MEMORANDUM of UNDERSTANDING 

BETWEEN THE 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE 

DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR 

MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRIAL BASE POLICY 

AND THE 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY 

HOLLINGS MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP 

May2015 

I. PURPOSE AND GOALS 

This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) constitutes an agreement between the U.S. Department of 

Defense (DOD) Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for 

Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy (DASD-MIBP}; and the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) 

t!=Jtionallnstitute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership 

(MEP}- hereinafter referred to individually as "Party" and collectively as the "Parties." 

The purpose of this MOU is to define an agreement through whi~h: 

• The DOD will leverage the assets and resources of the national M EP Program to assist the 

National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) Institutes for Manufacturing Innovation 

(IMis} led by the DOD as they strive to broadly and deeply enhance their impact on small and 

medium sized U.S. manufacturers. 

• NIST MEP will expand its ability to positively impact the competitiveness and growth of U.S. 

manufacturers by developing expertise in the focus areas of the DOD-led IMis. 

The intent of this MOU is to provide an overarching framework to identify opportunities for synergy and 

collaboration among the programmatic efforts of the DOD, the DOD-led IMis, and NIST MEP. The 

Parties' goal is to enhance collaboration by engaging small and medium-sized U.S. manufacturers more 

fully to optimize benefits and results from the public and private investments in the IMis. 

The objectives of the Parties to this MOU are to coordinate, leverage, and build upon the experience 

and capabilities of NIST MEP relating to the needs of small and medium-sized U.S. manufacturers, in 

order to effectively and efficiently meet the goals and objectives of the DOD-led IMis; to ensure that 

collaborative programmatic efforts efficiently draw upon the expertise of each Party; and to avoid 

redundancies among these two Federal departments. 

The goals of the Parties in supporting this MOU are to identify and capitalize on opportunities to 

facilitate the means by which: 

• Small and medium-sized U.S. manufacturers are made aware of the technologies (applying to 

both products and processes), technical methods, technological approaches, resources, and 

assets of the DOD-funded IMis; 

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• Small and medium-sized U.S. manufacturers are involved in the processes and activities 

associated with informing and developing the research agendas of the DOD-funded IMls; 

• Small and medium-sized U.S. manufacturers are represented in the conduct of research projects 

occurring through the DOD-funded IMis; and 

• The results of research occurring through the DOD-funded IMis are transitioned to small and 

medium-sized U.S. manufacturers for implementation. 

II. BACKGROUND 

President Obama has proposed building the NNMI, consisting of regional hubs that will accelerate 

development and adoption of cutting-edge manufacturing technologies for making new, globally 

competitive products. Over the past two years, the network has been jumpstarted by launching four 

innovation hubs and initiating the establishment of four more. 1 

Individually and together, these regional hubs-public-private partnerships called Institutes for 

Manufacturing Innovation (IMis)-will help to strengthen the global competitiveness of existing u .. s. 

manufacturers, spur new ventures, and boost local and state economies. 

In his 2013 and 2014 State of the Union Addresses, the President called for creating a full-fledged 

nationwide network devoted to innovating and scaling up advanced manufacturing technologies and 

processes.2 He asked Congress to authorize a one-time $1 billion investment-to be matched by private 

and other non-federal funds-to create an initial network of up to 15 IMis. The President proposed 

building out the NNMI to encompass 45 IMis over the span of ten years. The Administration has made 

significant progress toward building a manufacturing innovation network with nationwide reach and 

impact. On December 16, 2014, the President signed the Revitalize American Manufacturing Act, into 

law.3 

Included among this progress has been the creation of IMis that leverage DOD authorities and 

resources, as detailed below. 

• America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute was launched in 

August 2012 as the NNMI pilot hub. Headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio, America Makes was 

established with an initial federal investment of $30 million and has since been increased to 

more than $50 million.4 Now a 94-member consortium that includes manufacturers, 

universities, community colleges, and non-profit organizations, America Makes is devoted to 

helping the U.S. grow its capabilities in 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, by 

fostering collaboration in design, materials, technology, workforce and more. 

• Announced in February 2014, the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute is 

headquartered in Chicago and led by Ullabs.5 This competitively selected consortium consists 

of 73 companies, universities, non profits, and research labs. It is funded with a $70 million 

federal investment, which was more than matched by non-federal partners. This partnership 

1 www.manufacturing.gov 

2 http://www. white house.gov /the-press -office/2013/02/12/rema rks-president -state-union-address; 

www.whitehouse.gov/the-press·office/2014/01/28/president-barack-obamas-state-union-address 

3 http://www.gpo.gov /fd sys/pkg/BILLS-113hr83enr /pdf /B ILLS-113hr83enr .pdf 4 https://americamakes.us/ 

~ http://dmdii.uilabs.org/ 

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will work to enable interoperability across the supply chain, develop enhanced digital 

capabilities to design and test new products, and reduce costs in manufacturing processes 

across multiple industries. 

• Lightweight Innovation for Tomorrow (LIFT), also announced in February 2014, will develop 

processes that accelerate scale-up of production of lightweight alloys for use in wind turbines, 

air frames, medical devices, combat vehicles, and other products, leading to significant 

reductions in manufacturing and energy costs.6 Headquartered in the Detroit area and led by 

the American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute (ALMMII), the 

competitively selected GO-member consortium pairs leading aluminum and titanium 

manufacturers with universities and laboratories in pioneering technology development and 

manufacturing research. The Institute is funded with a $70 million federal investment, which 

was matched by non-federal partners. 

• In November 2014, the DOD released the Funding Opportunity Announcement soliciting 

proposals to establish an Integrated Photonics IMI.7 This was followed by an additional DOD 

Funding Opportunity Announcement in December 2014, soliciting proposals to establish a 

Flexible Hybrid Electronics IMI.8 

• On March 18, 2015, DOD released a Notice of Intent to announce the U.S. Government's intent 

to seek proposals for the ninth Manufacturing Innovation Institute (Mil). The technical focus of 

this institute was announced as Revolutionary Fibers and Textiles.9 

Ill. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARTIES 

Each Party of this MOU intends to carry out its responsibilities through the organizations identified as 

follows: 

A. DOD: OSD DASD-MIBP intends to provide expertise to NIST MEP to facilitate interagency 

coordination and support activities conducted pursuant to this MOU. The DOD will work with the 

IMis it is funding to encourage the ongoing engagement of small and medium-sized manufacturers 

in the research efforts conducted by the IMis. 

B. NIST: NIST MEP intends to provide leadership and expertise from its MEP Program staff to facilitate 

coordination with its nationwide network of MEP Centers, participating at their discretion, to 

support the activities of the IMis as noted in the goals under Section I, above. 

C. As indicated in Section I of this MOU, opportunities may be identified that may benefit from 

collaborative efforts in specific focus areas between NIST MEP Centers and individual DOD-led IMis. 

To help guide these potential collaborations, NIST MEP and DOD intend to jointly develop guidance 

documents that will provide guidance from the two agencies to facilitate the formation, operation 

and management of these collaborations. 

IV. MOU MANAGEMENT 

The DOD's Principal Point of Contact (POC) for this agreement is the OSD DASD·MIBP or his designee. 

The NIST Principal POC is the Director of the MEP Program or her designee. 

6 http://lift.technology/ 

7 https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=a354fla6lcle7f0a5f222ae309b5ae8e 

8 http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppld=271891 

9 http://manufacturing.gov/rft-imi.html 

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Contact information for the DOD and NIST MEP is provided below. 

DOD: Ms. A. Adele Ratcliff 

Director, Manufacturing Technology 

ODASD (MIBP) 

NISTMEP: 

4800 Mark Center, Suite 1SF18 

Alexandria, VA 23350·3602 

571-312·6240 w 

703-362·2938 cell 

a.a.ratcliff.civ@mail.mil 

David C. Stieren 

Technical Manager, Program Development 

NIST MEP 

100 Bureau Drive Stop 4800 

Gaithersburg, MD 20899-4800 

301-975·3197 w 

240-418·1281 cell 

david.stieren@nist.gov 

Subject to legal and fiscal limitations, each Party plans to engage relevant programs, offices, and other 

entities within their agency to provide or coordinate resources or activities; support development of 

appropriate tools or training; and make staff available or otherwise provide employee support for 

collaboration. 

Both Parties expressly acknowledge that the activities under this MOU shall be subject to the availability 

of agency resources in conjunction with agency programmatic requirements and priorities. 

V. METRICS AND TARGETS 

The Parties intend to develop metrics and annual targets related to the Parties' goals, and to work 

collaboratively to seek continuous improvement and enhanced performance over time. 

VI. AUTHORITIES 

The authorities to enter this framework MOU are: 

• DOD: 10 U.S.C. Section 2521 

• NIST MEP: 15 U.S.C. §§272 (b)(l}, and 278k 

VII. LIMITATIONS 

Nothing in this MOU is to be construed as indicating a financial commitment by a Party for the 

expenditure of funds. 

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This MOU does not, and is not intended to impose any legally binding requirements on the Parties. If 

necessary or desirable, the Parties may jointly agree upon and issue formal guidance interpreting this 

MOU and background materials upon which it is based. This MOU does not constitute final agency 

action on any issue. Any actions contemplated by this MOU are to be carried out in an appropriate 

administrative process by the acting agency in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. 

This MOU does not create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable by law or equity, 

by persons who are not a party to this agreement against the Parties, their officials or employees, or any 

other person. This MOU does not direct or apply to any person outside of the Parties. 

VIII. COMMENCEMENT I DURATION I MODIFICATION I TERMINATION 

This MOU is to take effect upon the last signature date of the Parties, and shall remain in effect for a 

period of 5 years. This MOU may be extended or modified at any time while it is in effect, per the 

mutual written agreement of the Parties in the form of an amendment to this MOU. Additionally, a 

Party may terminate its participation in this MOUat any time by providing written notice to the other 

Party's Principal POC at least 60 days in advance of the desired termination date. 

Signed, 

Carroll Thomas 

Director, Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program 

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Date: ----1J?rvy; I 31 :2tJ ;; 

Andre Gudger 

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy 

Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics 

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