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National Supply Chain Optimization and Intelligence Network Expansion

Award Pilot Program Frequently Asked Questions

As of March 7, 2023

1. Q: What is meant by Supply Chain Optimization?

A: PUBLIC LAW 117–167, Subtitle D, Sec. 10251, Sec 25B(e)(5), a purpose of the 

awards under the Expansion Awards Pilot Program is:

‘‘(5) To build capabilities across the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership for 

domestic supply chain resiliency and optimization, including — (A) assessment of 

domestic manufacturing capabilities, expanded capacity for researching and 

deploying information on supply chain risk, hidden costs of reliance on offshore 

suppliers, redesigning products and processes to encourage reshoring, and other 

relevant topics; and (B) expanded services to provide industrywide support that 

assists United States manufacturers with reshoring manufacturing to strengthen the 

resiliency of domestic supply chains, including in critical technology areas and 

foundational manufacturing capabilities that are key to domestic manufacturing 

competitiveness and resiliency, including forming, casting, machining, joining, surface 

treatment, tooling, and metal or chemical refining.”

The current Expansion Award Pilot Program is focused on the activities described in

(A) above as a strategy for improving the effectiveness, efficiency, and resilience of 

domestic U.S. supply chains.

2. Q: What is a Supply Chain Intelligence Network?

A: The data from each Center represents information that can be utilized to identify 

gaps and weakness and develop strategies and programs to build larger domestic 

manufacturing supply chain for critical industry sectors. The intelligence or data from 

the Centers develops a national plan that can be used to develop policies and 

investment for the U.S. Government and private entities.

MEP’s Supply Chain Intelligence Network will consist of designated staff at each 

Center who responds to supplier scouting/matching inquiries, maintains knowledge 

as well as data on their local supply chain ecosystem, partners with key Original 

Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in their region and coordinates frequently and 

effectively within the MEP National Network, including NIST MEP.

3. Q: Why can’t Centers generate program income under this Expansion Award

program?
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A: The Budget Narrative and Justification Section (Section 6) of the RFA specifically 

prohibits the generation of program income under these awards. The intent of the 

Expansion Awards is to build capability and capacity across the MEP National 

Network to support the delivery of supply chain optimization services, not to deliver 

those services. This is an investment in the National Network to support and grow 

the U.S. Domestic Supply Chain. Client projects, including the generation of program 

income, can be executed under the Center’s Base Award.

4. Q: The RFA is prescriptive in terms of required Center tasks under this award. Can 

Centers do things that are not specified in the RFA? What other kinds of activities

might be allowed?

A: See RFA Program Objective, Section #4 for information regarding activities not 

specified within the RFA but permitted under an award.

5. Q: Does the required minimum 1 FTE have to be an employee of the Center? If 

Centers don’t want to hire additional staff for this program, what other options are 

available to satisfy the minimum 1 FTE requirement to be dedicated to this

program?

A: A Center may opt to use the funds to support an FTE at a partnered organization. 

Also, the minimum FTE requirement can be met through the level of effort of more 

than one individual so long as the total commitment of all dedicated individuals 

totals at least 1 FTE. For example, a state with multiple SRAs may spread the FTE 

count over more than one SRA. Centers are advised to consult their Center Resource 

Management Team (CRMT) when deciding how best to meet the minimum 1 FTE 

requirement.

6. Q: Will the acceptance of expansion award funds impact my Center’s IMPACT

scores?

A: No. Expansion Award funding will be provided to Centers via a separate 

cooperative agreement from the Centers’ base awards. Therefore, MEP will not 

include the amount of Expansion Award funding received by a Center in the total 

federal funding amount (i.e., the denominator) used to calculate that Center’s 

IMPACT scores on their base awards.

7. Q: How often are Centers required to submit their SF-425 Federal Financial

Reports? How often will performance reports be required?

A: Financial reporting will be reported on a semi-annual basis. Progress reporting on 

performance are required to be submitted on a quarterly basis.

8. Q: Do Centers have to propose a full two-year program? Can Centers propose a

period of performance that is more or less than two years?

A: No. The period of performance for all Expansion Awards will be 24 months.

9. Q: Do Centers have to take the maximum $400,000?

A: No. Centers may propose an amount less than $400,000. Centers should consult 

with their CRMT when deciding an appropriate amount of Expansion Award funding 

to request.
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10. Q: Can Centers use Expansion Award funds to buy a third-party database orsimilar

services?

A: Yes. Expansion Award funds may be used by a Center to fund a database 

application for the purpose of supplier mapping and data collection. Centers are 

advised to consult their CRMT when making the decision to purchase a database 

application with Expansion Award funds. Please note that Centers need to ensure

that the data from these services are not proprietary and can be transmitted to NIST 

for reporting. note: Centers must ensure that the data from these services are not 

proprietary and can be transmitted to NIST for reporting purposes.

11. Q: Does NIST MEP recommend a particular supplier mapping database for Centers

to purchase?

A: No. NIST MEP will not suggest, recommend, or mandate that MEP Centers use a 

particular database. However, MEP may specify a common application programming

interface (API). An API is a set of defined rules that enable different applications to 

communicate with each other. In every instance, however, database options selected 

by Centers must be capable of readily exchanging data and information with the MEP 

National Network.

12. Q: Since these funds were appropriated to the MEP program under the CHIPS Act,

is this program focused on semiconductors?

A: No. While this funding was provided under the CHIPS act, the Expansion Awards 

Pilot Program authority covers a range of possible uses including workforce, supply 

chain, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing technology.

13. Supply Chain represents one-third of NIST MEP’s focus areas. Does funding only

one area imply that that other two are less important?

A: No, all three strategic goals are important. The Expansion Awards Pilot Program 

appropriation for FY 2023 was $13 million. Even when supplemented with a 

substantial amount of funding from MEP’s annual appropriation increase, the total 

amount of available funding for this purpose in FY 2023 is simply not large enough to 

address more than one strategic initiative at this time.

14. Q: Can a Center propose to do more outside of the RFA criteria areas?

A: No. A Center may not propose activities that are different from those described 

under the Program Objective section of the RFA. However, Centers can be creative 

within the parameters and objectives of the program. Centers may be creative with 

methods and approaches but not with topics or objectives. Also, refer to Question 4 

above.

15. Q: If a Center has multiple SRAs,should they delegate work or is the prime

recipient responsible for the work?

A: The prime recipient of the cooperative agreement is ultimately responsible for 

satisfying the requirements spelled out in this RFA. However, the prime recipient may 

opt to delegate by formal agreement responsibility (but not accountability) for a 

portion of the work to an SRA or other affiliated organization.

16. Q: Can Centers in the same region consolidate efforts to optimize the funding?

(e.g., share database or FTE)
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A: The intent of this pilot effort is to provide opportunities for each Center to build 

their own capacity and intelligence with respect to the supply chain ecosystem within 

its own state. Therefore, consolidated efforts between or among multiple Centers

are discouraged. Our expectation for this award is that we create a national supply

chain optimization network and that means we will have a contact point for the

network in all 50 states plus Puerto Rico. To that end, if a group of Centers apply under 

one award, we will require performance and financial reporting to be completed and 

broken out by each individual Center.

17. Q: Is all the funding available for draw down after award, or is there a schedule 

requirement for draw down? Does it need to be tied to expenses since it does not 

require cost share?

A: NIST expects to fully fund the cooperative agreements upon award. Unless 

otherwise stated in a Specific Award Condition, the advance method of payment is 

authorized. Advances must be limited to the minimum amounts needed and be 

timed to be in accordance with the actual, immediate cash requirements of the

non- federal entity (NFE)/MEP Center in carrying out the project. NFEs/MEP Centers

must time advance payment requests that federal funds are on hand for a

maximum of 30 calendar days before being disbursed by the NFE/MEP Center for 

allowable award costs. costs.

18. Q: Are pre-award costs allowed? Ifso, what is the maximum amount allowed

for pre-award cost and how do we notate it in the budget forms?

A: In accordance with the Other Information section of the NIST MEP Expansion 

Awards Pilot Program (MEAPP) MEP National Supply Chain Optimization and 

Intelligence Network RFA, the recipient may request approval of pre-award costs; 

however, all costs incurred before the federal awarding agency makes the federal 

award are at the recipient's risk. Pre-award costs are allowable only to the extent 

that they would have been allowable if incurred after the date of the federal award 

and only with the written approval of the federal awarding agency. Prior approval is 

required for pre-award activities conducted by the recipient during the pre-award 

period of 90 calendar days before the federal award start date. This request may be 

included with the application and the budget, but all pre-award costs must be a 

portion of, not in addition to, the total approved budget.

19. Q: Will there be a separate ASAP account?

A: Each entity has the same ASAP/Recipient ID for all of its awards. Regarding 

accounts, each award has a separate Account ID which is also the award number.

20. Q: For Centers with multiple SRAs, managing the required 1 FTE could be 

challenging. Distributing a full-time equivalent over multiple SRAs would result in 

many people devoting little time to the effort. In that instance, it would make

more sense for one individual to have sole responsibility to direct all Supply Chain 

activities. Will Centers that operate this way take a different approach to the RFA

than other traditional Centers without a large SRA population?
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A: In consultation with their assigned CRMT, a Center may choose to maintain a fulltime equivalent staff member in a centralized role coordinating supply chain 

optimization activities for the entire MEP Center including SRAs. On the other hand, 

that Center may opt to distribute some amount of FTE resources to an SRA or a series 

of SRAs. Each Center has the flexibility to develop this capacity in the way that works 

best for the Center.

21. Q: Will the percentage of time allocated on the Current and Pending Support form

only be an estimate?

A: The Current and Pending Support form should account for the actual level of effort

of key personnel for this award. All activities requiring a portion of time of the 

investigator and key personnel must be included. This includes activities with no 

salary support.

22. Q: Are the activities on this award expected to be reported as facilitated projects in

MEIS?

A: No. The recipient will be required to submit progress reports on performance on a 

quarterly basis (unless otherwise directed by the NIST Grants Officer) and in a

specified format to NIST MEP.

23. Q: I noticed that the SF-424a is on the grants.gov site. Is that being used in place of 

the single-year workbook, or do we need to do both?

A: Both SF-424A and the NIST MEP Single-Year Budget Workbook are required.

24. Q: In terms of the metrics, should they align to the MEP scorecard? Or should there

be unique measures since this isspecific to one subject area?

A: No. The metrics for this program will not align to the MEP scorecard. The funds 

provided and activities to be carried out under this program are intended to build 

Center capacity to perform supply chain projects. The unique nature of the activities 

will require metrics that are different from those that populate the scorecard.

25. Q: My base award hasless than 24 months remaining. Should the MEAPP award 

end date match the base award end date? Will my application be considered

ineligible if I request less than 24 months?

A: No. The MEAPP award is tied to the Center’s base cooperative agreement. If the

base cooperative agreement should change, the MEAPP award will carry over to the

next cooperative agreement. There will be a Specific Award Condition (SAC) in the 

award notification to clarify. If the Center is unsuccessful at winning the upcoming 

competition for the follow-on base award, then the MEP Expansion Award Pilot 

Program will terminate on the same date their current award ends.

26. Q: If Centers are applying as a consortium, how do they report out? I assume

finance separately but overlap programmatically isinevitable. Larger joint report?

A: MEP’s goal for this award is to create a national supply chain optimization 

network, and that means there will be a contact point for supply chain activities in all 

50 states and Puerto Rico. To that end, if a group of Centers applies under one 

award, MEP will require performance and financial reporting to be done and broken 

out at the individual state level.
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27. Q: Can an MEP Center with a large SRA community subcontract to one of their

SRA's for the 1 FTE or equivalent?

A: The RFA requirement is for one FTE. It can be a direct employee, through an SRA, 

or through a contractor. The Center’s application should be clear about how the FTE 

will be supported and utilized by the Center.

28. Q: What is NIST MEP calling this project arm? Isee/hear the following: extension 

awards, RFA, pilot program, expansion awards, MEAPP. We should have one,

unified nomenclature.

A: Officially, it is the Expansion Awards Pilot Program. It may also be referred to as 

“Expansion awards.”

29. Q: How about Centers currently being re-competed, i.e. MD MEP? Are they

eligible?

A: All current MEP Centers are eligible to apply for these expansion award funds. See 

the response to question #25 above.

30. Q: What are the acceptable means for which the data can be transferred to NIST 

MEP? Is there a requirement for a bridge connection to transfer large volumes of

data? What means is acceptable?

A: The specific methods for data transfer have not yet been determined. Centers will 

be notified once common protocols have been established. See also the response to 

Question 10 above.

31. Q: Will there be an Intellectual Property Plan template?

A: That is not foreseen, as this is not an R&D investment.

32. Q: Are the awards funded for the full 24-month request or annually? The RFA says

that NIST has the option.

A: See the response to Question 8 above.

33. Q: While the page limit is 10, what should we expect in terms of a page minimum? Is

there a mandatory number of pages for suitable / acceptable RFA?

A: There is no page minimum. However, the narrative should be long enough to 

demonstrate responsiveness to the RFA. Applications should contain sufficient 

content to demonstrate how the Center will implement the objectives of the 

program.

34. Q: Can a Center's response to the RFA be "open ended" in that they submit a 

project plan with milestones that upon execution & burn rate, and the Center uses 

up the $400K in the first year with more work to be done in Year Two (awaiting

new/more funding)?

A: No. The period of performance for these awards is 24 months. Centers must plan 

to support the goals of this pilot project for the full period of performance. There is 

no additional funding anticipated for these awards.
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35. Q: Expansion awards includes the three themes, and Centers are aware that this 

RFA focus is supply chain. For Centers’ planning purposes, when will workforce and 

technology be addressed? Centers need to be thinking 2-3 years ahead. Is there a 

long-range plan for future pilot projects or is everything based on availability of

funds?

A: Initially, expansion awards for three themes were tied to the anticipation of higher 

funding than what MEP received, and the higher levels of funding did not

happen. Given the nature of Congressional appropriations, MEP cannot reliably predict

funding levels 2-3 years ahead. Consequently, future funding plans will depend on 

availability of funding.

36. Q: Is there a maximum number of Centers that can make up a single consortium?

A: There is no maximum number; however, the number should be reasonable. Centers

should consult with their CRMT when considering applying as part of a consortium.

37. Q: What is meant by a "consortium?"

A: Per 15 U.S.C.278k-2 (c): “Participants receiving awards under this section shall be Centers, 

or a consortium of Centers.”

38. Q: Is it expected that clients reported will align with clients they report to MEIS

(with completed projects)? Or, will this be a count in their Progress Plan?

A: Centers should not conduct reportable (or surveyable) projects under this pilot 

program. All such activities should be reported under the Center’s base award. See also 

response to Question 43.

39. Q: For Centers with SRAs, how will the money be divided?

A: The MEP Center base award recipient may determine whether subrecipient agreements 

should be revised for additional funding and in what amounts.

40. Q: Where will the information gathered be stored and managed prior to any

funding to develop a national database?

A: Information gathered by the Centers under this pilot project will be stored and managed 

as determined by each Center. Information shared with the National Network will be 

aggregated by or on behalf of NIST MEP.

41. Q: If the use of the RFA funding to generate program income is prohibited, is that 

expected to act as a disincentive for the Center to use existing staff as an FTE under the 

award? For example, this FTE may have to give up existing fee-paying project work, 

which could create a skill deficiency at a given Center and will potentially affect the 

absorption rate of overhead by projects (Center efficiency metrics could be negatively 

affected). However, by hiring a new FTE, this potentially creates a salary and overhead 

burden that continues after the expiration of the 2-year

award. How can Centers avoid these two potential scenarios?
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A: The prohibition on generation of program income is not intended as a disincentive. 

Rather, it is an indication that the purpose of this program is not to perform work (i.e.,

projects with clients) that is already being accomplished under the Center’s base award. 

When determining how to meet the FTE requirement on this program, Centers should do 

so in a way that can best support the long-term sustainability of supply chain activities 

beyond the 24-month period of performance for this pilot project.

42. Q: when a Center submits early and the grant is reviewed, will there be an

opportunity/process for a Center to modify its application if it misses “the mark”?

A: Yes. NIST MEP has a merit review process that will begin with a screening of the 

application and then a technical review. During the technical review, reviewers can ask 

questions to the Center which may lead to a revised application. However, NIST MEP 

highly recommends that each Center reach out and coordinate with their Resource 

Manager (RM) and Federal Program Officer (FPO) while drafting their application so that 

potential issues can be identified, discussed, and resolved before it is submitted. 

43. Q: If some Centers do not request the allowed $400K, will the remaining money be 

available to other Centers?

A: Each Center is expected to submit an application, and each center may request up to 

the maximum $400,000. Per the RFA, if some MEP Centers do not apply for funding or 

request less than the maximum $400,000 under this RFA, NIST MEP reserves the right to 

adjust funding levels for other Centers based on an unused funds.

44. Q: Does a part-time employee, like a student, count towards the 1 FTE minimum?

A: Yes, a part-time employee can count towards the full FTE requirement. Also, there is no 

prohibition on using students on this pilot project. 

45. Q: The FAQs state that MEP may "specify a common application programming interface 

(API)". Is there a timeline that we can plan on understanding this so that we can propose 

effectively?

A: Currently NIST MEP does not have a planned timeline for the API. NIST MEP is asking 

each of the Centers to describe in the application and/or platform you are currently using 

or propose to use for capturing and managing supplier scouting data and supply chain 

information. It is envisioned that this information will be used to determine the common

API in the future.

46. Q: Does the RFA include funding to support training across the MEP NN on how to 

perform supply chain development activities & lessons learned so far?

A: No. There is a NIST MEP working group that will coordinate efforts across the National 

Network to determine best practices and lessons learned. These efforts will allow for 

sharing of this information across all the Centers and does not place the workload at the 

Center level.

47. Q: It appears that the application requires two Single-Year Budget Workbooks? One for 

each year?

A: Yes, that is correct.
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48. Q: Can the $400K be budgeted for 12 months versus the full 24?

A: No. NIST MEP expects each Center to support this pilot activity during the full 24-month 

period of performance and therefore to budget funds for the full 24-months. 

49. Q: Can we accept state funds to support the project over the $400K NIST funding?

A: Yes. State funds may also be used to support the project.

50. Q: Can support in supply chain be extended to entities who support manufacturers such 

a freight logistics forwarder, warehousing operations?

A: Mapping out these operations in the supply chain ecosystem is allowed as it feeds into 

the overall goal of understanding the supply chain intelligence network. Support and 

training would not be allowed under this award but may be allowed under the base award. 

51. Q: Understanding that the goal is to participate over the full 24 months, can the funding 

be front-loaded, or does it have to be split evenly over the two years?

A: Centers may request the funds to serve the proposed project as needed. NIST MEP 

expects that some Centers may spend more in Year 1, others may spend evenly over the 

24 months, and still others may opt to spend more in Year 2. In every case, Centers need 

to indicate how the work will be conducted over the 24-month period of performance and 

budget accordingly.

52. Q: Is this considered a grant?

A: No. This is not a grant. All awards will be issued as cooperative agreements.

53. Q: So, we would have to fund a full FTE for this award for two years?

A: Yes. Per the RFA, Centers are required each year to dedicate to the award a minimum 

of 1 FTE in the form of one individual or a combination of individuals. Refer to the RFA for 

the FTE definition.

54. Q: Will Fixed Amount Awards be applicable if sub-awards are under $250k. FAAs are 

allowable for programs that do not require cost share 2 CFR 200.201.

A: Subawards will require prior approval from both NIST MEP and NIST Grants Management 

Division. 

55. Q: The Multi-Year Funding Policy states: When an application for a multi-year award is 

approved, funding in some cases will be provided only for the first year of the project. 

Continued funding for the remaining year(s) of the project will be awarded or released 

by NIST, and may be adjusted, contingent upon satisfactory performance, submission of 

detailed budgets and budget narratives for each year proposed, continued relevance to 

the mission and priorities of the program, and the availability of funds. Does this mean 

that NIST will obligates the funding at time of award or over multiple years of the 

award?

A: NIST will obligate the full amount at time of award for Centers to draw against over the 

24-month period of performance. 

56. Q: By “Ensure every MEP Supplier Scouting request receives a response, even if no 

suppliers are ID’d” What do you mean by this?
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A: Currently, Centers typically respond to a supplier scouting request only when they have 

identified a potential supplier. For this award, each Center will be required to reply to 

each supplier scouting request either with a positive response identifying a potential 

supplier or with a negative response acknowledging receipt and indicating that no supplier

was identified.