NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (NOFO)

Public Safety Innovation Accelerator Program – Augmented Reality

August 3, 2020

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NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (NOFO)

Public Safety Innovation Accelerator Program – Augmented Reality

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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

United States Department of Commerce (DoC)

• Funding Opportunity Title: NIST Public Safety Innovation Accelerator Program 

– Augmented Reality

• Announcement Type: Initial

• Funding Opportunity Number: 2020-NIST-PSIAP-AR

• Assistance Listing (CFDA Number): 11.609

• Dates: Applications must be received at Grants.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. 

Eastern Time, October 1, 2020. Applications received after this deadline will not 

be reviewed or considered. Paper applications will not be accepted.

Applicants should be aware, and factor in their application submission planning, 

that the Grants.gov system is expected to be closed for routine maintenance at 

the following times. Applications cannot be submitted when Grants.gov is closed:

From 12:01 A.M. Eastern Time

Saturday

To 6:00 A.M. Eastern Time

Monday

August 15, 2020 August 17, 2020

September 19, 2020 September 21, 2020

NIST expects to complete its review, selection of successful applicants, and 

award processing by November 2020. NIST expects the earliest start date for 

awards under this NOFO to be December 2020.

Applicants are strongly urged to read Section IV.2.b. Attachment of Required 

Application Documents of this NOFO with great attention. Applicants should 

carefully follow the instructions and recommendations regarding attachments and 

use the Download Submitted Forms and Applications feature on www.Grants.gov 

to check that all required attachments were contained in their submission. 

Applications submitted without the required documents will not pass the Initial 

Administrative Review, described in Section V.3.a. of this NOFO. 

When developing the submission timeline, please keep in mind that: (1) all 

applicants are required to have current registrations in the electronic System for 
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Public Safety Innovation Accelerator Program – Augmented Reality

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Award Management (SAM.gov) and Grants.gov; (2) the free annual registration 

process in SAM.gov (see Section IV.3. and Section IV.7.a.(1).(b) of this NOFO) 

generally takes between three and five business days but can take more than 

three weeks; and (3) applicants will receive e-mail notifications over a period of 

up to two business days as the application moves through intermediate systems 

before the applicant learns via a validation or rejection notification whether NIST 

has received the application. (See Grants.gov for full information on application 

and notification through Grants.gov). Please note that a federal assistance award 

cannot be issued if the designated recipient’s registration in SAM.gov is not 

current at the time of the award.

• Application Submission Address: Applications must be submitted using 

Grants.gov.

• Funding Opportunity Description: The NIST’s Public Safety Innovation 

Accelerator Program (PSIAP) is seeking applications from eligible applicants for 

activities to enhance augmented reality (AR) capabilities in support of first 

responder operations. The PSIAP-AR aims to attract experts and innovators from 

industry and academia to focus on conducting research and development of 

visual interfaces through the use of AR technology. The goals and outcomes of 

this funding opportunity will be improving the general usability and ecosystem of 

AR applications and technology built around the public safety use case. This 

funding opportunity extends across multiple PSCR research areas and includes 

additional objectives under cybersecurity, resiliency, and location-based services 

domains. 

• Anticipated Amounts: In Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21), NIST PSCR anticipates 

funding up to $5,000,000 in new awards. Funds are expected to range from 

$300,000 to $600,000 per year per project. Project performance periods may be 

up to two (2) years, with the exception of proposals submitted by institutions of 

higher education for the purposes of supporting research by graduate students 

as part of a doctoral program, for which the period of performance may be up to 

three (3) years. All awards will be consistent with the multi-year funding policy 

(see Section II.2. of this NOFO).

• Funding Instrument: Grant or cooperative agreement, as applicable.

• Eligibility: Eligibility for the program listed in this NOFO is open to all nonFederal entities. Eligible applicants include accredited institutions of higher 

education; non-profit organizations; for-profit organizations incorporated in the 

United States; state, local, territorial, and Indian tribal governments; hospitals; 

and foreign organizations. Please note that individuals and unincorporated sole 

proprietors are not considered “non-Federal entities” and are not eligible to apply 

under this NOFO. Although Federal entities are not eligible to receive funding 
NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (NOFO)

Public Safety Innovation Accelerator Program – Augmented Reality

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under this NOFO, they may participate as unfunded collaborators. 

 

NIST will consider multiple applications per applicant; however, an individual 

researcher may only be listed as the principal investigator on one application. In 

addition, applicants should refrain from submitting multiple applications with 

related subject matter. 

• Cost Sharing Requirements: Non-federal cost share is not required for awards 

issued pursuant to this NOFO.

• Public Website, Webinar and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

NIST has a public website, https://www.nist.gov/ctl/pscr/psiap-ar, that provides 

information pertaining to this Funding Opportunity1. Any amendments to this 

NOFO will be announced through Grants.gov.

Applicants must submit all questions pertaining to this funding opportunity in 

writing to pscr@nist.gov with 2020-NIST-PSIAP-AR in the subject line.

NIST will host a webinar to provide general information regarding this NOFO, 

offer general guidance on preparing applications, and answer questions. The 

date, time and other details of the webinar can be found at 

https://www.nist.gov/ctl/pscr/psiap-ar. There is no cost to attend the webinar, but 

participants must register in advance. Participation in the webinar is not required 

and will not be considered in the application review and selection process.

General questions about this opportunity including eligibility requirements, the 

review and selection process, and the general characteristics of a competitive 

application may be addressed during the webinar or by e-mail to pscr@nist.gov

with 2020-NIST-PSIAP-AR in the subject line.

Questions submitted to NIST during the webinar or by e-mail may be made 

available to the public as an FAQ document, which will be periodically updated 

and posted at https://www.nist.gov/ctl/pscr/psiap-ar. 

Discussions about specific project ideas will not be permitted during the webinar 

and NIST staff will not critique or provide feedback on specific project ideas while 

they are being developed by an applicant, brought forth during the webinar, or at 

any time before the deadline for all applications.

1 Refer to Section VII. of this NOFO, Federal Awarding Agency Contacts, Programmatic and Technical 

Questions, if more information is needed.
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Table of Contents

I.Program Description.............................................................................................. 4

II.Federal Award Information................................................................................... 8

III.Eligibility Information .............................................................................9

IV.Application and Submission Information ..................................................10

V.Application Review Information.......................................................................... 25

VI.Federal Award Administration Information ...............................................30

VII.Federal Awarding Agency Contacts ......................................................44

VIII.Other Information .............................................................................44

FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

I. Program Description

The statutory authority for the NIST Public Safety Innovation Accelerator Program 

(PSIAP) is 15 U.S.C. § 3706 and 47 U.S.C. § 1443.

The mission of the NIST Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) Division 

is to research, develop, and test technologies to improve first responder 

communications and operations. PSCR created the PSIAP to stimulate external 

research and development (R&D) activities addressing critical technology gaps 

identified by stakeholders and to build a public-safety-focused R&D ecosystem 

with long-lasting impact.

The NIST Public Safety Innovation Accelerator Program – Augmented Reality

(PSIAP-AR) is seeking applications to accelerate research and development 

(R&D) around the use of augmented reality (AR) for improving public safety user 

interfaces. 

1) Background Information 

First responders are seeing an increase in both the amount and types of data 

presented to them (e.g., location-based sensors, video streaming content). To 

benefit from these data sources, user interfaces need to be developed that 

allow first responders to interact effectively with the systems, without inducing 

cognitive overload. AR technology has advanced over recent years; however, 

current commercial hardware and applications for public safety users are 

limited. Accordingly, PSCR seeks applications under this NOFO for R&D 

projects to stimulate commercial and technical organizations to create and 

support a market for public safety user interfaces. Establishing this market 

would improve the current state of AR technologies specifically for fire fighter, 

emergency medical services (EMS), and law enforcement operations and 

tasks.
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In 2013, PSCR initiated a strategy planning effort to identify potential R&D 

focus areas. First responders, government officials, industry leaders and 

academics who participated in that effort identified Enhanced User 

Interface/User Experience (UI/UX) as one of three key portfolios for R&D 

investment. A UI/UX working group was formed and their inputs along with 

industry forecasts were incorporated into a 20-year technology roadmap to 

benefit the entire public safety community. As a follow-up, a UI/UX R&D 

Summit was held to further discuss and prioritize the scope of work identified in 

the technology roadmap, focusing on twelve operational objectives that 

included AR interfaces and VR systems. Attendees were instructed to identify 

the most pressing technology gaps currently limiting the use of UI/UX in the 

public safety arena, and then to prioritize these challenges based on five 

investment criteria – leverage, feasibility, impact on public safety processes, 

rewards/results, and uniqueness to public safety. More information about 

PSCR, as well as technology roadmaps and summit reports, may be found at 

www.nist.gov/ctl/pscr.

In 2018, the PSIAP-UI funding opportunity highlighted the ability of virtual reality 

(VR) to be used to develop, test, and train on user interfaces for first 

responders. The work conducted under that program has identified that 

enhanced user interfaces, such as visual aids, audio cues, and haptic 

feedback, could positively impact first responder operations. Work funded in the 

PSIAP-UI competition has also resulted in virtual training applications, 

platforms for prototyping user interfaces, and a better understanding of the 

cognitive load that various interfaces place on first responders. The VR

systems have proven to beneficial tools for developing skills for new recruits 

and veterans alike, however, the use of VR has limitations from an operational 

perspective. 

AR offers new opportunities to develop and test technology for public safety 

operations and communications. AR has the potential to supplement real-life 

training solutions, resulting in a decrease in the time, costs, and risks 

associated with current methods while improving performance and retention. 

AR could also improve public safety operations by conveying actionable 

information to first responders in an intuitive manner that fits the context of their 

environmental conditions, personal protective equipment, and communications

systems. 

2) Basic Competition Information

Applicants may address one or more of the objectives described below in 

Section I.3) of this NOFO within one application. Applicants also have the 

option of submitting multiple applications provided that the subject matter and 

principal investigator are not listed in another application under this NOFO.
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Applicants are required to develop partnerships with Public Safety 

Organizations (PSOs). Potential applicants are responsible for contacting the 

organizations and arranging partnerships. NIST will not assist potential 

applicants with finding partners. For purposes of this NOFO, PSOs include U.S. 

federal, state, and local emergency medical services (EMS), fire services, law 

enforcement, and public safety communications/911 centers. 

Applicants should propose projects that include active and sustained 

engagement with first responders. This engagement ensures that the R&D 

outputs of each PSIAP-AR project are highly relevant and will have a 

meaningful impact on the public safety community. Applicants are encouraged 

to include funding in their proposed budget for non-federal first responders and 

public safety personnel to actively participate within their projects, and to 

budget significant time and sufficient travel for this interaction. Federal entities 

are not eligible to receive funding under this NOFO, though they may 

participate as unfunded collaborators. 

Applicants should also ensure that their R&D projects are tailored to 

disseminate their ideas and technology to the public safety stakeholder 

community. Dissemination may be achieved through publications and 

technology transfer including: commercialization, training, or the release of 

tools, designs, and/or data sets. Applicants may include costs to support the 

dissemination of the results and lessons of their PSIAP-AR R&D efforts to the 

public safety stakeholder community in their project budgets.

3) Goals

The PSIAP-AR is one of several initiatives within PSCR. The goal of the PSIAPAR is to accelerate R&D in AR that directly impacts first responder operations 

through improved user interfaces. The purpose of this NOFO is to implement 

technology that will enable researchers to test and develop user interfaces to 

enhance public safety. Award recipients can help achieve this by creating new 

technology or applying current technology to a specific public safety use case. 

Recipients may also conduct research to support the use of AR hardware and 

applications including cybersecurity, usability, and human-computer interaction. 

The R&D produced from the awards made under this NOFO should aid in the 

future development and adoption of AR systems for first responder operations. 

Applicants may propose to develop various AR solutions around the first 

responders use case. These include design and development of virtual content, 

programming tasks for training and operations, prototyping user interfaces (e.g., 

heads-up display, holograms) and hardware, improving authentication and 

security of AR systems, and incorporating information from location-based 

services research. 
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Applicants may also propose conducting research to enhance the development 

and adoption of AR interfaces for public safety operations. This includes 

improving human factors assessments of AR headsets, measuring the usability 

of AR hardware and virtual content, developing new tools, methodologies and/or 

gestures for improved interactions with devices, and incorporating additional user 

interfaces through other feedback mechanisms (e.g., sound, tactile) to enhance 

the user experience.

Applications may also address specific research areas around the effectiveness 

and transferability of developing, testing, and deploying AR for first responders. 

Potential areas of research include but are not limited to: cognitive load, physical 

strain, content, user interface attributes and delivery, measurement capabilities, 

and testing methodologies.

The following are examples of the types of R&D projects that PSCR envisions 

funding through this NOFO. However, other types of projects will also be 

considered provided they meet the program goals. 

i. Develop training applications with AR that can provide a feedback loop for 

assessing and improving performance. Examples include, but are not 

limited to, mobile incident command, operating a pump panel, identifying 

hazardous materials, or conducting medical assessments. 

ii. Conduct studies using AR for first responder tasks. Identify general 

usability characteristics of AR hardware and application configurations that 

map to the various first responder context of operations.

iii. Research and develop 3D virtual content that could be potentially 

standardized for different information categories (e.g., vital monitoring 

sensors, temperature readings, interactive maps). 

iv. Develop heuristic evaluation modals for assessing AR user interfaces. 

v. Research the impact of different gesture-based interactions and controls 

from human factors and ergonomic perspective. Identify what kinds of 

gestures make sense for first responders based on their context of 

operations. 

vi. Prototype new AR hardware configurations that are built around the 

environmental conditions, personal protective equipment, and 

communications technology needs for various first responder disciplines. 

vii. Utilize artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance object identification for first 

responder tasks. Improve interactions with common items public safety 

interacts with on a day to day basis. 
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viii. Research and develop solutions for addressing AR headset authentication 

in multiuser environments.

ix. Develop or enhance methods of interacting with unmanned vehicles (e.g., 

drones, submarines, ground) through AR systems. 

x. Leverage the Location-Based Services (LBS) Point Cloud City (PC2) 3D

point cloud datasets along with location information from existing indoor 

localization technologies and AR sensor data (e.g., simultaneous 

localization and mapping (SLAM)) to visualize location and navigation 

information.

4) PSCR Public Safety Broadband Stakeholder Meetings. PSCR hosts an annual 

stakeholders meeting with public safety, industry, and academia. The meeting 

provides the opportunity to share project updates and identify new endeavors. 

Awardees will be required to send a minimum of one team member to the meetings 

to meet with stakeholders and present key plans and findings of their work to date. 

Awardees may be given the opportunity to present materials through plenary, 

demonstration tables, or poster sessions. These meetings should be included in 

project timelines and budgets. Costs for attending this meeting and any other travel 

must be included in the project budget.

II. Federal Award Information

1. Funding Instrument

The funding instruments that will be used are grants or cooperative 

agreements, as appropriate. Where cooperative agreements are used, the 

nature of NIST’s “substantial involvement” will generally include collaboration 

with the recipient organization in developing and implementing the approved 

scope of work, in accordance with 2 CFR § 200.24.
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2. Multi-Year Funding Policy 

When an application for a multi-year award is approved, funding will usually 

be provided for only the first year of the project. If a project is selected for 

funding, NIST has no obligation to provide any additional funding in 

connection with that award. Continuation of an award to increase funding or 

extend the period of performance is at the sole discretion of NIST. Continued 

funding will be contingent upon satisfactory performance, continued relevance 

to the mission and priorities of PSCR, and the availability of funds. NIST may 

elect to fund awards in this program under the multi-year funding policy or to 

fully fund the award in the first year. 

3. Funding Availability

In FY 2021, NIST anticipates funding up to $5,000,000 in new awards. Funds 

are expected to range from $300,000 to $600,000 per year per project. 

Project performance periods may be up to two (2) years, with the exception of 

proposals submitted by institutions of higher education for the purposes of 

supporting research by graduate students as part of a doctoral program, for 

which the period of performance may be up to three (3) years.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligibility for the program listed in this NOFO is open to all non-Federal 

entities. Eligible applicants include accredited institutions of higher education;

non-profit organizations; for-profit organizations; state, local, territorial, and 

Indian tribal governments; hospitals; and foreign organizations. Please note 

that individuals and unincorporated sole proprietors are not considered “nonFederal entities” and are not eligible to apply under this NOFO. Although 

Federal entities are not eligible to receive funding under this NOFO, they may 

participate as unfunded collaborators. 

NIST will consider multiple applications per applicant; however, an individual 

researcher may only be listed as the principal investigator on one application. 

In addition, applicants should refrain from submitting multiple applications with 

related subject matter. 

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Non-federal cost share is not required for awards issued pursuant to this 

NOFO.
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IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

The application package is available at Grants.gov under Funding 

Opportunity Number 2020-NIST-PSIAP-AR.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

a. Required Forms and Documents. The Application must contain the 

following:

(1) SF-424 (R&R), Application for Federal Assistance. The SF-424 

(R&R) must be signed by an authorized representative of the applicant 

organization. 

For SF-424 (R&R), Items 5, 14, and 19, use the Zip Code + 4 format 

(##### - ####) when addresses are called for.

For SF-424 (R&R), Item 17, the list of certifications and assurances is 

contained in the SF-424B (item (3) below).

SF-424 (R&R), Item 18. If the SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying 

Activities form (item (6) below) is applicable, attach it to field 18. 

Instructions for filling in the SF-424 (R&R) can be found in the 2020-

NIST-PSIAP-AR Application Instructions document found on 

Grants.gov, as well as at Instructions SF424 (R&R) Application for 

Federal Assistance.

(2) Research & Related Budget (Total Fed + Non-Fed). The budget 

should reflect anticipated expenses for the full term of the project, 

considering all potential cost increases, including cost of living 

adjustments. 

The budget should be detailed in these categories:

A. Senior/Key Person;

B. Other Personnel;

C. Equipment Description;

D. Travel;

E. Participant/Trainee Support Costs

F. Other Direct Costs;

G. Direct Costs (automatically generated);

H. Indirect Costs;

I. Total Direct and Indirect Costs (automatically generated);
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J. Fee (not relevant to this competition);

K. Total Costs and Fee (automatically generated);

L. Budget Narrative and Justification document (item (8) below) 

should be attached to field L.

A separate detailed R&R Budget must be completed for each budget 

period during the proposed award (e.g., annual basis). To add 

additional budget periods (e.g., year 2), click “Add Period” embedded 

at the end of the form. Instructions for completing the Research & 

Related Budget (Total Fed + Non-Fed) form can be found in the 2020-

NIST-PSIAP-AR Application Instructions document on Grants.gov, as 

well as at Instructions R&R Budget (Total Fed + Non-Fed) Budget.

(3) SF-424B, Assurances – Non-Construction Programs (if applicable). 

The SF-424B is required for all applicants that have not updated their 

System for Award Management (SAM.gov) entity registration since 

February 2, 2019 to include the Federal financial assistance 

certifications and representations (certs and reps). If an applicant has 

updated their SAM.gov entity registration since February 2, 2019 to 

include the certifications and representations, then the SF-424B is not 

required. 

(4) CD-511, Certification Regarding Lobbying. Enter “2020-NIST-

 PSIAP-AR” in the Award Number field. Enter the title of the 

 application, or an abbreviation of that title, in the Project Name 

 field.

(5) Research and Related Other Project Information. Answer the 

 highlighted questions and use this form to attach the Executive 

Summary and Quad Chart (item (7) below); the Project Narrative (item 

(8) below); the Resume(s) (item (9) below); the Indirect Cost Rate 

Agreement (item (11) below); Letters of Commitment (item (12) 

below); the Data Management Plan (item (13) below); and the Current 

and Pending Support Form (item (15) below). Instructions for the 

Research and Related Other Project Information form can be found by 

visiting the R & R Family section of the Grants.gov Forms Repository 

and scrolling down to the Form Instructions for the Research and 

Related Other Project Information form.

Please note that the Project Summary/Abstract is not relevant to this 

competition. However, Grants.gov requires an attachment to field 7 of 

the Research and Related Other Project Information form to 

successfully pass through Grants.gov. Please attach a document to 

field 7 stating, “A Project Summary/Abstract is not relevant to this 

competition”.
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(6) SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable). 

(7) Executive Summary and Quad Chart. (This does not count toward 

the page limit.) The executive summary must explicitly state the 

objectives and approaches to meet those objectives, anticipated 

challenges, and benefits and impacts of the proposed project. The

quad chart must contain a problem statement, the concept of the 

proposed project, the potential impact of the project, and key 

milestones and/or deliverables. The executive summary and the 

quad chart must not exceed one (1) page each. Any materials 

provided beyond the one (1) page limit for the executive summary and 

the one (1) page limit for the quad chart will be redacted and not 

provided to the reviewers. 

(8) Project Narrative. The Project Narrative is a word-processed

 document of no more than twenty (20) pages (double-spaced between 

 lines), which is responsive to the program description (see Section I. 

 of this NOFO) and the evaluation criteria (see Section V.1. of this 

 NOFO). The Project Narrative must contain the following 

 information:

(a) Project Description. This is a detailed description of the proposed 

project and should include:

i. A clear problem statement and well-defined objectives;

ii. A description of how the proposed R&D aligns with and meets the 

relevant goal(s) described in Section I. of this NOFO;

iii. A technology assessment that reflects the current state of the 

technology and the projected state of the technology as a direct 

result of successful project completion;

iv. Technology-specific key performance indicators and goals, as well 

as measurement techniques; 

v. Drawings, renderings, or diagrams and an explicit description of 

standards-based vs. non-standards-based interfaces, if 

applicable;

vi. Identification of anticipated outputs with a discussion of how the 

research and technology developed will be disseminated or 

made available; and

vii. Discussion of potential impacts to first responder communications 

and operations.

This section will be evaluated in accordance with the following three 

evaluation criteria: Technical, Performance, and Budget (see

Sections V.1.a.-c., of this NOFO). 
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(b) Project Execution. This section should provide clear and 

quantifiable milestones, timelines, and outputs that support the 

goals in the Project Narrative. Technology transfer activities should 

not be included in this section, but rather in the Project Description, 

Section IV.2.a.(8)(a)vi.

This section will be evaluated in accordance with the Performance

evaluation criteria (see Section V.1.b.) of this NOFO).

(c) Qualifications and Resources Availability. This section should 

provide a detailed description of the qualifications of key personnel, 

both technical and managerial, who will be assigned to work on the 

proposed project. In addition, the applicant’s experience with 

technology development and production should be described, as 

well as the applicant’s access to the necessary staff, equipment, 

facilities, and overall support and resources required to accomplish 

the proposed objectives. Examples of the applicant’s demonstrated 

success on projects that are similar in scope and magnitude to the 

proposed project should be included in this section, if applicable. In 

addition, the applicant’s plans to sustain and manage work related 

to or in support of the proposed project once the project is complete 

should be included. 

This section will be evaluated in accordance with the Performance 

evaluation criteria (see Section V.1.b.) of this NOFO.

(9) Resume(s).

Resumes are required for all key personnel, including the principal 

investigator. Resumes are limited to two (2) pages per individual and do 

not count toward the twenty (20) page limit.

This section will be evaluated in accordance with the Performance

evaluation criterion (see Sections V.1.b of this NOFO). 

(10) Budget Narrative and Justification.

There is no set format for the Budget Narrative and Justification; 

however, further explanation must be provided for the specific cost 

categories and line items identified in the Instructions R&R Budget 

(Total Fed + Non-Fed) Budget, as well as any other 

information you deem necessary for NIST’s consideration. The Budget 

Narrative and Justification must be attached to the Research & Related 

Budget (Total Fed + Non-Fed).

The written justification should include the necessity and the basis for 
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the cost. Proposed funding levels must be consistent with the project 

scope, and only allowable costs should be included in the budget. 

Information on cost allowability is available in the Uniform 

Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements 

for Federal Awards at 2 C.F.R. Part 200 (http://go.usa.gov/SBYh), 

which apply to awards in this program.

The Budget Narrative does not count against the twenty (20) page limit 

of the Project Narrative.

This section will be evaluated in accordance with the Budget evaluation 

criteria (see Section V.1.c. of this NOFO). It will also be reviewed to 

determine if all costs are reasonable, allocable, and allowable under 2 

C.F.R. Part 200 Subpart E, Cost Principles.

Information needed for each category is as follows:

(a) Senior/Key Person – At a minimum, the budget justification should 

include the following: name, job title, commitment of effort on the 

proposed project in terms of average number of hours per week or 

percentage of time, salary rate, total direct charges on the 

proposed project, description of the role of the individual on the 

proposed project and the work to be performed.

Fringe benefits should be identified separately from salaries and 

wages and based on rates determined by organizational policy. The 

items included in the fringe benefit rate (e.g., health insurance, 

parking, etc.) should not be charged under another cost category.

(b) Other Personnel - Data is requested at the project role level, and 

not at the individual level for Other Personnel. The budget 

justification should include the following: job title, commitment of 

effort on the proposed project in terms of average number of hours 

per week or percentage of time, salary rate, total direct charges on 

the proposed project, description of the role of the position on the 

proposed project and the work to be performed.

Fringe benefits should be identified separately from salaries and 

wages and based on rates determined by organizational policy. The 

items included in the fringe benefit rate (e.g., health insurance, 

parking, etc.) should not be charged under another cost category.

(c) Equipment Description – Equipment is defined as an item of 

property that has an acquisition cost of $5,000 or more (unless the 

organization has established lower levels) and an expected service 
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life of more than one year. The budget justification should list each 

piece of equipment, the cost, and a description of how it will be 

used and why it is necessary to the successful completion of the 

proposed project. Please note that any general use equipment 

(computers, etc.) charged directly to the award should be allocated 

to the award according to expected usage on the project. 

Applicants should provide at least two (2) quotes, if available, for 

equipment costing $25,000 or more. If two (2) quotes are not 

available, please provide a statement as to why two (2) quotes are 

not available. Any items that do not meet the threshold for 

equipment can be included under the Materials and Supplies line 

item in Section F, Other Direct Costs.

(d) Travel - For all travel costs, required by the recipient to complete 

the project, including attendance at any relevant conferences, the 

budget justification for travel should include the following: 

destination; names or number of people traveling; dates and/or 

duration; mode of transportation, lodging and subsistence rates; 

and description of how the travel is directly related to the proposed 

project. For travel that is yet to be determined, please provide best 

estimates based on prior experience. If a destination is not known, 

an approximate amount may be used with the assumptions given 

for the location of the meeting.

As is described in Section I.4) of this NOFO, PSIAP-AR recipients 

will be required to send a minimum of one team member to the 

PSCR Public Safety Broadband Stakeholder Meetings each 

Summer during the term of the award to meet with stakeholders 

and present key plans and findings of their work to date. The 

meetings are typically three to four days in length, but the exact 

dates and location of future meetings have not been determined 

yet. The stakeholder’s meeting will be held in the continental United 

States.

In addition, PSCR encourages applicants to consider other 

academic, industry, and public safety forums to present their work. 

Applicants that propose such activities should address the potential 

impact in the Project Narrative.

Applicants should factor in the cost for attending these events in 

their budget narrative and Research & Related Budget (Total Fed + 

Non-Fed) form.

(e) Participant/Trainee Support Costs – Participant support costs are 

stipends, subsistence allowances, travel, and registration fees paid 
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to or on behalf of participants or trainees, who are not employees of 

your organization, for conferences or training projects. The budget 

justification should indicate the names or number of participants or 

trainees, a description and calculation of costs per person, a 

description and date of the event, and a description of why the cost 

is necessary for the successful completion of the proposed project.

(f) Other Direct Costs – For costs that do not easily fit into the other

cost categories, please list the cost, and the breakdown of the total 

costs by quantity or unit of cost. Include the necessity of the cost for 

the completion of the proposed project. Only allowable costs can be 

charged to the award. 

Each subaward or contractual cost should be treated as a separate 

item in the Other Direct Costs category. Describe the services to be 

provided and the necessity of the subaward or contract to the 

successful performance of the proposed project. Contracts are for 

obtaining goods and services. Subawardees perform part of the 

project scope of work. For each subaward, applicants must provide 

budget detail justifying the cost of the work performed on the 

project.

(g) Indirect Costs – Commonly referred to as Facilities & 

Administrative Costs, Indirect Costs are defined as costs incurred 

by the applicant organization that cannot otherwise be directly 

assigned or attributed to a specific project. For more details, see

Section IV.2.a.(11) of this NOFO.

(11) 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 Section B.06 of the

Department of Commerce Standard Terms and Conditions, dated April 30, 

2019.

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 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 
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part of the budget portion of the application. Foreign applicants will be 

limited to use of the de minimis rate and will not have the opportunity to 

negotiate an indirect cost rate with NIST. 

(12) Letters of Commitment. Letters of commitment must be submitted by 

all funded and unfunded entities that will have an active role in executing 

the activities outlined in the Project Narrative. Letters of commitment 

should address the level of participation, qualifications of the personnel 

who will be actively involved, and the potential impact on the field. Letters 

of commitment must be signed by an individual with sufficient authority to 

legally bind the organization to its commitment.

Letters of commitment will be evaluated in accordance with the 

Performance evaluation criteria (see Section V.1.b. of this NOFO). Letters 

of commitment do not count against the twenty (20) page limit of the 

Project Narrative.

(a) Public Safety Organizations. All applications must include at least 

one Letter of Commitment from a PSO, unless the applicant 

organization is a PSO. Applications from non-PSO entities that lack a 

Letter of Commitment from a PSO will be deemed ineligible and not 

receive further consideration. 

Letters of commitment from PSO partners must address the

importance of the proposed work as well as potential impact for first 

responders and public safety in general. Applicants must include a 

detailed description identifying how first responders will be actively 

engaged throughout the proposed project. For purposes of this NOFO, 

PSOs include U.S. federal, state, and local EMS, fire services, law 

enforcement, and public safety communications/911 centers. Please 

note that Federal entities are not eligible to receive funding under this 

NOFO, though they may participate as unfunded collaborators.

(13) Data Management Plan. Consistent with NIST Policy 5700.002, 

Managing Public Access to Results of Federally Funded Research, and 

NIST Order 5701.003, Managing Public Access to Results of Federally 

Funded Research”, applicants must include a Data Management Plan 

(DMP).

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

must include, at a minimum, a summary of proposed activities that are 

expected to generate data, a summary of the types of data expected to be 

2 https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2018/06/19/final_p_5700.pdf

3 https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2019/11/08/final_o_5701_ver_2.pdf 
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generated by the identified activities, 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. As long as the 

DMP meets these NIST requirements, it may take the form specified by 

the applicant’s institution or some other entity (e.g., the National Science 

Foundation4 or the National Institutes of Health5).

All applications for activities that will generate scientific data using NIST 

funding are required to submit a DMP or explain why data sharing and/or 

preservation are not within the scope of the project.

For the purposes of the DMP, NIST adopted the definition of “research 

data” at 2 C.F.R. § 200.315(e)(3) (available at http://go.usa.gov/3sZvQ). 

Reasonable costs for data preservation and access may be included in 

the application.

(14) Subaward Budget Form. The Research & Related Subaward Budget 

Attachment Form is required if sub-recipients and contractors are 

included in the application budget. 

Instructions for completing subaward budget forms are available by 

visiting the R & R Family section of the Grants.gov Forms Repository and 

scrolling down to the R & R Subaward Budget Attachment(s) Form and 

selecting “Instructions.”

(15) Current and Pending Support Form. Any application that includes 

investigators, researchers, and key personnel must identify all sources of 

current and potential funding, including this proposal. Any current project 

support (e.g., Federal, state, local, public or private foundations, etc.)

must be listed on this form. The proposed project and all other projects or 

activities requiring a portion of time of the Principal Investigator (PI), coPI, and key personnel must be included, even if no salary support is 

received. The total award amount for the entire award period covered, 

including indirect costs, must be shown as well as the number of personmonths per year to be devoted to the project, regardless of the source of 

support. Similar information must be provided for all proposals already 

submitted or that are being submitted concurrently to other potential 

funders. 

4 http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/dmp.jsp 5 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing/data_sharing_guidance.htm
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Applicants must complete the Current and Pending Support Form, using 

multiple forms as necessary to account for all activity for each individual

identified in the PI, co-PI and key personnel roles. A separate form 

should be used for each identified individual. 

Applicants must download the Current and Pending Support Form from 

the NIST website at https://www.nist.gov/oaam/grants-managementdivision/current-and-pending-support and reference the guidance 

provided as it contains information to assist with accurately completing 

the form.

b. Attachment of Required Documents

Items IV.2.a.(1) through IV.2.a.(5) above are part of the standard 

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

download application process.

Item IV.2.a.(6), the SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities form, is an 

optional application form which is part of the standard application package 

in Grants.gov. If item IV.2.a.(6), the SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying 

Activities form is applicable to this proposal, attach it to field 18 of the SF424 (R&R), Application for Federal Assistance.

Item IV.2.a.(8), the Project Narrative, should be attached to field 8 (Project 

Narrative) of the Research and Related Other Project Information form by 

clicking on “Add Attachment”.

Item IV.2.a.(10), the Budget Narrative and Justification, should be

attached to field L (Budget Justification) of the Research and Related 

Budget (Total Fed + Total Non-Fed) form by clicking on “Add Attachment”.

Items IV.2.a.(7), the Executive Summary and Quad Chart; IV.2.a.(9), the

Resume(s); IV.2.a.(11), the Indirect Cost Rate Agreement; IV.2.a.(12),

Letters of Commitment; IV.2.a.(13), the Data Management Plan; and 

IV.2.a.(15), the Current and Pending Support Form, must be completed 

and attached by clicking on “Add Attachments” found in item 12 (Other 

Attachments) of the Research and Related Other Project Information form. 

Item IV.2.a.(14), the Subaward Budget Form(s), if applicable to the 

submission, should be attached to the Research & Related Subaward 

Budget (Total Fed + Non-Fed) Attachment(s) Form in the application 

package.

Following these directions will create zip files which permit transmittal of 

the documents electronically via Grants.gov. 
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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 indicates only that an 

application was transferred to a system. It does not provide details 

concerning whether all attachments (or how many attachments) 

transferred successfully. Applicants 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 strongly advised to use Grants.gov’s “Download Submitted 

Forms and Applications” option to check that their application’s required 

attachments were contained in their submission.

After submitting the application, check the status of your application here:

CHECK APPLICATION STATUS . If any, or all, of the required 

attachments are absent from the submission, follow the attachment 

directions found above, resubmit the application, and check again for the 

presence of the required attachments.

If the directions found at 

https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/index.htm#t=GetStarted%2FGetStar

ted.htm are not effective, please contact the Grants.gov Help Desk 

immediately. If calling from within the United States or from a U.S. 

territory, please call 800-518-4726. If calling from a place outside the 

United States or a U.S. territory, please call 606-545-5035. E-mails should 

be addressed to support@grants.gov. Assistance from the Grants.gov 

Help Desk will be available around the clock every day, with the exception 

of Federal holidays. Help Desk service will resume at 7:00 a.m. Eastern 

Time the day after Federal holidays.

NIST uses the Tracking Numbers assigned by Grants.gov, and does not 

issue Agency Tracking Numbers.

c. Application Format

(1) Paper, Email, and Facsimile (fax) Submissions. Will not be 

accepted.

(2) Figures, Graphs, Images, and Pictures. Should be of a size that is 

easily readable or viewable and may be displayed in landscape 

orientation. Any figures, graphs, images, or pictures will count toward 

the page limits for the Project Narrative.

(3) Font. Easy to read font (10-point minimum). Smaller type may be used 

in figures and tables but must be clearly legible.
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(4) Page Limit. The Project Narrative is limited to twenty (20) pages 

double spaced.

(5) Page Limit Exclusions:

SF-424 (R&R), Application for Federal Assistance;

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

CD-511, Certification Regarding Lobbying;

SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities;

Executive Summary and Quad Chart (limited to one (1) page each);

Resumes of key personnel (limited to two (2) pages each);

Budget Narrative and Justification;

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement;

Letters of Commitment;

Data Management Plan;

Subaward Budget Form;

Current and Pending Support Form.

(6) Page Layout. The Project Narrative must be in portrait orientation.

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

inches).

(8) Page numbering. Number pages sequentially.

(9) Application language. English. All documents must be in English, 

including but not limited to the initial application, any additional 

documents submitted in response to a NIST request, all reports, and 

any correspondence with NIST. 

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

handwritten forms will not be accepted.

d. 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.

e. Pre-Applications. Pre-applications will not be accepted under this NOFO.

f. Certifications Regarding Federal Felony and Federal Criminal Tax 

 Convictions, Unpaid Federal Tax Assessments and Delinquent Federal 

 Tax Returns. In accordance with Federal appropriations law, an authorized 

 representative of the selected applicant(s) may be required to provide

 certain pre-award certifications regarding federal felony and federal criminal 
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 tax convictions, unpaid federal tax assessments, and delinquent federal tax 

 returns.

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM). 

Pursuant to 2 C.F.R. part 25, applicants and recipients 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 and, 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 NOFO, 

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.

4. Submission Dates and Times

 Applications must be received at Grants.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern 

 Time, October 1, 2020. NIST will consider the date and time recorded by 

Grants.gov as the official submission time. Applications received after this 

deadline will not be reviewed or considered. Paper applications will not be

accepted.

Applicants should be aware, and factor in their application submission planning, 

that the Grants.gov system is expected to be closed for routine maintenance at 

the following times. Applications cannot be submitted when Grants.gov is closed:

From 12:01 A.M. Eastern Time

Saturday

To 6:00 A.M. Eastern Time

Monday

August 15, 2020 August 17, 2020

September 19, 2020 September 21, 2020

When developing the submission timeline, please keep in mind that: (1) all 

applicants are required to have current registrations in the electronic System for 

Award Management (SAM.gov) and Grants.gov; (2) the free annual registration 

process in the SAM.gov (see Sections IV.3. and IV.7.a.(1).(b). of this NOFO) 

generally takes between three and five business days but can take more than 

three weeks; and applicants will receive e-mail notifications over a period of up to 

two business days as the application moves through intermediate systems before 

the applicant learns via a validation or rejection notification whether NIST has 

received the application. (See Grants.gov for full information on application and 

notification through Grants.gov.) Please note that a Federal assistance award 

cannot be issued if the designated recipient’s registration in the System for 

Award Management (SAM.gov) is not current at the time of the award.
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5. Intergovernmental Review

Applications under this Program are not subject to Executive Order 12372.

6. Funding Restrictions

Profit or fee is not an allowable cost.

7. Other Submission Requirements

a. Applications must be submitted electronically.

(1) Applications must be submitted at Grants.gov.

(a) Applicants should carefully follow specific Grants.gov instructions to 

ensure that all attachments will be accepted by the Grants.gov 

system. A receipt from Grants.gov indicating an application is 

received does not provide information about whether attachments 

have been received. For further information or questions regarding 

applying electronically for the 2020-NIST-PSIAP-AR 

announcement, contact the Grants.gov Help Desk at 800-518-

4726.

(b) Applicants are strongly encouraged to start early and not wait until 

the approaching due date before logging on and reviewing the 

instructions for submitting an application through Grants.gov. The 

Grants.gov registration process must be completed before a new 

registrant can apply electronically. The typical registration process 

takes three to five business days. If problems are encountered, the 

registration process can take two weeks or more. Applicants must 

have a valid unique entity identifier number and must maintain a 

current registration in the Federal government’s primary registrant 

database, the System for Award Management 

(https://www.sam.gov/), as explained on the Grants.gov Web site 

(also see Section IV.3. of this NOFO). After registering, it may take 

several days or longer from the initial log-on before a new 

Grants.gov system user can submit an application. Only individuals 

authorized as organization representatives will be able to submit 

the application, and the system may need time to process a 

submitted application. Applicants should save and print the proof of 

submission they receive from Grants.gov. If problems occur while 

using Grants.gov, the applicant is advised to (a) print any error 

message received and (b) call Grants.gov directly for immediate 

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

territory, please call 800-518-4726. If calling from a place other than 

the United States or a U.S. territory, please call 606-545-5035. 

Assistance from the Grants.gov Help Desk will be available around 
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the clock every day, except for Federal holidays. Help Desk service 

will resume at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time the day after Federal 

holidays. For assistance using Grants.gov, the applicant may also 

contact support@grants.gov.

(c) To find instructions for submitting an application on Grants.gov, 

applicants should refer to the “Applicants” tab in the banner just 

below the top of the Grants.gov home page. Clicking on the 

“Applicants” tab produces two exceptionally useful sources of 

information, Applicant Actions and Applicant Resources, which 

applicants are advised to review.

Applicants 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 should pay close attention to the guidance under 

Grants.gov’s “Applicant FAQs,”as it contains information important 

to successful submission, including essential details on the naming 

conventions for attachments to applications.

All applicants should be aware that adequate time must be factored 

into applicants’ schedules for delivery of their application. 

Applicants are advised that volume on Grants.gov may be 

extremely heavy leading up to the deadline.

The application must be both received and validated by Grants.gov. 

The application is “received” when Grants.gov provides the 

applicant a confirmation of receipt and an application tracking 

number. If an applicant does not see this confirmation and tracking 

number, the application has not been received. After the application 

has been received, it must still be validated. During this process, it 

may be “validated” or “rejected with errors”. To ascertain whether 

the application was rejected with errors and the reasons for the 

rejection, the applicant must log in to Grants.gov, select 

“Applicants” from the top navigation, and select “Track my 

application” from the drop-down list. If the status is “rejected with 

errors,” the applicant may still seek to correct the errors and

resubmit the application before the deadline. If the applicant does 

not correct the errors, the application will not be forwarded to NIST 

by Grants.gov.

Refer to important information in Section IV.4. Submission Dates 

and Times, to help ensure the application is received on time.
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b. Amendments. Any amendments to this NOFO will be announced through 

Grants.gov. Applicants may sign up on Grants.gov to receive amendments 

by e-mail or may request copies by e-mail from pscr@nist.gov.

V. Application Review Information

1. Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be evaluated per the following evaluation criteria. Total 

scores will be calculated out of a maximum of 100 points according to the 

individual points below (sub-criteria in each category will be weighted 

equally):

a. Technical (40 points)

Strategic alignment: Reviewers will evaluate:

(a) The extent to which the proposed R&D meets the objectives listed in the 

Program Description (see Section I. of this NOFO). 

(b) The breadth of the responsiveness to the topic area goals. 

(c) The likelihood that successful implementation of the proposed solution 

will have a significant real-world impact.

(d) The sufficiency of the DMP to ensure adequate data creation, storage, 

maintenance, and dissemination. 

Market: Reviewers will evaluate:

(a) The extent to which the proposed solution would easily integrate with 

existing hardware and software platforms. 

(b) The likelihood that the technology or research outcomes could achieve 

widespread adoption in the marketplace.
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b. Performance (40 points)

Qualifications and Resources Availability: Reviewers will evaluate:

(a) The appropriateness of the qualifications and experience of the key staff, 

leadership, and technical experts. 

(b) The extent of the applicant’s prior experience and results achieved in 

leading programs similar in nature to the purpose, scope, and/or work 

activities as those described in Section I. of this NOFO.

(c) The sufficiency, availability, and appropriateness of proposed facilities 

and resources.

(d) Letters of commitment for the appropriateness of the partnership to 

PSIAP-AR, the relevance of the organization’s expertise, and their ability 

to contribute to the project. 

Project Execution: Reviewers will evaluate the feasibility and 

appropriateness of the milestones, timelines, and budgeted costs with 

respect to executing the proposed project and meeting the stated 

objectives.

Public Safety Mission: Reviewers will evaluate:

(a) Applicant’s demonstrated knowledge of public safety requirements, 

missions, operations, and tasks. 

(b) The extent of PSO engagement as expressed through letters of 

commitment from PSOs. 

c. Budget (20 points)

Reviewers will evaluate:

(a) The appropriateness and cost-effectiveness of the budget regarding the 

proposed work to be performed, per year for the entire project.

(b) The degree to which the budget and budget narrative reflect a clear 

understanding of the objectives and requirements of the NOFO.
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2. Selection Factors 

a. The Selection Factors for this competition are:

The results of the merit reviewers’ evaluations.

Adjectival ratings.

The availability of funding.

Whether the project duplicates other projects funded by NIST or other 

Government entities.

Alignment with NOFO objectives and PSCR priorities.

Diversity within the PSCR R&D portfolio.

Regional diversity.

3. Review and Selection Process

Proposals, reports, documents and other information related to applications 

submitted to NIST and/or relating to financial assistance awards issued by 

NIST will be reviewed and considered by Federal employees, or non-Federal 

personnel who have entered into conflict of interest and confidentiality

agreements covering such information, when applicable.

a. Initial Administrative Review of Applications. Applications received by 

the deadline will be reviewed to determine eligibility, completeness, and 

responsiveness to this NOFO and to the scope of the stated program 

objectives (see Section I. of this NOFO). Applications determined to be 

ineligible, incomplete, and/or nonresponsive may be eliminated from 

further review. However, NIST, in its sole discretion, may continue the 

review process for an application that is missing non-substantive 

information, the absence of which may easily be rectified during the review 

process.

b. 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 

process below: 

(1) Merit Review. At least three (3) objective reviewers, who may be 

Federal employees or non-Federal personnel, with appropriate 

professional and technical expertise relating to the topics covered in 

this NOFO, will evaluate and score each eligible, complete, and 

responsive application based on the evaluation criteria (see Section 

V.1. of this NOFO). While every application will have at least three (3) 

reviewers, applications may have more than three (3) reviewers if 

specialized expertise is needed to evaluate an application. During the 
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review process, the reviewers may discuss the applications with each 

other, but scores will be determined on an individual basis. 

(2) Evaluation Panel.

Following the merit review, an evaluation panel consisting of NIST 

staff and/or other Federal employees with the appropriate technical 

expertise will conduct a panel review of the ranked applications. The 

evaluation panel may contact applicants via e-mail to clarify contents 

of an application. The evaluation panel will provide a final adjectival 

rating and written evaluation of the applications to the Selecting 

Official for further consideration, considering:

•All application materials.

•Results of the merit reviewers’ evaluations, including scores and 

written assessments.

•Any relevant publicly available information.

•Any clarifying information obtained from the applicants.

The adjectival ratings are:

Outstanding;

Very Good;

Average;

Deficient.

For decision-making purposes, applications receiving the same

adjectival rating will be considered to have an equivalent ranking, 

although their review scores may not necessarily be the same.

(3) Selection. 

The Selecting Official, Chief of the PSCR Division, will make the final 

award recommendations to the NIST Grants Officer. The Selecting 

Official shall generally select and recommend the most meritorious 

applications for award based on the final adjectival ratings prepared 

by the Evaluation Panel and one or more of the selection factors 

below. The Selecting Official also retains the discretion to select and 

recommend applications out of order (i.e. from a lower adjectival 

category) based on one or more of the Selection Factors.

NIST reserves the right to negotiate the budget costs with the 

applicants that have been selected to receive awards, which may 

include requesting that the applicant remove certain costs. 

Additionally, NIST may request that the applicant modify objectives or 

work plans and provide supplemental information. NIST also reserves 
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the right to reject an application where information is uncovered that 

raises a reasonable doubt as to the responsibility of the applicant. 

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

any application. In some cases, NIST may ask applicants to consider 

combining projects. The final approval of selected applications and 

issuance of awards will be by the NIST Grants Officer. The award 

decisions of the NIST Grants Officer are final.

c. Federal Awarding Agency Review of Risk Posed by Applicants. After 

applications are proposed for funding by the Selecting Official, the NIST 

Grants Management Division (GMD) performs pre-award risk 

assessments in accordance with 2 C.F.R. § 200.205, which may include a 

review of the financial stability of an applicant, the quality of the applicant’s 

management systems, the history of performance, and/or the applicant’s 

ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements 

imposed on non-Federal entities. 

In addition, prior to making an award where the total Federal share is 

expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently 

$250,000), NIST GMD will review and consider the publicly available 

information about that applicant in the Federal Awardee Performance and 

Integrity Information System (FAPIIS). An applicant may, at its discretion, 

review and comment on information about itself previously entered into 

FAPIIS by a Federal awarding agency. As part of its review of risk posed 

by applicants, NIST GMD will consider any comments made by the 

applicant in FAPIIS in making its determination about the applicant’s 

integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal 

awards. Upon completion of the pre-award risk assessment, the Grants 

Officer will make a responsibility determination concerning whether the 

applicant is qualified to receive the subject award and, if so, whether 

appropriate specific conditions that correspond to the degree of risk posed 

by the applicant should be applied to an award.

4. Anticipated Announcement and Award Date

Review of applications, selection of successful applicants, and award 

processing is expected to be completed by November 2020. The earliest start 

date for awards under this NOFO is expected to be December 2020.

5. Additional Information

a. Safety. Safety is a top priority at NIST. Employees and affiliates of award 

recipients who conduct project work at NIST will be expected to be safetyconscious, to attend NIST safety training, and to comply with all NIST 

safety policies and procedures, and with all applicable terms of their guest 

research agreement.
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b. Notification to Unsuccessful Applicants. Unsuccessful applicants will 

be notified by e-mail and will have the opportunity to receive a debriefing 

after the opportunity is officially closed. Applicants must request within 10 

business days of the email notification to receive a debrief from the 

program office. The program office will then work with the unsuccessful 

applicant in arranging a date and time of the debrief.

c. Retention of Unsuccessful Applications. Unsuccessful applications will 

be retained in accordance with the General Record Schedule 1.2/021.

VI. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Federal Award Notices. Successful applicants will receive an award 

package from the NIST Grants Officer.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

a. Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit 

Requirements. Through 2 C.F.R. § 1327.101, the Department of 

Commerce adopted Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost 

Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards at 2 C.F.R. Part 

200, which apply to awards in this program. Refer to 

http://go.usa.gov/SBYh and http://go.usa.gov/SBg4.

b. Department of Commerce Financial Assistance Standard Terms and 

Conditions. The Department of Commerce will apply to each award in 

this program, the Financial Assistance Standard Terms and Conditions in 

effect on the date of award. The current version, dated April 30, 2019, is 

accessible here: Department of Commerce Standard Terms and 

Conditions. Refer to Section VII. of this NOFO, Federal Awarding Agency 

Contacts, Grant Rules and Regulations, if you need more information. 

c. Pre-Award Notification Requirements. The Department of Commerce 

will apply the Pre-Award Notification Requirements for Grants and 

Cooperative Agreements dated December 30, 2014 (79 FR 78390), 

accessible at http://go.usa.gov/hKkR. Refer to Section VII. of this NOFO, 

Federal Awarding Agency Contacts, Grant Rules and Regulations, for 

more information.

d. Funding Availability and Limitation of Liability. Funding for the 

program listed in this NOFO is contingent upon the availability of 

appropriations. NIST or the Department of Commerce will not be 

responsible for application preparation costs, including but not limited to if 

this program fails to receive funding or is cancelled because of agency 
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priorities. Publication of this NOFO does not oblige NIST or the 

Department of Commerce to award any specific project or to obligate any 

available funds.

e. Collaborations with NIST Employees. All applications should include a 

description of any work proposed to be performed by an entity other than 

the applicant, and the cost of such work should ordinarily be included in 

the budget. If an applicant proposes collaboration with NIST, the 

statement of work should include a statement of this intention, a 

description of the collaboration, and prominently identify the NIST 

employee(s) involved, if known. Any collaboration by a NIST employee 

must be approved by appropriate NIST management and is at the sole 

discretion of NIST. Prior to beginning the merit review process, NIST will 

verify the approval of the proposed collaboration. Any unapproved 

collaboration will be stricken from the application prior to the merit review. 

Any collaboration with an identified NIST employee that is approved by 

appropriate NIST management will not make an application more or less 

favorable in the competitive process.

f. Use of Government-Owned Intellectual Property. If the applicant 

anticipates using any Government-owned intellectual property to carry out 

the work proposed, the applicant should identify such intellectual property. 

This information will be used to ensure that no Federal employee involved 

in the development of the intellectual property will participate in the review 

process for that competition. In addition, if the applicant intends to use 

Government-owned intellectual property, the applicant must comply with 

all statutes and regulations governing the licensing of Federal government 

patents and inventions, described in 35 U.S.C. §§ 200-212, 37 C.F.R. Part 

401, 2 C.F.R. §200.315, and in Section C.03 of the Department of 

Commerce Standard Terms and Conditions dated April 30, 2019.

Questions about these requirements may be directed to the Chief Counsel 

for NIST, (301) 975-2803, nistcounsel@nist.gov.

Any use of government-owned intellectual property by a recipient of an 

award under this announcement is at the sole discretion of the Federal 

Government and will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis if a project is 

deemed meritorious. The applicant should indicate within the statement of 

work whether it already has a license to use such intellectual property or 

whether it intends to seek one.

If any inventions made in whole or in part by a Federal employee arise in 

the course of an award made pursuant to this NOFO, the United States 

Government may retain its ownership rights in any such invention. 

Licensing or other disposition of Federal Government’s rights in such 

inventions will be determined solely by the Federal Government, and 
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include the possibility of the Federal Government putting the intellectual 

property into the public domain.

g. Collaborations Making Use of Federal Facilities. All applications should 

include a description of any work proposed to be performed using Federal 

facilities. 

If an applicant proposes use of NIST facilities, the statement of work 

should include a statement of this intention and a description of the 

facilities. Any use of NIST facilities must be approved by appropriate 

NIST management and is at the sole discretion of NIST. Prior to beginning 

the merit review process, NIST will verify the availability of the facilities 

and approval of the proposed usage. Any unapproved facility use will be 

stricken from the application prior to the merit review. Examples of some 

facilities that may be available for collaborations are listed on the following 

NIST Web site: https://www.nist.gov/labs-major-programs/user-facilities.

h. Research Activities Involving Human Subjects, Human Tissue, Data 

or Recordings Involving Human Subjects Including Software Testing. 

Any application that includes research activities involving human subjects, 

human tissue/cells, or data or recordings from or about human subjects, 

must satisfy the requirements of the Common Rule for the Protection of 

Human Subjects (“Common Rule”), codified for the Department of 

Commerce at 15 C.F.R. Part 27. Research activities involving human 

subjects that fall within one or more of the classes of vulnerable subjects 

found in 45 C.F.R. Part 46, Subparts B, C and D must satisfy the 

requirements of the applicable subpart(s). In addition, any such application 

that includes research activities on these subjects must be in compliance 

with all applicable statutory requirements imposed upon the Department of 

Health and Human Services (DHHS) and other Federal agencies, all 

regulations, policies and guidance adopted by DHHS, the Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA), and other Federal agencies on these topics, and all 

Executive Orders and Presidential statements of policy on 

applicable topics. (Regulatory Resources: 

http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/index.html which includes links to 

FDA regulations, but may not include all applicable regulations and 

policies).

NIST uses the following Common Rule definitions for research and human 

subjects research:

Research: A systematic investigation, including research development, 

testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable 

knowledge. Activities which meet this definition constitute research for 
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purposes of this policy, whether or not they are conducted or supported 

under a program which is considered research for other purposes. For 

example, some demonstration and service programs may include 

research activities.

Human Subject: A living individual about whom an investigator (whether 

professional or student) conducting research: (i) Obtains information or 

biospecimens through intervention or interaction with the individual, and 

uses, studies, or analyzes the information or biospecimens; or (ii) Obtains, 

uses, studies, analyzes, or generates identifiable private information or 

identifiable biospecimens. 

(1) Intervention includes both physical procedures by which information 

or biospecimens are gathered and manipulations of the subject or 

the subject's environment that are performed for research 

purposes. 

(2) Interaction includes communication or interpersonal contact 

between investigator and subject. 

(3) Private information includes information about behavior that occurs 

in a context in which an individual can reasonably expect that no 

observation or recording is taking place, and information which has 

been provided for specific purposes by an individual and that the 

individual can reasonably expect will not be made public (for 

example, a medical record). Private information must be 

individually identifiable (i.e., the identity of the subject is or may 

readily be ascertained by the investigator associated with the 

information) in order for obtaining the information to constitute 

research involving human subjects. 

(4) Identifiable biospecimen includes a biospecimen for which the 

identity of the subject is or may readily be ascertained by the 

investigator or associated with the biospecimen.

See 15 C.F.R. § 27.102 (Definitions). 

1) Requirement for Federalwide Assurance. If the application is 

accepted for [or awarded] funding, organizations that have an 

Institutional Review Board (IRB) are required to follow the procedures 

of their organization for approval of exempt and non-exempt research 

activities that involve human subjects. Both domestic and foreign 

organizations performing exempt research requiring limited IRB review 

or non-exempt research activities involving human subjects will be 
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required to have protocols approved by a cognizant, active IRB 

currently registered with the Office for Human Research Protections 

(OHRP) within the DHHS that is linked to the engaged organizations. 

All engaged organizations must possess a currently valid Federalwide 

Assurance (FWA) on file from OHRP. Information regarding how to 

apply for an FWA and register an IRB with OHRP can be found at 

http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/assurances/index.html. See 15 C.F.R. § 

27.103. NIST relies only on OHRP-issued FWAs and IRB 

Registrations for both domestic and foreign organizations for NIST 

supported research involving human subjects. NIST will not issue its 

own FWAs or IRB Registrations for domestic or foreign organizations. 

2) Administrative Review. The NIST Research Protections Office (RPO) 

reserves the right to conduct an administrative review6 of all 

applications that potentially include research involving human subjects 

and were approved by an authorized non-NIST institutional entity (an 

IRB or entity analogous to the NIST RPO) under 15 C.F.R. § 27.112 

(Review by Institution). If the NIST RPO determines that an application 

includes research activities that potentially involve human subjects, the 

applicant will be required to provide additional information to NIST for 

review and approval. The documents required for funded proposals are 

listed in each section below. Most documents will need to be produced 

during the proposal review process; however, the Grants Officer may 

allow final versions of certain required documents to be produced at an 

appropriate designated time post-award. Research involving human 

subjects may not start until the NIST Grants Officer issues an award 

explicitly authorizing such research. In addition, all amendments, 

modifications, or changes to approved research and requests for 

continuing review and closure will be reviewed by the NIST RPO. 

3) Required documents for proposal review. All applications 

involving human subjects research must clearly indicate, by 

separable task, all research activities believed to be exempt or 

non-exempt research involving human subjects, the expected 

institution(s) where the research activities involving human 

6 Conducting an “administrative review” means that the NIST RPO will review and verify the performing 

institution’s determination for research not involving human subjects or exempt human subjects research. 

In addition, for exempt research requiring limited IRB review and non-exempt human subjects research, 

the NIST RPO will review and confirm that the research and performing institution(s) are in compliance 

with 15 C.F.R. Part 27, which means RPO will 1) confirm the engaged institution(s) possess, or are 

covered under a Federalwide Assurance, 2) review the research study documentation submitted to the 

IRB and verify the IRB’s determination of level of risk and approval of the study for compliance with 15 

C.F.R. Part 27, 3) review and verify IRB-approved substantive changes to an approved research study 

before the changes are implemented, and 4) review and verify that the IRB conducts a continuing review 

at least annually, as appropriate.
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subjects may be conducted, and the institution(s) expected to be 

engaged in the research activities.

a. Not research determination. If an activity/task involves human 

subjects as defined in the Common Rule, but the applicant 

participant(s) indicates to NIST that the activity/task is not research 

as defined in the Common Rule, the following information may be 

requested for that activity/task:

(1) Justification, including the rationale for the determination and 

such additional documentation as may be deemed necessary by 

NIST to review and/or support a determination that the 

activity/task in the application is not research as defined in the 

Common Rule. 

(2) If the applicant participant(s) used a cognizant IRB that provided 

a determination that the activity/task is not research, a copy of 

that determination documentation must be provided to NIST. 

The applicant participant(s) is not required to establish a 

relationship with a cognizant IRB if they do not have one.

NIST will review the information submitted and may coordinate further 

with the applicant before determining whether the activity/task will be 

defined as research under the Common Rule in the applicable NIST 

financial assistance program or project.

b. Research not involving human subjects. If an activity/task is 

determined to be research and involves human subjects, but is 

determined to be not human subjects research (or research not 

involving human subjects) under the Common Rule, the following 

information may be requested for that activity/task:

(1) Justification, including the rationale for the determination and 

such additional documentation as may be deemed necessary by 

NIST to review and/or support a determination that the 

activity/task in the application is not research as defined in the 

Common Rule. 

(2) If the applicant participant(s) used a cognizant IRB that provided 

a determination that the activity/task is research not involving 

human subjects, a copy of that determination documentation 

must be provided to NIST. The applicant participant(s) is not 

required to establish a relationship with a cognizant IRB if they 

do not have one.

c. Exempt research determination with no IRB. If the application 

appears to NIST to include exempt research activities that do not 
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meet the criteria for requiring a limited IRB review, and the 

performer of the activity or the supplier and/or the receiver of the 

information or biospecimens from human subjects does not have a 

cognizant IRB to provide an exemption determination, the following 

information may be requested during the review process so that 

NIST can evaluate whether an exemption under the Common Rule 

applies (see 15 C.F.R. § 27.104(b) and (d)):

(1) The name(s) of the institution(s) where the exempt research will 

be conducted.

(2) The name(s) of the institution(s) providing the biospecimens or 

information from human subjects.

(3) A copy of the protocol for the research to be conducted; and/or 

the biospecimens or information from human subjects to be 

collected/provided, not pre-existing samples (i.e., will proposed 

research collect only information without personal identifiable 

information, will biospecimens or information be de-identified 

and when and by whom was the de-identification performed, 

how were the materials or data originally collected).

(4) For pre-existing biospecimens or information from human 

subjects, provide copies of the consent forms used for collection 

and a description of how the biospecimens or information were 

originally collected and stripped of personal identifiers. If copies 

of consent forms are not available, explain.

(5) Any additional clarifying documentation that NIST may deem 

necessary in order to make a determination whether the 

activity/task or use of biospecimens or information from human 

subjects is exempt under the Common Rule.

d. Research review with an IRB. If the application appears to NIST 

to include research activities (exempt or non-exempt) involving 

human subjects, and the proposed performer of the activity has a 

cognizant IRB registered with OHRP, and linked to their 

Federalwide Assurance, the following information may be 

requested during the review process:

(1) The name(s) of the institution(s) where the research will be 

conducted.

(2) The name(s) and institution(s) of the cognizant IRB(s), and the 

IRB registration number(s).

(3) The FWA number of the applicant linked to the cognizant 

IRB(s).

(4) The FWAs associated with all organizations engaged in the 

planned research activity/task, linked to the cognizant IRB.
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(5) If the IRB review(s) is pending, the estimated start date for 

research involving human subjects.

(6) The IRB approval date (if currently approved for exempt or nonexempt research).

(7) If any of the engaged organizations has applied for or will apply 

for an FWA or IRB registration, those details should be clearly 

provided for each engaged organization.

If the application includes research activities involving human 

subjects to be performed in the first year of an award, additional 

documentation may be requested by NIST during pre-award review 

for those performers, and may include the following for those 

research activities: 

(1) A copy of each applicable final IRB-approved protocol.

(2) A signed and dated approval letter from the cognizant IRB(s) 

that includes the name of the institution housing each applicable 

IRB, provides the start and end dates for the approval of the 

research activities, and any IRB-required interim reporting or 

continuing review requirements.

(3) A copy of any IRB-required application information, such as 

documentation of approval of special clearances (i.e.,

biohazard, HIPAA, etc.) conflict-of-interest letters, or special 

training requirements.

(4) A brief description of which portions of the IRB submitted 

protocol are specifically included in the application submitted to 

NIST, if the protocol includes tasks not included in the 

application, or if the protocol is supported by multiple funding 

sources. For protocols with multiple funding sources, NIST will 

not approve the study without a non-duplication-of-funding letter 

indicating that no other federal funds will be used to support the 

tasks proposed under the proposed research or ongoing project.

(5) If a new protocol will only be submitted to an IRB if an award 

from NIST is issued, a draft of the proposed protocol.

(6) Any additional clarifying documentation that NIST may request 

during the review process to perform the NIST administrative 

review of research involving human subjects. (See 15 C.F.R. § 

27.112 (Review by Institution)).

This clause reflects the existing NIST policy and requirements for Research 

Involving Human Subjects. Should the policy be revised prior to award, a 

clause reflecting the policy current at time of award may be incorporated into 

the award.
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If the policy is revised after award, a clause reflecting the updated policy may 

be incorporated into the award.

For more information regarding research projects involving human subjects, 

contact Anne Andrews, Director, NIST Research Protections Office (e-mail: 

anne.andrews@nist.gov; phone: (301) 975-5445).

i. Research Activities Involving Live Vertebrate Animals or Pre-Existing 

Cell Lines/Tissues From Vertebrate Animals. Any application that 

proposes research activities involving live vertebrate animals that are to be 

cared for, euthanized, or used by award recipients to accomplish research 

goals, teaching, or testing must meet the requirements of the Animal Welfare 

Act (AWA) (7 U.S.C. § 2131 et seq.), and the AWA final rules (9 C.F.R. Parts 

1, 2, and 3), and if appropriate, the Good Laboratory Practice for Nonclinical 

Laboratory Studies (21 C.F.R. Part 58). In addition, such research activities 

should be in compliance with the “U.S. Government Principles for Utilization 

and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training” 

(Principles). The Principles and guidance on these Principles are available in 

the National Research Council's “Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory 

Animals,'' which can be obtained from National Academy Press, 500 5th

Street, N.W., Department 285, Washington, DC 20055, or as a free PDF 

online at http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12910/guide-for-the-care-and-use-oflaboratory-animals-eighth. 

1) Administrative Review. NIST reserves the right to conduct an 

administrative review7 of all applications that potentially include 

research activities that involve live vertebrate animals, or custom 

samples from, or field studies with live vertebrate animals. If the 

application includes research activities, field studies, or custom 

samples involving live vertebrate animals, the applicant will be required 

to provide additional information for review and approval. In addition, 

NIST will verify the applicant’s determination(s) of excluded samples 

from vertebrate animals. The documents required for funded proposals 

are listed in each section below. Some may be requested for a pre7 Conducting an “administrative review” means that the NIST RPO will review and verify the performing 

institution’s IACUC’s approval of research with live vertebrate animals, and confirm that the research and 

performing institution(s) have an appropriate assurance and are in compliance with applicable 

regulations. RPO will 1) confirm the engaged institution(s) possess, or are covered under an applicable 

assurance, 2) review the research study documentation submitted to the IACUC and verify the IACUC’s 

determination of level of risk and approval of the study for compliance with applicable regulations, 

3) review and verify IACUC-approved substantive changes to an approved research study before the 

changes are implemented, and 4) review and verify that the IACUC receives an annual report for the 

study and conducts an appropriate continuing review at least every three years.
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review during the proposal review process; however, the Grants Officer 

may allow final versions of certain required documents to be produced 

at an appropriate designated time post-award. If an award is issued, 

no research activities involving live vertebrate animals shall be initiated 

or costs incurred for those activities under the award until the NIST 

Grants Officer issues written approval. In addition, all re-approvals, 

amendments, modifications, changes, annual reports and closure will 

be reviewed by NIST. 

2) Required documents for NIST proposal review. The applicant 

should clearly indicate in the application, by separable task, all 

research activities believed to include research involving live 

vertebrate animals and the institution(s) where the research 

activities involving live vertebrate animals may be conducted. In 

addition, the applicant should indicate any activity/task that 

involves an excluded or custom collection from vertebrate 

animals, or a field study with animals.

a) Excluded Collections from Vertebrate Animals: The 

requirements for review and approval by an Institutional Animal 

Care and Use Committee (IACUC) do not apply to proposed 

research using preexisting images of animals or to research plans 

that do not include live animals. These regulations also do not 

apply to obtaining stock or pre-existing items from animal material 

suppliers (e.g., tissue banks), such as pre-existing cell lines and 

tissue samples, or from commercial food processors, where the 

vertebrate animal was euthanized for food purposes and not for the 

purpose of sample collection.

For pre-existing cell lines and tissue samples originating from 

vertebrate animals, NIST requires that the proposer provide 

documentation or the rationale for the determination that the cell 

line or tissue is pre-existing and not a custom collection from live 

vertebrate animals for an activity/task within the proposal. NIST 

may require additional documentation to review and/or support the 

determination that the cells and/or tissues from vertebrate animals 

are excluded from IACUC review.

b) Custom Collections Harvested from Live Vertebrate Animals: 

NIST requires documentation for obtaining custom samples from 

live vertebrate animals from animal material suppliers and other 

organizations (i.e., universities, companies, and government 

laboratories, etc.). Custom samples includes samples from animal 

material suppliers, such as when a catalog item indicates that the 

researcher is to specify the characteristics of the live vertebrate 
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animal to be used, or how a sample is to be collected from the live 

vertebrate animal. 

c) Field Studies of Animals: Some field studies of animals may be 

exempt under the Animal Welfare Act from full review and approval 

by an animal care and use committee, as determined by each 

institution. Field study is defined as “... a study conducted on freeliving wild animals in their natural habitat...”. 9 C.F.R. § 1.1. 

However, this term excludes any study that involves an invasive 

procedure or that harms or materially alters the behavior of an 

animal under study. Field studies, with or without invasive 

procedures, may also require obtaining appropriate federal or local 

government permits (marine mammals, endangered species, etc.). 

If the applicant’s institution requires review and approval by an 

animal care and use committee, NIST will require that 

documentation to be provided as described below.

d) For custom collections or studies with live vertebrate animals 

that require review and approval by an animal care and use 

committee the following documentation is required:

(1) Requirement for Assurance. An applicable assurance for the 

care and use of the live vertebrate animal(s) to be used in the 

proposed research is required. NIST may request 

documentation to confirm an assurance, if adequate confirmation 

is not available through an assuring organization’s website. The 

cognizant IACUC where the research activity is located may hold 

one or more assurances applicable to the research activity that 

are acceptable to NIST. These four assurances are:

i. Animal Welfare Assurance from the Office of Laboratory 

Animal Welfare (OLAW) indicated by the OLAW 

assurance number, i.e., A-1234; 

ii. USDA Animal Welfare Act certification indicated by the 

certification number, i.e., 12-R-3456; 

iii. Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of 

Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) indicated by providing 

the organization name accredited by AAALAC as listed in 

the AAALAC Directory of Accredited Organizations; and

iv. Letter of Assurance of compliance with the Animal 

Welfare Act, the U.S. Government Principles, and 

National Marine Fisheries Service (NFMS) IACUC policy 

that is valid for five years and provided by a NMFS 

Regional IACUC for activities with marine mammals or 

sea turtles (NMFS Policy Directive 04-112).
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(2) Documentation of Research Review by an IACUC: If the 

applicant’s application appears to include research activities, 

field studies, or custom sample collections involving live 

vertebrate animals the following information regarding review by 

an applicable IACUC may be requested during the application 

review process:

1. The name(s) of the institution(s) where the research 

involving live vertebrate animals will be conducted and/or 

custom samples collected.

2. The assurance type and number, as applicable, for the 

cognizant Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee 

(IACUC) where the research activity is located. [For 

example: Animal Welfare Assurance from the Office of 

Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) should be indicated 

by the OLAW assurance number, i.e. A-1234; an USDA 

Animal Welfare Act certification should be indicated by 

the certification number i.e. 12-R-3456; and an 

Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of 

Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) should be indicated 

by AAALAC.]

3. The IACUC approval date for the Animal Study Protocol 

(ASP) (if currently approved).

4. If the review by the cognizant IACUC is pending, the 

estimated start date for research involving vertebrate 

animals.

5. If any assurances or IACUCs need to be obtained or 

established, that should be clearly stated.

6. If any special permits are required for field studies, those 

details should be clearly provided for each instance, or 

indicated as pending.

If the application includes research activities involving 

vertebrate animals to be performed in the first year of an award, 

additional documentation may be requested by NIST during 

pre-award review for those performers, and may include the 

following for those research activities, which may also include 

field studies, custom sample collections involving live 

vertebrate animals:

1. A copy of the IACUC approved ASP.

2. Documentation of the IACUC approval indicating the 

approval and expiration dates of the ASP.
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3. If applicable, a non-duplication-of-funding letter if the 

ASP is funded from several sources.

4. If a new ASP will only be submitted to an IACUC if an 

award from NIST is issued, a draft of the proposed ASP 

may be requested.

5. Any additional clarifying documentation that NIST may 

request during review of applications to perform the NIST 

administrative review of research involving live vertebrate 

animals.

This clause reflects the existing NIST policy for Research Involving Live 

Vertebrate Animals. Should the policy be revised prior to award, a clause 

reflecting the policy current at time of award may be incorporated into the 

award.

If the policy is revised after award, a clause reflecting the updated policy 

may be incorporated into the award.

For more information regarding research projects involving live vertebrate 

animals, contact Linda Beth Schilling, Senior Analyst (e-mail: 

linda.schilling@nist.gov; phone: 301-975-2887.

3. Reporting

a. Reporting Requirements. The following reporting requirements described in 

Sections A.01, Reporting Requirements, of the Department of Commerce 

Standard Terms and Conditions, dated April 30, 2019, apply to awards in this 

program:

(1) Financial Reports. Each award recipient will be required to submit an 

SF-425, Federal Financial Report on a quarterly basis for the periods 

ending March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 of each 

year. Reports will be due within 30 days after the end of the reporting 

period to the NIST Federal Program Officer, Grants Officer and Grants 

Specialist named in the award documents. A final financial report is 

due within 90 days after the end of the project period.

(2) Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR). Each award 

recipient will be required to submit a RPPR to the Federal Program 

Officer, NIST Grants Officer and Grants Specialist named in the award 

documents on a quarterly basis for the periods ending March 31, June 

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

within 30 days after the end of the reporting period. The RPPR shall 

conform to the requirements in 2 C.F.R. § 200.328 
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(http://go.usa.gov/xkVgP) and Department of Commerce Standard 

Terms and Conditions, Section A.01.

A final RPPR shall be submitted within 90 days after the expiration 

date of the award, and publication citation information as well as links 

to publicly available data shall be submitted as soon as they become 

available. 

If a recipient’s Data Management Plan (DMP) has changed since their 

last submission of a technical progress report, the recipient must 

include their revised DMP in the next technical progress report 

following the revision to the DMP. The revised DMP must include all 

the requirements described in Section IV.2.a.(13). of this NOFO.

(3) Patent and Property Reports. From time to time, and in accordance 

with the Uniform Administrative Requirements (see Section VI.2. of this 

NOFO) and other terms and conditions governing the award, the 

recipient may need to submit property and patent reports.

(4) Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters. In accordance with 

section 872 of Public Law 110-417 (as amended; see 41 U.S.C. 2313), 

if the total value of a recipient’s currently active grants, cooperative 

agreements, and procurement contracts from all Federal awarding 

agencies exceeds $10,000,000 for any period of time during the period 

of performance of an award made under this NOFO, then the recipient 

shall be subject to the requirements specified in Appendix XII to 2 

C.F.R. Part 200, http://go.usa.gov/cTBwC, for maintaining the currency 

of information reported to SAM that is made available in FAPIIS about 

certain civil, criminal, or administrative proceedings involving the 

recipient.

b. Audit Requirements. The Department of Commerce Financial Assistance 

Standard Terms and Conditions, Section D.01, and 2 C.F.R. Part 200 Subpart 

F, adopted by the Department of Commerce through 2 C.F.R. § 1327.101, 

require any non-Federal entity (i.e., including non-profit institutions of higher 

education and non-profit organizations) that expends Federal awards of 

$750,000 or more in the recipient’s fiscal year to conduct a single or program

specific audit in accordance with the requirements set out in the Subpart. 

Additionally, unless otherwise specified in the terms and conditions of the 

award, entities that are not subject to Subpart F of 2 C.F.R. Part 200 (e.g., 

for-profit commercial entities) that expend $750,000 or more in DOC funds 

during their fiscal year must submit to the Grants Officer either: (i) a financial 

related audit of each DOC award or subaward in accordance with Generally 

Accepted Government Auditing Standards; or (ii) a project specific audit for 

each award or subaward in accordance with the requirements contained in 2 

C.F.R. § 200.507. Applicants are reminded that NIST, the Department of 
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Commerce Office of Inspector General, or another authorized Federal agency 

may conduct an audit of an award at any time.

c. Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006. In 

accordance with 2 C.F.R. Part 170, all recipients of a Federal award made on 

or after October 1, 2010, are required to comply with reporting requirements 

under the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 

(Public Law No. 109-282). In general, all recipients are responsible for 

reporting sub-awards of $25,000 or more. In addition, recipients that meet 

certain criteria are responsible for reporting executive compensation. 

Applicants must ensure they have the necessary processes and systems in 

place to comply with the reporting requirements should they receive funding. 

Also see the Federal Register notice published September 14, 2010, at 75 FR 

55663 available here http://go.usa.gov/hKnQ.

VII.Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

Questions should be directed to the following:

Subject Area Point of Contact

Programmatic and Technical Questions Email: pscr@nist.gov with ‘2020-NISTPSIAP-AR in subject line

Technical Assistance with Grants.gov 

Submissions

grants.gov

Phone: 800-518-4726

E-mail: support@grants.gov 

Grant Rules and Regulations Scott McNichol

Phone: 303-497-3444

E-mail: scott.mcnichol@nist.gov

VIII. Other Information

1. Personal and Business Information

The applicant acknowledges and understands that information and data 

contained in applications for financial assistance, as well as information and data 

contained in financial, performance and other reports submitted by applicants, 

may be used by the Department of Commerce in conducting reviews and 

evaluations of its financial assistance programs. For this purpose, applicant 

information and data may be accessed, reviewed and evaluated by Department 

of Commerce employees, other Federal employees, and also by Federal agents 

and contractors, and/or by non-Federal personnel, all of whom enter into 

appropriate conflict of interest and confidentiality agreements covering the use of 
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such information. As may be provided in the terms and conditions of a specific 

financial assistance award, applicants are expected to support program reviews 

and evaluations by submitting required financial and performance information 

and data in an accurate and timely manner, and by cooperating with Department 

of Commerce and external program evaluators. In accordance with 2 C.F.R. § 

200.303(e), applicants are reminded that they must take reasonable measures to 

safeguard protected personally identifiable information and other confidential or 

sensitive personal or business information created or obtained in connection with 

a Department of Commerce financial assistance award.

In addition, Department of Commerce regulations implementing the Freedom of 

Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. Sec. 552, are found at 15 C.F.R. Part 4, Public 

Information. These regulations set forth rules for the Department regarding 

making requested materials, information, and records publicly available under the 

FOIA. Applications submitted in response to this Federal Funding Opportunity 

may be subject to requests for release under the Act. If an application contains 

information or data that the applicant deems to be confidential commercial 

information that should be exempt from disclosure under FOIA, that information 

should be identified, bracketed, and marked as Privileged, Confidential, 

Commercial or Financial Information. In accordance with 15 CFR § 4.9, the 

Department of Commerce will protect from disclosure confidential business 

information contained in financial assistance applications and other 

documentation provided by applicants to the extent permitted by law.

2. Public Website, Webinar, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

NIST has a public website, https://www.nist.gov/ctl/pscr/psiap-ar, that provides 

information pertaining to this Funding Opportunity8. Any amendments to this 

NOFO will be announced through Grants.gov.

Applicants must submit all questions pertaining to this funding opportunity in 

writing to pscr@nist.gov with 2020-NIST-PSIAP-AR in the subject line.

NIST will host a webinar to provide general information regarding this NOFO, 

offer general guidance on preparing applications, and answer questions. The 

date, time and other details of the webinar can be found at 

https://www.nist.gov/ctl/pscr/psiap-ar. There is no cost to attend the webinar, but 

participants must register in advance. Participation in the webinar is not required 

and will not be considered in the application review and selection process.

8 Refer to Section VII. of this NOFO, Federal Awarding Agency Contacts, Programmatic and Technical 

Questions, if more information is needed.
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General questions about this opportunity including eligibility requirements, the 

review and selection process, and the general characteristics of a competitive 

application may be addressed during the webinar or by e-mail to pscr@nist.gov

with 2020-NIST-PSIAP-AR in the subject line.

Questions submitted to NIST during the webinar or by e-mail may be made 

available to the public as an FAQ document, which will be periodically updated 

and posted at https://www.nist.gov/ctl/pscr/psiap-ar. 

Discussions about specific project ideas will not be permitted during the webinar 

and NIST staff will not critique or provide feedback on specific project ideas while 

they are being developed by an applicant, brought forth during the webinar, or at 

any time before the deadline for all applications.