The National Institute of Standards and Technology awarded a $250,000 firm fixed price purchase order to the Foundation for Manufacturing Excellence, a non-profit organization, to serve as the premier co-sponsor of the 2023 MEP National Network Forum. The award is in response to a June 2023 special notice seeking interested contractors capable of fulfilling the premier co-sponsorship role for the event hosted by FORME and the American Small Manufacturers Coalition. As the premier co-sponsor, Foundation for Manufacturing Excellence will support the Forum to promote the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, which provides assistance to small and medium-sized manufacturers to help them create and retain jobs, increase profits, and save time and money. The purchase order has a period of performance through September 2023 and was awarded without a set-aside designation by NIST on behalf of the Hollings MEP program.