Manufacturing	Extension	Partnership (MEP)

Announcement	of	Regional	Forums

Upcoming	Federal	Funding	Opportunity

The	National	Institute	of	Standards	and	Technology’s	(NIST)	Manufacturing	Extension	Partnership	(MEP)

intends	to	publish	an	announcement	in	July 2016	of	funding	availability	for	MEP	Centers	in	the	following	

eleven states:	

Delaware,	Hawaii,	Iowa,	Kansas,	Maine,	Mississippi,	New	Mexico,	Nevada,	North	Dakota,	South	

Carolina	and	Wyoming.

Prior	to	the	announcement	of	this	federal	funding	opportunity,	NIST	MEP	is	conducting	three	regional	

forums	to	provide	interested	entities	more	information	about	the	MEP	program,	the	state	competition,	and	

answer	any	questions	regarding	this	funding	announcement.

Background	on	MEP

NIST	MEP	is a	state-federal	network	of	60	centers	and	1,200	manufacturing	experts that helps	small	

manufacturers	improve	their	production	processes,	upgrade	their	technological	capabilities,	and	bring	new	

products	to	market. Across	the	country,	MEP	helps	small	manufacturers	compete,	increasing	employment	

and	investment	across	the	country	and	generating	a	high	return	on	public	investment.			For	more	

information	on	MEP,	please	visit	www.nist.gov/mep		

Upcoming	Federal	Funding	Opportunity

The	MEP	program	is	undergoing	a	multi-year	effort	to	optimize	the	impact	of	the	Federal	investment	on	

U.S.	manufacturing	and	to	allocate	additional	funds	to	areas	with	higher	concentrations	of	manufacturers.		

To	achieve	this,	NIST	MEP	will	conduct	a	full	and	open	competition	to	select	operators	for	MEP	centers.			

Non-profit	organizations	working	with	manufacturers	will	have	the	opportunity	to	compete	for	

cooperative	agreements	to	operate	MEP	centers	and	expand	the	range	of	growth,	innovation,	lean	

production,	supply	chain	innovation,	technology	acceleration	and	workforce	development	offered	to	small	

manufacturers.		Particular	emphasis	will	be	given	to	offering	these	services	to	very	small	firms,	rural	firms,	

and	start-up	firms.		

To	date,	two	rounds	of	the	competition	have	already	been	completed	and	two	additional	rounds	will	be	

conducted	in	2016.		NIST	MEP	anticipates	awarding	one	(1)	cooperative	agreement	for	each	of	the	

identified	states.

MAKING AN IMPACT ON U.S. MANUFACTURING
Regional	Forums

Prior	to	the	federal	funding	opportunity	announcement,	NIST	MEP	will	hold	three	regional	forums	to

provide	interested	entities	more	information	about	the	MEP	program,	the	federal	funding	opportunity,	and	

answer	any	questions	regarding	this	funding	announcement.

Following	each	regional	forum	presentation,	potential	applicants	will	also	have	a	chance	to	schedule	20	

minute	meetings	with	NIST	MEP	representatives	to	ask	additional	follow-on	questions.

Dates	and	Locations	of	Upcoming	Forums:

May	13,	2016	– Ronald	Reagan	Building	and	International	Trade	Center,	1300	Pennsylvania	Avenue	NW,	

																															Washington,	DC	20004

May	24,	2016	– The	Byron	Rogers	Federal	Office	Bldg.,	1961	Stout	Street	2nd Floor,	Denver,	CO	80294

June	7,	2016	– Ralph	H.	Metcalfe	Federal	Building,	77	W.	Jackson	Blvd	3rd	floor,	Chicago,	IL	60604

Tentative	Agenda:

9:30am	– 11:30am	– Presentation	(overview	of	program,	federal	funding	opportunity,	evaluation	

																																									criteria	and	selection	factors)

11:30am	– 3:30pm	– One-on-one	meetings	with	NIST	MEP	representatives

For	more	information on the regional	forums,	please	visit	the	MEP	Competition	site—

http://nist.gov/mep/ffo-regional-forum-state-competitions-04.cfm

If	 you	 are	 interested	 in	 registering	 for	 one	 or	 more	 of	 the	 regional	 forums,	 please	 email	

mepffo@nist.gov.	 	You	must	 register	 at	least	 one	week	prior to each	 regional	 forum	 to	 ensure	 access	

through	security and	sign-up	for	a	one-on-one	session.		

When	registering	please	specify	your	first	and	last	name,	your	organization,	names	of	any	other	individuals	

attending	with	you,	which	regional	forum	you	are	attending,	and	if	you	are	interested	in	scheduling	time	for	

a	one-on-one	meeting.