2020-NIST-PSIAP-AR NOFO.pdf

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (NOFO)

Public Safety Innovation Accelerator Program – Augmented Reality

August 3, 2020

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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

• Funding Opportunity Title: NIST Public Safety Innovation Accelerator Program

– Augmented Reality

• Announcement Type: Initial

• Funding Opportunity Number: 2020-NIST-PSIAP-AR

• Assistance Listing (CFDA Number): 11.609

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

Eastern Time, October 1, 2020. 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 is expected to be closed for routine maintenance at the following times. Applications cannot be submitted when Grants.gov is closed:

From 12:01 A.M. Eastern Time Saturday

To 6:00 A.M. Eastern Time Monday

August 15, 2020 August 17, 2020 September 19, 2020 September 21, 2020

NIST expects to complete its review, selection of successful applicants, and award processing by November 2020. NIST expects the earliest start date for awards under this NOFO to be December 2020.

Applicants are strongly urged to read Section IV.2.b. Attachment of Required Application Documents of this NOFO with great attention. Applicants should carefully follow the instructions and recommendations regarding attachments and use the Download Submitted Forms and Applications feature on www.Grants.gov to check that all required attachments were contained in their submission.

Applications submitted without the required documents will not pass the Initial Administrative Review, described in Section V.3.a. of this NOFO.

When developing the submission timeline, please keep in mind that: (1) all applicants are required to have current registrations in the electronic System for https://www.grants.gov/

Award Management (SAM.gov) and Grants.gov; (2) the free annual registration process in 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 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 SAM.gov is not current at the time of the award.

• Application Submission Address: Applications must be submitted using

Grants.gov.

• Funding Opportunity Description: The NIST’s Public Safety Innovation Accelerator Program (PSIAP) is seeking applications from eligible applicants for activities to enhance augmented reality (AR) capabilities in support of first responder operations. The PSIAP-AR aims to attract experts and innovators from industry and academia to focus on conducting research and development of visual interfaces through the use of AR technology. The goals and outcomes of this funding opportunity will be improving the general usability and ecosystem of AR applications and technology built around the public safety use case. This funding opportunity extends across multiple PSCR research areas and includes additional objectives under cybersecurity, resiliency, and location-based services domains.

• Anticipated Amounts: In Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21), NIST PSCR anticipates funding up to $5,000,000 in new awards. Funds are expected to range from $300,000 to $600,000 per year per project. Project performance periods may be up to two (2) years, with the exception of proposals submitted by institutions of higher education for the purposes of supporting research by graduate students as part of a doctoral program, for which the period of performance may be up to three (3) years. All awards will be consistent with the multi-year funding policy (see Section II.2. of this NOFO).

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

• Eligibility: Eligibility for the program listed in this NOFO is open to all non-

Federal entities. Eligible applicants include accredited institutions of higher education; non-profit organizations; for-profit organizations incorporated in the United States; state, local, territorial, and Indian tribal governments; hospitals;

and foreign organizations. Please note that individuals and unincorporated sole proprietors are not considered “non-Federal entities” and are not eligible to apply under this NOFO. Although Federal entities are not eligible to receive funding http://grants.gov/ under this NOFO, they may participate as unfunded collaborators.

NIST will consider multiple applications per applicant; however, an individual researcher may only be listed as the principal investigator on one application. In addition, applicants should refrain from submitting multiple applications with related subject matter.

• Cost Sharing Requirements: Non-federal cost share is not required for awards issued pursuant to this NOFO.

• Public Website, Webinar and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

NIST has a public website, https://www.nist.gov/ctl/pscr/psiap-ar, that provides information pertaining to this Funding Opportunity1. Any amendments to this NOFO will be announced through Grants.gov.

Applicants must submit all questions pertaining to this funding opportunity in writing to pscr@nist.gov with 2020-NIST-PSIAP-AR in the subject line.

NIST will host a webinar to provide general information regarding this NOFO, offer general guidance on preparing applications, and answer questions. The date, time and other details of the webinar can be found at https://www.nist.gov/ctl/pscr/psiap-ar. There is no cost to attend the webinar, but participants must register in advance. Participation in the webinar is not required and will not be considered in the application review and selection process.

General questions about this opportunity including eligibility requirements, the review and selection process, and the general characteristics of a competitive application may be addressed during the webinar or by e-mail to pscr@nist.gov with 2020-NIST-PSIAP-AR in the subject line.

Questions submitted to NIST during the webinar or by e-mail may be made available to the public as an FAQ document, which will be periodically updated and posted at https://www.nist.gov/ctl/pscr/psiap-ar.

Discussions about specific project ideas will not be permitted during the webinar and NIST staff will not critique or provide feedback on specific project ideas while they are being developed by an applicant, brought forth during the webinar, or at any time before the deadline for all applications.

1 Refer to Section VII. of this NOFO, Federal Awarding Agency Contacts, Programmatic and Technical Questions, if more information is needed.

https://www.nist.gov/ctl/pscr/psiap-ar mailto:pscr@nist.gov https://www.nist.gov/ctl/pscr/psiap-ar mailto:pscr@nist.gov https://www.nist.gov/ctl/pscr/psiap-ar

Table of Contents I.Program Description II.Federal Award Information III.Eligibility Information …………………………………………………………………..9 IV.Application and Submission Information ………..…………………………………10 V.Application Review Information VI.Federal Award Administration Information ………………………………………..30 VII.Federal Awarding Agency Contacts ………………………………………………44 VIII.Other Information ……………………………………………………..……………44

FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

I. Program Description

The statutory authority for the NIST Public Safety Innovation Accelerator Program (PSIAP) is 15 U.S.C. § 3706 and 47 U.S.C. § 1443.

The mission of the NIST Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) Division is to research, develop, and test technologies to improve first responder communications and operations. PSCR created the PSIAP to stimulate external research and development (R&D) activities addressing critical technology gaps identified by stakeholders and to build a public-safety-focused R&D ecosystem with long-lasting impact.

The NIST Public Safety Innovation Accelerator Program – Augmented Reality (PSIAP-AR) is seeking applications to accelerate research and development (R&D) around the use of augmented reality (AR) for improving public safety user interfaces.

1) Background Information

First responders are seeing an increase in both the amount and types of data presented to them (e.g., location-based sensors, video streaming content). To benefit from these data sources, user interfaces need to be developed that allow first responders to interact effectively with the systems, without inducing cognitive overload. AR technology has advanced over recent years; however, current commercial hardware and applications for public safety users are limited. Accordingly, PSCR seeks applications under this NOFO for R&D projects to stimulate commercial and technical organizations to create and support a market for public safety user interfaces. Establishing this market would improve the current state of AR technologies specifically for fire fighter, emergency medical services (EMS), and law enforcement operations and tasks.

In 2013, PSCR initiated a strategy planning effort to identify potential R&D focus areas. First responders, government officials, industry leaders and academics who participated in that effort identified Enhanced User Interface/User Experience (UI/UX) as one of three key portfolios for R&D investment. A UI/UX working group was formed and their inputs along with industry forecasts were incorporated into a 20-year technology roadmap to benefit the entire public safety community. As a follow-up, a UI/UX R&D Summit was held to further discuss and prioritize the scope of work identified in the technology roadmap, focusing on twelve operational objectives that included AR interfaces and VR systems. Attendees were instructed to identify the most pressing technology gaps currently limiting the use of UI/UX in the public safety arena, and then to prioritize these challenges based on five investment criteria – leverage, feasibility, impact on public safety processes, rewards/results, and uniqueness to public safety. More information about PSCR, as well as technology roadmaps and summit reports, may be found at www.nist.gov/ctl/pscr.

In 2018, the PSIAP-UI funding opportunity highlighted the ability of virtual reality (VR) to be used to develop, test, and train on user interfaces for first responders. The work conducted under that program has identified that enhanced user interfaces, such as visual aids, audio cues, and haptic feedback, could positively impact first responder operations. Work funded in the PSIAP-UI competition has also resulted in virtual training applications, platforms for prototyping user interfaces, and a better understanding of the cognitive load that various interfaces place on first responders. The VR systems have proven to beneficial tools for developing skills for new recruits and veterans alike, however, the use of VR has limitations from an operational perspective.

AR offers new opportunities to develop and test technology for public safety operations and communications. AR has the potential to supplement real-life training solutions, resulting in a decrease in the time, costs, and risks associated with current methods while improving performance and retention.

AR could also improve public safety operations by conveying actionable information to first responders in an intuitive manner that fits the context of their environmental conditions, personal protective equipment, and communications systems.

2) Basic Competition Information

Applicants may address one or more of the objectives described below in Section I.3) of this NOFO within one application. Applicants also have the option of submitting multiple applications provided that the subject matter and principal investigator are not listed in another application under this NOFO.

http://www.nist.gov/ctl/pscr

Applicants are required to develop partnerships with Public Safety Organizations (PSOs). Potential applicants are responsible for contacting the organizations and arranging partnerships. NIST will not assist potential applicants with finding partners. For purposes of this NOFO, PSOs include U.S.

federal, state, and local emergency medical services (EMS), fire services, law enforcement, and public safety communications/911 centers.

Applicants should propose projects that include active and sustained engagement with first responders. This engagement ensures that the R&D outputs of each PSIAP-AR project are highly relevant and will have a meaningful impact on the public safety community. Applicants are encouraged to include funding in their proposed budget for non-federal first responders and public safety personnel to actively participate within their projects, and to budget significant time and sufficient travel for this interaction. Federal entities are not eligible to receive funding under this NOFO, though they may participate as unfunded collaborators.

Applicants should also ensure that their R&D projects are tailored to disseminate their ideas and technology to the public safety stakeholder community. Dissemination may be achieved through publications and technology transfer including: commercialization, training, or the release of tools, designs, and/or data sets. Applicants may include costs to support the dissemination of the results and lessons of their PSIAP-AR R&D efforts to the public safety stakeholder community in their project budgets.

3) Goals

The PSIAP-AR is one of several initiatives within PSCR. The goal of the PSIAP- AR is to accelerate R&D in AR that directly impacts first responder operations through improved user interfaces. The purpose of this NOFO is to implement technology that will enable researchers to test and develop user interfaces to enhance public safety. Award recipients can help achieve this by creating new technology or applying current technology to a specific public safety use case.

Recipients may also conduct research to support the use of AR hardware and applications including cybersecurity, usability, and human-computer interaction.

The R&D produced from the awards made under this NOFO should aid in the future development and adoption of AR systems for first responder operations.

Applicants may propose to develop various AR solutions around the first responders use case. These include design and development of virtual content, programming tasks for training and operations, prototyping user interfaces (e.g., heads-up display, holograms) and hardware, improving authentication and security of AR systems, and incorporating information from location-based services research.

Applicants may also propose conducting research to enhance the development and adoption of AR interfaces for public safety operations. This includes improving human factors assessments of AR headsets, measuring the usability of AR hardware and virtual content, developing new tools, methodologies and/or gestures for improved interactions with devices, and incorporating additional user interfaces through other feedback mechanisms (e.g., sound, tactile) to enhance the user experience.

Applications may also address specific research areas around the effectiveness and transferability of developing, testing, and deploying AR for first responders.

Potential areas of research include but are not limited to: cognitive load, physical strain, content, user interface attributes and delivery, measurement capabilities, and testing methodologies.

The following are examples of the types of R&D projects that PSCR envisions funding through this NOFO. However, other types of projects will also be considered provided they meet the program goals.

i. Develop training applications with AR that can provide a feedback loop for assessing and improving performance. Examples include, but are not limited to, mobile incident command, operating a pump panel, identifying hazardous materials, or conducting medical assessments.

ii. Conduct studies using AR for first responder tasks. Identify general usability characteristics of AR hardware and application configurations that map to the various first responder context of operations.

iii. Research and develop 3D virtual content that could be potentially standardized for different information categories (e.g., vital monitoring sensors, temperature readings, interactive maps).

iv. Develop heuristic evaluation modals for assessing AR user interfaces.

v. Research the impact of different gesture-based interactions and controls from human factors and ergonomic perspective. Identify what kinds of gestures make sense for first responders based on their context of operations.

vi. Prototype new AR hardware configurations that are built around the environmental conditions, personal protective equipment, and communications technology needs for various first responder disciplines.

vii. Utilize artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance object identification for first responder tasks. Improve interactions with common items public safety interacts with on a day to day basis.

viii. Research and develop solutions for addressing AR headset authentication in multiuser environments.

ix. Develop or enhance methods of interacting with unmanned vehicles (e.g., drones, submarines, ground) through AR systems.

x. Leverage the Location-Based Services (LBS) Point Cloud City (PC2) 3D point cloud datasets along with location information from existing indoor localization technologies and AR sensor data (e.g., simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM)) to visualize location and navigation information.

4) PSCR Public Safety Broadband Stakeholder Meetings. PSCR hosts an annual stakeholders meeting with public safety, industry, and academia. The meeting provides the opportunity to share project updates and identify new endeavors.

Awardees will be required to send a minimum of one team member to the meetings to meet with stakeholders and present key plans and findings of their work to date.

Awardees may be given the opportunity to present materials through plenary, demonstration tables, or poster sessions. These meetings should be included in project timelines and budgets. Costs for attending this meeting and any other travel must be included in the project budget.

II. Federal Award Information

1. Funding Instrument The funding instruments that will be used are grants or cooperative agreements, as appropriate. 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, in accordance with 2 CFR § 200.24.

2. Multi-Year Funding Policy When an application for a multi-year award is approved, funding will usually be provided for only the first year of the project. 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 PSCR, and the availability of funds. NIST may elect to fund awards in this program under the multi-year funding policy or to fully fund the award in the first year.

3. Funding Availability In FY 2021, NIST anticipates funding up to $5,000,000 in new awards. Funds are expected to range from $300,000 to $600,000 per year per project.

Project performance periods may be up to two (2) years, with the exception of proposals submitted by institutions of higher education for the purposes of supporting research by graduate students as part of a doctoral program, for which the period of performance may be up to three (3) years.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligibility for the program listed in this NOFO is open to all non-Federal entities. Eligible applicants include accredited institutions of higher education;

non-profit organizations; for-profit organizations; state, local, territorial, and Indian tribal governments; hospitals; and foreign organizations. Please note that individuals and unincorporated sole proprietors are not considered “non- Federal entities” and are not eligible to apply under this NOFO. Although Federal entities are not eligible to receive funding under this NOFO, they may participate as unfunded collaborators.

NIST will consider multiple applications per applicant; however, an individual researcher may only be listed as the principal investigator on one application.

In addition, applicants should refrain from submitting multiple applications with related subject matter.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Non-federal cost share is not required for awards issued pursuant to this

NOFO.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

The application package is available at Grants.gov under Funding Opportunity Number 2020-NIST-PSIAP-AR.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

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

(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.

For SF-424 (R&R), Item 17, the list of certifications and assurances is contained in the SF-424B (item (3) below).

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.

Instructions for filling in the SF-424 (R&R) can be found in the 2020- NIST-PSIAP-AR Application Instructions document found on Grants.gov, as well as at Instructions SF424 (R&R) Application for Federal Assistance.

(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 Person;

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);

http://www.grants.gov/ https://go.usa.gov/xd2aK https://go.usa.gov/xd2aK

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. Instructions for completing the Research & Related Budget (Total Fed + Non-Fed) form can be found in the 2020- NIST-PSIAP-AR Application Instructions document on Grants.gov, as well as at Instructions R&R Budget (Total Fed + Non-Fed) Budget.

(3) SF-424B, Assurances – Non-Construction Programs (if applicable).

The SF-424B is required for all applicants that have not updated their System for Award Management (SAM.gov) entity registration since February 2, 2019 to include the Federal financial assistance certifications and representations (certs and reps). If an applicant has updated their SAM.gov entity registration since February 2, 2019 to include the certifications and representations, then the SF-424B is not required.

(4) CD-511, Certification Regarding Lobbying. Enter “2020-NIST- PSIAP-AR” in the Award Number field. Enter the title of the application, or an abbreviation of that title, in the Project Name field.

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

Summary and Quad Chart (item (7) below); the Project Narrative (item

(8) below); the Resume(s) (item (9) below); the Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (item (11) below); Letters of Commitment (item (12) below); the Data Management Plan (item (13) below); and the Current and Pending Support Form (item (15) below). Instructions for the Research and Related Other Project Information form can be found by visiting the R & R Family section of the Grants.gov Forms Repository and scrolling down to the Form Instructions for the Research and Related Other Project Information form.

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”.

https://go.usa.gov/xd2aT https://www.grants.gov/forms/r-r-family.html

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

(7) Executive Summary and Quad Chart. (This does not count toward the page limit.) The executive summary must explicitly state the objectives and approaches to meet those objectives, anticipated challenges, and benefits and impacts of the proposed project. The quad chart must contain a problem statement, the concept of the proposed project, the potential impact of the project, and key milestones and/or deliverables. The executive summary and the quad chart must not exceed one (1) page each. Any materials provided beyond the one (1) page limit for the executive summary and the one (1) page limit for the quad chart will be redacted and not provided to the reviewers.

(8) 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 (see Section I.

of this NOFO) and the evaluation criteria (see Section V.1. of this NOFO). The Project Narrative must contain the following information:

(a) Project Description. This is a detailed description of the proposed project and should include:

i. A clear problem statement and well-defined objectives;

ii. A description of how the proposed R&D aligns with and meets the relevant goal(s) described in Section I. of this NOFO;

iii. A technology assessment that reflects the current state of the technology and the projected state of the technology as a direct result of successful project completion;

iv. Technology-specific key performance indicators and goals, as well as measurement techniques;

v. Drawings, renderings, or diagrams and an explicit description of standards-based vs. non-standards-based interfaces, if applicable;

vi. Identification of anticipated outputs with a discussion of how the research and technology developed will be disseminated or made available; and

vii. Discussion of potential impacts to first responder communications and operations.

This section will be evaluated in accordance with the following three evaluation criteria: Technical, Performance, and Budget (see Sections V.1.a.-c., of this NOFO).

(b) Project Execution. This section should provide clear and quantifiable milestones, timelines, and outputs that support the goals in the Project Narrative. Technology transfer activities should not be included in this section, but rather in the Project Description, Section IV.2.a.(8)(a)vi.

This section will be evaluated in accordance with the Performance evaluation criteria (see Section V.1.b.) of this NOFO).

(c) Qualifications and Resources Availability. This section should provide a detailed description of the qualifications of key personnel, both technical and managerial, who will be assigned to work on the proposed project. In addition, the applicant’s experience with technology development and production should be described, as well as the applicant’s access to the necessary staff, equipment, facilities, and overall support and resources required to accomplish the proposed objectives. Examples of the applicant’s demonstrated success on projects that are similar in scope and magnitude to the proposed project should be included in this section, if applicable. In addition, the applicant’s plans to sustain and manage work related to or in support of the proposed project once the project is complete should be included.

This section will be evaluated in accordance with the Performance evaluation criteria (see Section V.1.b.) of this NOFO.

(9) Resume(s).

Resumes are required for all key personnel, including the principal investigator. Resumes are limited to two (2) pages per individual and do not count toward the twenty (20) page limit.

This section will be evaluated in accordance with the Performance evaluation criterion (see Sections V.1.b of this NOFO).

(10) Budget Narrative and Justification.

There is no set format for the Budget Narrative and Justification;

however, further explanation must be provided for the specific cost categories and line items identified in the Instructions R&R Budget (Total Fed + Non-Fed) Budget, as well as any other information you deem necessary for NIST’s consideration. The Budget Narrative and Justification must be attached to the Research & Related Budget (Total Fed + Non-Fed).

The written justification should include the necessity and the basis for the cost. 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 (http://go.usa.gov/SBYh), 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 Budget evaluation criteria (see Section V.1.c. of this NOFO). 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:

(a) Senior/Key Person – 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 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 http://go.usa.gov/SBYh 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.

Applicants should provide at least two (2) quotes, if available, for equipment costing $25,000 or more. If two (2) quotes are not available, please provide a statement as to why two (2) quotes are not available. 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.

As is described in Section I.4) of this NOFO, PSIAP-AR recipients will be required to send a minimum of one team member to the PSCR Public Safety Broadband Stakeholder Meetings each Summer during the term of the award to meet with stakeholders and present key plans and findings of their work to date. The meetings are typically three to four days in length, but the exact dates and location of future meetings have not been determined yet. The stakeholder’s meeting will be held in the continental United States.

In addition, PSCR encourages applicants to consider other academic, industry, and public safety forums to present their work.

Applicants that propose such activities should address the potential impact in the Project Narrative.

Applicants should factor in the cost for attending these events in their budget narrative and Research & Related Budget (Total Fed + Non-Fed) form.

(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.

(g) 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.(11) of this NOFO.

(11) 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 Standard Terms and Conditions, dated April 30, 2019.

Alternatively, in accordance with 2 C.F.R. § 200.414(f), applicants that have never received a negotiated indirect cost rate may elect to charge indirect costs to an award pursuant to a de minimis rate of 10 percent of modified total direct costs (MTDC), in which case a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement is not required. Applicants proposing a 10 percent de minimis rate pursuant to 2 C.F.R. § 200.414(f) should note this election as https://www.osec.doc.gov/oam/grants_management/policy/documents/Department%20of%20Commerce%20Standard%20Terms%20Conditions%2030%20April%202019.pdf part of the budget portion of the application. 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.

(12) Letters of Commitment. Letters of commitment must be submitted by all funded and unfunded entities that will have an active role in executing the activities outlined in the Project Narrative. Letters of commitment should address the level of participation, qualifications of the personnel who will be actively involved, and the potential impact on the field. Letters of commitment must be signed by an individual with sufficient authority to legally bind the organization to its commitment.

Letters of commitment will be evaluated in accordance with the Performance evaluation criteria (see Section V.1.b. of this NOFO). Letters of commitment do not count against the twenty (20) page limit of the Project Narrative.

(a) Public Safety Organizations. All applications must include at least one Letter of Commitment from a PSO, unless the applicant organization is a PSO. Applications from non-PSO entities that lack a Letter of Commitment from a PSO will be deemed ineligible and not receive further consideration.

Letters of commitment from PSO partners must address the importance of the proposed work as well as potential impact for first responders and public safety in general. Applicants must include a detailed description identifying how first responders will be actively engaged throughout the proposed project. For purposes of this NOFO, PSOs include U.S. federal, state, and local EMS, fire services, law enforcement, and public safety communications/911 centers. Please note that Federal entities are not eligible to receive funding under this NOFO, though they may participate as unfunded collaborators.

(13) Data Management Plan. Consistent with NIST Policy 5700.002, Managing Public Access to Results of Federally Funded Research, and NIST Order 5701.003, Managing Public Access to Results of Federally Funded Research”, applicants must include a Data Management Plan

(DMP).

The DMP is a supplementary document of not more than two pages that 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

2 https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2018/06/19/final_p_5700.pdf 3 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 generated by the identified activities, a plan for storage and maintenance of the data expected to be generated by the identified activities, and a plan describing whether and how data generated by the identified activities will be reviewed and made available to the public. As long as the DMP meets these NIST requirements, it may take the form specified by the applicant’s institution or some other entity (e.g., the National Science Foundation4 or the National Institutes of Health5).

All applications for activities that will generate scientific data using NIST funding are required to submit 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) (available at http://go.usa.gov/3sZvQ).

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

(14) 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 and scrolling down to the R & R Subaward Budget Attachment(s) Form and selecting “Instructions.”

(15) 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.

4 http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/dmp.jsp 5 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing/data_sharing_guidance.htm http://go.usa.gov/3sZvQ https://www.grants.gov/forms/r-r-family.html http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/dmp.jsp http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing/data_sharing_guidance.htm

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 at https://www.nist.gov/oaam/grants-management-division/current-and-pending-support 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.(5) above are part of the standard application package in Grants.gov and can be completed through the download application process.

Item IV.2.a.(6), 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.(6), 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.(8), 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.(10), 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.(7), the Executive Summary and Quad Chart; IV.2.a.(9), the Resume(s); IV.2.a.(11), the Indirect Cost Rate Agreement; IV.2.a.(12), Letters of Commitment; IV.2.a.(13), the Data Management Plan; and IV.2.a.(15), 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.(14), 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.

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

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 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 at https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/index.htm#t=GetStarted%2FGetStar ted.htm 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.

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.

http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/index.htm#t=Applicants%2FCheckApplicationStatus%2FCheckApplicationStatus.htm https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/index.htm#t=GetStarted%2FGetStarted.htm https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/index.htm#t=GetStarted%2FGetStarted.htm mailto:support@grants.gov

(4) Page Limit. The Project Narrative is limited to twenty (20) pages double spaced.

(5) Page Limit Exclusions:

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

SF-424B, Assurances – Non-Construction Programs;

CD-511, Certification Regarding Lobbying;

SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities;

Executive Summary and Quad Chart (limited to one (1) page each);

Resumes of key personnel (limited to two (2) pages each);

Budget Narrative and Justification;

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement;

Letters of Commitment;

Data Management Plan;

Subaward Budget Form;

Current and Pending Support Form.

(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. English. 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.

e. Pre-Applications. Pre-applications will not be accepted under this NOFO.

f. Certifications Regarding Federal Felony and Federal Criminal Tax Convictions, Unpaid Federal Tax Assessments and Delinquent Federal Tax Returns. In accordance with Federal appropriations law, an authorized representative of the selected applicant(s) may be required to provide certain pre-award certifications regarding federal felony and federal criminal tax convictions, unpaid federal tax assessments, and delinquent federal tax returns.

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 Time, October 1, 2020. NIST will consider the date and time recorded by

Gran…