FR Doc 05-24424

[Federal Register: December 23, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 246)]
[Notices]
[Page 76241-76252]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23de05-32]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Docket No.: 051202321-5335-02]

Small Grants Programs and Precision Measurement Grants Program;
Availability of Funds

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
announces that the following programs are soliciting applications for
financial assistance for FY 2006: (1) The Electronics and Electrical
Engineering Laboratory Grants Program; (2) the Manufacturing
Engineering Laboratory Grants Program; (3) the Chemical Science and
Technology Laboratory Grants Program; (4) the Physics Laboratory Grants
Program; (5) the Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory Grants
Program; (6) the Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements
Program; (7) the Fire Research Grants Program; (8) the Information
Technology Laboratory Grants Program; and (9) the Precision Measurement
Grants Program. Each program will only consider applications that are
within the scientific scope of the program as described in this notice
and in the detailed program descriptions found in the Federal Funding
Opportunity (FFO) announcement for these programs. Prior to preparation
of a proposal, it is strongly suggested that potential applicants
contact the Program Manager for the appropriate field of research, as
specified in the FFO announcement found at http://www.grants.gov, for

clarification of the program objectives and to determine whether their
proposal is responsive to this notice.

DATES: See below.

ADDRESSES: See below.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Name and Number: Measurement
and Engineering Research and Standards--11.609

Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory (EEEL) Grants Program

Program Description: The Electronics and Electrical Engineering
Laboratory (EEEL) Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative
agreements for the development of fundamental electrical metrology and
of metrology supporting industry and government agencies in the broad
areas of

[[Page 76242]]

semiconductors, electronic instrumentation, radio-frequency technology,
optoelectronics, magnetics, video, electronic commerce as applied to
electronic products and devices, the transmission and distribution of
electrical power, national electrical standards (fundamental, generally
quantum-based physical standards), and law enforcement standards.

DATES: All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no
later than 5 p.m., Eastern Standard Time on June 30, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Paper applications must be submitted to: Sheilda Bryner,
Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory, National Institute
of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8100, Gaithersburg,
MD 20899-8100. Electronic applications and associated proposal
information should be uploaded to grants.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For complete information about this
program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically, read
the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) Notice at http://www.grants.gov.

A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling (301) 975-6328.
Program questions should be addressed to Sheilda Bryner, Electronics
and Electrical Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of Standards
and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8100, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-
8100, Tel.: (301) 975-2220, Fax: (301) 975-4091. All grants related
administration questions concerning this program should be addressed
to: Joyce Brigham, NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division,
(301) 975-6328; joyce.brigham@nist.gov. For assistance with using
Grants.gov contact support@grants.gov.
Funding Availability: In fiscal year 2005, the EEEL Grants Program
made 13 new awards, totaling $866,613. The amount available each year
fluctuates considerably based on programmatic needs. Individual awards
are expected to range between $5,000 and $150,000.
For the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory Grants
Program, proposals will be considered for research projects from one to
three years. When a proposal for a multi-year award is approved,
funding will generally be provided for only the first year of the
program. If an application 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 total discretion of NIST. Funding for
each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent upon
satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the
Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory Grants Program, and
the availability of funds. The multi-year awards must have scopes of
work that can be easily separated into annual increments of meaningful
work that represent solid accomplishments if prospective funding is not
made available to the applicant, (i.e., the scopes of work for each
funding period must produce identifiable and meaningful results in and
of themselves).

Statutory Authority: As authorized by 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c),
the NIST Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory conducts
a basic and applied research program directly and through grants and
cooperative agreements to eligible recipients.

Eligibility: The Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory
Grants Program is open to institutions of higher education; hospitals;
non-profit organizations; commercial organizations; state, local, and
Indian tribal governments; foreign governments; organizations under the
jurisdiction of foreign governments; and international organizations.
Review and Selection Process: For the Electronics and Electrical
Engineering Laboratory Grants Program, proposals will be reviewed in a
three-step process. First, the EEEL Grants Coordinator, or the Deputy
Director of EEEL, will determine the compatibility of the applicant's
proposal with EEEL Program Areas and the relevance to the objectives of
the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory Grants Program,
described in the Program Description section above. If it is determined
that the proposal is incomplete or non-responsive to the scope of the
stated objectives, the proposal will not be reviewed for technical
merit. If it is determined that all funds available for the EEEL Grants
Program for the given fiscal year have been exhausted, the proposal
will not be reviewed for technical merit. Proposers may contact EEEL at
(301) 975-2220 to find out if funds have been exhausted for the fiscal
year. EEEL will also post a notice on its Web site, http://www.eeel.nist.gov/eeel_grants
, when funds are exhausted for the fiscal

year. EEEL will notify proposers in writing if their proposals are not
reviewed for technical merit.
Second, proposals will be distributed for technical review by the
EEEL Grants Coordinator, or other technical professionals familiar with
the programs of the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory,
to the appropriate Division or Office based on technical area. At least
three independent, objective individuals knowledgeable about the
particular scientific area described in the Program Description section
above that the proposal addresses will conduct a technical review of
each proposal, based on the evaluation criteria described above. If
non-Federal reviewers are used, the reviewers may discuss the proposals
with each other, but scores will be determined on an individual basis,
not as a consensus.
Reviews will be conducted on a quarterly basis, and all proposals
received during the quarter will be ranked based on the reviewers'
scores.
Third, the Division Chief or Office Director will make application
selections. In making application selections, the Division Chief or
Office Director will take into consideration the results of the
reviewers' evaluations, the availability of funding, and relevance to
the objectives of the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory
Grants Program, as described in the Program Description section above.
The final approval of selected applications and award of financial
assistance will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance
with application requirements as published in this notice, compliance
with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, compliance with
Federal policies that best further the objectives of the Department of
Commerce, and whether the recommended applicants appear to be
responsible. Applicants may be asked to modify objectives, work plans,
or budgets and provide supplemental information required by the agency
prior to award. The decision of the Grants Officer is final.
Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program
will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years
for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
Evaluation Criteria: For the Electronics and Electrical Engineering
Laboratory Grants Program, the evaluation criteria and weights to be
used by the technical reviewers in evaluating the proposals are as
follows:

Proposal addresses specific program objectives as described in this
notice (25%)
Proposal provides evidence of applicant's expertise in relevant
technical area (20%)
Proposal offers innovative approach (20%)
Proposal provides realistic schedule with defined milestones (20%)

[[Page 76243]]

Proposal provides adequate rationale for budget (15%)

Cost Share Requirements: The Electronics and Electrical Engineering
Laboratory Grants Program does not require any matching funds.

Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory (MEL) Grants Program

Program Description: The Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory (MEL)
Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements in the
following fields of research: Dimensional Metrology for Manufacturing,
Mechanical Metrology for Manufacturing, Intelligent Systems, and
Information Systems Integration for Applications in Manufacturing.

DATES: All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no
later than 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on September 30, 2006.
Proposals received between July 1, 2006 and September 30, 2006 may be
processed and considered for funding under this solicitation in the
next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds.

ADDRESSES: Paper applications must be submitted to: Mrs. Mary Lou
Norris, Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8200, Building 220,
Room B322, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8200. Electronic applications
and associated proposal information should be uploaded to grants.gov.

A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling (301) 975-6328.
Program questions should be addressed to Mrs. Mary Lou Norris,
Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of Standards
and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8200, Building 220, Room B322,
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8200, Tel: (301) 975-3400, E-mail:
mnorris@nist.gov. All grants related administration questions

concerning this program should be addressed to: Joyce Brigham, NIST
Grants and Agreements Management Division, (301) 975-6328;
joyce.brigham@nist.gov. For assistance with using Grants.gov contact

support@grants.gov.

Funding Availability: In fiscal year 2005, the MEL Grants Program
funded 11 new awards, totaling $834,342. In fiscal year 2006 the MEL
Grants Program anticipates funding of approximately $500,000, including
new awards and continuing projects. Individual awards are expected to
range from approximately $25,000 to $300,000.
For the MEL Grants Program, proposals will be considered for
research projects from one to five years. When a proposal for a multi-
year award is approved, funding will generally be provided for only the
first year of the program. If an application 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 total discretion of NIST. Funding
for each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent
upon satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the
MEL program, and the availability of funds. The multi-year awards must
have scopes of work that can be easily separated into annual increments
of meaningful work that represent solid accomplishments if prospective
funding is not made available to the applicant, (i.e., the scopes of
work for each funding period must produce identifiable and meaningful
results in and of themselves).

Statutory Authority: As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and
(c), the MEL conducts a basic and applied research program directly
and through grants and cooperative agreements to eligible
recipients.

Eligibility: The MEL Grants Program is open to institutions of
higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial
organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; foreign
governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign
governments; and international organizations.
Review and Selection Process: For the MEL Grants Program responsive
proposals will be assigned, as received on a rolling basis, to the most
appropriate area for review. At least three independent, objective
individuals knowledgeable about the particular scientific area
described in the Program Description section above that the proposal
addresses will conduct a technical review of proposals based on the
evaluation criteria. If non-Federal reviewers are used, the reviewers
may discuss the proposals with each other, but scores will be
determined on an individual basis, not as a consensus. The Division
Chief or Laboratory Director will make application selections. In
making application selections, the Division Chief or Laboratory
Director will take into consideration the results of the reviewers'
evaluations, the availability of funds, and relevance to the objectives
of the MEL Grants Program. These objectives are described above in the
Program Description section above. The final approval of selected
applications and award of financial assistance will be made by the NIST
Grants Officer based on compliance with application requirements as
published in this notice, compliance with applicable legal and
regulatory requirements, compliance with Federal policies that best
further the objectives of the Department of Commerce, and whether the
recommended applicants appear to be responsible. Applicants may be
asked to modify objectives, work plans, or budgets and provide
supplemental information required by the agency prior to award. The
decision of the Grants Officer is final.
Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program
will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years
for record keeping purposes. The original application will be returned
to the applicant.
Evaluation Criteria: For the MEL Grants Program, the evaluation
criteria the technical reviewers will use in evaluating the proposals
are as follows:
1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the
applicant's approach and the extent to which the proposal effectively
addresses scientific and technical issues.
2. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the
potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it
would contribute to the field of manufacturing engineering and
metrology research.
3. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider
the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed
personnel to perform the work in the project.
4. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to
which the proposer has access to the necessary facilities and overall
support to accomplish project objectives.
Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation
process.
Cost Share Requirements: The MEL Grants Program does not require
any matching funds.

Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Grants Program

Program Description: The Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory
(CSTL) Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements in
the following fields of measurement science research, focused on
reference methods, reference materials and reference data:
Biotechnology, Process Measurements, Surface and

[[Page 76244]]

Microanalysis Science, Physical and Chemical Properties, and Analytical
Chemistry.

ADDRESSES: Paper applications must be submitted to: Dr. William F.
Koch, Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory, National Institute of
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8300, Gaithersburg, MD
20899-8300. Electronic applications and associated proposal information
should be uploaded to grants.gov.

A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling (301) 975-6328.
Program questions should be addressed to Dr. William F. Koch, Chemical
Science and Technology Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and
Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8300, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8300,
Tel (301) 975-8301, E-Mail: william.koch@nist.gov. All grants related
administration questions concerning this program should be addressed
to: Joyce Brigham, NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division,
(301) 975-6328; joyce.brigham@nist.gov. For assistance with using
Grants.gov contact support@grants.gov.
Funding Availability: No funds have been set aside specifically for
support of the CSTL Grants Program. The availability of funds depends
upon actual authorization of funds and other costs expected to be
incurred by individual divisions within the laboratory. Where funds are
identified as available for grants, those funds will be awarded to
highly ranked proposals as determined by the process described in this
notice.
In fiscal year 2005, the CSTL Grants Program funded 10 new awards,
totaling $830,254. In fiscal year 2006, the CSTL Grants Program
anticipates funding of approximately $500,000. Individual awards are
expected to range from approximately $5,000 to $100,000.
For the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Grant Program,
proposals will be considered for research projects from one to three
years. When a proposal for a multi-year award is approved, funding will
generally be provided for only the first year of the program. If an
application 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 total discretion of NIST. Funding for each subsequent year of a
multi-year proposal will be contingent upon satisfactory progress,
continued relevance to the mission of the Chemical Science and
Technology Laboratory program, and the availability of funds. The
multi-year awards must have scopes of work that can be easily separated
into annual increments of meaningful work that represent solid
accomplishments if prospective funding is not made available to the
applicant, (i.e. the scopes of work for each funding period must
produce identifiable and meaningful results in and of themselves).

Statutory Authority: As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and
(c), the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory conducts a basic
and applied research program directly and through grants and
cooperative agreements to eligible recipients.

Eligibility: The Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Grants
Program is open to institutions of higher education; hospitals; non-
profit organizations; commercial organizations; state, local, and
Indian tribal governments; foreign governments; organizations under the
jurisdiction of foreign governments; and international organizations.
Review and Selection Process: For the Chemical Science and
Technology Laboratory Grants Program, proposals will be reviewed in a
three-step process. First, the Deputy Director of CSTL, or appropriate
CSTL Division Chief, will determine the compatibility of the
applicant's proposal with CSTL Program Areas and the relevance to the
objectives of the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Grants
Program, described in the Program Description section above. If it is
determined that the proposal is incomplete or non-responsive to the
scope of the stated objectives, the proposal will not be reviewed for
technical merit.
Second, at least three independent, objective individuals
knowledgeable about the particular measurement science area described
in the section above that the proposal addresses will conduct a
technical review of each proposal, based on the evaluation criteria
described below. Reviews will be conducted on a quarterly basis,
subject to the availability of funds, and all responsive, complete
proposals received and reviewed since the last quarter will be ranked
based on the reviewers' scores. If non-Federal reviewers are used, the
reviewers may discuss the proposals with each other, but scores will be
determined on an individual basis, not as a consensus.
Third, the Division Chief will make application selections, taking
into consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations, the
availability of funds, and the relevance of the proposal to the program
objectives described in the Program Description section above.
The final approval of selected applications and award of financial
assistance will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance
with application requirements as published in this notice, compliance
with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, compliance with
Federal policies that best further the objectives of the Department of
Commerce, and whether the recommended applicants appear to be
responsible. Applicants may be asked to modify objectives, work plans,
or budgets and provide supplemental information required by the agency
prior to award. The decisions of the Grants Officer are final.
Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program
will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years
for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
Evaluation Criteria: For the Chemical Science and Technology
Laboratory Grants Program, the evaluation criteria the technical
reviewers will use in evaluating the proposals are as follows:
1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the
applicant's approach and the extent to which the proposal effectively
addresses scientific and technical issues.
2. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider
the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed
personnel to perform the work in the project.
3. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to
which the proposer has access to the necessary facilities and overall
support to accomplish project objectives.
4. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the
potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it
would contribute to the field of measurement science, especially as it
pertains to reference methods, reference materials and reference data
in Chemical Science and Technology.
Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation
process.

[[Page 76245]]

Cost Share Requirements: The Chemical Science and Technology
Laboratory Grants Program does not require any matching funds.

Physics Laboratory Grants Program

Program Description: The Physics Laboratory (PL) Grants Program
will provide grants and cooperative agreements in the following fields
of research: Electron and Optical Physics, Atomic Physics, Optical
Technology, Ionizing Radiation, Time and Frequency, and Quantum
Physics.

DATES: All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no
later than 5 p.m., Eastern Standard Time on September 30, 2006.
Proposals received between July 1, 2006 and September 30, 2006 may be
processed and considered for funding under this solicitation in the
next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds.

ADDRESSES: Paper applications must be submitted to: Ms. Anita Sweigert,
Physics Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100
Bureau Drive, Stop 8400, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8400. Electronic
applications and associated proposal information should be uploaded to
grants.gov.

A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling (301) 975-6328.
Program questions should be addressed to Ms. Anita Sweigert, Physics
Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau
Drive, Stop 8400, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8400, Tel (301) 975-4200, E-
Mail: anita.sweigert@nist.gov. It is strongly suggested to first
confirm the program objectives with the Program Manager prior to
preparing a detailed proposal. All grants related administration
questions concerning this program should be addressed to: Joyce
Brigham, NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division, (301) 975-
6328; joyce.brigham@nist.gov. For assistance with using Grants.gov
contact support@grants.gov.
Funding Availability: In fiscal year 2005, the PL Grants Program
funded 21 new awards, totaling $2,274,427. In fiscal year 2006, the PL
Grants Program anticipates funding of approximately $1,700,000,
including new awards and continuing projects. Funding availability will
be apportioned by quarter. Individual awards are expected to range from
approximately $5,000 to $300,000.
For the Physics Laboratory Grants Program, proposals will be
considered for research projects from one to five years. When a
proposal for a multi-year project is approved, funding will generally
be provided for only the first year of the program. If an application
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
total discretion of NIST. Funding for each subsequent year of a multi-
year proposal will be contingent upon satisfactory progress, continued
relevance to the mission of the Physics Laboratory program, and the
availability of funds. The multi-year awards must have scopes of work
that can be easily separated into annual increments of meaningful work
that represent solid accomplishments if prospective funding is not made
available to the applicant (i.e., the scopes of work for each funding
period must produce identifiable and meaningful results in and of
themselves).

Statutory Authority: As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and
(c), the Physics Laboratory conducts a basic and applied research
program directly and through grants and cooperative agreements to
eligible recipients.

Eligibility: The Physics Laboratory Grants Program is open to
institutions of higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations;
commercial organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments;
foreign governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign
governments; and international organizations.
Review and Selection Process: For the Physics Laboratory Grants
Program, responsive proposals will be considered as follows: First, at
least three independent, objective individuals knowledgeable about the
particular scientific area described in the proposal will conduct a
technical review of each proposal, based on the evaluation criteria
described below. Reviews will be conducted on a monthly basis within
each division of the Physics Laboratory, and all proposals received
during the month will be ranked based on the reviewers' scores. If non-
Federal reviewers are used, reviewers may discuss the proposals with
each other, but scores will be determined on an individual basis, not
as a consensus.
Next, the Division Chief will make final application selections,
taking into consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations,
including rank; the compilation of a slate that, when taken as a whole,
is likely to best further the program interests described in the
Program Description section above; and the availability of funds.
The final approval of selected applications and award of financial
assistance will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance
with application requirements as published in this notice, compliance
with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, compliance with
Federal policies that best further the objectives of the Department of
Commerce, and whether the recommended applicants appear to be
responsible.
Applicants may be asked to modify objectives, work plans, or
budgets and provide supplemental information required by the agency
prior to award.
The decisions of the Grants Officer are final.
Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program
will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years
for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
Evaluation Criteria: For the Physics Laboratory Grants Program, the
evaluation criteria the technical reviewers will use in evaluating the
proposals are as follows:
1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the
applicant's approach and the extent to which the proposal effectively
addresses scientific and technical issues.
2. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider
the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed
personnel to perform the work in the project.
3. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to
which the proposer has access to the necessary facilities and overall
support to accomplish project objectives.
4. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the
potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it
would contribute to the field of physics.
Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation
process.
Cost Share Requirements: The Physics Laboratory Grants Program does
not require any matching funds.

MSEL Grants Program

Program Description: The Materials Science and Engineering
Laboratory (MSEL) Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative
agreements in the following fields of research: Ceramics; Metallurgy;
Polymer Sciences; Materials Reliability; and Neutron Scattering
Research and Spectroscopy.

[[Page 76246]]

ADDRESSES: Paper applications must be submitted to: Dr. Stephen W.
Freiman, Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory, National
Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8500,
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8500. Electronic applications and
associated proposal information should be uploaded to grants.gov.

A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling (301) 975-6328.
Program questions should be addressed to Dr. Stephen W. Freiman,
Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8500, Gaithersburg,
Maryland 20899-8500, Tel: (301) 975-5658, E-mail:
stephen.freiman@nist.gov. All grants related administration questions

concerning this program should be addressed to: Joyce Brigham, NIST
Grants and Agreements Management Division, (301) 975-6328;
joyce.brigham@nist.gov. For assistance with using Grants.gov contact

support@nist.gov.

Funding Availability: In fiscal year 2005, the MSEL Grants Program
funded 36 new awards, totaling $4,966,802. In fiscal year 2006, the
MSEL Grants Program anticipates funding of approximately $4,500,000,
including new awards and continuing projects. Most grants and
cooperative agreements are expected to be in the $25,000 to $100,000
per year range.
For the MSEL Grants Program, proposals will be considered for
research projects from one to three years. When a proposal for a multi-
year award is approved, funding will generally be provided for only the
first year of the program. If an application 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 total discretion of NIST. Funding
for each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent
upon satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the
MSEL program, and the availability of funds. The multi-year awards must
have scopes of work that can be easily separated into annual increments
of meaningful work that represent solid accomplishments if prospective
funding is not made available to the applicant, (i.e., the scopes of
work for each funding period must produce identifiable and meaningful
results in and of themselves).

Statutory Authority: As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272 (b) and
(c), the MSEL conducts a basic and applied research program directly
and through grants and cooperative agreements to eligible
recipients.

Eligibility: The MSEL Grants Program is open to institutions of
higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial
organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; foreign
governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign
governments; and international organizations.
Review and Selection Process: For the MSEL Grants Program proposals
will be reviewed in a two-step process. First, at least three
independent, objective individuals knowledgeable about the particular
scientific area described in the Program Description section above that
the proposal addresses will conduct a technical review of proposals, as
they are received on a rolling basis, based on the evaluation criteria.
If non-Federal reviewers are used, the reviewers may discuss the
proposals with each other, but scores will be determined on an
individual basis, not as a consensus. Second, the Division Chief or
Center Director or Laboratory Deputy Director will make application
selections. In making application selections, the Division Chief or
Center Director or Laboratory Deputy Director will take into
consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations, the
availability of funds, and relevance to the objectives of the MSEL
Grants Program, described above in the Program Description section. The
final approval of selected applications and award of financial
assistance will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance
with application requirements as published in this notice, compliance
with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, compliance with
Federal policies that best further the objectives of the Department of
Commerce, and whether the recommended applicants appear to be
responsible. Applicants may be asked to modify objectives, work plans,
or budgets and provide supplemental information required by the agency
prior to award. The decision of the Grants Officer is final.
Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program
will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years
for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
Evaluation Criteria: For the MSEL Grants Program, the evaluation
criteria the technical reviewers will use in evaluating the proposals
are as follows:
1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the
applicant's approach and the extent to which the proposal effectively
addresses scientific and technical issues.
2. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider
the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed
personnel to perform the work in the project.
3. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to
which the proposer has access to the necessary facilities and overall
support to accomplish project objectives.
4. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the
potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it
would contribute to the field of materials science and engineering and
neutron research.
Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation
process.
Cost Share Requirements: The MSEL Grants Program does not require
any matching funds.

Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program

Program Description: The Building Research Grants and Cooperative
Agreements Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements in
the following fields of research: Structures, Construction Metrology
and Automation, Inorganic Materials, Polymeric Materials, HVAC & R
Equipment Performance, Mechanical Systems and Controls, Heat Transfer
and Alternative Energy Systems, Computer Integrated Building Processes,
and Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation.

ADDRESSES: Paper applications must be submitted to: Karen Perry,
Building and Fire Research Laboratory, National Institute of Standards
and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8602,

[[Page 76247]]

Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8602. Electronic applications and associated
proposal information should be uploaded to grants.gov.

A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling (301) 975-6328.
Program questions should be addressed to Karen Perry, Building and Fire
Research Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology,
100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8602, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8602, Tel.: (301)
975-5910, Fax: (301) 975-4032, http://www.bfrl.nist.gov. All grants

related administration questions concerning this program should be
addressed to: Joyce Brigham, NIST Grants and Agreements Management
Division, (301) 975-6328; joyce.brigham@nist.gov. For assistance with
using Grants.gov contact support@grants.gov.
Funding Availability: In fiscal year 2005, the Building Research
Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program funded 4 new awards, totaling
$603,964. No funds have been set aside specifically for support of the
Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program. The
availability of funds depends upon actual authorization of funds and
other costs expected to be incurred by the individual divisions. The
amount available each year fluctuates considerably based on
programmatic needs. Individual awards are expected to range between
$5,000 and $150,000.
For the Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements
Program, proposals will be considered for research projects from one to
three years. When a proposal for a multi-year award is approved,
funding will generally be provided for only the first year of the
program. If an application 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 total discretion of NIST. Funding for
each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent upon
satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the
Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program, and the
availability of funds. The multi-year awards must have scopes of work
that can be easily separated into annual increments of meaningful work
that represent solid accomplishments if prospective funding is not made
available to the applicant (i.e., the scopes of work for each funding
period must produce identifiable and meaningful results in and of
themselves).

Statutory Authority: As authorized by 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c),
the NIST Building and Fire Research Laboratory conducts a basic and
applied research program directly and through grants and cooperative
agreements to eligible recipients.

Eligibility: The Building Research Grants and Cooperative
Agreements Program is open to institutions of higher education;
hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial organizations; state,
local, and Indian tribal governments; foreign governments;
organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments; and
international organizations.
Review and Selection Process: All applications received in response
to this announcement will be reviewed to determine whether or not they
are complete and responsive. Incomplete or non-responsive applications
will not be reviewed for technical merit. The Program will retain one
copy of each non-responsive application for three years for
recordkeeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
Responsive proposals will be forwarded to the appropriate Division
Chief, who will assign them to appropriate reviewers. At least three
independent, objective individuals knowledgeable about the particular
scientific area described in the Program Description section above that
the proposal addresses will conduct a technical review of each
proposal, based on the evaluation criteria described below. When non-
Federal reviewers are used, reviewers may discuss the proposals with
each other, but scores will be determined on an individual basis, not
as a consensus.
Reviews will be conducted no less than once per quarter, and all
proposals since the last review session will be ranked based on the
reviewers' scores.
Next, the Division Chief, Laboratory Deputy Director, or Laboratory
Director will make application selections. In making application
selections, the Division Chief, Laboratory Deputy Director, or
Laboratory Director will take into consideration the results of the
evaluations, the scores of the reviewers, the availability of funds,
and relevance to the objectives of the Building Research Grants and
Cooperative Agreements Program, as described in the Program Description
section above.
The final approval of selected applications and award of financial
assistance will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance
with application requirements as published in this notice, compliance
with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, compliance with
Federal policies that best further the objectives of the Department of
Commerce, and whether the recommended applicants appear to be
responsible. Applicants may be asked to modify objectives, work plans,
or budgets and provide supplemental information required by the agency
prior to award. The award decision of the Grants Officer is final.
Applicants should allow up to 90 days processing time.
Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program
will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years
for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
Evaluation Criteria: The Divisions will score proposals based on
the following criteria and weights:
1. Technical quality of the research. Reviewers will assess the
rationality, innovation and imagination of the proposal and the fit to
NIST's in-house building research programs. (0-35 points)
2. Potential impact of the results. Reviewers will assess the
potential impact and the technical application of the results to our
in-house programs and the building industry. (0-25 points)
3. Staff and institution capability to do the work. Reviewers will
evaluate the quality of the facilities and experience of the staff to
assess the likelihood of achieving the objective of the proposal. (0-20
points)
4. Match of budget to proposed work. Reviewers will assess the
budget against the proposed work to ascertain the reasonableness of the
request. (0-20 points)
Cost Share Requirements: The Building Research Grants and
Cooperative Agreements Program does not require any matching funds.

Fire Research Grants Program

Program Description: The Fire Research Grants Program will provide
funding for innovative ideas in the fire research area generated by the
proposal writer, who chooses the topic and approach.

DATES: All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no
later than 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on September 30, 2006.
Proposals received between May 1, 2006 and September 30, 2006 will be
processed and considered for funding under this solicitation, but if
selected, proposals may be funded in

[[Page 76248]]

the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds.

ADDRESSES: Paper applications must be submitted to: Ms. Wanda Duffin-
Ricks, Building and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL), National Institute
of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8660, Gaithersburg,
Maryland 20899-8660. Electronic applications and associated proposal
information should be uploaded to grants.gov.

A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling (301) 975-6328.
Program questions should be addressed to Ms. Wanda Duffin-Ricks,
Building and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL), National Institute of
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8660, Gaithersburg,
Maryland 20899-8660, Tel: (301) 975-6863, E-mail:
wanda.duffin@nist.gov, Web site: http://www.bfrl.nist.gov. All grants

related administration questions concerning this program should be
addressed to: Joyce Brigham, NIST Grants and Agreements Management
Division, (301) 975-6328; joyce.brigham@nist.gov. For assistance with
using Grants.gov contact support@grants.gov.
Funding Availability: For the Fire Research Grants Program, the
annual budget is approximately $1.0 to $1.5 million. Because of
commitments for the support of multi-year projects and because
proposals may have been deferred from the previous year's competition,
only a portion of the budget is available to fund applications received
in response to this notice. Most grants and cooperative agreements are
in the $25,000 to $125,000 per year range, with a maximum requested
duration of three years. In fiscal year 2005, the Fire Research Grants
Program funded 8 new awards, totaling $620,224.
For the Fire Research Grants Program, proposals will be considered
for research projects from one to three years. When a proposal for a
multi-year project is approved, funding will normally be provided for
only the first year of the program. If an application is selected for
funding, DoC has no obligation to provide any additional future funding
in connection with that award. Funding for each subsequent year of a
multi-year proposal will be contingent on satisfactory progress,
continuing relevance to the mission of the NIST Fire Research Program,
and the availability of funds.

Statutory Authority: As authorized by 15 U.S.C. 278f, the NIST
Building and Fire Research Laboratory conducts directly and through
grants and cooperative agreements, a basic and applied fire research
program.

Eligibility: The Fire Research Grants Program is open to
institutions of higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations;
commercial organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments;
foreign governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign
governments; and international organizations.
Review and Selection Process: Prospective proposers are encouraged
to contact the group leaders listed in the FFO announcement to
determine the responsiveness of the proposal and compliance with
program objectives prior to preparation of a detailed proposal.
Responsive proposals will be assigned, as received on a rolling basis,
to the most appropriate group. Proposals are evaluated for technical
merit based on the evaluation criteria described above by at least
three reviewers chosen from NIST professionals, technical experts from
other interested government agencies, and experts from the fire
research community at large. When non-Federal reviewers are used,
reviewers may discuss the proposals with each other, but scores will be
determined on an individual basis, not as a consensus. The group
leaders will make funding recommendations to the Division Chief based
on the technical evaluation score and the relationship of the work
proposed to the objectives of the program.
In making application selections, the Division Chief will take into
consideration the results of the evaluations, the scores of the
reviewers, the group leader's recommendation, the availability of
funds, and relevance to the objectives of the Fire Research Grants
Program, as described in the Program Description section above. The
final approval of selected applications and award of financial
assistance will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance
with application requirements as published in this notice, compliance
with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, compliance with
Federal policies that best further the objectives of the Department of
Commerce, and whether the recommended applicants appear to be
responsible. Applicants may be asked to modify objectives, work plans,
or budgets and provide supplemental information required by the agency
prior to award. The award decision of the Grants Officer is final.
Applicants should allow up to 90 days processing time.
Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program
will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years
for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
Evaluation Criteria: For the Fire Research Grants Program, the
technical evaluation criteria are as follows:
1. Technical quality of the research. Reviewers will assess the
rationality, innovation and imagination of the proposal. (0-35 points).
2. Potential impact of the results. Reviewers will assess the
potential impact and the technical application of the results to the
fire safety community. (0-25 points)
3. Staff and institution capability to do the work. Reviewers will
evaluate the quality of the facilities and experience of the staff to
assess the likelihood of achieving the objective of the proposal. (0-20
points)
4. Match of budget to proposed work. Reviewers will assess the
budget against the proposed work to ascertain the reasonableness of the
request. (0-20 points)
Cost Share Requirements: The Fire Research Grants Program does not
require any matching funds.

Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) Grants Program

Program Description: The Information Technology Laboratory Grants
Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements in the broad
areas of mathematical and computational sciences, advanced network
technologies, and information access. Specific objectives of interest
in these areas of research include: Quantum information theory,
computational materials science, computational nanotechnology,
mathematical knowledge management, visual data analysis, verification
and validation of computer models, software testing, human-robot
interaction, human factors in voting systems, security for the IPv6
transition from and coexistence with IPv6, and device mobility among
heterogeneous networks. For details on these various activities, please
see the Information Technology Laboratory Web site at http://www.itl.nist.gov.
Additionally, the ITL Grant Program will provide

grants and cooperative agreements in support of conferences, workshops,
and other technical research groups that focus on trends and future
focus areas of information technology.

DATES: All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no
later than 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on September 30, 2006.
Proposals received between July 1, 2006 and September 30,

[[Page 76249]]

2006 will be processed and considered for funding under this
solicitation, but if selected, proposals may be funded in the next
fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds.

ADDRESSES: Paper applications must be submitted to: Kirk Dohne,
Information Technology Laboratory (ITL), National Institute of
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8900, Gaithersburg,
Maryland 20899-8900. Electronic applications and associated proposal
information should be uploaded to grants.gov.

A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling (301) 975-6328.
Program questions should be addressed to Kirk Dohne, Information
Technology Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology,
100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8900, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8200, Tel:
(301) 975-8480, E-mail: kirk.dohne@nist.gov; Fax: (301) 975-2378, Web
site: http://www.itl.nist.gov. It is strongly suggested to first

confirm the program objectives with the Program Manager prior to
preparing a detailed proposal. All grants related administration
questions concerning this program should be addressed to: Joyce
Brigham, NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division, (301) 975-
6328; joyce.brigham@nist.gov. For assistance with using Grants.gov
contact support@grants.gov.
Funding Availability: In fiscal year 2005, the Information
Technology Laboratory did not participate in the grants program,
therefore no historical data is available for that period. No funds
have been set aside specifically for support of the Information
Technology Laboratory Grants Program. The availability of funds depends
upon actual authorization of funds and other costs expected to be
incurred by the individual divisions. The amount available each year
fluctuates considerably based on programmatic needs. Individual awards
are expected to range between $10,000 and $150,000.
For the Information Technology Laboratory Grants Program, proposals
will be considered for research projects from one to three years. When
a proposal for a multi-year award is approved, funding will generally
be provided for only the first year of the program. If an application
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
total discretion of NIST. Funding for each subsequent year of a multi-
year proposal will be contingent upon satisfactory progress, continued
relevance to the mission of the Information Technology Laboratory
Grants Program, and the availability of funds. The multi-year awards
must have scopes of work that can be easily separated into annual
increments of meaningful work that represent solid accomplishments if
prospective funding is not made available to the applicant (i.e., the
scopes of work for each funding period must produce identifiable and
meaningful results in and of themselves).

Statutory Authority: As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and
(c), the ITL conducts a basic and applied research program directly
and through grants and cooperative agreements to eligible
recipients.

Eligibility: The ITL Grants Program is open to institutions of
higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial
organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; foreign
governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign
governments; and international organizations.
Review and Selection Process: For the Information Technology
Laboratory (ITL) Grants Program, proposals will be reviewed in a three-
step process. First, the Deputy Director of ITL, or appropriate
designee, will determine the compatibility of the applicant's proposal
with ITL Program Areas and the relevance to the objectives of the ITL
Grants Program, described in the Program Description section above. If
it is determined that the proposal is incomplete or non-responsive to
the scope of the stated objectives, the proposal will not be reviewed
for technical merit. If a proposal is determined to be incomplete or
non-responsive, or if it is determined that all available funds have
been exhausted, the proposal will not be reviewed for technical merit.
Proposers may contact ITL at (301) 975-8480 to find out if funds have
been exhausted for the fiscal year. ITL will also post a notice on its
Web site, http://www.itl.nist.gov, when funds are exhausted for the fiscal

year. ITL will notify proposers in writing if their proposals are not
reviewed for technical merit.
Second, at least three independent, objective individuals
knowledgeable about the particular measurement science area described
in the section above that the proposal addresses will conduct a
technical review of each proposal, based on the evaluation criteria
described above. Reviews will be conducted on a quarterly basis, and
all responsive, complete proposals received and reviewed since the last
quarter will be ranked based on the reviewers' scores. If non-Federal
reviewers are used, the reviewers may discuss the proposals with each
other, but scores will be determined on an individual basis, not as a
consensus.
Third, the Division Chief, in accord with the Director of ITL, will
make application selections, taking into consideration the results of
the reviewers' evaluations, the availability of funds, and the
relevance of the proposal to the program objectives described in the
Program Description section above.
The final approval of selected applications and award of financial
assistance will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance
with application requirements as published in this notice, compliance
with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, compliance with
Federal policies that best further the objectives of the Department of
Commerce, and whether the recommended applicants appear to be
responsible. Applicants may be asked to modify objectives, work plans,
or budgets and provide supplemental information required by the agency
prior to award. The decisions of the Grants Officer are final.
Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program
will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years
for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
Evaluation Criteria: For the ITL Grants Program, the evaluation
criteria the technical reviewers will use in evaluating the proposals
are as follows:
1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the
applicant's approach and the extent to which the proposal effectively
addresses scientific and technical issues.
2. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the
potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it
would contribute to the field of manufacturing engineering and
metrology research.
3. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider
the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed
personnel to perform the work in the project.
4. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to
which the proposer has access to the necessary facilities and overall
support to accomplish project objectives.

[[Page 76250]]

Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation
process.

Precision Measurement Grants Program

Program Description: The National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST) announces that the Precision Measurement Grants
Program is soliciting applications for financial assistance for FY
2005. The Precision Measurement Grants Program is seeking proposals for
significant research in the field of fundamental measurement or the
determination of fundamental constants. As part of its research
program, since 1970 NIST has awarded Precision Measurement Grants
primarily to universities and colleges so that faculty may conduct
significant research in the field of fundamental measurement or the
determination of fundamental constants. NIST sponsors these grants and
cooperative agreements primarily to encourage basic, measurement-
related research in universities and colleges and other research
laboratories and to foster contacts between NIST scientists and those
faculty members of academic institutions and other researchers who are
actively engaged in such work. The Precision Measurement Grants are
also intended to make it possible for researchers to pursue new ideas
for which other sources of support may be difficult to find. There is
some latitude in research topics that will be considered under the
Precision Measurement Grants Program. The key requirement is that the
proposed project support NIST's ongoing work in the field of basic
measurement science.

DATES: Abbreviated proposals must be received at the address listed
below no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on February 3, 2006.
Proposals received after this deadline will be returned with no further
consideration. Finalists will be selected by approximately March 23,
2006, and will be requested to submit full proposals to NIST. All full
proposals, paper and electronic, must be received no later than 5 p.m.
Eastern Standard Time on May 5, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Abbreviated proposals and paper applications must be
submitted to: Dr. Peter J. Mohr; Manager, NIST Precision Measurement
Grants Program; National Institute of Standards and Technology; 100
Bureau Drive, Stop 8420; Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8420. Electronic final
proposals should be uploaded to Grants.gov.

A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling (301) 975-6328.
Technical questions should be addressed to: Dr. Peter J. Mohr at the
address listed in the Addresses section above, or at Tel: (301) 975-
3217; E-mail: mohr@nist.gov. Grants Administration questions should be
addressed to: Grants and Agreements Management Division; National
Institute of Standards and Technology; 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 1650;
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1650; Tel: (301) 975-6328. For assistance with
using Grants.gov contact support@grants.gov.
Funding Availability: Applicants should propose multi-year projects
for up to three years at no more than $50,000 per year. NIST
anticipates spending $100,000 this year for two new grants at $50,000
each for the first year of the research projects. NIST may award both,
one, or neither of these new awards. Second and third year funding will
be at the discretion of NIST, based on satisfactory performance,
continuing relevance to program objectives, and the availability of
funds.

Statutory Authority: The authority for the Precision Measurement
Grants Program is as follows: As authorized by 15 U.S.C. 272 (b) and
(c), NIST conducts directly, and supports through grants, a basic
and applied research program in the general area of fundamental
measurement and the determination of fundamental constants of
nature.

Eligibility: Eligible applicants are institutions of higher
education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial
organizations; state, local and Indian tribal governments; foreign
governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign
governments; international organizations; and Federal agencies with
appropriate legal authority.
Review and Selection Process: All abbreviated proposals and full
applications received in response to this announcement will be reviewed
to determine whether or not they are complete and responsive to the
scope of the stated objectives for each program. Incomplete or non-
responsive abbreviated proposals and full applications will not be
reviewed for technical merit.
The Program will retain one copy of each non-responsive abbreviated
proposal and full application for three years for record keeping
purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
To simplify the proposal writing and evaluation process, the
following selection procedure will be used:
All applicants must submit an abbreviated proposal (original and
two signed copies), containing a description of the proposed project,
including sufficient information to address the evaluation criteria,
with a total length of no more than five (5) double spaced pages, to
the mailing address given above in the ``Addresses'' section. These
proposals will be screened to determine whether they address the
requirements outlined in this notice. Proposals that do not meet those
requirements will not be considered further. Eight independent,
objective individuals, at least half of whom are NIST employees, and
who are knowledgeable about the scientific areas that the program
addresses will conduct a technical review of each abbreviated proposal,
based on the evaluation criteria described in the Evaluation Criteria
section for this program. The proposals will then be ranked based on
the average of the reviewers' rankings. If non-Federal reviewers are
used, the reviewers may discuss the proposals with each other, but the
ranking will be determined on an individual basis, not as a consensus.
The Chief of the Atomic Physics Division of the Physics Laboratory,
the selecting official, will then select approximately four to eight
finalists. In selecting finalists, the selecting official will take
into consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations, including
rank, and relevance to the program objectives described above in the
Program Description section. Applicants not selected as finalists will
be notified in writing.
Finalists will then be asked in writing to submit full proposals in
accordance with the requirements set forth in the Content and Form of
Application Submission section of the FFO. The same independent
reviewers that reviewed the abbreviated proposals will then evaluate
the full proposals based on the same evaluation criteria, and the
proposals will be ranked as previously described. In selecting
proposals that will be recommended for funding, the selecting official
will take into consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations,
including rank and relevance to the program objectives described in the
Program Description section of this notice.
The final approval of selected applications and award of grants
will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance with
application requirements as published in this notice, compliance with
applicable legal and regulatory requirements, compliance with Federal
policies that best further the objectives of the Department of
Commerce, and whether the recommended applicants appear to be
responsible.

[[Page 76251]]

Applicants may be asked to modify objectives, work plans, or
budgets and provide supplemental information required by the agency
prior to award.
The decision of the Grants Officer is final.
Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program
will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years
for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
Evaluation Criteria: The evaluation criteria to be used in
evaluating the abbreviated application proposals and full proposals
are:
1. The importance of the proposed research--Does it have the
potential of answering some currently pressing question or of opening
up a whole new area of activity?
2. The relationship of the proposed research to NIST's ongoing
work--Will it support one of NIST's current efforts to develop a new or
improved fundamental measurement method or physical standard, test the
basic laws of physics, or provide an improved value for a fundamental
constant?
3. The feasibility of the research and the potential impact of the
grant--Is it likely that significant progress can be made in a three
year time period with the funds and personnel available and that the
funding will enable work that would otherwise not be done with existing
or potential funding?
4. The qualifications of the applicant--Does the educational and
employment background and the quality of the research, based on recent
publications, of the applicant indicate that there is a high
probability that the proposed research will be carried out
successfully?
Each of these factors is given equal weight in the evaluation
process.
Cost Share Requirements: The Precision Measurement Grants Program
does not require any matching funds.
The following information applies to all programs announced in this
notice:
The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for
Grants and Cooperative Agreements: The Department of Commerce Pre-Award
Notification Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements
contained in the Federal Register notice of December 30, 2004 (69 FR
78389). On the form SF-424, the applicant's 9-digit Dun and Bradstreet
Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number must be entered in the
Applicant Identifier block (68 FR 38402).
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 proposal prior to the merit review.
Use of NIST Intellectual Property: If the applicant anticipates
using any NIST-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 NIST 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 NIST-owned intellectual property, the applicant must
comply with all statutes and regulations governing the licensing of
Federal government patents and inventions, described at 35 U.S.C. sec.
200-212, 37 CFR part 401, 15 CFR 14.36, and in section 20 of the
Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements published on
December 30, 2004 (69 FR 78389). Questions about these requirements may
be directed to the Counsel for NIST, 301-975-2803.
Any use of NIST-owned intellectual property by a proposer is at the
sole discretion of NIST 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 NIST employee arise
in the course of an award made pursuant to this notice, the United
States government may retain its ownership rights in any such
invention. Licensing or other disposition of NIST's rights in such
inventions will be determined solely by NIST, and include the
possibility of NIST putting the intellectual property into the public
domain.
Initial Screening of all Applications: All applications received in
response to this announcement will be reviewed to determine whether or
not they are complete and responsive to the scope of the stated
objectives for each program. Incomplete or non-responsive applications
will not be reviewed for technical merit. The Program will retain one
copy of each non-responsive application for three years for record
keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
Paperwork Reduction Act: The standard forms in the application kit
involve a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction
Act. The use of Standard Forms 424, 424A, 424B, SF-LLL, and CD-346 have
been approved by OMB under the respective Control Numbers 0348-0043,
0348-0044, 0348-0040, 0348-0046, and 0605-0001.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is
required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty
for failure to comply with, a collection subject to the requirements of
the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information
displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.
Research Projects Involving Human Subjects, Human Tissue, Data or
Recordings Involving Human Subjects: Any proposal that includes
research involving human subjects, human tissue, data or recordings
involving human subjects must meet the requirements of the Common Rule
for the Protection of Human Subjects, codified for the Department of
Commerce at 15 CFR part 27. In addition, any proposal that includes
research on these topics must be in compliance with any statutory
requirements imposed upon the Department of Health and Human Services
(DHHS) and other federal agencies regarding these topics, all
regulatory policies and guidance adopted by DHHS, FDA, and other
Federal agencies on these topics, and all Presidential statements of
policy on these topics.
NIST will accept the submission of human subjects protocols that
have been approved by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) possessing a
current, valid Federal-wide Assurance (FWA) from DHHS. NIST will not
issue a single project assurance (SPA) for any IRB reviewing any human
subjects protocol proposed to NIST.
On August 9, 2001, the President announced his decision to allow
Federal funds to be used for research on existing human embryonic stem
cell lines as long as prior to his announcement (1) the derivation
process (which commences with the removal of the inner cell mass from
the blastocyst) had already been initiated and (2) the

[[Page 76252]]

embryo from which the stem cell line was derived no longer had the
possibility of development as a human being. NIST will follow guidance
issued by the National Institutes of Health at http://ohrp.osophs.dhhs.gov/humansubjects/guidance/stemcell.pdf
for funding

such research.
Research Projects Involving Vertebrate Animals: Any proposal that
includes research involving vertebrate animals must be in compliance
with the National Research Council's ``Guide for the Care and Use of
Laboratory Animals'' which can be obtained from National Academy Press,
2101 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20055. In addition, such
proposals must meet the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act (7
U.S.C. 2131 et seq.), 9 CFR parts 1, 2, and 3, and if appropriate, 21
CFR part 58. These regulations do not apply to proposed research using
pre-existing images of animals or to research plans that do not include
live animals that are being cared for, euthanized, or used by the
project participants to accomplish research goals, teaching, or
testing. These regulations also do not apply to obtaining animal
materials from commercial processors of animal products or to animal
cell lines or tissues from tissue banks.
Limitation of Liability: In no event will the Department of
Commerce be responsible for proposal preparation costs if these
programs fail to receive funding or are cancelled because of other
agency priorities. Publication of this announcement does not oblige the
agency to award any specific project or to obligate any available
funds. Funding of any award under any program announced in this notice
is subject to the availability of funds.
Executive Order 12866: This funding notice was determined to be not
significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866.
Executive Order 13132 (Federalism): It has been determined that
this notice does not contain policies with federalism implications as
that term is defined in Executive Order 13132.
Executive Order 12372: Applications under this program are not
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs.''
Administrative Procedure Act/Regulatory Flexibility Act: Notice and
comment are not required under the Administrative Procedure Act (5
U.S.C. 553) or any other law, for rules relating to public property,
loans, grants, benefits or contracts (5 U.S.C. 553 (a)). Because notice
and comment are not required under 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other law, for
rules relating to public property, loans, grants, benefits or contracts
(5 U.S.C. 553(a)), a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is not required
and has not been prepared for this notice, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.

Dated: December 15, 2005.
William Jeffrey,
Director, NIST.
[FR Doc. 05-24424 Filed 12-22-05; 8:45 am]

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