FY2022 Amendment Revisions.pdf

AMENDED NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR

NIST MEP COMPETITIVE AWARDS PROGRAM

AMENDMENT 1

March 8, 2022

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is announcing an amendment to its December 28, 2020 Announcement of Notice of Funding Opportunity

(NOFO) Number 2021-NIST-MEP-CAP-01, posted on Grants.gov, that solicits proposals for the NIST MEP Competitive Awards Program.

NIST is issuing this amendment (Amendment 1) to make several updates to the 2021-

NIST-MEP-CAP-01 NOFO as described below. This Amendment Package will be in effect for the NIST MEP Competitive Awards Program until either a new NOFO or subsequent amendments are published on Grants.gov.

Update Section What does the revision do?

References to the full text of revisions are noted and brief text changes are quoted.

1 Executive Summary

Changes the anticipated funding amounts and eligibility requirements.

Previous text NIST anticipates funding awards up to $500,000 in total funding for single MEP Center awards and up to $2,000,000 in total funding for awards involving multiple MEP Centers.

Revised text “NIST anticipates funding awards up to $1 million in total funding for single MEP Center awards and up to $5 million in total funding for awards involving multiple MEP Centers.”

Current text An MEP Center may serve as the MEP Center applicant on only one

(1) proposal. There are no restrictions on the number of applications in which MEP Centers may be proposed as subrecipients or as non-funded collaborators.

Revised text

Deletion of the above statement.

2 Section I: Program Description

Eliminate Artificial Intelligence (AI) Application from Program Themes.

Current text Based on the results of these consultations and in accordance with 15 U.S.C. § 278k-1(c)(2), the NIST Director has identified the following Program Themes for this

NOFO:

• Industry/Manufacturing 4.0;

• Manufacturing Workforce Services to include Employee Recruitment, Retention, and Employee Development;

• Supply Chain Management and Resiliency; and

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Application.

“Based on the results of these consultations and in accordance with 15 U.S.C. § 278k-1(c)(2), the NIST Director has identified the following Program Themes for this

NOFO:

• Technology and Innovation, including Industry/Manufacturing 4.0;

• Manufacturing Workforce Services to include Employee Recruitment, Retention, and Employee Development; and

• Supply Chain Management and Resiliency.

For more information on these Program Themes, see the NIST MEP Funding Opportunity Website at https://www.nist.gov/mep/nist-mep-competitive-awards-program-cap.”

3 Section II: Federal Award Information

Changes the anticipated funding amounts and reference to number of MEP National Network meetings conducted per year.

Current text

3. Funding Availability. In FY 2021, NIST anticipates funding awards up to $500,000 in total funding for single MEP Center awards and up to $2,000,000 in total funding for projects involving multiple MEP Centers.

Revised text “3. Funding Availability. In FY 2021, NIST anticipates funding awards up to $1 million in total funding for single MEP Center awards and up to $5 million in total funding for projects involving multiple MEP Centers.”

Current Text MEP National Network Meetings.

NIST MEP typically organizes MEP National Network meetings approximately four times per year to share best practices, and to discuss new and emerging trends and additional topics of interest.

These meetings are planned throughout the United States and typically involve 2-3 days of resource time and associated travel costs for each meeting. One key representative from the lead MEP Center and other appropriate partners/collaborators should attend these meetings.

Revised text “MEP National Network Meetings.

NIST MEP typically organizes MEP National Network meetings at least one time per year to share https://www.nist.gov/mep/nist-mep-competitive-awards-program-cap https://www.nist.gov/mep/nist-mep-competitive-awards-program-cap https://www.nist.gov/mep/nist-mep-competitive-awards-program-cap best practices, and to discuss new and emerging trends and additional topics of interest. These meetings are planned throughout the United States and typically involve 2-3 days of resource time and associated travel costs for each meeting. One key representative from the lead MEP Center and other appropriate partners/collaborators should attend these meetings.”

4 Section III:

Eligibility Requirements

Changes to eligibility information.

Current text

1. Eligible Applicants. Applicants for this program must be an active MEP Center that is operating pursuant to a current NIST MEP cooperative agreement. An MEP Center may work individually or may include proposed subawards to other organizations, including but not limited to other MEP Centers, to carry out the activities described in the proposal. An MEP Center may serve as the MEP Center applicant on only one

(1) proposal. There are no restrictions on the number of applications in which MEP Centers may be proposed as subrecipients or as non-funded collaborators.

A MEP Center may not serve as the lead recipient on more than three (3) awards under the MEP Competitive Awards Program in a given fiscal year. There are no restrictions on the number of applications in which MEP Centers can serve as collaborators.

Revised text “Eligible Applicants. Applicants for this program must be an active

MEP Center that is operating pursuant to a current NIST MEP cooperative agreement. An MEP Center may work individually or may include proposed subawards to other organizations, including but not limited to other MEP Centers, to carry out the activities described in the proposal.”

5 Section IV:

Application and Submission Information

In Paragraph IV.6.b added a requirement to include a project description in the Executive Summary section of the Technical Proposal.

This “project description” aligns with the standard definition of Award Description as referenced in

DOC FAM 2021-

01.

Current text Executive Summary. The executive summary should briefly (usually no longer than two pages) describe the proposal, consistent with the evaluation criteria (see Section V.1. of this

NOFO).

Executive Summary. The executive summary should briefly (usually no longer than two pages) describe the proposal, consistent with the evaluation criteria (see Section V.1. of this

NOFO).

The first paragraph of the Executive Summary should be a project description in the following format:

1) Purpose: State the specific purpose of the proposed project in one to two sentences.

2) Activities: Describe the major activities to be performed in one to three sentences.

3) Outcomes: State the specific expected outcomes of the proposed project in one to three sentences.

4) Beneficiaries: Name or describe the intended beneficiaries of the expected outcomes in one to two sentences.

5) Subrecipients: If applicable, describe the major activities to be performed by subrecipients in one to three sentences.

Any acronyms or abbreviations used in the Executive Summary must be defined in the Table of Abbreviations and Acronyms. (See Section IV.8. of this NOFO)

6 Section IV:

Application and Submission Information

Deleting “if applicable” from Paragraph 2.a.6.c “Explanation of how the proposal will achieve the program requirements.”

Current text Additionally, the proposal narrative should (if applicable) also clearly explain how the proposed activities and or product(s) developed will advance one or more of the program themes identified in Section I.3 of this

NOFO.

Revised text “Additionally, the proposal narrative should also clearly explain how the proposed activities and or product(s) developed will advance one or more of the program themes identified in Section I.3 of this

NOFO.”

7 Section IV:

Application and Submission Information

Revisions to certain information pertaining to the

SF-424

Current Text The list of certifications and assurances referenced in Item 21 of the SF-424 is contained in the

SF-424B.

Instructions for filling in the SF- 424 can be found in the 2021- NIST-MEP-CAP-01 Application Instructions document found on Grants.gov.

Revised Text “The list of certifications and assurances referenced in Item 21 of the SF-424 is contained in the Federal Financial Assistance Certifications and Representations (Certs and Reps) as part of the SAM.gov entity registration.”

8 Section IV:

Submission Information

Removing SF- 424B Submission Requirement

Current Text

(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.

Revised Text Deletion.

Current Text

(5) Page Limit Exclusions:

SF-424B, Assurances – Non-

Construction Programs;

Revised Text Deletion.

http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/

9 Section IV:

Submission Information

Revise attachment of Required Documents

Current Text Items IV.ii.a.(6) through IV.ii.a.(13) should be attached to field 15 of the SF-424 form by clicking on “Add Attachment”.

Revised Text Items IV.ii.a.(6) through IV.ii.a.(12) should be attached to field 15 of the SF-424 form by clicking on “Add Attachment”.

10 Section IV:

Submission Information

Remove Requirement Pertaining to Certifications Regarding Federal Felony and Federal Criminal Tax Convictions, Unpaid Federal Tax Assessments and Delinquent Federal Tax Returns

Current Text:

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.

Revised Text:

11 Section IV:

Application and Submission Information

Revise requirements pertaining to the Intergovernmental review of applications

Current Text:

IV.5. Intergovernmental Review Applications under this Program are not subject to Executive Order 12372.

Revised Text:

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.

12 Section V Application Review Information

Delete sentence and replace in Selection Official paragraph

Current Text:

V.2.b.(3) Selection NIST reserves the right to reject an application where information is uncovered that raises a reasonable doubt as to the responsibility of the applicant.

Revised Text:

NIST also reserves the right to reject an application where information is uncovered that raises a reasonable doubt as to the responsibility of the applicant, which may also include the review of publicly available information including but not limited to websites and social media channels

13 Selection V Application Review Information

Edit last bullet regarding center performance

Current Text:

V.2.b. (4) Selection Factors

g. Center Performance based on Cooperative Agreement Recipient (CAR) quarter performance scores.

Revised Text:

g. Past Performance on all NIST

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

14 Section IX:

Application Checklist

Remove SF-424B Requirement from Application Checklist

Current Text

IX. APPLICATION CHECKLIST

▪ SF424B, Assurances – Non-Construction Programs

Section IV.4:

Submission Dates and Times

New text only New Text: NOTE: Starting Monday, April 4, 2022, the federal government will stop using the DUNS number to uniquely identify entities. All entities doing business with the federal government will use a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) generated in SAM.gov. Applicants must request and be assigned a UEI number prior to completing the grant application forms and submitting their application via Grants.gov. For more information, please see Planned UEI Updates |

GRANTS.GOV.

The Standard Forms (e.g., SF424, SF424 R&R, etc.)

will also be updated on April 4, 2022, to allow entities to enter the UEI number. Applicants must ensure to use the applicable UEI Forms after April 4, 2022, prior to submitting the application in Grants.gov.

https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/planned-uei-updates.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/planned-uei-updates.html http://www.grants.gov/

16.

Section VI.6.:

Funding Availability and Limitation of

Liability.

Revise Text

Current Text:

Funding Availability and Limitation of Liability. Funding for the program listed in this NOFO is contingent upon the availability of appropriations. NIST or the Department of Commerce will not be responsible for application preparation costs, including but not limited to if this program fails to receive funding or is cancelled because of agency priorities. Publication of this NOFO does not oblige NIST or the Department of Commerce to award any specific project or to obligate any available funds.

NIST issues this notice subject to the appropriations made available under the current continuing resolution funding the Department of Commerce: Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act, Public Law 116-159, October 1, 2020. NIST anticipates making awards for the program listed in this notice provided that funding for Fiscal Year 20210 is continued beyond December 11, 2020, the expiration of the current continuing resolution. This information is being provided to inform potential applicants that NIST’s annual appropriation for FY21 has not yet been enacted by Congress as of the date this NOFO is published. If an applicant is uncertain as to the availability of NIST funding during FY21 or future fiscal years, the applicant may contact the Programmatic and Technical Point of Contact listed in Section VII. of this NOFO.

Funding Availability and Limitation of Liability. Funding for the program listed in this NOFO is contingent upon the availability of appropriations. NIST or the Department of Commerce will not be responsible for application preparation costs, including but not limited to if this program fails to receive funding or is cancelled because of agency priorities. Publication of this NOFO does not oblige NIST or the Department of Commerce to award any specific project or to obligate any available funds.

NIST issues this notice subject to the appropriations made available under the current continuing resolution funding the Department of Commerce: Division A of the Further Additional Extending Government Funding Act, Public Law 117-86, February 18, 2022.

NIST anticipates making awards for the program listed in this notice provided that funding for Fiscal Year 2022 is continued beyond March 11, 2022, the expiration of the current continuing resolution.

This information is being provided to inform potential applicants that NIST’s annual appropriation for FY22 has not yet been enacted by Congress as of the date this NOFO is published. If an applicant is uncertain as to the availability of NIST funding during FY22 or future fiscal years, the applicant may contact the Programmatic and Technical Point of Contact listed in Section VII. of this

NOFO.