 7.0

6 Month Bridge Funding for Incumbent Round II Centers (7/1 – 12/31) $ 13.5

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MEP Overview

FY14 Distribution of MEP Funding Among States

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$90M

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MEP Overview

FY15 Distribution of MEP Funding Among States

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$110M

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MEP Overview

FY “Future” Distribution of MEP Funding Among States

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$135M

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MEP Overview 11

$90M

$110M

$135M

Reducing the Variation of MEP Funding Among States: 

FY14 – FY “Future”

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MEP Overview

MEP System

Strategic Plan

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MEP Overview

MISSION

To enhance the productivity and 

technological performance of U.S. 

manufacturing.

ROLE

MEP’s state and regional centers 

facilitate and accelerate the transfer of 

manufacturing technology in 

partnership with industry, universities 

and educational institutions, state 

governments, and NIST and other 

federal research laboratories and 

agencies.

Manufacturing Extension Partnership 

(MEP) System Strategic Plan 2014-2017

PROGRAMMATIC STRENGTHS

Market driven program that responds to 

the needs of private sector 

manufacturers.

National Program with at least one 

center in every state.

Federal/State, public-private partnership 

with local flexibility.

Cost share policy that matches federal 

investments with state and private 

sector investments.

Local knowledge of, focus on, and 

access to manufacturers.

Leverage partnering expertise as 

strategic advantage.

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MEP Overview www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 14

MEP Strategic Plan (2014-2017)

Strategic Goals

ENHANCE COMPETITIVENESS

Enhance the competitiveness of U.S. 

manufacturers, with particular focus 

on small and medium-sized 

companies.

CHAMPION MANUFACTURING

Serve as a voice to and a voice for 

manufacturing and manufacturers 

in engaging policy makers, 

stakeholders, and clients.

SUPPORT PARTNERSHIPS

Support national, state, and regional 

manufacturing eco-systems and 

partnerships.

DEVELOP CAPABILITIES

Develop MEP’s capabilities as a 

learning organization and high 

performance system.
MEP Overview

STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE

Strategic Goal: Enhance the Economic Competitiveness of U.S. Manufacturers

(Enhance Competitiveness)

Strategic Objective: Deliver services that create value for all manufacturers, particularly focusing on small and midsized manufacturers (“SME’s”)

Increased focus on SME’s is a major goal of the recompetition; permanently adjusting the cost share to 1:1 will 

provide Centers with flexibility to work with SME’s

Strategic Objective: Enable centers to make new manufacturing technology, techniques and practices usable by 

U.S. based SME’s

MEP Advisory Board Committee on Technology Acceleration has developed a detailed action plan for review by the 

Board in May 2015

Strategic Objective: Develop “Data as a Service” for Competitive Advantage

Extensive development and piloting of industry profiles, center “cohort” benchmarking (e.g., by organization type, 

size, region), mapping of industries and clients

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MEP Overview

STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE

Strategic Goal: Serve as a Voice to and a Voice for Manufacturing (Champion 

Manufacturing)

Strategic Objective: Champion the importance of SME’s and ensure their inclusion in the economic competitiveness 

policies and programs of the U.S. government.

Active participation in White House led initiatives in supply chain, NNMI, workforce

Strategic Objective: Increase the role of national and center boards

MEP Advisory Board Committee on Board Governance and Distinctive Practices has developed a detailed action plan for 

review by the Board in May 2015

MEP Advisory Board Committee on Technology Acceleration has developed a detailed action plan for review by the 

Board in May 2015

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MEP Overview

STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE

Strategic Goal: Support National, State and Regional Manufacturing Eco-Systems and Partnerships 

(Support Partnerships)

Strategic Objective: Provide centers with local flexibility and adaptability to operate based on regional priorities 

and client needs.

Recompetition provides centers with the opportunity to align their strategies with their regional partners; permanently adjusting 

the cost share to 1:1 will provide Centers with flexibility to more actively participate in regional initiatives 

Strategic Objective: Support national policy goals

Leveraging on-going work at the center level in workforce, supply chain, technology transfer; identifying national opportunities

in defense adjustment, “maker movement”

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MEP Overview

STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE

Strategic Goal: Develop MEP’s capabilities as a learning organization and high performance system (Develop 

Capabilities)

Strategic Objective: Promote system learning 

Restructure system meetings to encourage/facilitate center-to-center interaction

Reinstate national conference in 2016/2017

Strategic Objective: Evolve MEP performance system

Continued emphasis on reporting on system-wide impacts

Recompetition provides opportunity to adjust measures of regional value creation and allow “center-specific” metrics

Strategic Objective: Continue administrative reform

Center reporting burden has been reduced for current centers and recompeted centers

Increased attention to financial reporting and compliance

Improved timeliness of grant processing procedures

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MEP Overview

MEP: The Next Chapter...

• My Perspective

• What I’ve learned at SBA that overlaps

• Revisiting the model for NIST MEP

• Basic Overall Vision

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MAKING AN IMPACT ON U.S. MANUFACTURING

Advisory Board Committee

on Technology Acceleration (ABCTA) 

Report to the MEP Advisory Board

May 19, 2015

MEP Advisory Board Meeting

Phoenix, AZ
MEP Overview

Agenda

• Recap of ABCTA Activity

• MEP ABCTA Background Report 

• Technology Acceleration Implementation Plan

• Next Steps—Subject to full Board approval, 

implement!

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MEP Overview 23

Purpose:

To provide Board guidance to shape MEP’s Technology Acceleration strategy and 

activities, which contribute to the MEP mission of enhancing the productivity and 

technological performance of U.S. manufacturing. 

About Technology Acceleration:

• MEP defines Technology Acceleration as integrating technology into the products, processes, services 

and business models of manufacturers to solve manufacturing problems or pursue opportunities and 

facilitate competitiveness and enhance manufacturing growth. Technology Acceleration spans the 

innovation continuum and can include aspects of technology transfer, technology transition, technology 

diffusion, technology deployment and manufacturing implementation.

Advisory Board Committee on Technology Acceleration Charter

Contacts: 

• Mark Troppe NIST MEP

• Ben Vickery NIST MEP

• Clara Asmail NIST MEP

Objectives: The Advisory Board Committee on Technology Acceleration (ABCTA) will:

• Represent manufacturers’ — and especially SMMs’ (small- and medium-sized manufacturers’) —

viewpoints regarding current MEP services and emerging opportunities.

• Assist with setting priorities among competing demands and focus on highest-impact Technology 

Acceleration activities.

• Seek alignment between MEP Technology Acceleration activities and existing structures of MEP Centers.

Schedule: 

• Launch Committee and schedule meetings (NIST MEP) Nov/Dec 2014

• Collect data on current TA activities (NIST MEP) Nov 2014-March 2015

• Present to Board draft work plan for analysis and research (Committee) Jan 21, 2015

• Inform/validate findings and recommendations with Center leaders (NIST MEP) Nov 2014-May 2015

• Deliver MEP Technology Acceleration Implementation Plan to Board (Committee) May 19, 2015

Opportunities for Center Input:

• Inventory of Center Activities Nov-Dec, 

Jan-Feb 2015.

• Nashville Quarterly Update meeting Nov.

• Inform/validate findings and 

recommendations Jan-May 2015.

• Convene Center Leadership Team (CLT) 

on TA March 2015.

Critical Issues:

• Collect and analyze data from inventory 

and Nashville System Update Meeting in 

time to incorporate into draft work plan.

• Respond to stakeholder interest in 

expanded MEP role with realistic goals.

CLT Members:

• Christian Cowan 

• Dan Curtis

• Karen Fite

• Steve Hatten

• Phil Mintz

• Petra Mitchell

• Jim Watson

Committee Members:

• Jeff Wilcox, Chair

• Carolyn Cason

• Roy Church

• Bernadine Hawes

• Bill Shorma

• Ed Wolbert

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MEP Overview

Technology Acceleration Definition

“...integrating technology into the products, processes, 

services and business models of manufacturers to solve 

manufacturing problems or pursue opportunities and facilitate 

competitiveness and enhance manufacturing growth.

Technology Acceleration spans the innovation continuum and 

can include aspects of technology transfer, technology 

transition, technology diffusion, technology deployment and 

manufacturing implementation.”

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MEP Overview

ABCTA Work Plan

Presented to and approved by the MEP Advisory Board at the January 21 Meeting in 

Gaithersburg, MD and includes:

• Setting the Foundation

Ø Reached consensus on charter, definition of Technology Acceleration

Ø Provide materials needed for further inquiry 

Ø Determine plan(s) for engaging Center

• Data Collection and Analysis 

Ø Develop baseline understanding of current activity level for TA projects. 

Ø Use multiple methods to understand the nature and extent of technology acceleration activities and 

services in the MEP System.

Ø Organize and analyze data collected.

Ø Explore services needed and valued by manufacturers in the near-, medium- and long-terms.

• Evaluation of Future Actions/Investments 

Ø Using the knowledge gained in the first two task areas above NIST MEP and ABCTA developed an initial 

Technology Acceleration Implementation Plan, including draft recommendations. 

• Develop MEP Implementation Plan for Tech Acceleration

Ø Articulates the strategy to guide development and deployment of technology acceleration services in the 

MEP system. 

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MEP Overview

Center Leadership Team (CLT) on Technology 

Acceleration

• An informal group of seven Center Directors representing a diverse 

set of perspectives to inform our efforts.

• Team Members Include:

Ø Christian Cowan – Polaris MEP (RI)

Ø Dan Curtis – Arkansas Manufacturing Solutions

Ø Karen Fite – Georgia MEP

Ø Steve Hatten – Idaho TechHelp

Ø Phil Mintz – North Carolina MEP

Ø Petra Mitchell – Catalyst Connection (PA)

Ø Jim Watson – CMTC (CA)

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MEP Overview

ABCTA – NIST MEP – Centers Collaboration

• Seven monthly calls/webinars with full ABCTA, additional check-ins with Jeff Wilcox 

& Mimi Hsu

• Two group calls/webinars with Center Leadership Team (CLT), plus one-on-one 

conversations with each of seven Team members

• ABCTA planned types of data to be collected — for example:

Ø ABCTA asked for barriers to SME adoption of technologies and ROI logic 

model

Ø CLT asked for best practices among Centers and clarification of purpose for 

mapping technology sources and ROI logic model

• NIST MEP collected and reported data to ABCTA

• NIST MEP collected input from and reported data to CLT

• Group analyzed data in context of desired outcomes for TA

• ABCTA developed recommendations for Implementation Plan w/CLT input.

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MEP Overview

Agenda

• Recap of ABCTA Activity

• MEP ABCTA Background Report 

• Technology Acceleration Implementation Plan

• Next Steps—Subject to full Board approval, 

implement!

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MEP Overview

ABCTA Background Report

• Prepared in response to ABCTA charge to provide Board guidance to shape 

MEP's Technology Acceleration strategy and activities.

• Compilation of information requested to provide necessary background for 

the construction of a Technology Acceleration Implementation Plan, with 

recommendations from the MEP Advisory Board on how NIST MEP can 

accelerate the rate of technology adoption services throughout the MEP 

network and by MEP clients.

• Identified sources of relevant information, collected and analyzed data from 

a variety of sources, including: MEP Centers, MEP clients, published 

research, existing databases, and others.

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MEP Overview

Agenda

• Recap of ABCTA Activity

• MEP ABCTA Background Report 

• Technology Acceleration Implementation Plan

• Next Steps—Subject to full Board approval, 

implement!

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MEP Overview

Technology Acceleration Implementation Plan

Structure of Implementation Plan:

• Background — Provides context and history of ABCTA, 

including Committee’s charge

• Work Plan — a slightly abbreviated & updated edition of 

the Draft Work Plan presented to and approved by the 

MEP Advisory Board at the January 21 Board Meeting 

• Key Findings from executing the Work Plan — summary 

of data collected and analyzed

• Recommendations — focus of our discussion today

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MEP Overview

ABCTA Recommendations to full MEP Advisory 

Board

Structure of Recommendations:

I. Setting Priorities

II. Barriers and Incentives

III. Scale-Up and Sustainability

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MEP Overview

ABCTA Recommendations

I. Setting Priorities

1. NIST MEP should adopt a rubric of agreed-upon criteria for evaluating future 

Technology Acceleration opportunities, setting priorities, and investing and 

allocating resources. 

2. MEP should give priority to developing and implementing Technology 

Acceleration opportunities with NIST labs and National Network for 

Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) Institutes over the next year, while also 

pursuing the emerging collaboration with DOE labs.

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MEP Overview

ABCTA Recommendations

II. Barriers and Incentives: Reduce Risk

1. The MEP system should work diligently to enable permanent change in the 

cost share requirement to 1:1 to reduce Centers’ risk of experimenting with 

Technology Acceleration services.

2. NIST MEP should provide more competitive funding and, when available, 

supplemental funding, to Centers willing to experiment with Technology 

Acceleration strategies, tool development, and partner development.

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MEP Overview

Recommendations for ABCTA

II. Barriers and Incentives: Professional Development / System 

Learning

1. Develop an 18-month systematic plan for system learning across the MEP 

system that would include education on new technologies, their implications, 

and Technology Acceleration strategies employed by Centers.

2. Launch a Technology Acceleration Working Group to encourage peer-to-peer 

learning and build relationships that strengthen the network. 

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MEP Overview

Recommendations for ABCTA

II. Barriers and Incentives: Performance Measures

1. Review MEP Center performance measures to explore quantitative and 

qualitative options for capturing impacts or other ways for acknowledging 

Centers’ work as they engage in Technology Acceleration activities.

2. As the MEP performance measures seek to increase Centers’ ability to 

articulate their own metrics, work with Centers to encourage and assist in 

developing useful metrics for Technology Acceleration activities. 

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MEP Overview

ABCTA Recommendations

III. Scale-Up and Sustainability

1. NIST MEP should work with Centers to consider formal options for how to 

best stay informed about the growing number of cross-cutting technologies 

and emerging opportunities in order to fully engage and leverage the value of 

the MEP Centers. 

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MEP Overview

Agenda

• Recap of ABCTA Activity

• MEP ABCTA Background Report 

• Technology Acceleration Implementation Plan

• Next Steps—Subject to full Board approval, 

implement!

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MEP Overview

NIST MEP/Lab Partnerships: Robotics

• NIST MEP and the NIST Engineering Laboratory (EL)

are collaborating to identify and conduct outreach to a 

collection of Mid-Atlantic small manufacturers with 

experience with and/or interest in robotics for manufacturing applications. 

• Will identify and develop small manufacturers as best in class, early adopters of 

robotics and flexible automation, which serve as important process improvements 

to increase their competitiveness and help enable growth.

• Will contribute to development of tool suite to improve robotics implementations for 

assembly-centric tasks in unstructured surroundings typical of SME operations. 

• Intended to ease installation of robotic systems, ensure 

greater robustness of robotic systems during operation, 

support rapid re-tasking of robotic systems, and 

facilitate smooth integration of sensors, grippers, 

and other tooling for the small manufacturers.

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MEP Overview

NIST MEP/Lab Partnerships: Smart Manufacturing

• NIST MEP and the NIST EL are collaborating to 

assess and assist Mid-Atlantic small manufacturers

with experience/interest in predictive maintenance 

implementations in their manufacturing operations.

• Collaboration emphasizes the use of production 

system assessments of small manufacturers that 

conduct machining, forming, and other metal-working 

manufacturing operations, with varying degrees of automation. 

• Working with small manufacturers that are deploying different degrees of predictive 

maintenance within their production systems to assess operations and contribute to 

NIST EL research working to identify, characterize and enable communication of 

metrics supporting diagnostics and prognostics within smart manufacturing systems 

to increase efficiency.

• Small manufacturers that participate in these assessments can become best-in 

class, early adopters of enhanced diagnostic and prognostic capabilities.

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MEP Overview

NIST MEP/Lab Partnerships: Technology Showcases

• MEP organizing Technology Showcases to introduce NIST Labs 

expertise and technologies to SMEs across different regions.

Ø Green-Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering Showcase, August 2013

Ø NIST Boulder Labs Showcase, October 2014

Ø Cybersecurity of Unmanned Systems, September 2015

Ø Cybersecurity for Economic Security, November 2015

• Additional colloquia to internal NIST researchers/entrepreneurs have 

introduced MEP services.

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MAKING AN IMPACT ON U.S. MANUFACTURING

MEP Advisory Board: Committee on Board 

Distinctive Practices and Governance

May 19, 2015
MEP Overview 42

• MAB Committee Members

• Vickie Wessel – Chair RevAZ

• Denny Dotson Enterprise MN

• Eileen Guarino NY MEP

• Tommy Lee ATN

The Team ...

NIST MEP

Mike Simpson Lead, NIST MEP System Operations Director

Gary Thompson NIST RMST (former Center Director, Techhelp)

Phillip WadsworthNIST RMST (Former Center Director, Indiana MEP)

Wiza Lequin NIST MEP, Program Manager for Center Operations

MEP Center Boards

Ray Yeager Catalyst Fiduciary

Carl Spang Maine MEP Fiduciary

Mark Tyler NW-Stout Advisory

Tom Fallo CMTC Fiduciary

Loren Lyon Impact WA Fiduciary

MEP Center Directors

1. Bonnie Del Conte Executive Director ConnStep 501c3 Fiduciary/Advisory Boards

2. Paddy Fleming Center Director Montana MEP University based Advisory Board

3. Bill Donohue Executive Director GenEdge, VA State Entity Advisory Board

4. Mike Coast Executive Director Michigan MEP 501c3 Fiduciary Board

Felipe Hernandez PR Fiduciary

Robert Sproles AMS Advisory

Alan Edington TN MEP Advisory

Grant Goodwin NC MEP Advisory

Eric Stebbins NM MEP Fiduciary

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MEP Overview

Agenda

• What is in the Notebook ...

• The Environment 

• Complex System Demographics

• MEP Advisory Board Sub-Committee Charter

• Framework & Approach

• Resulting Areas of Focus

– Objective 1 Output – Develop a Communication Plan

– Objective 2 Output – Develop a Distinctive Practice Prgm

– Objective 1 Output – Board Assessment Tools

• Recommendations and Next Steps

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MEP Overview

Overview of the Notebook

• Tab 1 – Presentation

• Tab 2 – MAB Board Sub-Committee Charter

• Tab 3 – Communications Plan

• Tab 4 – Distinctive Practice Approach

• Tab 5 – Assessment Tool Samples

• Tab 6 – Building Better Boards Manual

• Tab 7 - MEP Connect Reference Material

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MEP Overview

THE ENVIRONMENT

Strategic Plan, Legislation, General Terms & Conditions

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MEP Overview www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 46

MEP Strategic Plan: 
MEP Overview www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 47

• Section 7. BOARD OF DIRECTORS/TRUSTEES 

• Each Center shall establish and maintain an oversight board that is broadly representative of local 

stakeholders with a majority of board members drawn from local small- and medium-sized 

manufacturing firms. 

• Board members may not concurrently serve on more than one Center’s oversight board. 

• If a Center’s oversight board does not meet the requirements of this paragraph at any time during the 

term of an MEP award, the Center must disclose the deficiencies to the FPO and must submit a detailed 

plan to the FPO for bringing its oversight board into compliance with this term within 12 months. 

• Additionally, each Center oversight board shall adopt bylaws governing the operation of the board, 

including a conflict of interest policy to ensure relevant relationships are disclosed and proper recusal 

procedures are in place. 

• Upon request, a Center shall provide the FPO and/or NIST Grants Officer with copies of its 

organizational documents, including ratified by-laws and conflicts of interest policies

MEP General Terms & Conditions V.5
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H.R. 5035 – NIST Reauthorization Act of 2014 “To reauthorize the 

National Institute of Standards and Technology and for other purposes”
MEP Overview

Bill S.2757 – “America COMPETES Reauthorization 

Act of 2014”

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MEP Overview

COMPLEX SYSTEM DEMOGRAPHICS

Diversity in Organization Structures, and Board Types, 

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MEP Overview www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 51

MEP Centers Organizational Structure

Mississippi

North Dakota

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania (7)

Puerto Rico

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Utah

Washington

Wisconsin

California (2)

Colorado

Connecticut

Florida

Illinois

Kansas

Massachusetts

Maryland

Maine

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

Nevada

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Vermont

Northwest Wisconsin

West Virginia

Wyoming

Delaware MEP

Georgia

Iowa

Idaho

Kentucky

Louisiana

Montana

North Carolina

Nebraska

Indiana

New York 

Ohio MEP

Virginia 

Alabama

Arkansas

Arizona

Hawaii

501 C(3) University State Entity
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Fiduciary versus Advisory

• 501c3s

• Cooperative Agreement 

holder has programmatic 

responsibilities over program Fiduciary

• State/University based

• Host organizations create 

advisory councils to advise 

and broaden expertise 

available to the Board

Advisory
MEP Overview www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 53

Fiduciary versus Advisory

Arizona	 Hawaii New	Mexico	

Arkansas Minnesota North	Dakota	

California	(2) Missouri	Enterprise Oklahoma	

Connecticut	 Mississippi Oregon	

Colorado Maine	 Pennsylvania	(7)

Delaware	 Maryland Puerto	Rico	

Florida Massachusetts	 South	Carolina	

IMEC Michigan	 Rhode	Island	

Washington New	Hampshire	 Utah	

Kansas New	Jersey	 Wisconsin	

Virginia

Kentucky NYSTAR	

Alabama North	Carolina

Georgia	 Ohio	

Idaho	 South	Dakota	

Indiana-TAP Tennessee	

Iowa	CIRAS TMAC

MEP	of	Louisiana UW	Stout

Montana	MMEC Vermont	

Nebraska	MEP West	Virginia	

Nevada	 Wyoming
MEP Overview

MEP ADVISORY BOARD CHARTER

Purpose, Objectives, Partners, and Goals

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MEP Overview www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 55
MEP Overview

Purpose of the Committee on Board Distinctive 

Practices and Governance

• To implement the strategic objective of increasing 

roles of the national and center boards including:

– Increase connectivity between national and Center Boards

– Ensure Board members serves as manufacturing advocates

– Strengthen Board governance and accountability

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MEP Overview

Objective of the Committee

• Evaluate mechanisms and facilitate linkages to 

increase communication between the MEP Advisory 

Board and MEP Center Boards

• Inventory distinctive practices across Center Board

• Develop and evaluate performance systems for 

Fiduciary and Advisory Boards

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MEP Overview

FRAMEWORK & APPROACH

Purpose, Objectives, Partners, and Goals

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MEP Overview

Framework Development

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Recruitment • Vickie Wessel – Chair

• Denny Dotson

• Tommy Lee

• Eileen Guarino

• Ray Yeager

• Carl Spang

• Mark Tyler

• Felipe Hernandez

• Eric Stebbins

• Bonnie Del Conte

• Mike Coast

• Mike O’Donnell

• Bill Donohue

• Loren Lyons

Committee & NIST MEP Team Activities • Nov Quarterly Update meeting 

Board session Questions

• Inventoried Center Board Materials

• Est a larger team MAB 

Subcommittee, Center Boards, and 

Center Directors

• Research Outside Sources

• Established Charter

• Establish MEP Connect Webpages

• Monthly calls with each groups to 

vet learnings 

• Developed a framework and each 

Objective

• Through conversations resolved the 

objectives into 3 outputs

Objective Outputs • Establish a 

Communication Plan 

• Establish a Distinctive 

Practice Program

• Evaluate Board SelfAssessment Tools

MEP AB Committee

Center Board Members

Center Directors

Information Collections

Developed & Tested
MEP Overview

Nashville Quarterly Update Meeting Session on 

Board Practices and Governance

• Question 1: What are the 3 main areas Board provides 

support to the Center? 

• Question 2: What is the Board’s involvement with 

Center strategy, roles, goal setting and process?

• Question 3: How does your board assist or support in 

selecting, testing, or opening new markets for a new 

product or service for the Center?

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 60
MEP Overview

Analysis of Center Board Documents

• MEP Centers were asked to submit to NIST MEP 

documents that pertains to their Boards including

– By-laws

– Conflicts of Interest

– Policies

– Roles & Responsibilities

– Guidelines 

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 61
MEP Overview

Summary of Non- Center Board Information

• Board Source - www.boardsource.org

– The Board Building Cycle – Tab 7

– Regional Managers Training – Starts This Week

• Lisë Stewart – Galliard Group - galliardinc.com

– Building Better Boards

– Consults with Many Centers

• Other Sources

– Guide Star

– Nonprofit Alliance

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MEP Overview

OUTCOMES

Communications, Distinctive Practices, and Self Assessments

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MEP Overview

Objective 1: Evaluate mechanisms and facilitate linkages to increase 

communication between the MEP Advisory Board and MEP Center 

Boards

Approach -

• Discuss all potential mechanisms for Board to Board connections

– Written, Web Based

– Board Orientations

– Face to face opportunities

• Select appropriate activity to increase Board to Board connections 

• Determine appropriate timeframe for evaluation of communication tools

Conclusion – Establish a Communication Plan which lays out the Regular 

Interactions Between the Boards

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 64
MEP Overview

Reactions and Observations from Team

“Communication Plan”

• Clarity of Commitment, be respectful of Board’s 

time

• Frequency of activities planned

• Positive response to face to face meetings

• Confusion between requirement vs opportunities

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 65
MEP Overview

Proposed Communication Plan

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 66
MEP Overview

Proposed Next Steps for the Communication Plan:

• Incorporate May 19th and 20th Feedback 

• Proposed Deployment Plan (including)

– Develop a 1-year Deployment Plan

– Propose Assignment of Resources

• Working with MEP Staff and Management

– Launch Components of the Plan 

• With MEP Director and Sub-Committee Approval

– Provide a Status Report Next Board Meeting 

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 67
MEP Overview

Objective 2: Identification of possible distinctive 

practices important to Center Boards 

Approach -

• Discuss and research major categories of Board responsibilities

• Align selected appropriate headings and sub categories with 

Board governance 

• Discussed approaches and arrived at appropriate detail level

• Added MEP specific categories

Conclusion – Establish a tiered framework, and establish a 

Distinctive Practice Program

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 68
MEP Overview

Proposed Distinctive Practice Framework

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 69

Research 

Validated

Distinctive

Practice

A program, activity or strategy that has the highest degree of proven effectiveness 

supported by objective and comprehensive research and evaluation.

Field Tested 

Distinctive

Practice

A program, activity or strategy that has been shown to work effectively and produce 

successful outcomes and is supported to some degree by subjective and objective 

data sources.

Promising 

Practice

A program, activity or strategy that has worked within one organization and shows

promise during its early stages for becoming a best practice with long term sustainable 

impact. A promising practice must have some objective basis for claiming 

effectiveness and must have the potential for replication among other organizations
MEP Overview

Proposed Distinctive Practices for Center Boards

Mission 

• Strategic Planning Cycle

• Integration of New MEP System Strategy

• Operating Plans and Budgets

Leadership

• Key Staff Hiring

• Leadership Accountabilities

• Succession Planning

• Appraise Performance

Conduct of Operations

• Policy formulation

• Legal Requirements

• Oversight 

• Decision Making

Financial Health

• 5 Year Budgeting for MEP Cooperative 

Agreements

• Center Cost Share Management

• Financial Controls

• Fiscal Goal setting within an MEP Center

Board Organization and Development

• Board Self-Evaluation 

• Board Recruitment, Orientation

• Board Information System

• Voice for/of Manufacturing

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 70
MEP Overview

Reactions and Observations from Team

“Distinctive Practices”

• General agreement, good to capture

• Cautioned about making it too complex

• All work feeds into best/distinctive practice objective

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 71
MEP Overview

Proposed Next Steps for the Distinctive Practices:

• Incorporate May 19th and 20th Feedback 

• Proposed Deployment Plan (including)

– Develop a 1-year Deployment Plan

– Propose Assignment of Resources

• Working with MEP Staff and Management

– By Next Board Meeting Collect 1 Field Tested and 

Promising Practice in Each Region (Total of 12)

– Provide a Status Report Next Board Meeting 

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 72
MEP Overview

Objective 3: Develop and Evaluate Performance 

Systems for Advisory and Fiduciary Boards

Approach –

• Research other system of Board Monitoring

• Discussion of attributes of a successful Board

• Research other measures for effective Boards

• Determine a monitoring approach

Conclusion – Evaluate Board Self Assessment Tools and 

Propose an approach for voluntary adoption

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 73
MEP Overview

Reactions and Observations from Team

“Assessment Tools”

• Small number of centers uses it

• Differing impressions

– Center Management thought it may be burdensome 

– Center Board were encouraging and thought it was helpful and 

needed

• Group was supportive in assessments being self-directed

• Found that language geared more towards fiduciary, need to 

modify for advisory boards

• Several members Center Boards have expressed interest in 

piloting with their Board

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 74
MEP Overview

Board Assessment Tools

• 4 Samples 

• varying depth, breadth, complexity

• Annual Board Self-Assessment Survey (MAGNET)

• Self-Evaluation of a Board Member (B3 Manual))

• McKinsey & Company Self-assessment Short Form

• McKinsey & Company Self-Assessment Long Form

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 75
MEP Overview

Proposed Next Steps for the Distinctive Practices:

• Incorporate May 19th and 20th Feedback 

• Gather additional Information from Boards which 

use self-assessment tools or are willing to try one or 

more of the tools at an upcoming meeting

• Goal will be to have 1-2 examples from Center 

Boards in each Region. (Total 6-12)

• Provide a Status Report and Recommendation by 

Next Board Meeting 

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 76
MEP Overview

DISCUSSION 

Communications, Distinctive Practices, and Self Assessments

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MEP Overview

Thank You

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 78
MAKING AN IMPACT ON U.S. MANUFACTURING

Workforce Activities

Mary Ann Pacelli, Workforce Manager
MEP Overview

Agenda

• Intro Mark Troppe

• Update Mary Ann Pacelli

– Activities to date

– Go-Forward Plan

• Discussion All

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 80
MEP Overview

Introduction and Remarks

• 2014 highlights

• Transition 

• Strategy and fit with PPDO

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 81
MEP Overview

MEP Workforce– Aligned with DOC

U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commitment to “the 

Skills Agenda”

The U.S. Department of Commerce serves as the voice of 

American business, promoting job creation, economic growth, 

sustainable development and improved standards of living for 

Americans. 

“Workforce” is a first-time priority for the Agency and the 

Secretary is committed to having Commerce activities 

include helping workers develop the skills they need to do 

the jobs of a 21st century global economy.*

* Secretary Pritzker to White House Business Council on Manufacturing April 2014 

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 82
MEP Overview

DOC “Skills for Business”

“SKILLS FOR BUSINESS” – PARTNERING WITH BUSINESS

TO EQUIP WORKERS FOR 21ST CENTURY CAREERS.

– A branding umbrella for DOC’s skills activities and 

initiatives. 

– As part of Commerce’s mission to help set the 

conditions for economic growth for U.S. companies, the 

Department is committed to helping employers develop 

talent pipelines for today’s and tomorrow’s in-demand 

jobs that put American workers on a middle-class career 

path. 

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 83
MEP Overview

MEP Workforce Activities

• Partnerships and Relationships

• Center Support

• Special Initiatives

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 84
MEP Overview

Partnerships and Relationships

Collaborate with Education and Economic Development to improve 

organizational policies that reflect progressive workforce and business 

practices

Agencies:

• DOC

– Skills Working group

– White House Initiatives: Upskilling, TechHire

– Learning Network pilot

• DOL

– New office – Workforce and Industry Partnerships

– Office of Apprenticeship – Advisory Committee Apprenticeship (ACA)

• DOE (education)

– CTE programming on Manufacturing Careers

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 85
MEP Overview

Partnerships and Relationships

Institutes, Organizations, Economic Development:

• AACC – conference support, connections with Manufacturing 

Day

• Manufacturing Institute – ROI tool development, Dream It, Do It

• America Makes – New Workforce Advisory Board

• NSF ATE – discussions to connect centers to new ATE projects

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 86
MEP Overview

Center Support

• Coordinating connections to NNMI

– LIFT: attending state meetings, helping OHMEP get in a 

proposal to do employer engagement

• Learning about Center activities

– Contacting centers on specific projects

– Providing assistance/input to center requests for 

information

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 87
MEP Overview

Special Initiatives

• SMARTalent

– Technical review

– 7 Centers committed to ‘re-pilot’

• Started April 24

• Pilot window is 8 weeks

• All are trained and starting activity

• Each are committed to at least 2 companies to trial

• Each will complete an evaluation format

– Early input

• Still some technical issues, resolving those as they occur

• Diagnostic is lengthy, questions from centers on client access vs 

center access

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 88
MEP Overview

Special Initiatives

• DMDII

– Supporting collaboration for Training 101 development

– Identifying how to connect MEP’s in Workforce section 

of project calls

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 89
MEP Overview

Go-Forward Plan

• Partnerships and Relationships

– Continue and expand

• Center Support

– Special focus to enhance relationships with to WIB’s

• WIOA opens opportunity for MEP’s to become more engaged

• West Region Centers – Coordinating joint center/WIB meeting to 

share best practices and develop opportunities for future joint 

activities

– Gather input on center needs, prioritize

• Update meeting input opportunity—what tools, resources do they 

need

• What can MEP develop 

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 90
MEP Overview

Go-Forward Plan (Cont’d)

• Workforce Working Group

– Solicit volunteers

– Initial agenda topics:

• Prioritize Center input, draft action items

• Review SMARTalent feedback, provide input to 

recommendation

• SMARTalent

– Pilot evaluation summary July 30

– Recommendation for next steps from Pilot

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 91
MEP Overview

Discussion

• What Questions do you have?

• What Suggestions do you have?

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 92
MEP Overview

Competition Updates

Bill Kinser, Director of Center Operations

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 93
MEP Overview

Competition Updates - Agenda

• Round 1: Launching The New Centers

• Round 2: Next Steps in the Competition Process

• Rounds 3 and 4: Projected Timeline

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 94
MEP Overview

Round 1 - MEP State Competition

Federal Funding Opportunity Issued: Aug 2014

Awarded Date: Feb 2015

Start Date: July 2015

95

MEP Center Location and Assigned 

Geographical Service Area (by 

State)

Anticipated Annual Federal Funding 

for Each Year of the Award

Total Federal Funding for 5 Year 

Award Period

Colorado $1,668,359 $8,341,795

Connecticut $1,476,247 $7,381,235

Indiana $2,758,688 $13,793,440

Michigan $4,229,175 $21,145,875

New Hampshire $628,176 $3,140,880

North Carolina $3,036,183 $15,180,915

Oregon $1,792,029 $8,960,145

Tennessee $1,976,348 $9,881,740

Texas $6,700,881 $33,504,405

Virginia $1,722,571 $8,612,855

TOTALS $25,6988,657 $129,943,285

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020
MEP Overview

2.0 MEP Centers – Round 1 Competition

Pre-Award Monthly Webinars / Activities

• Conducted first two webinars on April 15, 2015 and May 13, 

2015; final webinar is scheduled for June 18, 2015.

• Developing three-year detailed measureable outcomes and 

budgets to match the Statement of Work (SOW) outlined in 

proposals.

Kick-Off Meeting – Week of July 27, 2015

• Participants – Center Directors, Financial Staff, Operations 

Managers, NIST MEP Staff, and Grants Management Division 

(GMD) / Federal Assistance Law Division (FALD). 

• Opportunities for Center Representatives to engage with various 

NIST Labs.

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 96
MEP Overview

Potential NIST Laboratory Tours

A Glimpse of NIST Resources Accessible to Small Manufacturers – Plus a Dialogue 

on How to Access Them

• NIST Center for Automotive Lightweighting

NIST Material Measurement Laboratory 

• Additive Manufacturing 

NIST Engineering Laboratory

• Digital Manufacturing

– Cyber Security for Manufacturing 

NIST Information Technology Laboratory

– Cyber Physical Systems 

NIST Engineering Laboratory

• Robotics for Manufacturing Applications 

NIST Engineering Laboratory

• NIST Measurement Services and 

Standard Reference Materials / Data 

NIST Physical Measurement Laboratory, 

Office of Reference Materials 

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 97
MEP Overview

Round 2 - MEP State Competition

Federal Funding Opportunity Issued: Mar 2015

Anticipated Award Date: Sept 2015

Anticipated Start Date: Jan 2016

98

MEP Center Location and Assigned 

Geographical Service Area (by 

State)

Anticipated Annual Federal Funding 

for Each Year of the Award

Total Federal Funding for 5 Year 

Award Period

Alaska $500,000 $2,500,000

Idaho $640,236 $3,201,180

Illinois $5,029,910 $25,149,550

Minnesota $2,653,649 $13,268,245

New Jersey $2,814,432 $14,072,160

New York $5,985,194 $29,925,970

Ohio $5,246,822 $26,234,110

Oklahoma $1,309,080 $6,545,400

Utah $1,147,573 $5,737,865

Washington $2,534,872 $12,674,360

West Virginia $500,000 $2,500,000

Wisconsin $3,250,792 $16,253,960

TOTALS $31,612,560 $158,062,800

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020
MEP Overview

MEP State Competition – Round 2

MEP Competition Outreach Plan:

• Conferences and Meetings: NIST / MEP Senior Leadership raised awareness 

of the competition process at nine events between March and early May 2015.

• Webinars: March 30, April 13, and April 16, 2015 –Three Information 

Webinars Conducted (125 participants among three webinars).

• Newsletters / Electronic Media: 15 additional publications beyond the NIST 

MEP E-Blast to reach a wider population of eligible applicants.

• Resources: All competition-specific information is available and regularly 

updated on the NIST MEP website (e.g., FAQs). Various tools have been 

developed to support the Outreach Campaign (e.g., talking points, 

presentations, etc.)

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 99
MEP Overview

MEP State Competitions – Rounds 3 and 4

Notice of Intent Published 5/11/15 via a Federal Register Notice (FRN)

• NIST MEP’s intent to publish and post two separate announcements of 

funding availability for MEP Centers in 21 States and Puerto Rico during 

Calendar Year 2016.

• The list of specific States may change until finalized in the 

announcements of funding availability.

• NIST MEP’s intent to conduct approximately two to three Regional 

Forums prior to or in conjunction with each announcement.

• Expanding outreach efforts beyond information webinars.

• Attempting to reach a fuller population of potential applicants 

across these States and Puerto Rico.

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 100
MEP Overview

Round 3 - MEP State Competition

Anticipated Issue Date for Federal Funding Opportunity: Jan 2016

Anticipated Award Date: June 2016

Anticipated Start Date: Oct 2016

101

MEP Center Location and Assigned Geographical Service Area (by State)

Alabama

Arkansas

California

Georgia

Louisiana

Massachusetts

Missouri

Montana

Pennsylvania

Puerto Rico

Vermont

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020
MEP Overview

Round 4 - MEP State Competition

Anticipated Issue Date for Federal Funding Opportunity: July 2016

Anticipated Award Date: Dec 2016

Anticipated Start Date: Apr 2017

102

MEP Center Location and Assigned Geographical Service Area (by State)

Delaware

Hawaii

Iowa

Kansas

Maine

Mississippi

New Mexico

Nevada

North Dakota

South Carolina

Wyoming

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020
MEP Overview

Competition References / Resources

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Competition Resource Page:

http://nist.gov/mep/ffo-state-competitions-02.cfm

Round 2 Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO):

http://nist.gov/mep/upload/NIST-MEP-STATESCOMPETITION-FFO-ROUND-MEP-Final-1.pdf

Rounds 3 and 4 Federal Register Notice (FRN) of Intent: 

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/05/11/2015-

11256/manufacturing-extension-partnership-statecompetitions-and-regional-forums
MEP Overview

Thank You

104

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