2024-NIST-HPPR-01 NOFO.pdf

2024-NIST-HPPR-01

April 19, 2024

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (NOFO)

NIST- Hawaiʻi Partnership in Plastic Pollution Research (HPPR) Program

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

● Federal Agency Name: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), United States Department of Commerce (DoC)

● Announcement Type: Initial

● Funding Opportunity Number: 2024-NIST-HPPR-01

● Assistance Listing (CFDA Number): 11.619: Arrangements for Multidisciplinary Research Infrastructure

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

Eastern Time, June 17, 2024. Applications received after this deadline will not be reviewed or considered. Paper applications will not be accepted.

Applicants should be aware, and factor in their application submission planning, that the Grants.gov system closes periodically for routine maintenance.

Applicants should visit Grants.gov for information on any scheduled closures.

Applications cannot be submitted when Grants.gov is closed.

NIST expects to complete its review, selection of successful applicants, and award processing by September 2024. NIST expects the earliest start date for awards under this NOFO to be October 2024.

● Application Submission Address: Applications must be submitted using Grants.gov. Paper applications will not be accepted.

● Funding Opportunity Description: The NIST-Hawai’i Partnership in Plastic Pollution Research is seeking applications from eligible applicants to establish an institutional award, as described in the Department of Commerce Grants and Cooperative Agreements Manual, Chapter 6.A.2 (20 April 2021), for activities to partner on the nation’s priority plastic pollution research with efforts focusing on the Hawaiian Island region. Eligible applicants should describe how they can host and interact with at least three NIST scientists with office, laboratory and other appropriate facilities to perform multi-disciplinary plastic pollution research with the intent to establish a long-term partnership between NIST and the recipient, as discussed in Section I.1. The proposal should also include a description of administrative, research and outreach/educational support that would be offered by the applicant in the partnership to achieve world-class research in the field of plastic pollution.

https://sam.gov/fal/b0de061ca58347ef85f1f8881f097d61/view https://sam.gov/fal/b0de061ca58347ef85f1f8881f097d61/view https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.commerce.gov/sites/default/files/2021-04/Department%20of%20Commerce%20Grants%20%20Cooperative%20Agreements%20Manual%20%2820%20April%202021%29.pdf https://www.commerce.gov/sites/default/files/2021-04/Department%20of%20Commerce%20Grants%20%20Cooperative%20Agreements%20Manual%20%2820%20April%202021%29.pdf

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• Anticipated Amounts: In Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), NIST anticipates funding one (1) multi-year award for up to $250,000 per year for up to five (5) years. After five years, upon independent review and evaluation of the program and the recipient, NIST may provide to the recipient additional multi-year funding with performance periods of up to five (5) years. This will be on a non-competitive basis as an institutional award.

● Funding Instrument: Cooperative Agreement

● Eligibility: Eligible applicants include accredited institutions of higher education;

non-profit organizations; for-profit organizations incorporated in the United States; and state and local governments with facilities on the Island of O’ahu.

Although Federal entities are not eligible to receive funding under this NOFO, they may participate as unfunded collaborators. Those supported may include employees, students or faculty as appropriate to the institution.

● Cost Sharing Requirements: Non-federal cost share is not required but encouraged (see Section III.2.).

● Public Website: NIST has a public website (https://www.nist.gov/programs-projects/plastic-pollution-measurement-science ) that provides an overview of the current NIST Plastic Pollution Measurement Science project in Hawaiʻi.

Table of Contents I. Program Description 3

II.Federal Award Information 4

III.Eligibility Information 4

IV.Application and Submission Information 5

V.Application Review Information 18

VI.Federal Award Administration Information 23

VII.Federal Awarding Agency Contacts 37

VIII.Other Information 38

FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

I. Program Description

The statutory authority for the NIST-Hawaiʻi Partnership in Plastic Pollution Research is 15 USC § 272(b)(4).

1. Program Description The overall objective of this funding opportunity is to establish an institutional award, as described in the Department of Commerce Grants and Cooperative Agreements Manual, Chapter 6.A.2 (20 April 2021), to provide a collaborative research facility in Hawai’i that supports multi-disciplinary plastic pollution research focused especially on the Hawaiian Islands. The recipient will provide a facility on https://www.nist.gov/programs-projects/plastic-pollution-measurement-science https://www.nist.gov/programs-projects/plastic-pollution-measurement-science https://www.commerce.gov/sites/default/files/2021-04/Department%20of%20Commerce%20Grants%20%20Cooperative%20Agreements%20Manual%20%2820%20April%202021%29.pdf https://www.commerce.gov/sites/default/files/2021-04/Department%20of%20Commerce%20Grants%20%20Cooperative%20Agreements%20Manual%20%2820%20April%202021%29.pdf

April 19, 2024 the Island of O’ahu for NIST scientists (at least three), recipient scientific staff members, and guest scientists and students to conduct joint research related to plastic pollution. NIST scientists will bring expertise in the chemical sciences related to plastic measurement research using spectroscopic and mass spectrometry tools. The program would also support a limited effort in cryogenic biospecimen archival. The presence of NIST scientists and measurement infrastructure is intended to provide a resource for collaboration between the host institution and NIST in areas such as polymer science, plastic fate and effects, the circular economy, plastic recycling, analytical chemistry in general, environmental chemistry, chemicals of emerging concern (CEC), as well as training and technology transfer. Note that the activities by NIST link directly to extensive efforts in these areas being conducted at the NIST main campus in Gaithersburg, MD, and other locations such as Charleston, SC. The recipient will be expected to collaborate with NIST to advance program planning and partnering with external stake holders (e.g., state and regional agencies and the polymer and recycling industries), other Federal Agencies (especially NOAA and EPA), and with NIST strategic areas (e.g., the Circular Economy).

Examples of current NIST emphasis areas include:

● Developing best practices and approaches for measuring quantities and characterizing nano- and microplastics in environmental samples.

● Creating reference materials, data products, and documentary standards to aid in the correct measurement of plastic debris and weathering of plastic debris.

● Developing approaches to measure chemicals of emerging concern, including plastic additives, in environmental samples using techniques such as pyrolysis-GC/MS and GC/MS.

● Developing sampling methods and specimen archival practices for selected marine species in collaboration with other agencies.

● Evaluating measurement approaches for quantifying and characterizing, including polymer identifying, plastic pollution using spectroscopic, thermo-analytical, and mass spectrometry techniques.

● Evaluating measurement approaches for estimating the fate of plastic in the environment.

● Studying recycling strategies for waste plastic and plastic marine debris and contributing to the NIST program on the Circular Economy that emphasizes polymer circularity. Since the marine environment is the recipient of much of the world’s discarded plastic, the program will seek ways to determine plastic fate, degradation rates, and evaluate the measurement science needed to accurately quantify and identify plastic waste. The program will also provide polymer identification methodology for plastic recycling research.

● Training recipient and guest students and scientists, or staff and providing technology transfer in plastic pollution measurements.

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The recipient may choose to work directly with NIST on NIST’s areas of emphasis and/or leverage the cooperative agreement to undertake separate but related research.

2. Background Information

The NIST is a federal agency within the Department of Commerce with a mission to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. The Chemical Sciences Division (CSD) within the NIST Material Measurement Laboratory (MML) provides the measurement science, standards, technology, and data that help members of industry, other government agencies, and academia make still more progress in the chemical sciences, from assessing human health with diagnostic tests to determining the nutritional value of food and supplements, from setting emissions standards to assessing the climate. CSD researchers in Hawaiʻi perform pollution exposure science and biobanking of marine animal tissues for long-term pollution trend monitoring. Measurement science for plastic pollution quantification and characterization has become a priority for NIST especially as society has become more aware of the global marine debris and microplastic contamination issues. CSD research in Hawaiʻi has also been spurred by the NIST MML Circular Economy Program, which is concerned about keeping atoms and molecules of materials in the economy, especially plastics.

NIST originally established cooperative efforts in Hawaiʻi in 2010 to provide access to our deep expertise in the biorepository and chemical sciences to the Pacific Island Region and will continue to do so through this program. In 2019, the NIST deemphasized biobanking and prioritized plastic pollution science and so cooperatively established the Center for Marine Debris Research with a university in Hawaiʻi. These efforts have resulted in 42 scientific publications and >60 students trained or graduated in science degrees. This funding opportunity is intended to sustain and build upon those successes.

3. Program Requirements

The applicant must describe their ability to provide adequate, safe, and operational facilities and administrative support to host the collaborative research activities and the applicant’s scientists and students within 60 days of funding award. The required spaces must be located on the Island of Oʻahu in Hawaiʻi to minimize relocation costs for the existing NIST employees and moving costs for the NIST instrumentation and include the following:

● Laboratories totaling at least 1,500 sq ft with existing (or the ability to install) required ventilation (minimum of 2 fume hoods and drop-down snorkels from the ceiling for at least two lab benches) and power (several

April 19, 2024

220V outlets). Phones that ring aloud and are accessible to anyone are required in the laboratories for safety reasons. Backup generators are required for the laboratory power. The laboratories should be in a building with a solid foundation (concrete slab) with low vibration for microanalytical balance use. The space must house the NIST-owned laboratory equipment, which includes a Milli-Q water system, muffle furnace, three analytical balances, one microscope, one centrifuge, a -20 oC explosion proof freezer, a microwave extraction system, a Turbovap solvent evaporation system, a pyrolysis-GC/MS, a GC/MS, hydrogen generator, heat press, freeze drier, and up to 15 compressed gas cylinders. The intention of NIST is to share the space and NIST-owned equipment at no additional charge with the recipient’s scientists and students in a collaborative manner. Likewise, the recipient is encouraged to house, and share with NIST, complementary plastic pollution research equipment in the shared laboratories. Strong applications will describe existing or expected laboratory equipment.

● Office space for at least 3-5 NIST scientists, 8-10 recipient partner staff, and students. Most NIST scientists and partner staff should have private and secure offices; and these offices should be near each other and the laboratories.

● Access to conference room for meeting up to 20 people.

● A freezer and storage room of at least 115 sq ft that has adequate ventilation for two liquid nitrogen vapor freezers (each 4 feet in diameter).

● Willingness to own or operate a warehouse (>7500 sq ft) for marine debris and recycling research if additional extramural funds are secured.

The required support systems include the following:

● The recipient is expected to use this funding opportunity to hire and supervise necessary scientific staff to actively engage in the facility’s research and administration. This may include a full-time laboratory manager and students. The applicant should describe their willingness and ability to hire additional scientific staff with externally awarded grants submitted in partnership with NIST.

● Existing safety program for chemistry laboratories.

● Internet connection to allow VPN connection by NIST.

● Adequate (preferably 24-hour) security of buildings and parking areas.

● 24-hour access to all shared spaces by approved NIST staff, students and guests.

● Reasonable accommodation for access of service animals to office spaces.

● Facility maintenance and repair staff.

● Access to administrative services (e.g., information technology help desk, human resources, accounts payable and receivable, and grant offices).

● Chemical hazardous waste handling, which can be included in the budget of this funding opportunity.

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The applicant is encouraged to describe their existing multi-disciplinary research and education programs related to plastic pollution that could be leveraged in a partnership with NIST. Strong applications will come from multi-disciplinary (e.g., marine science, biology, chemistry, engineering, business, public health, law, economics, political and social sciences), established, and well-networked teams of researchers or administrators that welcome collaborative, innovative, and world-class research. The applicant should describe how the host organization will welcome and incorporate NIST scientists into their programs or activities (e.g., ability to apply for affiliate or adjunct faculty positions, or to recruit, admit, and advise students). Strong proposals will describe a commitment towards active engagement in the partnership with NIST from all levels of the applicant’s organization (e.g., willingness to partner on grant opportunities, to grow educational and research programs that stimulate pollution prevention and plastic circularity, to encourage faculty or staff to participate in collaborative research).

Describing how programs are willing to adapt and grow into plastic pollution prevention and circularity spaces is also encouraged.

II. Federal Award Information

1. Funding Instrument The funding instrument that will be used is a cooperative agreement. Where cooperative agreements are used, the nature of NIST’s “substantial involvement” will generally include collaboration with the recipient organization in developing and implementing the approved scope of work, consistent with the definition of cooperative agreement in 2 CFR § 200.1.

2. Multi-Year Funding Policy. When a proposal for a multi-year award is approved, funding will usually be provided for only the first year of the program. If a project is selected for funding, NIST has no obligation to provide any additional funding in connection with that award. Continuation of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the sole discretion of NIST. Continued funding will be contingent upon satisfactory performance, continued relevance to the mission and priorities of the Material Measurement Laboratory, and the availability of funds.

3. Funding Availability In FY24, NIST anticipates funding one (1) award for up to $250,000 per year with a project performance period of up to five (5) years. After five years, upon independent review and evaluation of the program and the recipient, NIST may provide to the recipient additional multi-year funding with performance periods of up to five (5) years. This additional funding will be on a non-competitive basis as an institutional award in accordance with the Department of Commerce Grants and Cooperative Agreements Manual, Chapter 6.A.2 (20 April 2021).

April 19, 2024

4. Indirect (F&A) Costs. NIST will reimburse applicants for proposed indirect (F&A) costs in accordance with 2 CFR § 200.414. Applicants proposing indirect (F&A) costs must follow the application requirements set forth in Section IV of this NOFO.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants Eligible applicants include accredited institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations incorporated in the United States, and state, and local governments with facilities on the Island of O’ahu. Although Federal entities are not eligible to receive funding under this NOFO, they may participate as unfunded collaborators.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching funds are not required for awards issued pursuant to this NOFO but are encouraged. Non-federal cost sharing is that portion of the project costs not borne by the Federal Government. The applicant’s share of expenses may include cash, services, and third-party in-kind contributions, as described at 2 CFR §200.306. The source and detailed rationale of the cost share, including cash, full- and part-time personnel, and in-kind donations, must be documented in the Budget Narrative and Justification, submitted with the application, and will be considered as part of the review under the evaluation criterion found in Section V.1.e of this NOFO.

As with the Federal share, any proposed costs included as non-Federal cost sharing must be an allowable/eligible cost under this program and under the Federal cost principles set forth in 2 CFR part 200, Subpart E.

Non-federal cost sharing incorporated into the budget of an approved financial assistance award is subject to audit in the same general manner as Federal award funds. See 2 CFR part 200, Subpart F.

For instructions on incorporating cost share into the Budget Narrative and Justification, see Section IV. Application and Submission Information.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

The application package is available at Grants.gov under Funding Opportunity Number 2024-NIST-HPPR-01.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

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

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/section-200.306 http://www.grants.gov/

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(1) SF-424 (R&R), Application for Federal Assistance. The SF-424 (R&R) must be signed by an authorized representative of the applicant organization.

For SF-424 (R&R), Items 5, 14, and 19, use the Zip Code + 4 format (##### - ####) when addresses are called for.

SF-424 (R&R), Item 18. If the SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities form (item (6) below) is applicable, attach it to field 18.

The list of certifications and assurances referenced in Item 17 of the SF-424 (R&R) is contained in the Federal Financial Assistance Certifications and Representations (Certs and Reps) as part of the SAM.gov entity registration.

Instructions for filling in the SF-424 (R&R) can be found on Grants.gov, as well as at the NIST Grants Management Division SF-424 Research & Related (R&R) Application Package Guidance.

(2) Research & Related Budget (Total Fed + Non-Fed). The budget should reflect anticipated expenses for the full term of the project, considering all potential cost increases, including cost of living adjustments.

The budget should be detailed in these categories:

A. Senior/Key Personnel;

B. Other Personnel;

C. Equipment Description;

D. Travel;

E. Participant/Trainee Support Costs;

F. Other Direct Costs;

G. Direct Costs (automatically generated);

H. Indirect Costs;

I. Total Direct and Indirect Costs (automatically generated);

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

L. Budget Narrative and Justification document (item (8) below) should be attached to field L.

A separate detailed R&R Budget must be completed for each budget period during the proposed award (e.g., annual basis). To add additional budget periods (e.g., year 2), click “Add Period” embedded at the end of the form. Information regarding the Research & Related Budget (Total Fed + Non-Fed) is available in the R&R Family Section of Grants.gov, as well as at the NIST Grants Management Division SF- 424 Research & Related (R&R) Application Package Guidance.

https://www.nist.gov/oaam/grants-management-division/sf-424-research-related-rr-application-package-guidance https://www.nist.gov/oaam/grants-management-division/sf-424-research-related-rr-application-package-guidance https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/r-r-family https://www.nist.gov/oaam/grants-management-division/sf-424-research-related-rr-application-package-guidance https://www.nist.gov/oaam/grants-management-division/sf-424-research-related-rr-application-package-guidance

April 19, 2024

(3) CD-511, Certification Regarding Lobbying. Enter “2024-NIST- HPPR-01” in the Award Number field. Enter the title of the application, or an abbreviation of that title, in the Project Name field.

(4) Research and Related Other Project Information. Answer the highlighted questions and use this form to attach the Project Narrative

(item (6) below), Resume(s) or CV(s) (item (7) below), the Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (item (9) below), the Letters of Commitment and Support (item (11) below), the Data Management Plan (item (12) below), and the Current and Pending Support Form (item (13 below).

Instructions for completing the Research and Related Other Project Information form can be found in the Grants.gov R&R Forms Repository by scrolling down to Research And Related Other Project Information and clicking the Instructions link, as well as in the NIST Grants Management Division SF-424 Research & Related (R&R) Application Package Guidance.

Please note that the Project Summary/Abstract is not relevant to this competition. However, Grants.gov requires an attachment to field 7 of the Research and Related Other Project Information form to successfully pass through Grants.gov. Please attach a document to field 7 stating, “A Project Summary/Abstract is not relevant to this competition”.

(5) SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities. (if applicable).

(6) Project Narrative. The Project Narrative is a word-processed document of no more than twenty (20) pages (double-spaced between lines), which is responsive to the program description and the evaluation criteria.

The projective narrative should contain the following information:

a. Executive Summary. An executive summary of the proposed approach, consistent with the requirements of this program (see Section I.3. of this NOFO) and evaluation criteria (see Section V.1.

of this NOFO). The executive summary should include information indicating how each evaluation criterion and its sub-factors are addressed. A table can be helpful in providing this information. The executive summary should not exceed two (2) pages.

b. Facility Plan. Applicants should adequately address the objectives and requirements of this program (see Section I. of this NOFO) and the Evaluation Criteria (see Section V.1.a of this NOFO).

Location (physical address), size, readiness, quality, condition, and https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/r-r-family https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/r-r-family https://www.nist.gov/oaam/grants-management-division/sf-424-research-related-rr-application-package-guidance https://www.nist.gov/oaam/grants-management-division/sf-424-research-related-rr-application-package-guidance

April 19, 2024 availability of ventilation and electricity necessary for chemistry laboratories should be described. Include floor plan drawings with electrical and ventilation capabilities, as well as a video showing the size and exterior and interior condition of the proposed facilities. The drawings and videos need not be professional quality. The drawings do not count against page limit. The length of the video is at the discretion of each applicant. A link to the video should be included in the body of the Project Narrative.

c. Support Services Plan. A description of the applicant’s safety and support services that will be made available to adequately address the objectives and requirements of this program (see Section I. of this NOFO) and with the Evaluation Criteria (see Section V.1.b of this NOFO). Existing or planned offices of support services and their staffing level should be described, such as chemistry-related safety, campus and building security, facilities repair and maintenance, information technology, and administrative functions (e.g. human resources, accounting).

d. Research and Education Collaboration Plan. A description of the applicant’s organizational mission, collaboration philosophy, and existing or planned research and education programs and staffing structure that are relevant and adequate to conduct plastic pollution and circularity research as described in the objectives and requirements of this program (see Section I. of this NOFO) and with the Evaluation Criteria (see Section V.1.c of this NOFO). This section should include qualifications of the key personnel, the time commitments of the key personnel, and how the project staff and upper management will integrate NIST employees into the applicant’s research and education programs.

e. Stakeholder Engagement, DEIJA, and Outreach Plan. A description of how the applicant approaches relationships with stakeholders relevant to plastic pollution and circularity research to advance the objectives and requirements of this program (see Section I. of this NOFO). Providing a list of existing or planned stakeholders is appropriate. This section must also describe the applicant’s viewpoint, policies, and implementation related to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility (DEIJA), and how the applicant plans to broadly disseminate the results of the project to the public, through scientific publications, presentations at public meetings or technical events, and/or through other outreach means. This section will be evaluated in based on criteria in Section V.1.d of this NOFO.

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(7) Resume(s) or CV(s). Resumes or CVs are required for all key personnel, including the principal investigator. Resumes are limited to two (2) pages per individual.

(8) Budget Narrative and Justification.

There is no set format for the Budget Narrative and Justification, however, the written justification should include the necessity and the basis for the cost, as described below. If cost share is included in the budget, the written justification must also identify the Federal and non- Federal portion of each cost, to include indirect costs, as applicable.

(see Cost Sharing section of this NOFO). Proposed funding levels must be consistent with the project scope, and only allowable costs should be included in the budget. Information on cost allowability is available in the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards at 2 C.F.R. Part 200, which apply to awards in this program.

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

This section will be evaluated in accordance with the Proposed Budget Plan evaluation criteria described in Section V.1.e. It will also be reviewed to determine if all costs are reasonable, allocable, and allowable under 2 C.F.R. Part 200 Subpart E, Cost Principles.

Information needed for each category is as follows (categories not listed are automatically generated by the form or are not relevant to this competition):

A. Senior/Key Personnel – At a minimum, the budget justification should include the following: name, job title, commitment of effort on the proposed project in terms of average number of hours per week or percentage of time, salary rate, total direct charges on the proposed project, description of the role of the individual on the proposed project and the work to be performed.

Fringe benefits should be identified separately from salaries and wages and based on rates determined by organizational policy. The items included in the fringe benefit rate (e.g., health insurance, parking, etc.) should not be charged under another cost category.

B. Other Personnel - Data is requested at the project role level, and not at the individual level for Other Personnel. The budget justification should include the following: job title, commitment of effort on the proposed project in terms of average number of hours per week or percentage of time, salary rate, total direct charges on http://go.usa.gov/SBYh

April 19, 2024 the proposed project, description of the role of the position on the proposed project and the work to be performed.

Fringe benefits should be identified separately from salaries and wages and based on rates determined by organizational policy. The items included in the fringe benefit rate (e.g., health insurance, parking, etc.) should not be charged under another cost category.

C. Equipment Description – Equipment is defined as an item of property that has an acquisition cost of $5,000 or more (unless the organization has established lower levels) and an expected service life of more than one year. The budget justification should list each piece of equipment, the cost, and a description of how it will be used and why it is necessary to the successful completion of the proposed project. Please note that any general use equipment (computers, etc.) charged directly to the award should be allocated to the award according to expected usage on the project. Any items that do not meet the threshold for equipment can be included under the Materials and Supplies line item in Section F, Other Direct Costs.

D. Travel - For all travel costs, required by the recipient to complete the project, including attendance at any relevant conferences, the budget justification for travel should include the following:

destination; names or number of people traveling; dates and/or duration; mode of transportation, lodging and subsistence rates;

and description of how the travel is directly related to the proposed project. For travel that is yet to be determined, please provide best estimates based on prior experience. If a destination is not known, an approximate amount may be used with the assumptions given for the location of the meeting.

E. Participant/Trainee Support Costs – Participant support costs are stipends, subsistence allowances, travel, and registration fees paid to or on behalf of participants or trainees, who are not employees of your organization, for conferences or training projects. The budget justification should indicate the names or number of participants or trainees, a description and calculation of costs per person, a description and date of the event, and a description of why the cost is necessary for the successful completion of the proposed project.

F. Other Direct Costs – For costs that do not easily fit into the other cost categories, please list the cost, and the breakdown of the total costs by quantity or unit of cost. Include the necessity of the cost for the completion of the proposed project. Only allowable costs can be charged to the award.

Each subaward or contractual cost should be treated as a separate item in the Other Direct Costs category. Describe the services to be provided and the necessity of the subaward or contract to the successful performance of the proposed project. Contracts are for obtaining goods and services. Subawardees perform part of the project scope of work. For each subaward, applicants must provide budget detail justifying the cost of the work performed on the project.

H. Indirect Costs – Commonly referred to as Facilities & Administrative Costs, Indirect Costs are defined as costs incurred by the applicant organization that cannot otherwise be directly assigned or attributed to a specific project. For more details, see Section IV.2.a.(9) of this NOFO.

(9) Indirect Cost Rate Agreement. If indirect costs are included in the proposed budget, provide a copy of the approved negotiated agreement if this rate was negotiated with a cognizant Federal audit agency. If the rate was not established by a cognizant Federal audit agency, provide a statement to this effect. If the successful applicant includes indirect costs in the budget and has not established an indirect cost rate with a cognizant Federal audit agency, the applicant will be required to obtain such a rate in accordance with Section B.06 of the Department of Commerce Financial Assistance Standard Terms and Conditions, dated November 12, 2020.

Alternatively, in accordance with 2 C.F.R. § 200.414(f), applicants that do not have a current negotiated (including provisional) indirect cost rate (except for those non-Federal entities described in appendix VII, paragraph D.1.b. of 2 CFR Part 200) may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10 percent of modified total direct costs (MTDC). Applicants proposing a 10 percent de minimis rate pursuant to 2 C.F.R. § 200.414(f) should note this election as part of the budget portion of the application. Please be aware that foreign applicants will be limited to use of the de minimis rate and will not have the opportunity to negotiate an indirect cost rate with NIST.

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

Budget Attachment Form is required if sub-recipients and contractors are included in the application budget.

Instructions for completing subaward budget forms are available by visiting the R & R Family section of the Grants.gov Forms Repository https://www.commerce.gov/sites/default/files/2020-11/DOC%20Standard%20Terms%20and%20Conditions%20-%2012%20November%202020%20PDF_0.pdf https://www.commerce.gov/sites/default/files/2020-11/DOC%20Standard%20Terms%20and%20Conditions%20-%2012%20November%202020%20PDF_0.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=dd7e460e397e25e8c7f2d685f71d953c&mc=true&node=ap2.1.200_1521.vii&rgn=div9 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=dd7e460e397e25e8c7f2d685f71d953c&mc=true&node=ap2.1.200_1521.vii&rgn=div9 https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/r-r-family

April 19, 2024 and scrolling down to the R & R Subaward Budget Attachment(s) Form and selecting “Instructions.”

(11) Letters of Commitment and Support. A Letter of Commitment from leadership within the applicant’s organization is required to demonstrate the extent to which the applicant has the overall support (facilities, support services, research and outreach collaboration) necessary to accomplish project goals and the organization’s intent to integrate the NIST program into their organization. This letter will be evaluated under the first four evaluation criteria in Section V.1.

Additional Letters of Commitment from other organizations providing matching funds are required and must be signed by an individual with authority to legally bind the organization to its commitment. These letters will be evaluated under the criteria in Sections V.1.d and V.1.e. Letters of Support from other organizations who will collaborate or benefit from the partnership, especially industry, other institutions of higher education, or non-profits may also be submitted.

Letters of Support will be evaluated under the criteria in Section V.1.d. Letters of Support and Commitment do not count against the page limit of the Project Narrative.

(12) Data Management Plan. Consistent with NIST Policy 5700.001, Managing Public Access to Results of Federally Funded Research, and NIST Order 5701.002, Managing Public Access to Results of Federally Funded Research” (or successor document), applicants must include a Data Management Plan (DMP).

All applications for activities that will generate scientific data using

NIST funding are required to adhere to a DMP or explain why data sharing and/or preservation are not within the scope of the project.

For the purposes of the DMP, NIST adopted the definition of “research data” at 2 C.F.R. § 200.315(e)(3).

The DMP must include, at a minimum, a summary of proposed activities that are expected to generate data; a summary of the types of data expected to be generated by the identified activities; a plan for storage and maintenance of the data expected to be generated by the identified activities, including after the end of the award’s period of performance; and a plan describing whether and how data generated by the identified activities will be reviewed and made available to the public.

1 https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2018/06/19/final_p_5700.pdf 2 https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2019/11/08/final_o_5701_ver_2.pdf https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2018/06/19/final_p_5700.pdf https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2019/11/08/final_o_5701_ver_2.pdf

April 19, 2024

A template for the DMP, an example DMP, and the rubric against which the DMP will be evaluated for sufficiency is available at:

Information for Applicants and Awardees. An applicant is not required to use the template as long as the DMP contains the required information.

If an application stands a reasonable chance of being funded and the

DMP is determined during the review process to be insufficient, the program office may contact the applicant to resolve deficiencies in the DMP. If an award is issued prior to the deficiencies being fully rectified, the award will include a Specific Award Condition (SAC) stating that no research activities shall be initiated, or costs incurred for those activities under the award until the NIST Grants Officer amends the award to indicate the SAC has been satisfied.

Reasonable costs for data preservation and access may be included in the application.

(13) Current and Pending Support Form. Any application that includes investigators, researchers, and key personnel must identify all sources of current and potential funding, including this proposal. Any current project support (e.g., Federal, state, local, public or private foundations, etc.) must be listed on this form. The proposed project and all other projects or activities requiring a portion of time of the Principal Investigator (PI), co-PI, and key personnel must be included, even if no salary support is received. The total award amount for the entire award period covered, including indirect costs, must be shown as well as the number of person-months per year to be devoted to the project, regardless of the source of support. Similar information must be provided for all proposals already submitted or that are being submitted concurrently to other potential funders.

Applicants must complete the Current and Pending Support Form, using multiple forms as necessary to account for all activity for each individual identified in the PI, co-PI and key personnel roles. A separate form should be used for each identified individual.

Applicants must download the Current and Pending Support Form from the NIST website and reference the guidance provided as it contains information to assist with accurately completing the form.

b. Attachment of Required Documents

Items IV.2.a.(1) through IV.2.a.(4) above are part of the standard application package in Grants.gov and can be completed through the download application process.

https://www.nist.gov/open/information-awardees https://www.nist.gov/oaam/grants-management-division/current-and-pending-support

April 19, 2024

Item IV.2.a.(5), the SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities form, is an optional application form which is part of the standard application package in Grants.gov. If item IV.2.a.(5), the SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities form is applicable to this proposal, attach it to field 18 of the SF-424 (R&R), Application for Federal Assistance.

Item IV.2.a.(6), the Project Narrative, should be attached to field 8 (Project Narrative) of the Research and Related Other Project Information form by clicking on “Add Attachment”.

Item IV.2.a.(8), the Budget Narrative and Justification, should be attached to field L (Budget Justification) of the Research and Related Budget (Total Fed + Total Non-Fed) form by clicking on “Add Attachment”.

Items IV.2.a.(6) b. Floor Plan Drawings, IV.2.a.(7), Resume(s) or CV(s), IV.2.a.(9), the Indirect Cost Rate Agreement, IV.2.a.(11) Letters of Commitment and Support as applicable to the submission, IV.2.a.(12), the Data Management Plan, and IV.2.a.(13), the Current and Pending Support Form, must be completed and attached by clicking on “Add Attachments” found in item 12 (Other Attachments) of the Research and Related Other Project Information form.

Item IV.2.a.(10), the Subaward Budget Form(s), if applicable to the submission, should be attached to the Research & Related Subaward Budget (Total Fed + Non-Fed) Attachment(s) Form in the application package.

Following these directions will create zip files which permit transmittal of the documents electronically via Grants.gov.

Applicants should carefully follow specific Grants.gov instructions at www.Grants.gov to ensure the attachments will be accepted by the Grants.gov system. A receipt from Grants.gov indicates only that an application was transferred to a system. It does not provide details concerning whether all attachments (or how many attachments) transferred successfully. Applicants will receive a series of e-mail messages over a period of up to two business days before learning whether a Federal agency’s electronic system has received its application. Applicants are strongly advised to use Grants.gov’s “Download Submitted Forms and Applications” option to check that their application’s required attachments were contained in their submission.

After submitting the application, check the status of your application here: CHECK APPLICATION STATUS. If any, or all, of the required http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/Applicants/CheckApplicationStatus/DownloadSubmittedFormsAndApplications.htm https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/index.htm#t=Applicants%2FCheckApplicationStatus%2FCheckApplicationStatus.htm

April 19, 2024 attachments are absent from the submission, follow the attachment directions found above, resubmit the application, and check again for the presence of the required attachments.

If the directions found on the Grants.gov Online Help page are not effective, please contact the Grants.gov Help Desk immediately. If calling from within the United States or from a U.S. territory, please call 800-518-4726. If calling from a place outside the United States or a U.S. territory, please call 606-545-5035. E-mails should be addressed to support@grants.gov. Assistance from the Grants.gov Help Desk will be available around the clock every day, with the exception of Federal holidays. Help Desk service will resume at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time the day after Federal holidays.

Applicants can track their submission in the Grants.gov system by following the procedures at the Grants.gov Track My Application page.

It can take up to two business days for an application to fully move through the Grants.gov system to NIST.

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

c. Application Format

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

(2) Figures, Graphs, Images, and Pictures. Should be of a size that is easily readable or viewable and may be displayed in landscape orientation. Any figures, graphs, images, or pictures will count toward the page limits for the Project Narrative.

(3) Font. Easy to read font (10-point minimum). Smaller type may be used in figures and tables but must be clearly legible.

(4) Page Limit. The Project Narrative is limited to twenty (20) pages double-spaced, noting the limit of two (2) pages for the Executive Summary.

(5) Page Limit Exclusions:

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

Research & Related Budget (Total Fed + Non-Fed);

CD-511, Certification Regarding Lobbying;

Research and Related Other Project Information;

SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities;

Resume(s) or CV(s);

https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/index.htm#t=GetStarted%2FGetStarted.htm mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/applicants/grant-applications/track-my-application

April 19, 2024

Budget Narrative and Justification;

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement;

Subaward Budget Form;

Letters of Commitment and Support;

Data Management Plan;

Current and Pending Support Form;

Floor Plan Drawings.

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

(7) Page size. 21.6 centimeters by 27.9 centimeters (8 ½ inches by 11 inches).

(8) Page numbering. Number pages sequentially.

(9) Application language. All documents must be in English, including but not limited to the initial application, any additional documents submitted in response to a NIST request, all reports, and any correspondence with NIST.

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

handwritten forms will not be accepted.

d. Application Replacement Pages. Applicants may not submit replacement pages and/or missing documents once an application has been submitted. Any revisions must be made by submission of a new application that must be received by NIST by the submission deadline.

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

Pursuant to 2 C.F.R. part 25, applicants and recipients are required to: (i) be registered in SAM before submitting its application; (ii) provide a valid unique entity identifier in its application; and (iii) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency, unless otherwise excepted from these requirements pursuant to 2 C.F.R. § 25.110. NIST will not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time that NIST is ready to make a Federal award pursuant to this NOFO, NIST may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another applicant.

4. Submission Dates and Times

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

April 19, 2024

Time, June 17, 2024. NIST will consider the date and time recorded by Grants.gov as the official submission time. Applications received after this deadline will not be reviewed or considered. Paper applications will not be accepted.

Applicants should be aware, and factor in their application submission planning, that the Grants.gov system closes periodically for routine maintenance. Applicants should visit Grants.gov for information on any scheduled closures.

When developing the submission timeline, please keep in mind that: (1) all applicants are required to have current registrations in the electronic System for Award Management (SAM.gov) and Grants.gov; (2) the free annual registration process in the SAM.gov generally takes between three and five business days but can take more than three weeks; and applicants will receive e-mail notifications over a period of up to two business days as the application moves through intermediate systems before the applicant learns via a validation or rejection notification whether NIST has received the application.

(See Grants.gov for full information on application and notification through Grants.gov.) Please note that a Federal assistance award cannot be issued if the designated recipient’s registration in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) is not current at the time of the award.

5. Intergovernmental Review

Applications submitted by State and local governments are subject to Executive Order (E.O.) 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,” pursuant to which each State designates an entity to coordinate, and review proposed federal financial assistance and direct federal development. All other applicants should consult the Intergovernmental Review State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to determine whether the application is subject to State review pursuant to E.O. 12372.

6. Funding Restrictions

Construction activities are not an allowable cost under this program. In addition, a recipient or a subrecipient may not charge profits, fees or other increments above cost to an award issued pursuant to this NOFO.

7. Other Submission Requirements

a. Applications must be submitted at Grants.gov. Paper applications will not be accepted.

(1) Applicants should carefully follow specific Grants.gov instructions to ensure that all attachments will be accepted by the Grants.gov system. A receipt from Grants.gov indicating an application is received does not provide information about whether attachments https://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj2vYP91tOEAxUeOzQIHXKWB_cQFnoECBkQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.whitehouse.gov%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F06%2FSPOC-list-as-of-2023.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0P4niDPUkGSaD4Dz_GGWiL&opi=89978449 https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj2vYP91tOEAxUeOzQIHXKWB_cQFnoECBkQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.whitehouse.gov%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F06%2FSPOC-list-as-of-2023.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0P4niDPUkGSaD4Dz_GGWiL&opi=89978449 http://www.grants.gov/

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