2024-NIST-MSE-01_.pdf

2024-NIST-MSE-01

March 4, 2024

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (NOFO)

Measurement Science and Engineering (MSE) Research Grant Programs

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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

• Funding Opportunity Title: Measurement Science and Engineering (MSE) Research Grant Programs

• Announcement Type: New

• Funding Opportunity Number: 2024-NIST-MSE-01

• Assistance Listings (CFDA Numbers): 11.609: Measurement and Engineering Research and Standards, 11.619: Arrangements for Interdisciplinary Research Infrastructure, and 11.620: Science, Technology, Business and/or Education Outreach.

• Dates: Applications will be accepted and considered on a rolling basis as they are received. See Section IV.4. in the Full Announcement Text of this NOFO.

When developing your submission timeline, please keep in mind that (1) all applicants are required to have current registrations in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) and Grants.gov; (2) the free annual registration process in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) (see Section IV.3. and Section IV.7.a.(1).(b). of this NOFO) generally takes between three and five business days but can take more than three weeks; and (3) applicants will receive a series of e-mail messages from Grants.gov over a period of up to two business days before learning whether a Federal agency’s electronic system has received its application. 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.

NOTE: As of Monday, April 4, 2022, the Federal Government stopped using the DUNS number to identify entities. All entities doing business with the Federal Government must use a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) generated in SAM.gov.

Applicants must request and be assigned a UEI number prior to completing the grant application forms and submitting their application via Grants.gov. For more information, please see Planned UEI Updates | GRANTS.GOV. The Standard Forms (e.g., SF424, SF424 R&R, etc.) were also updated on April 4, 2022, to allow entities to enter the UEI number. Applicants must use the applicable UEI Forms for all submissions.

NIST expects to complete its review, selection of successful applicants, and award processing by August 2023. NIST expects the earliest start date for awards under this NOFO to be September 2023.

• Application Submission Address: Applications must be submitted using Grants.gov.

• Funding Opportunity Description: NIST is soliciting applications for financial assistance for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) within the following NIST grant programs:

(1) Associate Director for Innovation and Industry Services (ADIIS);

(2) Associate Director for Laboratory Programs (ADLP);

(3) CHIPS Research & Development Program Office (CRDO)

(4) Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL);

(5) Engineering Laboratory (EL);

(6) Fire Research (FR);

(7) Information Technology Laboratory (ITL);

(8) International and Academic Affairs Office (IAAO);

(9) Material Measurement Laboratory (MML);

(10) NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR);

(11) Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML);

(12) Special Programs Office (SPO); and

(13) Standards Coordination Office (SCO).

This funding opportunity will result in the award of grants or cooperative agreements.

A grant or cooperative agreement is not the correct funding vehicle if the principal purpose is to provide products or services for the direct benefit or use of the federal government.

• Anticipated Funding Amounts: See Section II. in the Full Announcement Text of this NOFO.

• Funding Instrument: Grant or cooperative agreement, as appropriate.

• Who is Eligible: Eligibility for all programs listed in this NOFO is open to all non- Federal entities. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, state and local governments, Indian tribes, hospitals, foreign public entities, and foreign governments. NIST seeks to collaborate with a wide range of organizations and encourages minority-serving institutions of higher education to apply. Please note that individuals and unincorporated sole proprietors are not considered “non-Federal entities” and are not eligible to apply under this NOFO.

• Cost Sharing or Matching Requirements: The MSE Research Grant Programs do not require cost sharing or matching.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Program Description 3

II. Federal Award Information 31

III. Eligibility Information 33

IV. Application and Submission Information 33

V. Application Review Information 45

VI. Federal Award Administration Information 59

VII. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts 66

VIII. Other Information 68

FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

I. Program Description

NIST’s mission is to drive innovation and industrial competitiveness through measurement science and standards by cultivating a culture of belonging that integrates diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in all ways of working. One component of this mission is NIST’s ongoing effort to develop a diverse, world-class pool of scientists and engineers to engage in NIST's measurement science and standards research, and to support the development of a general population that understands and appreciates measurement science and standards. NIST also seeks to collaborate with a wide range of organizations, including but not limited to minority-serving institutions such as Historically Black colleges and universities, as well as community colleges, in support of NIST's mission.

This funding opportunity will result in the award of grants or cooperative agreements.

1. Associate Director for Innovation and Industry Services (ADIIS) Grant Program

The statutory authority for the ADIIS Grant Program is 15 U.S.C. § 272(b) and (c), 15 U.S.C. § 278g-1(e)(1) and (e)(3), and Title II, Division B, the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (Pub. L. 117-167).

Program Description: The ADIIS Grant Program supports activities that develop, expand, strengthen, or sustain NIST partnership programs within the ADIIS Directorate through measurements, standards, data, industry and technology studies, and technology research and development (R&D).

Specifically, the ADIIS Grant Program seeks to support technology innovation and service to American industry in the following fields: bioscience, chemistry, dimensional metrology, electronics, engineering, infrastructure, information technology, manufacturing, manufacturing metrology, materials science and engineering, nanotechnology, neutron research, optics, and physics.

The ADIIS Directorate’s current partnership programs include the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program1, the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)2, programs within the NIST Office of Advanced Manufacturing3, and programs within the NIST Technology Partnerships Office4.

Financial assistance may be provided to bolster measurements, standards, data and technology R&D within these partnership programs, or through new partnerships, to:

• advance early-stage research and development for industry;

• enhance opportunities in manufacturing through innovation;

• strengthen supplier programs for small and medium manufacturers;

• encourage the transfer and commercialization of research and technology from institutions of higher education, federal laboratories, other federally funded research programs, and nonprofit research institutes, as well as research or evaluate the impacts of such transfer and commercialization;

• create jobs or promote workforce development; and

• realize or sustain metrology needs in American industry, including through technical metrology training programs for manufacturers.

Financial support may be provided for conferences, workshops, studies, workforce development activities, or technical R&D meetings that are relevant to advancing NIST partnerships pursuant to technology innovation and service to American industry. However, NIST cannot be an official sponsor or co-sponsor for any event funded through this program.

All applications submitted to the ADIIS Grant Program must be in accordance with the program objectives listed above.

Financial support will not be provided for the establishment of an MEP Center or to augment capabilities of an MEP Center through an MEP Center applicant.

Current MEP Centers may add capabilities to the MEP Program, including the

1 The Baldrige Program oversees the nation's only Presidential award for performance excellence while offering a wide array of award-winning products and services, including the world-renowned Baldrige Excellence Framework.

See https://www.nist.gov/baldrige for more information.

2 MEP is a public-private partnership with Centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico dedicated to serving small and medium-sized manufacturers. See https://www.nist.gov/mep for more information.

3 The NIST Office of Advanced Manufacturing coordinates the network of Manufacturing USA institutes and leads the interagency Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office. See https://www.nist.gov/oam for more information.

4 Programs within the NIST Technology Partnership Office include the NIST Technology Transfer Program, the Lab to Market Initiative, and the Economic Analysis Program. See https://www.nist.gov/tpo for more information.

https://www.nist.gov/baldrige https://www.nist.gov/mep https://www.nist.gov/oam https://www.nist.gov/tpo development of projects to solve new or emerging manufacturing problems, through the rolling MEP Competitive Awards Program NOFO (see https://www.nist.gov/mep/nist-mep-competitive-awards-program-cap).

Financial support will not be provided for the NIST Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The NIST SBIR program solicits research and development proposals from small businesses that respond to specific technical needs described in the annual NIST SBIR Program NOFO. Please visit the NIST SBIR Program webpage for more information: https://www.nist.gov/tpo/small-business-innovation-research-program.

Additional information about the ADIIS and ADIIS Programs may be obtained at https://www.nist.gov/adiis. The contact person for the ADIIS Grant Program, who may be contacted for clarification of the program objectives, is Bryana Head and she may be reached at (301) 975-4885 or by e-mail at Bryana.head@nist.gov.

2. Associate Director for Laboratory Programs (ADLP) Grant Program

The statutory authority for the ADLP Grant Program is 15 U.S.C. § 272(b) and (c), 15 U.S.C. § 278g-1(e)(1) and (e)(3), and Title II, Division B, the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (Pub. L. 117-167).

Program Description: The ADLP Grant Program provides financial assistance to support the conduct of research or a recipient’s portion of collaborative research consistent with the NIST mission in areas consistent with the interests of NIST research programs including but not limited to bioscience, communications, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, resilience, quantum information science, etc. Financial support may be provided to organizations to sponsor individual participation in career development and outreach programs in advance of the NIST mission and laboratory priorities.

Financial support may be provided for students to attend education and outreach programs, conferences, workshops, or other technical research meetings that are relevant to the mission of the ADLP. Financial support may also be provided to organizations sponsoring conferences, workshops, education and outreach programs, or other technical events that are relevant to the mission of the ADLP.

However, NIST cannot be an official sponsor or co-sponsor for any event funded through this program.

Additional information about the ADLP and ADLP Programs may be obtained at http://www.nist.gov/director/adlp.cfm.

All applications submitted to the ADLP Grant Program must be in accordance with the program objectives listed above. The contact person for the ADLP Grant Program, who may be contacted for clarification of the program objectives, is https://www.nist.gov/mep/nist-mep-competitive-awards-program-cap https://www.nist.gov/tpo/small-business-innovation-research-program https://www.nist.gov/tpo/small-business-innovation-research-program https://www.nist.gov/adiis http://www.nist.gov/director/adlp.cfm

Stephanie Shaw and she may be reached at (301) 975-2667 or by e-mail atstephanie.shaw@nist.gov.

3. CHIPS Research & Development Office (CRDO) Grant Program

The statutory authority for the CRDO Grant Program is 15 U.S.C. § 272(b) and (c), 15 U.S.C. §§ 278g-1(e)(1) and (e)(3), 15 U.S.C. §§ 4651, 4656, and 4657, and Title II, Division B, the Research and Development, Competition, and

Innovation Act (Pub. L. 117-167).

Program Description: The CRDO supports advanced microelectronics research to advance the development of semiconductor technologies. The CRDO is focused on establishing the capacity of inventing, developing, prototyping, and deploying the foundational semiconductor technologies of the future in the United States. The CRDO’s activities enable advances and breakthroughs in measurement science, standards, material characterization, instrumentation, testing, and manufacturing capabilities to ensure U.S. competitiveness and leadership in microelectronics.

The CRDO Grant Program provides financial assistance to support the conduct of research or a recipient’s portion of collaborative research consistent with the CRDO’s mission to support research in the following fields: semiconductor and microelectronics manufacturing; virtualization and automation of semiconductor machinery; chiplets; co-design and simulation; materials and substrates.

Additional information about the CRDO and CRDO Programs may be obtained at https://www.nist.gov/chips/research-and-development-programs.

All applications submitted must be in accordance with the program objectives listed below for the CRDO divisions. The contact person for the CRDO Grant Program, who may be contacted for clarification of the program objectives, is Crystal Murphy and she may be reached at (202) 579-6633 or by e-mail at crystan.murphy@chips.gov.

a. CRDO Headquarters Office: Financial support may be provided for conferences, workshops, or other technical research meetings that are relevant to the mission of the CRDO. However, NIST cannot be an official sponsor or co-sponsor for any event funded through this program. Support is generally provided in increments of $5,000 per award. Applications for other purposes may be considered.

b. Semiconductor Metrology and Characterization Office:

All objectives of interest will focus on conducting the measurement science, or metrology, critical to the development of new materials, packaging, and https://www.nist.gov/chips/research-and-development-programs mailto:kathryn.mitchell@chips.gov production methods for semiconductors. Specific objectives of interest include but are not limited to researching, developing, promoting, prototyping, measuring, and deploying emerging technologies, standards and test methods related to the following seven Metrology Grand Challenges, identified in NIST’s Strategic Opportunities for U.S. Semiconductor Manufacturing: Facilitating U.S. Leadership and Competitiveness through Advancements in Measurements and Standards publication:

• Metrology for Materials Purity, Properties, and Provenance:

Measurement technologies, properties data, and standards focused on defect and contaminant identification to support uniform materials quality and traceability across the supply chain.

• Advanced Metrology for Future Microelectronics Manufacturing:

Physical and computational metrology tools adaptable to next-generation manufacturing of advanced complex, integrated technologies and systems.

• Enabling Metrology for Integrating Components in Advanced Packaging: Metrology for complex integration of sophisticated components and new materials to support a strong domestic advanced microelectronics packaging industry.

• Modeling and Simulating Semiconductor Materials, Designs, and Components: Advanced design simulators using multi-physics models and next-generation concepts such as artificial intelligence and digital twins, empowering U.S. microelectronics designers.

• Modeling and Simulating Semiconductor Manufacturing Processes:

Advanced computational models, methods, data, standards, automation, and tools to enable domestic semiconductor manufacturers to improve yields, accelerate time to market, and enhance competitiveness.

• Standardizing New Materials, Processes, and Equipment for Microelectronics: Standards, validation tools, and protocols for next-generation materials, processes, and equipment, paving the way for accelerated innovation and cost-competitiveness in U.S. industry.

• Metrology to Enhance Security and Provenance of Microelectronic based Components and Products: Approaches to hardware security protection that includes standards, protocols, formal testing processes, and advanced computational technologies while providing avenues for assurance and provenance of microelectronic components across the supply chain and end products.

Additional objectives include work on reference materials, reference data, and calibrations for the precision equipment used in chip manufacturing, and the development of standards for semiconductor processes and cybersecurity.

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.CHIPS.1000

4. Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL) Grant Program

The statutory authority for the CTL Grant Program is 15 U.S.C. § 272(b) and (c), 15 U.S.C. § 278g-1(e)(1) and (e)(3), 15 U.S.C. § 278n-1, 15 U.S.C. § 3706, § 1305 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (Public Law 110- 140), and Title II, Division B, the Research and Development, Competition, and

Innovation Act (Pub. L. 117-167).

Program Description: The CTL Grant Program provides financial assistance to support the conduct of research or a recipient’s portion of collaborative research consistent with the CTL mission in broad areas that support the accelerated development, testing, and deployment of advanced communications and connected systems technologies in support of both commercial and government applications including core network technologies, high-speed electronics, superconducting electronics, wireless systems metrology, antenna and Radio- Frequency (RF) capabilities, high-speed and high frequency measurement capabilities, advanced optics, quantum communications, network design and optimization, network modeling, next generation core networks, and spectrum sharing; Internet of Things (IoT), cyber-physical systems, trustworthy network control systems, energy systems, smart connected manufacturing, automated and connected vehicles, smart infrastructure, smart cities and communities, and next generation wireless systems; public safety communications; smart infrastructure and manufacturing; and spectrum sensing and testing.

Additional information about the CTL and CTL Programs may be obtained at www.nist.gov/ctl. All applications submitted must be in accordance with the program objectives listed below for the five CTL divisions. The contact person for the CTL Grant Program, who may be contacted for clarification of program objectives, is Suzanne Griesel. She may be reached at (301) 975-2350 or by e-mail at suzanne.griesel@nist.gov and ctlboc@nist.gov.

a. CTL Office. Financial support may be provided for conferences, workshops, or other technical research meetings that are relevant to the mission of the CTL. However, NIST cannot be an official sponsor or co-sponsor for any event funded through this program. Applications for other purposes may be considered.

b. Public Safety Communications Research Division. Specific objectives of interest include but are not limited to researching, developing, promoting, measuring, and deploying emerging technologies and standards that enhance the ability of first responders and others using a Public Safety Communications network during standard and emergency operations.

c. RF Technologies Division. Specific objectives of interest include but are not http://www.nist.gov/ctl mailto:suzanne.griesel@nist.gov mailto:ctlboc@nist.gov limited to researching, developing, promoting, measuring, and deploying emerging technologies and standards in fundamental microwave quantities, high-speed microelectronics, superconducting electronics, electromagnetic compatibility, electromagnetic field characterization, antenna metrology, electromagnetic properties of materials, electrical hardware security, and radio-frequency communications systems.

Additional objectives include quantum networks, characterization of microwave circuits at cryogenic temperatures, superconducting integrated circuits for precision measurement and fundamental standards, such as for dc and ac voltage, impedance, signal synthesis, RF reference sources for wireless communications, and both quantum and energy-efficient advanced computing. Methods employed are both experimental and theoretical and include multivariate uncertainty analysis.

d. Wireless Networks Division. Specific objectives of interest include but are not limited to researching, developing, promoting, measuring, and deploying emerging technologies and standards that how wireless networks are designed, managed, and used.

Additional objectives include: conducting theoretical and experimental research in communication networks, protocols, digital communication systems, and components; utilizing analytical and empirical approaches, developing simulation models, experimental test beds, and proof of concept prototypes to evaluate new technologies and refine standard specifications for wireless and core networks and systems; and developing metrics and measurement methods to assess the performance and trustworthiness of wireless and core systems.

e. Smart Connected Systems Division. Specific objectives of interest include but are not limited to researching, developing, promoting, measuring, and deploying emerging technologies, standards, and test methods for trustworthy (e.g., reliable, resilient, safe, secure, and privacy-protecting) IoT systems and critical applications including smart connected manufacturing, next generation core networks, quantum networks, networked control systems, smart infrastructure and devices, energy systems, IoT/cyber-physical systems, automated/connected vehicles, and smart cities and communities.

f. Spectrum Technology and Research Division. Specific objectives of interest include but are not limited to research, development, and deployment of innovative measurement methods and tools to promote novel and efficient use of spectrum through improved access, sharing, atmospheric sensing, and precision timing. Additional objectives include the following: wireless co-existence; Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) applied to closed-box systems testing; microwave noise metrology; RF spectrum sensing; fiber optic combs applications in atmospheric spectroscopy, time synchronization, chemical analysis, and telecommunications; and development and deployment of spectrum-efficient and spectrum-sharing technologies, including support of the National Advanced Spectrum and Communications Test Network (NASCTN).

5. Engineering Laboratory (EL) Grant Program

The statutory authorities for the EL Grant Program are 15 U.S.C. § 272(b) and (c), 15 U.S.C. § 278g-1(e)(1) and (e)(3), 15 U.S.C. § 278n-1, 15 U.S.C. § 278n-2, 42 U.S.C. § 7701 et seq., 42 U.S.C. § 15701 et seq; and Title II, Division B, the

Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (Pub. L. 117-167).

Program Description: The EL Grant Program provides financial assistance to support the conduct of research or a recipient’s portion of collaborative research consistent with the EL’s mission to support research in the following fields:

advanced manufacturing; additive manufacturing; robotics; intelligent systems and information systems integration for applications in manufacturing; polymeric materials; heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC & R) equipment performance; building mechanical systems and controls; building envelope and material performance; alternative energy systems; premise plumbing and water use; indoor air quality and ventilation; and ventilation and applied economics. Financial support may be provided for conferences, workshops, or other technical research meetings that are relevant to the mission of EL. However, NIST cannot be an official sponsor or co-sponsor for any event funded through this program. Additional information about the EL and EL Programs may be obtained at www.nist.gov/el.

The EL Grant Program supports the EL mission to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology for engineered systems in ways that enhance economic security and improve quality of life. Typical funded activities may include measurement science research; development of performance metrics, tools, and methodologies for engineering technologies and applications; and critical technical contributions to standards and codes development.

listed below. The appropriate EL Program Manager for each EL field of research described in this Section may be contacted for clarification of the program objectives. The contact person for the EL Grant Program is Millie Glick and she may be reached at (301) 975-5962 or by e-mail at millie.glick@nist.gov.

a. Applied Economics Office. The primary objective is to provide standardized http://www.nist.gov/el mailto:millie.glick@nist.gov methods, economic models, training programs and materials and expert technical consulting in support of resource allocation decisions and uses techniques such as benefit-cost analysis, life-cycle costing, multi-criteria decision analysis and econometrics to evaluate new technologies. The contact person is David Butry and he may be reached at (301) 975-6136 or by e-mail at david.butry@nist.gov.

b. Materials and Structural Systems Division. The primary objective is to collaborate with or conduct research consistent with the division’s programs in the area of infrastructure materials, buildings and infrastructure systems, community resilience, and climate-informed codes and standards. In particular, applications for financial assistance are sought that would address the following specific subject areas:

1) Infrastructure Materials: There are emergent concrete degradation mechanisms that originate in the coarse or fine aggregate component of a concrete mixture. These mechanisms may arise from inadequate standardized testing for the specific aggregate mineral features that may lead to expansion and cracking. The measurement challenge is typically associated with aggregate characteristics, or the critical quantity of aggregate required to cause damage.

2) Buildings and Physical Infrastructure: Degradation of construction materials in turn affect performance, structural integrity, resilience, and sustainability of the built environment, and measurement science to quantify the effects of degradation mechanisms on overall service life, structural safety, and resilience of physical systems in the U.S. is still a major challenge. Measurement challenges include accurate characterization of extreme natural hazards (hurricane wind and storm surge, tornado, flood, earthquake), developing risk-consistent design criteria for the built-environment, science-based accounting for long-term climate changes to natural hazards, building and infrastructure performance, and life-cycle prediction.

3) Community Resilience: Community resilience considers the integrated performance of buildings and infrastructure systems for hazard events and under adverse conditions, and the consequences and impacts on populations, social systems, and economics of a community or region, for a forward-looking time period. Measurement challenges include integrated modeling of physical, social, economic, and natural systems; metrics and indicators at a community scale for decision makers; economic assessments of costs and benefits over a future specified time period; and methods to address long-term climate changes to natural hazards. The mailto:david.butry@nist.gov contact person for this division is Therese McAllister and she may be reached at (301) 975-6078 or by e-mail at therese.mcallister@nist.gov .

c. Building Energy and Environment Division. The primary objective is to collaborate with or conduct research consistent with the laboratory programs in areas related to measurement science needed to enable energy-efficient, high performance green buildings. The breadth of this area includes measurement science associated with the building envelope, HVAC equipment, renewable and alternative energy systems, building controls/building automation systems, building water systems, and strategies to improve indoor air quality. In particular, applications for financial assistance are sought that would:

(1) Provide measurement science for net-zero energy, high-performance buildings. Measurement systems, approaches, and predictive models are required that can help to enable energy-efficient, high-performance buildings. A primary objective is to develop measurement methods and approaches, data, and predictive models to assess the effectiveness of building enclosures from a thermal and airtightness perspective, the performance of indoor space conditioning systems, the performance of photovoltaics and other renewable and alternative energy systems, indoor air quality, and water efficiency and quality in buildings. Additionally, an objective is to develop techniques to assess buildings on a whole-building scale. These techniques could involve standards, system interactions, and factors beyond energy use. The contact person is William Healy and he may be reached at (301) 975-4922 or by e-mail at william.healy@nist.gov.

(2) Enable energy-use reduction through embedded intelligence in building controls. Next-generation metrics and tools are needed that enable the development and deployment of building automation and control systems with embedded intelligence that reduce energy consumption through improvements to building system operation. A primary objective is to develop measurement methods, models, and algorithms/tools suitable for embedding in building control system products that enable better or more automated system commissioning, automated fault detection and diagnostics, improved system-level optimization, and integration of building systems with a smart electrical grid. Additionally, an objective is to conduct research that provides a basis for new industry standards for intelligent building systems. The contact person is William Healy and he may be reached at (301) 975-4922 or by e-mail at william.healy@nist.gov.

(3) Develop metrics/tools for building sustainability evaluation. Next-generation metrics and tools enabling rigorous sustainability assessment mailto:therese.mcallister@nist.gov mailto:william.healy@nist.gov file:///C:/Users/gamber/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/FGM1I6ED/william.healy@nist.gov over the building service life are needed to link sustainable building technology innovation to environmental/economic benefits. A primary objective is the development of databases and/or models for estimating component and system costs for existing and emerging energy-related technologies in new buildings. Additionally, an objective is to develop techniques for performing life-cycle impact assessments of emerging technologies for achieving low energy and/or net zero energy performance in new buildings. The contact person is David Butry and he may be reached at (301) 975-6136 or by e-mail at david.butry@nist.gov.

d. Systems Integration Division. The primary objective is to collaborate with or conduct research consistent with Division programs and research in measurement science for advanced manufacturing systems integration. Areas of particular interest include integration standards and new science-based methods and tools for validating compliance to those standards, performance metrics, measurement methods and tools, test artifacts, and associated reference data and software for:

(1) Circular Economy for manufacturing (including measurements and standards for systems integration related to sustainable manufacturing and circular economy, methods and standards for design for the circular economy, modeling, and simulation analysis);

(2) Additive manufacturing (including data collection and processing;

modeling and monitoring of additive manufacturing processes; and measurement science supporting the qualification of additive manufacturing machines, processes, and parts);

(3) Digital twin (including measurement science, methods, and tools for integrating, testing, and validating digital twins); and

(4) Biomanufacturing (including systems integration for biomanufacturing supply chain, integration methods and standards).

Additional information regarding Intelligent Systems Integration Division research programs and projects can be found at www.nist.gov/el/sid. The contact person for this division is KC Morris who may be reached at 301-975-

8286 or by e-mail at katherine.morris@nist.gov.

e. Intelligent Systems Division. The primary objective is to collaborate with or conduct research consistent with Division programs and research in measurement science for intelligent systems. Areas of particular interest include performance metrics, measurement methods and tools, test artifacts, mailto:david.butry@nist.gov file:///C:/Users/gamber/Downloads/www.nist.gov/el/sid mailto:katherine.morris@nist.gov and associated reference data and software for:

(1) Robotic systems for smart manufacturing (including measurement science for perception, dexterous manipulation and grasping, mobility, human-robot and robot-robot collaboration, agility, robot system integration, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for manufacturing robotic applications);

(2) Additive manufacturing (including characterization of additive manufacturing materials; modeling, monitoring, and real-time control of additive manufacturing processes; and measurement science supporting the qualification of additive manufacturing materials, machines and processes, and parts); and

(3) Sensing, prognostics, and health management (PHM) for smart manufacturing, including AI applications for PHM; and,

(4) Emergency response robot performance metrics and standards.

Additional information regarding Intelligent Systems Division research programs and projects can be found at www.nist.gov/el/isd. Successful proposals are typically well aligned with the current and ongoing measurement science research projects of the division. The contact person for this division is Kevin Jurrens and he may be reached at (301) 975-5486 or by e-mail at kevin.jurrens@nist.gov.

6. Fire Research (FR) Grant Program

The statutory authority for the FR Grant Program is 15 U.S.C. § 272(b)(4), 15 U.S.C. § 278f, 15 U.S.C. § 278g-1(e)(1) and (e)(3), 15 U.S.C. § 278n-1 and Title II, Division B, the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act

(Pub. L. 117-167).

Program Description: The FR Grant Program provides financial assistance to support the conduct of research or a recipient’s portion of collaborative research in areas of current interest to the Fire Research Division. The Fire Research Division develops, verifies, and utilizes measurements and predictive methods to quantify the behavior of fire and means to reduce the impact of fire on people, property, and the environment. This work involves integration of laboratory measurements, verified methods of prediction, and large-scale fire experiments to demonstrate the use and value of the research products. Details on current Division research activities are available at http://www.nist.gov/el/fire_research/index.cfm. Also, NIST SP 1130 “Reducing the Risk of Fire in Buildings and Communities: A Strategic Roadmap to Guide and Prioritize Research” provides an overview of current research interests:

http://www.nist.gov/el/isd mailto:albert.wavering@nist.gov http://www.nist.gov/el/fire_research/index.cfm http://www.nist.gov/manuscript-publication-search.cfm?pub_id=909653. The contact person for the FR Grant Program is Dr. Jiann Yang and he may be reached at (301) 975-6662 or by e-mail at jiann.yang@nist.gov.

listed below.

a. Fire Fighting Technology Group. Develops, advances, and deploys measurement science to improve firefighting safety and effectiveness, and provide a science-based understanding of fire phenomena. Carries out mission-related measurement science research and services to advance cyber-physically-based (smart) firefighting, technology integration into fire-fighting equipment, and physics-based training tools that predict fire phenomena and their effects on structures and occupants and conducts disaster and failure studies to reduce the risk of fire hazard to buildings and fire fighters.

b. Engineered Fire Safety Group. Develops, advances, and deploys measurement science for cost-effective fire protection of structures. Carries out mission-related measurement science research and services to predict the fire performance of structures with respect to ignition fire growth and spread, detection, suppression, toxicity, and egress; develops cost-effective performance-based codes, standards, and practices used for fire prevention and control; and conducts disaster and failure studies to reduce the risk of fire hazard to buildings and occupants.

c. Flammability Reduction Group. Develops, advances, and deploys measurement science to reduce the fire hazard of building contents and construction materials. Carries out mission-related measurement science research and services to reduce material ignition probability, fire growth and spread, and environmental impacts; research to understand the risk of firefighters being exposed to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); and supports development of regulations, codes and standards for cost-effective, fire-safe building contents and construction materials, and reducing firefighter's exposure to PFAS.

d. Wildland Urban Interface Fire Group. Develops, advances, and deploys measurement science to reduce the risk of fire spread in wildland-urban interface (WUI) communities. Carries out mission-related measurement science research and services to develop risk exposure metrics, predict the spread of fires in WUI communities, assess fire performance of structures and communities, mitigate the impact of WUI fires on structures and communities, and conduct disaster and failure studies to reduce the risk of fire hazard in WUI communities.

http://www.nist.gov/manuscript-publication-search.cfm?pub_id=909653 mailto:jiann.yang@nist.gov

e. National Fire Research Laboratory Group. Develops, advances, and deploys measurement science to reduce the risk of structural fires. Carries out mission-related measurement science research and services to understand the performance of structures exposed to fire, create new data to advance performance-based design approaches, and develop new large-scale fire metrology.

7. Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) Grant Program

The statutory authority for the ITL Grant Program is 15 U.S.C. § 272(b) and (c), 15 U.S.C. § 278g-1(e)(1) and (e)(3), 15 U.S.C. § 278n-1 and Title II, Division B, the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (Pub. L. 117-

167).

Program Description: The mission of the Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) is to cultivate trust in information technology (IT) and metrology and is accomplished using its world-class measurement and testing facilities and encompassing a wide range of areas of computer science, mathematics, statistics, and systems engineering.

The ITL Grant Program provides financial assistance to support the conduct of research or a recipient’s portion of collaborative research consistent with the ITL’s missions to support research in the following fields: applied and computational ,mathematics, artificial intelligence, big data, biometrics, cloud computing, cyber-physical systems, cybersecurity, forensic science, health Information technology, high-performance computing, human factors and usability, information access, information processing and understanding, Internet of Things’ (IoT), metrology infrastructure for modeling and simulation, privacy engineering, and statistics for metrology.

Additional information about the ITL and ITL Programs may be obtained at www.nist.gov/itl.

Financial support may be provided to attend education and outreach programs, conferences, workshops, or other technical research meetings that are relevant to the mission of the ITL. Financial support may also be provided to organizations sponsoring conferences, workshops, or other technical events that are relevant to the mission of the ITL. However, NIST cannot be an official sponsor or co-sponsor for any event funded through this program.

All applications submitted to the ITL Grant Program must be in accordance with the program objectives listed below. The contact person for the ITL Grant Program, who may be contacted for clarification of program objectives, is Melissa Banner and she may be reached by e-mail at melissa.banner@nist.gov.

http://www.nist.gov/itl mailto:melissa.banner@nist.gov

• Artificial Intelligence Program: NIST contributes to the research, standards, data, test, and evaluation required to realize the full promise of artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool that will enable American innovation, enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. Much of NIST AI work focuses on cultivating trust in the design, development, use and governance of artificial intelligence technologies and systems. The development and utility of safe and trustworthy AI systems depend heavily on reliable measurements and evaluations of underlying technologies and their use. Specific topics of interest include evaluating safe and trustworthy AI systems, and foundational research on examining, measuring, and understanding the tradeoff among various aspects of trustworthy AI systems, which include valid and reliable, safe, secure and resilient, accountable and transparent, explainable and interpretable, privacy enhanced, and fair with their harmful biases managed.

a. Applied and Computational Mathematics Division (ACMD) nurtures trust in metrology and scientific computing through the development and application of advanced mathematical and computational techniques and tools. Current topics of interest include: the Mathematics of Special Functions; Quantum Information Science; Combinatorial Methods; and Modeling of Internet of Things for Health Applications.

b. Applied Cybersecurity Division (ACD) implements practical cybersecurity and privacy through outreach and effective application of standards, guidelines, and technologies. ACD establishes cybersecurity and privacy standards and practices in an open, transparent, and collaborative way, and conducts research in applied cybersecurity and privacy. Specific objectives of interest in these areas of research include cybersecurity awareness, training, education, and workforce development; cybersecurity risk management and measurement; identity and access management; Internet of Things cybersecurity, hardware cybersecurity, privacy engineering and risk management; cybersecurity and privacy of genomics data, and cybersecurity and privacy considerations for critical and emerging technologies.

c. Computer Security Division (CSD) develops cybersecurity standards, guidelines, tests, and metrics to protect federal information systems. CSD helps to develop innovative security technologies that enhance the nation’s ability to address current and future computer and information security challenges. CSD’s research focuses on cryptography, automation, identity and access management, supply chain risk management, cybersecurity metrics, and cryptographic conformance testing. The Division maintains a Computer Security Resource Center (CSRC), which provides access to NIST's cybersecurity- and information security-related projects, publications, news, and events. Specific objectives of interest in these areas of research include Cryptography and Cryptographic Test Methods; Hardware Cybersecurity; Thresh hold cryptography; Post Quantum Cryptography; Security Testing Tools and Metrics;

Vulnerability Semantics; Privacy Enhancing Cryptography; Cybersecurity Conformance Testing; Security Automation; and Security Engineering.

d. Information Access Division (IAD) supports technologies used to access complex information relating to human action, behavior, communication, or characteristics. Through collaborations with industry, academia, and the federal government, IAD enables the advancement of these technologies for commercial use. IAD provides guidelines and measurement methods to accelerate this evolution. Specific objectives of interest in these areas of research include:

Measurement approaches for trustworthy and responsible AI, including socio-technical and human-centered approaches; Biometrics for Forensics, Quality, Synthetic Data Generation, and Digital Identity; Analytics and methods addressing (Synthetic) Content authentication and Provenance in the areas of Generative AI and Deepfake Detection; Human-Centered Cybersecurity;

Information Extraction; Modeling and Generating Language and Video Content;

Search, Recommendation and Information Retrieval; Research into the use of Foundational Models to support Information Access Activities; Watermarking and Information Provenance.

e. Software and Systems Division (SSD) works with industry, academia, and other government agencies to accelerate the development and adoption of correct, reliable, and testable software. This collaborative effort leads to increased trust and confidence in deployed software and methods to develop better standards and testing tools. SSD focuses on advances in state-of-the-art software testing and facilitates the transfer of applications and technologies into national infrastructures and commercial sectors. Specific objectives of interest in these areas of research include artificial intelligence, digital forensics; data analytics; data storage; cloud computing; health IT; high-performance computing;

image analytics; IoT for health applications; material genome initiative; medical device interoperability; software assurance; systems biology; systems interoperability.

f. Statistical Engineering Division (SED) conducts fundamental and applied statistical research on problems in metrology; develops and applies best practices for the characterization of measurement uncertainty, and implements methods for experiment design, data analysis, statistical modeling, and probabilistic inference in computer software. Specific objectives of interest in these areas of research include; statistics for metrology (with an emphasis on the design and analysis of experiments for interlaboratory comparisons, calibration, or reference material certification); statistical methods for forensic science;

statistical aspects of machine learning and artificial intelligence; and improved access to statistical analysis methods via software.

8. International and Academic Affairs Office (IAAO) Grant Program

The statutory authority for the IAAO Grant Program is 15 U.S.C. § 272(b) and (c) and Title II, Division B, the Research and Development, Competition, and

Innovation Act (Pub. L. 117-167).

Program Description: The IAAO Grant Program has been designed to support activities that strengthen and enhance the international metrology community and promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness in support of the NIST mission. NIST seeks to promote the efforts of International Organizations with a metrology mission, Regional Metrology Organizations, National Metrology Institutes and Designated Institutes to bolster the global metrology system and regional metrology cooperation and enhance quality infrastructure. The IAAO Grant Program will support scientific, industrial and/or legal metrology activities and related quality infrastructure endeavors with an emphasis on the Western Hemisphere, Asia Pacific and Africa. Financial support may be provided for conferences, workshops, or other technical meetings (in-person and virtual) that are relevant to the mission of the IAAO. However, NIST cannot be an official sponsor or co-sponsor for any event funded through this program. Additional information about the IAAO and IAAO Programs may be obtained at www.nist.gov/iaao. All applications submitted to the IAAO Grant Program must be in accordance with the program objectives listed above. The contact person for the IAAO Grant Program, who may be contacted for clarification of the program objectives, is Claire Saundry and she may be reached at (301) 975- 2386 or by e-mail at csaundry@nist.gov.

9. Material Measurement Laboratory (MML) Grant Program

The statutory authority for the MML Grant Program is 15 U.S.C. § 272(b) and (c),15 U.S.C. § 278g-1(e)(1) and (e)(3), and Title II, Division B, the Research and

Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (Pub. L. 117-167).

Program Description: The MML supports the NIST mission by serving as the national reference laboratory for measurements in the chemical, biological, and material sciences. The MML is entrusted with developing, maintaining, advancing, and enabling measurement systems in these areas for the nation.

The MML’s activities range from fundamental and applied research on the composition, structure, and properties of industrial, biological, and environmental materials and processes to the development and dissemination of certified reference materials, critically evaluated data and other programs that help assure measurement quality.

http://www.nist.gov/iaao mailto:csaundry@nist.gov

The MML…