Center_of_Excellence_in_Climate_Measurements_Program FY24 NOFO.pdf

Center of Excellence in Climate Measurements (CECM) Program Notice of Funding Opportunity

2024-NIST-CECM-01

January 30, 2024

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (NOFO)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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

• Funding Opportunity Title: Center of Excellence in Climate Measurements (CECM) Program

• Announcement Type: Initial

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

• Assistance Listing (CFDA Number): 11.609: Measurement and Engineering Research and Standards

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

Eastern Time, April 1, 2024. Applications received after this deadline will not be reviewed or considered. Paper applications will not be accepted.

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

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

Applications cannot be submitted when Grants.gov is closed.

NIST expects to complete its review, selection of a successful applicant, and award processing by June 2024. NIST expects the earliest start date for awards under this NOFO to be July 2024.

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

• Funding Opportunity Description: NIST seeks applications from eligible applicants for the creation of an interdisciplinary Center of Excellence in Climate Measurements that coordinates activities to advance efforts to establish national standardization of methods and metrics for forecasting consequences of climate trends at scales important to communities across multiple geographies and over time. The Center will carry out research and will act as a convener and leader in this field of research by collaborating with NIST and other stakeholders to develop standard practices, methodologies, and tools that will assist communities in making quantitative predictions of climate-related effects on their communities.

https://www.grants.gov/

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• Anticipated Amounts: In Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), NIST anticipates funding one (1) award for up to $2,667,900 in federal funding and with a project performance period of up to three (3) years.

• Funding Instrument: Cooperative Agreement.

• 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; commercial organizations incorporated in the United States; and State, Local, Territorial, and Indian Tribal Governments.

Applicants must be physically located in a U.S. State or U.S. Territory with existing requirements to reduce greenhouse gases and track climate effects. The applicant must have documented, established partnerships with national climate offices, as well as with an established State or Territorial Climate Office within the applicant’s State or Territory. The applicant must have documented experience conducting comprehensive State or Territory climate assessments.

NIST seeks to collaborate with a wide range of organizations meeting the eligibility requirements for this program, including but not limited to minority-serving institutions such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities, in support of NIST's mission. 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 NIST funding under this NOFO, they may participate as unfunded collaborators.

• Cost Sharing Requirements: Non-federal cost share IS NOT required and will not be considered in the evaluation of applications.

Table of Contents I. Program Description

II. Federal Award Information

III. Eligibility Information

IV. Application and Submission Information

V. Application Review Information

VI. Federal Award Administration Information

VII. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

VIII. Other Information

FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

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January 30, 2024

I. Program Description

The statutory authority for the Center of Excellence in Climate Measurements Program is 15 USC §§ 272(b)(4), (b)(5), (b)(13), (c)(8), and (c)(27).

1. Background Information

In response to mounting efforts by communities to develop plans for resilience and sustainability, NIST has an interest in developing standardized data sets, guides, frameworks, best practices for methods, metrics, methodologies, and tools used for forecasting and modelling of hazards and risks associated with climate trends.

Measurements used to predict the consequences of climate trends need to be repeatable, reproducible, and as fundamental as possible. These qualities ensure that the outputs of modeling tools can be verified and validated by other stakeholders and are critical to ensuring their credibility and reliability. Independent validation and replication of climate measurements also rely on discourse among different scientific disciplines and the public.

In this NOFO, NIST implements a provision in the Joint Explanatory Statement that accompanied the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. Pub. L. 117-328.1 Accordingly, NIST seeks applications for creation of an interdisciplinary Center of Excellence in Climate Measurements that establishes and coordinates research teams that integrate data from physical, biological, and social sciences for the purposes of synthesizing climate data and establishing national standards and measurements for tracking hazards and risks associated with climate trends. This institute will be a hub for stakeholders with interest in these areas, such as regional and local government climate offices, universities, non-profits, industry, and NIST.

Communities participate in climate adaptation and resilience planning to identify potential hazards and risks associated with anticipated climate trend scenarios, and to develop strategies that allow the community to mitigate those risks and thrive when a climate-related disruption occurs. Decision makers and community leaders require trusted tools for modelling, forecasting, and measuring the consequences of climate trends specific to their communities in order to develop robust and trusted resilience plans. Development of these plans requires understanding of the potential future hazards and risks associated with climate trends in a specific location, and for particular groups of people, especially those who may be disproportionately impacted by climate events, such as women, communities of color and low-income communities, among other vulnerable populations. The climate-related effects on a community are expected to be

1 See Explanatory Statement Submitted by Senator Leahy, Chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Regarding H.R. 2617, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub L. 117-328), Congressional Record, December 20, 2022, at p. S7900.

https://www.congress.gov/117/crec/2022/12/20/168/198/CREC-2022-12-20-senate.pdf

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January 30, 2024 diverse, complex, and interrelated. Examples include diminished agricultural productivity, poor air quality, increased food costs, supply chain and commercial logistics disruptions, or public health issues.

Communities require support via data, measurement, models, and other tools to inform the plans, decisions, and strategies they must make to mitigate the resulting impacts to economic security and quality of life. Standard practices for relevant measurements, standardized metrics for quantifying the climate impacts, standardized data formats, and documentary standards that can lead to nationally accepted methods for understanding and predicting climate trends at community levels are needed for effective mitigation strategies to be deployed and implemented.

NIST will fund the creation of an interdisciplinary Center of Excellence in Climate Measurements to advance efforts to establish methods and metrics for modelling and forecasting the consequences of climate trends for community preparedness.

The Center will carry out research and will act as a convener and leader in this field of research by collaborating with NIST and other stakeholders to develop standardized data sets, guides, frameworks, best practices for methods, metrics, methodologies, and tools, including those that, as appropriate, incorporate indigenous knowledge, that will assist communities in making quantitative predictions of the consequences of climate trends, and by identifying best practices and standard methods and metrics for predicting anticipated community-level climate effects using sound scientific evidence.

2. Program Requirements

The Center of Excellence in Climate Measurements will develop a suite of standardized data sets, guides, frameworks, best practices for methods, metrics, methodologies, and tools for modelling and forecasting climate trends and risks to the communities, associated with those trends. Examples of major activities include, but are not limited to: aggregating dissimilar datasets, creating and compiling new data, developing assessments and models, working with stakeholders to standardize information on the hazards and risks associated with climate trends.

The Center will aim to establish a network/community of users of this data. The Center will serve as a centralized resource of tools to promote broad adoption, accelerated learning, workforce training, and development of unique/tailorable solutions.

Competitive proposals will describe:

• The establishment and structure of the CECM;

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• Proposed topics of research and how they are relevant to the establishment of tools, methods and metrics for forecasting the consequences of climate trends at scales important to communities across multiple geographies and over time;

• Products and outputs that will be developed (for example, standards;

standard practices, such as customary dates in projections of future conditions and inclusion of U.S. Territories when producing national datasets; methodologies; and tools) and how these resources will help communities adapt to climate trends;

• Inclusion of concepts in measurement benchmarking, error and uncertainty analysis, data reposing and Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable (FAIR) data principles in the context of climate data (e.g., greenhouse gas emissions, emission reductions, analysis of carbon sources and sinks, water and air quality);

• If interdisciplinary groups are going to be involved, how these areas will work in complement to each other, and how they connect to measurements, data, and data quality;

• Any existing or planned networks and collaborative relationships that will help the applicant meet the proposed goals and objectives; and how the applicant will continue to identify individuals, communities, nonprofits, governments, and business with which it will collaborate, including underserved communities;

• How the applicant will promote and facilitate collaboration and communication among the different entities;

• A proposed schedule for delivery of each product and output;

• Project goals and how progress towards those goals will be achieved and evaluated;

• A description of how the impact of the program will be evaluated; and

• The organization and management structure for achieving the proposed goals and objectives.

Some examples of performance metrics that will determine whether the project has delivered meaningful results, consistent with the Program’s goals and in accordance with 2 CFR 200.202 and 200.301, may include, but are not limited to:

• Number of new partnerships, collaborations, engagements, etc. with relevant organizations, communities, or fields of practice;

• Number of stakeholders that have adopted or began to use the outputs of the research;

• Number of presentations, seminars, exhibits, conferences, workshops, and peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals;

• Number of students and post-doctoral researchers trained;

• Number of tools, training opportunities, and datasets developed and disseminated, and accessibility tools to help people and organizations

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• Number of websites and other appropriate media and forums generated that serve the community; and

• Number of partnerships with underrepresented communities, including, but not limited to, indigenous peoples, U.S. territorial agencies, and Minority Serving Institutions, as these groups can be disproportionately impacted by climate trends.

Applicants are encouraged to propose their own innovative metrics against which the success of the program can be evaluated.

A critical factor of this program is the sustainability and transferability of the infrastructure created by the Center to the stakeholders. As such, it is important that applications consider and address challenges associated with sustaining and sharing an effective program, even beyond the completion of the cooperative agreement. Documentation, community engagement, an established community of users, networked or centralized tools resources that promote broad adoption, workforce development, and other forms of dissemination geared towards expanded adoption and long-term utility of standards, standard methods, data formats and other outputs is critical and should be a supported component of any successful application.

Collaboration between NIST’s measurement programs and the Center of Excellence in Climate Measurements Program awardee will help to facilitate the measurements and standards that will enable dramatic advances in modelling and forecasting of climate impacts for communities. Applicants are therefore strongly encouraged to propose potential collaboration opportunities with NIST programs (see Section VI.2.e. of this NOFO). Proposals should not duplicate existing NIST work or other collaborative activities with other institutions.

It is anticipated that any outputs that will be developed as a result of this award will be open access. In the event that any intellectual property (other than data) will be developed under this award, it is anticipated that the recipient will develop an intellectual property (IP) management plan, consistent with Section C.03., Department of Commerce Financial Assistance Standard Terms and Conditions for Financial Assistance Awards, “Intellectual Property Rights,” and authorities referenced therein, which addresses ownership and licensing of all IP created or acquired under the award and pre-existing IP used under the award by any of the award participants, including subrecipients, contractors, and/or unfunded collaborators, who participate in the project. It is expected that the recipient will obtain the concurrence of each award participant to the recipient’s IP management plan. Given the objective under this NOFO of providing standardization of methods and metrics for forecasting climate trends to the community, NIST may require the

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January 30, 2024 recipient to transfer to NIST its copyright in a particular work (for example, a data architecture or data management tool) if NIST will undertake the primary dissemination of the work. See Section VI.2.b.1. of this NOFO for a link to the Department of Commerce Financial Assistance Standard Terms and Conditions.

II. Federal Award Information

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

2. Funding Availability In FY24, NIST anticipates funding one (1) award for up to $2,667,900 in federal funding and with a project performance period of up to three (3) years.

3. Indirect (F&A) Costs. NIST will reimburse applicants for proposed indirect

(F&A) costs in accordance with 2 CFR § 200.414. Applicants proposing indirect (F&A) costs must follow the application requirements. If indirect costs are included in the proposed budget, provide a copy of the approved negotiated agreement if this rate was negotiated with a cognizant Federal audit agency. If the rate was not established by a cognizant Federal audit agency provide a statement to this effect. If the successful applicant includes indirect costs in the budget and has not established an indirect cost rate with a cognizant Federal audit agency, the applicant will be required to obtain such a rate in accordance with Section B.06 of the Department of Commerce Financial Assistance Standard Terms and Conditions, dated November 12, 2020.

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

III. Eligibility Information https://www.commerce.gov/sites/default/files/2020-11/DOC%20Standard%20Terms%20and%20Conditions%20-%2012%20November%202020%20PDF_0.pdf https://www.commerce.gov/sites/default/files/2020-11/DOC%20Standard%20Terms%20and%20Conditions%20-%2012%20November%202020%20PDF_0.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=dd7e460e397e25e8c7f2d685f71d953c&mc=true&node=ap2.1.200_1521.vii&rgn=div9

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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; commercial organizations incorporated in the United States; and State, Local, Territorial, and Indian Tribal Governments. Applicants must be physically located in a U.S. State or U.S.

Territory with existing requirements to reduce greenhouse gases and track climate impacts. The applicant must have documented, established partnerships with national climate offices, as well as with an established State or Territorial Climate Office within the applicant’s State or Territory. The applicant must have documented experience conducting comprehensive State or Territory climate assessments.

NIST seeks to collaborate with a wide range of organizations meeting the eligibility requirements for this program, including but not limited to minority-serving institutions, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and Tribal colleges and universities, in support of NIST's mission. 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 NIST funding under this NOFO, they may participate as unfunded collaborators.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds Requirement. Non-federal cost share IS NOT required and will not be considered in the evaluation of applications.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

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

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.

http://www.grants.gov/

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

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

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

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

The budget should be detailed in these categories:

A. Senior/Key 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);

J. Fee (not relevant to this competition);

K. Total Costs and Fee (automatically generated);

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

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

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

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

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(4) Research and Related Other Project Information. Answer the highlighted questions and use this form to attach the Project Narrative (Item (6) below), Resume(s) or CV(s) (item (7) below), the Indirect

Cost Rate Agreement (item (9) below), the Letters of Commitment, if applicable, (item (11) below), the Data Management Plan (item (12) below), and the Current and Pending Support Form (item (13) below).

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

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

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

(6) Project Narrative. The Project Narrative is a word-processed document of no more than thirty (30) pages (double-spaced between lines), which is responsive to the program description and the evaluation criteria.

The projective narrative should contain the following information:

a. Executive Summary. An executive summary of the proposed project, consistent with the objectives, requirements, and priorities of this program (see Section I of this NOFO). The executive summary should include information indicating how each evaluation criterion and its sub-factors are addressed. A table can be helpful in providing this information. The executive summary should not exceed two (2) pages.

b. Project Approach and Project Impacts. A detailed discussion of the applicant’s approach in planning for and in executing the proposed project consistent with the goals of this program, (see Section I. of this NOFO). This section should provide a description of the proposed project plan, any proposed collaboration with NIST https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/r-r-family https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/r-r-family https://www.nist.gov/oaam/grants-management-division/sf-424-research-related-rr-application-package-guidance https://www.nist.gov/oaam/grants-management-division/sf-424-research-related-rr-application-package-guidance

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(consistent with Section VI.2.e. of this NOFO), and execution strategy sufficient to permit evaluation of the proposal. A discussion of the (i) anticipated impacts of the proposed project and (ii) methodology for identifying and evaluating project outcomes, including the performance metrics described in Section I.2 of this NOFO.

c. Statement of Work. A complete statement of work covering all aspects of the project, including a schedule of measurable events and milestones as well as measurable performance objectives, that can be used to determine the success of the project. This section should address the Sec. V.1.b Technical Plan evaluation criterion.

d. Qualifications. A description of the qualifications of the key personnel, the time commitments of the key personnel, and how the project staff qualifications will enable them to conduct the project work. This section should address the Section V.1.c. Staff and Institutional Capability to Perform the Work evaluation criterion. Documentation showing that the applicant is located in a U.S. State or Territory with existing requirements to reduce greenhouse gases and track climate impacts. Documentation confirming that the applicant has established partnerships with national climate offices, as well as with an established State or Territory Climate Office within the applicant’s state. A description of past experience conducting comprehensive state or territory climate assessments.

e. Dissemination Plan. A description of the applicant’s approach to broadly disseminate the results of the project to the public. The plan should describe plans for broadly sharing project information and outcomes with relevant organizations, communities, or fields of practice through presentations, papers, professional journals, exhibits, conferences, workshops, standards organizations, seminars, exhibits, and/or trade shows, websites, or other appropriate media and forums that serve the community.

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

(8) Budget Narrative and Justification.

There is no set format for the Budget Narrative and Justification, Notice of Funding Opportunity

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January 30, 2024 however, the written justification should include the necessity and the basis for the cost, as described below. Proposed funding levels must be consistent with the project scope, and only allowable costs should be included in the budget. Information on cost allowability is available in the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards at 2 C.F.R. Part 200, which apply to awards in this program.

The Budget Narrative does not count against the thirty (30) page limit of the Project Narrative.

This section will be evaluated in accordance with the Match of Budget to Proposed Work evaluation criteria (See Section V.1.d. 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 (categories not listed are automatically generated by the form or are not relevant to this competition):

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 http://go.usa.gov/SBYh

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January 30, 2024 items included in the fringe benefit rate (e.g., health insurance, parking, etc.) should not be charged under another cost category.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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January 30, 2024 and scrolling down to the R & R Subaward Budget Attachment(s) Form and selecting “Instructions.”

(11) 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 must address the level of participation, qualifications of the personnel who will be actively involved, and how successful completion of this project would positively impact their profession or community. Letters of Commitment must also specify any voluntary committed cost-share, including the specific services and/or products to be used in the project. Letters of Commitment must be signed by an individual with authority to legally bind the organization to its commitment. Letters of Commitment do not count against the page limit of the Project Narrative.

(12) 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).

All applications for activities that will generate scientific data using NIST funding are required to adhere to a DMP or explain why data sharing and/or preservation are not within the scope of the project. For the purposes of the DMP, NIST adopted the definition of “research data” at 2 C.F.R. § 200.315(e)(3).

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

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

Information for Applicants and Awardees. An applicant is not required

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/open/information-awardees 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

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

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

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

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

Applicants must download the Current and Pending Support Form from the NIST website 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 https://www.nist.gov/oaam/grants-management-division/current-and-pending-support https://www.nist.gov/oaam/grants-management-division/current-and-pending-support

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

c. Application Format

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

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

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

(4) Page Limit. The Project Narrative is limited to thirty (30) pages double-spaced, noting the limit of two (2) pages for the Executive Summary.

https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/Applicants/CheckApplicationStatus/DownloadSubmittedFormsAndApplications.htm https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/index.htm#t=Applicants%2FCheckApplicationStatus%2FCheckApplicationStatus.htm https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/index.htm#t=GetStarted%2FGetStarted.htm mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/track-my-application.html

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(5) Page Limit Exclusions:

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

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

CD-511, Certification Regarding Lobbying;

Research and Related Other Project Information;

SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities;

Resume(s) or CV(s);

Budget Narrative and Justification;

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement;

Subaward Budget Form;

Letters of Commitment;

Data Management Plan;

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) 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.

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, Notice of Funding Opportunity

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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, April 1, 2024. NIST will consider the date and time recorded by Grants.gov as the official submission time. Applications received after this deadline will not be reviewed or considered. Paper applications will not be accepted.

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

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

When developing the submission timeline, please keep in mind that: (1) all applicants are required to have current registrations in the electronic System for Award Management (SAM.gov) and Grants.gov; (2) the free annual registration process in the SAM.gov generally takes between three and five business days but can take more than three weeks; and applicants will receive e-mail notifications over a period of up to two business days as the application moves through intermediate systems before the applicant learns via a validation or rejection notification whether NIST has received the application. (See Grants.gov for full information on application and notification through Grants.gov.) Please note that a Federal assistance award cannot be issued if the designated recipient’s registration in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) is not current at the time of the award.

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

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf.

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

7. Other Submission Requirements https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf

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a. Applications must be submitted at Grants.gov. Paper, email or facsimile applications will not be accepted.

Applicants should carefully follow specific Grants.gov instructions to ensure that all attachments will be accepted by the Grants.gov system.