MAKING AN IMPACT ON U.S. MANUFACTURING

Information Webinar

Federal Funding Opportunity: 2017-NIST-MEP-CAP-01

(Proposals DUE Friday, June 15, 2017@ 11:59 p.m. EASTERN to 

ensure consideration for FY2017 funding)

Conference Call # Toll Free Dial In

Toll Free Dial In - 1-866-218-2764

Participant Passcode - 971 513 1895

You will be muted on entry to webinar – please use chat feature
MAKING AN IMPACT ON U.S. MANUFACTURING

WELCOME 

Informational Webinar – April 27, 2017

1:00 p.m. (Eastern)

Federal Funding Opportunity: 2017-NIST-MEP-CAP-01

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) 

Dave Cranmer, Deputy Director, NIST MEP

Mike Simpson, Manager of Competitions, NIST MEP

Wiza Lequin, Program Manager, NIST MEP
MEP Overview

• Webinar serves as a communication vehicle to provide an overview of the funding 

opportunity.

• During the webinar, proprietary technical discussions about specific project ideas 

will not be permitted. 

• Questions

– We will consider questions of a clarifying nature that are not specific to an individual proposal.

– If you want to submit questions following the webinar, please email them to MEP at 

mepnofo@nist.gov.

• Your question and response will become part of the FAQ document available on our competition page of 

our MEP website www.nist.gov/mep/rolling-competitive-awards-program-round-one

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Information Webinar and Communication Protocols

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

AGENDA

• Performance-Based Competitive Awards Program Overview

– Request for Information 

• Funding Opportunity Description

• Federal Award Information

• Eligibility Information

• Application and Submission Information

– Standards forms and documents

– Grants.gov submission

• Application Selection process

– Criteria

– Selection Factors

• Reporting Requirements

• Key Take-aways

4
MEP Overview

• 15 U.S.C. 278k-1

– The statutory authority for the NIST MEP Competitive 

Awards Program 

• In developing the themes for this NOFO, the NIST Director 

consulted with the MEP Director, the MEP Advisory Board 

and with other Federal Agencies.

• The NIST Director also consulted with small and mediumsized manufacturers through the publication of a Request 

for Information

5

Performance-Based Competitive Awards Program
MEP Overview

Performance-Based Competitive Awards Program

• Federal Register Request for Information on 

Identification of New Capabilities Needed by the 

Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership 

Program (81 FR 90326 )

– Published Dec 14, 2016

– End date: Jan 13, 2017

• Received 54 separate responses

– Representing 49 entities

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MEP Overview

Performance-Based Competitive Awards Program

Program Priorities

• Improve the competitiveness of industries in the region in which 

the Center or Centers are located.

• Create jobs or train newly hired employees.

• Promote the transfer and commercialization of research and 

technology from institutions of higher education, national 

laboratories or other federally funded research programs, and 

nonprofit research institutes.

• Recruit a diverse manufacturing workforce, including through 

outreach to underrepresented populations, including individuals 

identified in section 33 or section 34 of the Science and 

Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C.1885a, 1885b).

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MEP Overview

• Themes for this NOFO

– include new manufacturing technologies of relevance to small and 

mid-size manufacturers, particularly those related to 

Industry/Manufacturing 4.0 

– supply chain management technologies and practices

– workforce intermediary and business services

• Applicants must articulate how their proposal achieves one or more 

of the program priorities while adding new capabilities to the MEP 

Center program

• So long as an application addresses the program priorities listed (in 

Section I.2. of this NOFO) it need not focus upon any of the identified 

thematic areas to be considered for funding under this NOFO. 

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Performance-Based Competitive Awards Program
MEP Overview

AGENDA

• Performance-Based Competitive Awards Program Overview

– Request for Information 

• Funding Opportunity Description

• Federal Award Information

• Eligibility Information

• Application and Submission Information

– Standards forms and documents

– Grants.gov submission

• Application Selection process

– Criteria

– Selection Factors

• Reporting Requirements

• Key Take-aways

9
MEP Overview

Funding Opportunity Overview

• Notice of Funding Opportunity Title: NIST MEP Competitive 

Awards Program 

• Grants.gov Identifier: 2017-NIST-MEP-CAP-01

• Funding Opportunity Description: 

– NIST invites applications from current MEP Centers to add capabilities to the 

MEP Program, including the development of projects to solve new or 

emerging manufacturing problems, that are not already provided for under an 

applicant’s and its collaborating Center’s base MEP award. 

– Themes for FY 17 include new manufacturing technologies of relevance to 

small and mid-size manufacturers, particularly those related to 

Industry/Manufacturing 4.0, supply chain management technologies and 

practices; and workforce intermediary and business services. 

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MEP Overview

Funding Opportunity Overview

Funding Available: 

• NIST anticipates funding individual projects at a level of 

approximately $50,000 to no more than $1,000,000 in total funding 

for each award. 

• Projects awarded under this NOFO will have a budget and a 

performance period of up to three (3) years, consistent with the 

multi-year funding policy. See Section II.3. of the NOFO.

• Funding for awards is contingent upon the availability of appropriated 

funds and NIST programmatic priorities. 

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MEP Overview

Funding Opportunity Overview

• Funding Instrument: Cooperative Agreement

– The nature of NIST’s “substantial involvement” will generally be 

collaboration between MEP and the recipient organization(s).

– Additional forms of substantial involvement that may arise are 

described in Final Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 

Guidance Implementing the Federal Grant and Cooperative 

Agreement Act, 43 Fed. Reg. 36860-65 (Aug. 18, 1978)

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MEP Overview

AGENDA

• Performance-Based Competitive Awards Program Overview

– Request for Information 

• Funding Opportunity Description

• Federal Award Information

• Eligibility Information

• Application and Submission Information

– Standards forms and documents

– Grants.gov submission

• Application Selection process

– Criteria

– Selection Factors

• Reporting Requirements

• Key Take-aways

13
MEP Overview

Federal Award Information (1)

• Multi-Year Funding Policy. 

– When an application for a multi-year award is approved, funding in some 

cases will be provided only for the first year of the project

– Recipients will be required to submit detailed budgets and budget narratives 

prior to the award of any continued funding. 

– Continued funding for the remaining years of the project will be awarded by 

NIST on a non-competitive basis, and may be adjusted higher or lower from 

year-to-year of the award, contingent upon satisfactory performance, 

continued relevance to the mission and priorities of the program, and the 

availability of funds. 

– Continuation of an award to extend the period of performance and/or to 

increase or decrease funding is at the sole discretion of NIST. 

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MEP Overview

Federal Award Information (2)

Award Kick-Off Meeting

• For awards exceeding $250,000 or involving subrecipients unfamiliar with NIST requirements, a 

recipient should anticipate attending a video or in-person kick-off conference at the NIST 

Gaithersburg, MD campus

– The kick-off conference will typically take between 2 and 6 hours and must be attended by the 

MEP Center Director, along with up to two key project personnel. 

– Representatives from key subrecipients and other key strategic partners may attend the kick-off 

conference with the prior written approval of the Grants Officer. 

– Applicants proposing to have key subrecipients and/or other key strategic partners attend 

the kick-off conference should clearly indicate so as part of the budget narrative for year 

one of the project.

• Applicants must include travel and related costs for the kick-off conference as part of the 

budget for year one (1), and these costs should be reflected in the SF-424A form

– These costs must also be reflected in the budget table and budget narrative for year 1, which is submitted as 

part of the budget summary tables and budget narratives section of the Technical Proposal

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MEP Overview

Federal Award Information (3)

MEP National Network Meetings

• NIST MEP typically organizes MEP National Network meetings approximately four times 

per year to share best practices, and to discuss new and emerging trends and additional 

topics of interest

• These meetings are rotated throughout the United States and typically involve 2-3 days of 

resource time and associated travel costs for each meeting.

• One key representative from the lead MEP Center and other appropriate 

partners/collaborators should attend these meetings. 

• Applicants must include travel and related costs for four quarterly MEP National Network 

meetings in each of one (1) or two (2) project years (4 meetings per year; up to 8 total 

meetings over up to a two-year award period). These costs must be reflected in the SF- 424A (see Section IV.2.a.(2). of the NOFO). These costs must also be reflected in the 

budget tables and budget narratives for each of the project’s years, which are submitted as 

part of the Technical Proposal. (See Section IV.2.a.(6).(d). of the NOFO).

• In the event that travel and related costs for the MEP Center representative are already 

accounted for under another MEP award, the applicant should note this in the budget 

narrative and should not include travel and related costs in the budget. 

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MEP Overview

AGENDA

• Performance-Based Competitive Awards Program Overview

– Request for Information 

• Funding Opportunity Description

• Federal Award Information

• Eligibility Information

• Application and Submission Information

– Standards forms and documents

– Grants.gov submission

• Application Selection process

– Criteria

– Selection Factors

• Reporting Requirements

• Key Take-aways

17
MEP Overview

Eligibility Information (1)

Eligible Applicants. 

• Applicants for this program must be an active MEP Center 

that is operating pursuant to a current NIST MEP 

cooperative agreement: AND that, for the two (2) 

consecutive quarters immediately prior to application, 

meet or exceed a “Cooperative Agreement Recipient 

(CAR) Current Quarter Performance” score of 70 as found 

in the quarterly release of the “CAR Operations 

Performance Management CARD.” 

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MEP Overview

Eligibility Information (2)

• Eligibility for this program is contingent upon an 

applicant meeting the NIST MEP CAR Operations 

Performance Management CARDs prior to 

application, at the time of award, and for the entire 

period of performance for awards issued pursuant 

to this NOFO. 

– MEP CAR Operations Performance Management 

CARDs, are released to the MEP National Network 

Center’s on October 1st, January 1st, April 1st, and July 

1st, of each Fiscal Year

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MEP Overview

Eligibility Information (2)

• An MEP Center may work individually or may include 

proposed subawards to eligible organizations or 

proposed contracts with any other organization as part of 

the applicant’s proposal, effectively forming a team or 

consortium. 

• An MEP Center may serve as the lead recipient on no 

more than three (3) awards under the MEP Competitive 

Awards Program in a given fiscal year. 

• There are no restrictions on the number of applications in 

which MEP Centers can be proposed as collaborators. 

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MEP Overview

Eligibility Information (4)

• Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement.

– Non-Federal cost sharing is not required for awards issued 

pursuant to this NOFO. 

• No Double Charging Against other NIST/MEP

– Costs charged against awards issued pursuant to this NOFO, whether 

paid by federal or non-federal funds, may not also be charged as costs 

against any other NIST/MEP award (i.e., no double-billing of costs). 

– In addition, NIST/MEP funding provided by an MEP Center to another 

MEP Center or other collaborator may not be used by such MEP Center or 

collaborator as a non-federal cost share contribution for an MEP Center or 

collaborator award (i.e., federal funds may not be used as cost share for 

other federal awards).

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MEP Overview

AGENDA

• Performance-Based Competitive Awards Program Overview

– Request for Information 

• Funding Opportunity Description

• Federal Award Information

• Eligibility Information

• Application and Submission Information

– Standards forms and documents

– Grants.gov submission

• Application Selection process

– Criteria

– Selection Factors

• Requirements Requirements

• Key Take-aways

22
MEP Overview

Application and Submission Information (1)

• Required Forms and Documents:

– SF 424 Application for Federal Assistance 

– SF424A Budget Information Non-Construction Program

– SF424B Assurances Non-Construction Program

– CD-511 Certification Regarding Lobbying

– SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable)

vStandard forms available at www.grants.gov

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MEP Overview

Application and Submission Information (2)

Content and Form of Applications:

• Required Forms:

– SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance. 

• Certified through www.grants.gov by an authorized 

representative of the applicant organization. 

• Item 12, should list the NOFO number as 2017-NIST-MEP-CAP-01.

• Item 18, should list the total budget information for the full duration of the 

project.

• The list of certifications and assurances referenced in Item 21 of the SF-424 

is contained in the SF-424B. 

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MEP Overview

SF424

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MEP Overview

Application and Submission Information (3)

Content and Form of Applications :

• Required Forms*:

SF-424A Budget Information Non-Constructions

• The applicant should reflect each year of the project, up to three (3) years, on the SF-424A 

form. Please carefully follow the directions found at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/form- instructions/sf-424a-instructions.html when filling out this form.

• The budget should also include staff, travel and other costs associated with the Award Kick-off 

Meeting and the NIST/MEP National Network meetings

• The Grant Program Function or Activity on Line 1 under Column (a) should be entered as 

Manufacturing Extension Partnership. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 

Number in on Line 1 under Column (b) should be entered as 11.611.

• These sections of the SF-424A should reflect funds for only the first year of the award: Section 

A; Section B; Section C; and Section D. The budget estimate for the second year of the award 

should be entered in Section E, field 16, column (b). Section E, field 16, column (c) should 

reflect the third year’s budget estimate. 

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MEP Overview

SF424A

27

PAGE 1

PAGE 2
MEP Overview

Required Forms & Documents Continued....

• Technical Proposal

– with a period of performance of up to two (2) years, 

– is a word- processed document not exceeding 20 pages that is responsive to the 

program description (see Section I. of the NOFO) and the evaluation criteria (see 

Section V.1. of the NOFO). 

a. Table of Contents (Does not count towards page limit)

b. Executive Summary (Does not count towards page limit)

i.The executive summary should briefly (usually no longer than two 

pages) describe the proposed project, consistent with the evaluation 

criteria

ii. if an applicant’s proposal is selected for funding, NIST may use all or 

a portion of the Executive Summary as part of a press release issued by 

NIST, or for other public information and outreach purposes. 

Application and Submission Information (4)

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MEP Overview

Required Forms & Documents Continued....

C. Project Narrative

– The project narrative should clearly explain how the 

applicant’s approaches will accomplish one or more of the 

program priorities as identified in Section I.2. of the NOFO

– The project narrative should clearly indicate how the 

proposed technologies, training, tool(s), technique(s), 

practice(s) or service(s) add capabilities to the MEP 

Program, and the narrative should detail how the approach 

solves new or emerging manufacturing problems of small 

U.S. manufacturers

– See Section IV.6 of the NOFO for a full description 

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Application and Submission Information (5)
MEP Overview

Required Forms & Documents Continued....

– Budget Tables and Budget Narratives

• In addition to the SF-424A form (see Section IV.2.a.(2). of the NOFO), 

applicants must provide a detailed budget table and budget narrative for the 

proposed period of performance, fully explaining and justifying all proposed 

project funding 

• In the budget narrative, the recipient should provide adequate information to 

support the costs identified in each category of the budget table. 

• Applicants must also include staff, travel and related expenses for the required 

Award Kick-Off and National Network meeting described in Sections II.4. and 

II.5. of the NOFO in the budget tables and budget narratives. 

A suggested budget table and budget narrative template are available on the MEP website, 

www.nist.gov/mep/rolling-competitive-awards-program-round-one. 

Application and Submission Information (6)

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MEP Overview

Required Forms & Documents Continued....

– 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.

• If the successful applicant includes indirect costs in the budget and has not established an 

indirect cost rate with a cognizant Federal audit agency, the applicant will be required to obtain 

such a rate in accordance with the Department of Commerce Financial Assistance Standard 

Terms and Conditions available at: http://go.usa.gov/hKbj.

• Alternatively, in accordance with 2 C.F.R. § 200.414(f), applicants that have never received a 

negotiated indirect cost rate may elect to charge indirect costs to an MEP award pursuant to a de 

minimis rate of 10 percent of modified total direct costs (MTDC), in which case a negotiated 

indirect cost rate agreement is not required. 

– Applicants proposing a 10 percent de minimis rate pursuant to 2 C.F.R. § 200.414(f) 

should note this election as part of the budget portion of the application.

Application and Submission Information (7)

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MEP Overview

Required Forms & Documents Continued....

• Table of Abbreviations and Acronyms. (Does not contribute to the total 

number of pages.) 

• Table of Funded Project Participants and Unfunded Informal Collaborators. 

(Does not contribute to the total number of pages.)

• Provide a table that identifies all organizations that will participate in and contribute 

to the project, if funded, known at the time of the application submission. 

• The table should include the organization’s name, address, administrative role, 

scope of work (funded participants only) and proposed funding amount (funded 

participants only). 

– Administrative roles are: applicant, subrecipient, or contractor for funded 

participants; or collaborator if they will not receive funding. 

Application and Submission Information (8)

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MEP Overview

• Bibliographic List of References. (Does not contribute to the total number of 

pages.) 

• Resumes of Key Personnel. (Does not contribute to the total number of 

pages). 

– One-page resumes of no more than five key personnel from each participating 

organization may be included; 

– Any information beyond one page for each resume and any additional resumes 

submitted will not be considered.

Application and Submission Information (9)

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MEP Overview

Application and Submission Information (10)

• Required Letters of Commitment. (These do not contribute to the total number of 

pages).

– Each application must include a Letter of Commitment from an authorized 

representative of: (i) the MEP Center applicant and from (ii) other MEP Centers 

that will be participating in the project.

– For non-profit applicants and other non-profit MEP Centers which are 

participating in the proposed project, a resolution from the fiduciary board 

authorizing submission of the MEP Center application to NIST and supporting 

the activities described therein is required. 

– If the application includes subawards, contracts or other payments to known 

third parties, including other MEP Centers, the letter of commitment shall 

discuss the scope of work, and its relevance to the proposed project. 

• Letters of Commitment should not be letters submitted by non-proposing entities 

wishing to vouch for the applicant’s (or entities associated with the applicant) 

knowledge, skills, and abilities or entities to conduct the proposed work. These should 

be in the form of a Letter of Interest (see Section IV.3.a.(13) of the NOFO).

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MEP Overview

Application and Submission Information (11)

• Data Management Plan (This does not count towards total number of pages)

– The DMP is a supplementary document of not more than two pages that must 

include, at a minimum, a plan for storage and maintenance of the data expected 

to be generated by the identified activities, and a plan describing whether and how 

data generated by the identified activities will be reviewed and made available to 

the public. (Refer to Section IV.2.a.14 for additional guidance)

• Intellectual Property (IP) Plan for the Allocation of Legal Rights (This 

does not count towards total number of pages)

-Applicants must include as part of its application a plan for the allocation of the 

legal rights associated with any intellectual property, which may result from 

activities of an applicant and/or team member in connection with the 

performance of the proposed award. 

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MEP Overview

Application and Submission Information (12)

• Application Format (Section IV 2(b)):

– Page Limit. The Technical Proposals are limited to Twenty (20) pages. Information on pages 

beyond the page limit will not be considered. 

– Page limit includes: Cover page, Technical Proposal (with the exception of the Executive Summary), 

figures, graphs, tables, images, pictures, and all other pages of an application, with the exception of 

the page limit exclusions listed below.

– Page limit excludes:

• Table of Contents, 

• Executive Summary, 

• SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance; 

• SF-424A, Budget Information – Non- Construction Programs 

• Other forms; – SF-424B, Assurances – Non-Construction Programs; - Bibliographic List of References 

– SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities; - Resumes of Key Personnel; 

– CD-511, Certification Regarding Lobbying - Required Letters of Commitment; 

– Table of Contents, Budget Tables and Budget Narratives - Indirect Cost Rate Agreement; 

Letters of Interest; - Data Management Plan.

– Table of Abbreviations and Acronyms - Intellectual Property Plan

– Table of Funded Project Participants and Unfunded Informal Collaborators

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MEP Overview

Application and Submission Information (13)

• 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 does not provide details concerning whether all attachments (or how 

many attachments) transferred successfully. 

– Applicants using Grants.gov will receive a series of e-mail messages over a period of up to 

two business days before learning whether a Federal agency’s electronic system has 

received its application.

– Applicants are urged to use Grants.gov’s Download Submitted Applications feature to check that 

all required attachments were contained in their submission. Go to the Grants.gov Online Users 

Guide available at the Grants.gov site (http://go.usa.gov/cjaEh), choose Applicants, then Applicant 

Actions, then select the “Check My Application Status” option, click on the Download Submitted 

Applications feature, and follow the directions.

– Applicants can track their submission in the Grants.gov system by following the procedures at the 

Grants.gov site (http://go.usa.gov/cjamz ). It can take up to two business days for an application to 

fully move through the Grants.gov system to NIST. 

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MEP Overview

Application and Submission Information (14)

Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) 

– Pursuant to 2 C.F.R. part 25, applicants and recipients (as the case may be) are required to: 

• (i) be registered in SAM before submitting its application; 

• (ii) provide a valid unique entity identifier in its application; and 

• (iii) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during 

which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a 

Federal awarding agency, unless otherwise excepted from these requirements pursuant to 2 

C.F.R. § 25.110. 

– NIST will not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all 

applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements; if an applicant has not fully complied with 

the requirements by the time that NIST is ready to make a Federal award pursuant to this FFO, 

NIST may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that 

determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another applicant. 

– Applicants will find instructions on registering with SAM.gov as part of the Grants.gov 

process at: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html

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MEP Overview

Application and Submission Information (16)

• Submission Dates and Times. 

v NIST will not accept applications submitted by mail, facsimile, or by email.

– Electronic applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday June 15, 2017 for 

consideration in FY2017 funding

• Applications received after June 15, 2017, may be processed and considered for funding in 

the current fiscal year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds and subject 

to the publication of a superseding NOFO under this program.

• When developing your submission timeline, please keep in mind that: 

(1) all applicants are required to have a current registration in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov); 

(2) the free annual registration process in the electronic System for Award Management (SAM.gov) (see 

Section IV.3. and Section IV.7.a.(1).b. of this NOFO) may take between three and five business days or as 

long as more than two weeks; and 

(3) electronic applicants are required to have a current registration in Grants.gov; and 

(4) applicants using Grants.gov will receive a series of e-mail messages over a period of up to two business 

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

– Applicants must submit applications electronically through www.grants.gov.

• A receipt from Grants.gov indicating an application is received does not provide information about 

whether attachments have been received. 

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MEP Overview

Application and Submission Information (17)

• Attachment of Required Application Documents

Items IV.2.a.(6). through IV.2.a.(14). 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. 

• 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

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MEP Overview

Application and Submission Information (18)

41
MEP Overview

AGENDA

• Performance-Based Competitive Awards Program Overview

– Request for Information 

• Funding Opportunity Description

• Federal Award Information

• Eligibility Information

• Application and Submission Information

– Standards forms and documents

– Grants.gov submission

• Application Selection process

– Evaluation Criteria

– Selection Factors

• Reporting Requirements

• Key Take-aways

42
MEP Overview

Evaluation Review Criteria (1)

NIST will use the follow criteria in evaluating applications and assigning 

weights, with a maximum score of 100

i. Demonstration that the proposed project will meet the needs of technical 

assistance providers and/or manufacturers in the target population. (20 

points). 

ii. Development/deployment methodology and use of appropriate technology 

and information sources. (20 points).

iii. Service Delivery and implementation mechanisms. (15 points). 

iv. Coordination with other relevant organizations. (10 points). 

v. Program evaluation. (10 points)

vi. Management and organizational experience and plans. (15 points)

vii.Financial Plan. (10 points)

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MEP Overview

Criterion 1: Demonstration that the proposed project will meet the 

needs of technical assistance providers and/or manufacturers in 

the target population. (20 points). 

• Reviewers will assess the extent to which the applicant’s proposal 

clearly defines the target population(s) and

• how well the proposal demonstrates that the applicant understands 

that population's technology, training, tool, technique, service, and/or 

practice needs within the proposed project area. 

• Reviewers will also assess the extent to which the proposal shows 

that the efforts being proposed meet the needs identified and is 

consistent with the anticipated impacts relative to proposed 

expenditures of federal and any optional non-federal cost share 

contributions.

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MEP Overview

Criterion 2: Development/deployment methodology and use of 

appropriate technology and information sources. (20 points).

• Reviewers will assess the extent to which the applicant’s 

technical plan for the technologies, training(s), tool(s), 

technique(s), service(s), practice(s) and/or analyses 

included in the project will be used to successfully create 

and/or deploy the outcomes of the project. 

• Reviewers will also evaluate the applicability of any 

identified sources of technologies, training(s), tool(s), 

technique(s), service(s), and practice(s) to solving new or 

emerging manufacturing problems of small U.S. 

manufacturers.

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 45
MEP Overview

Criterion 3: Service Delivery and implementation mechanisms. 

(15 points). 

• Reviewers will evaluate the extent to which the mechanisms for 

delivery and/or implementation of proposed outcomes effectively 

serves the target population(s). 

• Reviewers will also evaluate the extent to which the proposal clearly 

describes how the project’s activities and work products will be 

integrated into and will be of service to the NIST MEP National 

Network and its Centers. 

• Factors that may be considered include: ease of access to the 

outcomes of the project, especially for MEP Centers; methodology for 

disseminating or promoting involvement in and/or use of the outcomes 

especially within the MEP System; and demonstrated interest in the 

outcomes, especially by MEP Centers.

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MEP Overview

Criterion 4: Coordination with other relevant organizations.

(10 points)

• Reviewers will assess the degree to which the proposed project is 

coordinated with and leverages other organizations which are 

developing or have expertise with similar projects and outcomes. 

• Factors that may be considered include: demonstrated 

understanding of existing organizations and resources relevant to 

the proposed project; adequate linkages and partnerships with 

existing organizations and clear definition of those organizations' 

roles in the proposed activities; and that the proposed activity 

does not duplicate existing services or resources.

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

Criterion 5: Program evaluation. (10 points)

• Reviewers will assess the degree to which the applicant’s 

plan for evaluation of the effectiveness of the proposed 

activity and for ensuring continuous improvement of the 

technologies, training(s), tool(s), technique(s), service(s), 

practice(s) and/or analyses outcomes of the project. 

• Factors that may be considered include: thoroughness of 

evaluation plans, including internal evaluation for 

management control, external evaluation for assessing 

outcomes of the activity, and “customer satisfaction” 

measures of performance.

iv. .

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MEP Overview

Criterion 6: Management and organizational experience 

and plans. (15 points).

• Reviewers will assess the degree to which the applicant’s 

plans for proper organization, staffing, and management of 

the implementation process describe key personnel’s 

experience and education relevant to the project(s) proposed; 

• management structure and organizational roles are aligned to 

plan, direct, monitor, organize and control the monetary 

resources of the proposed project(s); and organizational 

structure that flows logically from the specified approach to 

the market and use of technologies, training(s), tool(s), 

technique(s), service(s), practice(s) and/or analyses 

outcomes of the project. 

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MEP Overview

Criterion 7: Financial Plan. (10 points)

• Reviewers will assess the degree to which the applicant’s budget and 

financial plan contribute to the applicant’s ability to meet the objectives of 

the project; the firmness and level of the applicant's total financial support 

for the project; and maintaining the program after the cooperative 

agreement has expired. 

• Factors that may be considered include: reasonableness of the budget, 

both in income and expenses; strength of commitment and amount of the 

proposer's non-Federal cost share, if any; any program income generated 

as a result of this project must be added to the funds committed to the 

project using the additive method of accounting to further the project or 

program objectives; effectiveness of management plans for control of 

budget; appropriateness of matching contributions, if any; and plan for 

maintaining the program after the cooperative agreement has expired.

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MEP Overview

AGENDA

• Performance-Based Competitive Awards Program Overview

– Request for Information 

• Funding Opportunity Description

• Federal Award Information

• Eligibility Information

• Application and Submission Information

– Standards forms and documents

– Grants.gov submission

• Application Selection process

– Criteria

– Review and Selection Factors

• Reporting Requirements 

• Key Take-aways

51
MEP Overview

Review and Selection Process (1)

Proposals Received

Preliminary Quality 

Review 

Review Team: Full 

Technical Review

Technical Scores 

provided to Subject 

Matter Expert

Identification of and 

Questions and/or 

Teleconf./Video Conf./Site 

Visits (if necessary)

Ranking Against All 

Evaluation Criteria

Rank Order provided to 

Selecting Official and 

Final Selections made

Negotiations

Cooperative Agreement

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 52
MEP Overview

Review and Selection Process (2)

• Initial Administrative Review of Applications. 

• All applications received in response to this NOFO will be 

reviewed as received on a rolling basis to determine whether they 

are eligible, complete, and responsive to this NOFO and aligned 

with the program objectives as described in the Program 

Description 

• Full Review of Eligible, Complete, and Responsive Applications.

– Applications that are determined to be eligible, complete, and responsive will 

proceed for full reviews in accordance with the review and selection processes

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MEP Overview

Review and Selection Process (3)

• Based on an average of the reviewers’ final scores, 

applications will be assigned adjectival ratings in 

accordance with the following scale: 

– Fundable, Outstanding (90-100);

– Fundable, Very Good (80-89);

– Fundable (70-79); or 

– Unfundable (0-69).

• Applicants whose applications receive an average 

score of 70 or higher out of 100 will be deemed as 

potentially fundable. 

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MEP Overview

Selection Factors

• Diversity of the proposed project relative to the overall portfolio of 

projects funded under this NOFO; 

• Diversity of geography in the awarding of MEP funding, as well 

diversity in awarding MEP funding to multiple MEP Centers;

• Diversity of targeted industry sectors and/or supply chains; 

• Relevance of the proposed project to the overall objectives and 

priorities of this program; 

• Whether the proposed project duplicates other projects funded by 

the Department of Commerce or by other Federal agencies; and

• Availability of Federal funds.

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MEP Overview

AGENDA

• Performance-Based Competitive Awards Program Overview

– Request for Information 

• Funding Opportunity Description

• Federal Award Information

• Eligibility Information

• Application and Submission Information

– Standards forms and documents

– Grants.gov submission

• Application Selection process

– Criteria

– Selection Factors

• Reporting Requirements

• Key Take-aways

56
MEP Overview

Reporting Requirements

• In lieu of the reporting requirements described in Sections A.01 Performance (Technical) Reports and B.02 Financial Reports of the 

Department of Commerce Financial Assistance Standard Terms and Conditions (December 26, 2014), the following reporting 

requirements shall apply:

– Financial Reports. The Recipient shall submit an SF-425, Federal Financial Report, into the MEP’s Enterprise Information System 

(MEIS) on a semi-annual basis after the sixth and twelfth month of each operating year, unless other reporting intervals 

and/or due dates are identified by the NIST Grants Officer pursuant to a Special Award Condition. Reports will be due within 30 

days after the end of each semi-annual reporting period. The Recipient shall submit a final SF-425 within 90 days after the 

expiration date of the award.

– Performance (Technical) Reports. The Recipient shall submit a Technical Report (completing all required MEIS fields) on a semiannual basis after the sixth and twelfth month of each operating year, unless other reporting intervals and/or due dates are 

identified by the NIST Grants Officer pursuant to a Special Award Condition. Reports are due in MEIS no later than 30 days 

following the end of each reporting period. The Recipient shall submit a final Technical/Quarterly report within 90 days after the 

expiration date of the award. Technical/Quarterly Report details are accessible on the MEIS website 

(https://meis.nist.gov/).Technical progress reports shall contain information as prescribed in the NIST MEP Reporting Guidelines

(OMB Control Number 0693-0032). For further information regarding the NIST MEP Reporting Process, you may download a copy 

of the NIST MEP Reporting Guidelines at www.nist.gov/mep/embedding-mep-manufacturing-usa-institutes-pilot-projects-round-two

– Post Client Project Follow-Up. The recipient will be required to provide client and project data on a quarterly basis (unless 

otherwise directed by the NIST Grants Officer) and in a 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). For further information regarding the NIST MEP 

Reporting Process, you may download a copy of the NIST MEP Reporting Guidelines at www.nist.gov/mep/embedding-mepmanufacturing-usa-institutes-pilot-projects-round-two

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 57
MEP Overview

AGENDA

• Performance-Based Competitive Awards Program Overview

– Request for Information 

• Funding Opportunity Description

• Federal Award Information

• Eligibility Information

• Application and Submission Information

– Standards forms and documents

– Grants.gov submission

• Application Selection process

– Criteria

– Selection Factors

• Reporting Requirements

• Key Take-aways

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MEP Overview

Key Take-Aways

• Highly suggested to read NOFO thoroughly (multiple times)

• Recognize what is required vs suggested/encouraged

• Attention to what counts towards page limit of 20 pages vs what does not count 

• Complete the mandatory standard Data sets/forms for funding applications

• No Double Charging Against other NIST/MEP or Institute Awards

• Be fully aware of the steps for submitting via grants.gov – DO NOT WAIT UNTIL 

THE LAST MINUTE TO SUBMIT!

• Ensure SAM.gov registration has been established and organization has received 

confirmation of validated account (Recommend completing well in advance of 

submitting application in grants.gov). Registration information is current.

• There is a suggested budget format and budget narrative for your use

• Negotiations take place between NIST and the applicant organization not the 

subrecipients.

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 59
MEP Overview

MEP Resources

• American Innovation and Competitiveness Act 2017 

https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/3084

• Single year Budget https://www.nist.gov/mep/upload/NIST-MEP-Single-Year-BudgetWorkbook_TEMPLATE-FINAL-5-2016.xlsx

• Multi Year Budget https://www.nist.gov/mep/upload/NIST-MEP-Multi-Year-BudgetSummary-Table_TEMPLATE-Portrait-format-5-2016.xlsx

• MEP Reporting Guidelines https://meis.nist.gov/Dashboard/Show

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

Agency Contacts

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

Subject Area Point of Contact

Administrative, budget, cost-sharing, 

eligibility questions and other 

programmatic questions. 

Michael Simpson

Phone: (301) 975-6147

Fax: (301) 963-6556 

E-mail: mepnofo@nist.gov 

Technical Assistance with Grants.gov 

Submissions 

Christopher Hunton 

Phone: (301) 975-5718 

Fax: (301) 975-8884 

E-mail: grants@nist.gov

Grants.gov

Phone: (800) 518-4726 

E-mail: support@grants.gov

Grant Rules and Regulations Gilbert Castillo

Phone: (301) 975-3726

E-mail: gilbert.castillo@nist.gov 
MEP Overview

Have additional questions.....

• Please submit all questions in writing to NIST MEP, 

mepnofo@nist.gov

• Questions and Answers will be posted regularly on the NIST 

MEP Public Site, https://www.nist.gov/mep/rolling-competitiveawards-program-round-one

• New questions added to the FAQ will be identified with the date 

in which they were added to the document for ease of reference.

www.nist.gov/mep mfg@nist.gov (301) 975-5020 62
MEP Overview

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Get the latest NISTMEP news at:

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