FY24 TPO_AFTT NOFO.pdf

2024-NIST-AFTT-01

Accelerating Federal Technology Transfer Notice of Funding Opportunity

March 28, 2024

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (NOFO)

Accelerating Federal Technology Transfer (AFTT) Program

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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

Funding Opportunity Title: Accelerating Federal Technology Transfer (AFTT) Program

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: 2024-NIST-AFTT-01

Assistance Listing (CFDA Number): 11.620: Science, Technology, Business and/or Education Outreach

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

Eastern Time, May 28, 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.

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

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

Funding Opportunity Description: The NIST’s Accelerating Federal Technology Transfer (AFTT) Program is seeking applications from eligible applicants for activities to help promote, educate, and facilitate federal technology transfer. Under the AFTT Program, members of the Federal Laboratory Consortium’s (FLC) Executive Board, including NIST, will collaborate with the awardee on the development of outreach and educational programs, tools, and best practices that will enhance the ability of the academic and private sectors to engage with Federal laboratories in technology transfer and research commercialization. Specifically, the awardee will collaborate with the FLC’s Executive Board, including NIST, in the areas of technology transfer and research commercialization by: developing the necessary tools and services to promote the utilization of Federal intellectual https://www.grants.gov/

Accelerating Federal Technology Transfer Notice of Funding Opportunity

March 28, 2024 property, user facilities, and other R&D resources by non-federal partners; creating a suitable education and training infrastructure in technology transfer for the relevant stakeholders; and engaging industry, academic, and state and local government communities to facilitate access to federal R&D collaborations and federal technology transfer opportunities on both a regional and a national level.

Anticipated Amounts: In Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25), NIST anticipates funding one

(1) award for up to $4,000,000 per year with a project performance period of up to five (5) years. As discussed in Section II.2., NIST also reserves the option to provide additional multi-year funding and extend the original period of performance of the award for up to an additional five (5) years.

Funding Instrument: Cooperative Agreement

Eligibility: Eligibility for the program listed in this NOFO is open to all non-federal entities. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, state and local governments, Indian tribes, 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.

Cost Sharing Requirements: Non-federal cost share is not required.

Public Website, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): The NIST Technology Partnerships Office (TPO) has a public website, https://www.nist.gov/tpo, that provides information pertaining to this Funding Opportunity. NIST anticipates that a “Frequently Asked Questions” section or other resource materials will be maintained and updated on the website as needed to provide additional guidance and clarifying information that may arise related to this Funding Opportunity. Any amendments to this NOFO will be announced through Grants.gov.

Applicants must submit all questions pertaining to this funding opportunity in writing to john.bittman@nist.gov with ‘2024-NIST-AFTT-01’ in the subject line.

Table of Contents I. Program Description 3

II.Federal Award Information 6

III.Eligibility Information 7

IV.Application and Submission Information 8

V.Application Review Information 20 https://www.nist.gov/tpo mailto:john.bittman@nist.gov

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VI.Federal Award Administration Information 25

VII.Federal Awarding Agency Contacts 30

VIII.Other Information 30

FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

I. Program Description

The statutory authority for the NIST Accelerating Federal Technology Transfer Program is 15 U.S.C. § 272(b)(4) and 15 U.S.C. §§ 3710(e)(4) and (e)(7).

The activities of the FLC, and NIST’s role as the “Host Agency” for the FLC, are outlined in 15 U.S.C. § 3710(e). Section (e)(1) includes an extensive description of the goals of the FLC; sections (e)(2)-(3) describe the respective membership and Chair roles of the organization, and sections (e)(4) and (e)(7) define NIST’s role to provide administrative services on a reimbursable basis and to collect and transfer funding from member agencies on an annual basis.

The specific goals, strategies, objectives, and tactics of the FLC are determined by a volunteer Executive Board, consisting of both appointed and elected members from government-owned, government-operated (GOGO) and government-owned, contractor-operated (GOCO) federal labs. The Executive Board guides the direction and provides input on the specific activities of the FLC, subject to the FLC Bylaws1, which define the operations and duties of the Executive Board, rules and procedures for elections and Executive Board meetings, and other organizational governance. NIST holds one permanent seat on the FLC Executive Board as the Host Agency Representative, and as a federal laboratory member of the FLC, has frequently held additional elected and appointed roles on the FLC Executive Board.

1. Background Information

The Federal Government invests approximately $225B in research and development (R&D) each year. Of this, approximately $80B is spent at over 300 federal laboratories2 across the country performing research, development, testing, and experimentation. The Federal Government requires private sector partners for the results of this research to be fully utilized and made available to the public through new products and services.

Technology transfer (T2) is the process by which (a) non-federal partners enter

1 Federal Laboratory Consortium’s Bylaws 2 “Federal laboratory” means any laboratory, any federally funded research and development center, or any center established under section 3705 or 3707 of this title that is owned, leased, or otherwise used by a Federal agency and funded by the Federal Government, whether operated by the Government or by a contractor. 15 U.S.C. 3703(4).

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:15%20section:3710%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section3710)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true#substructure-location_e https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:15%20section:3710%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section3710)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true#substructure-location_e https://federallabs.org/getmedia/f20ef1ac-d916-4fef-af64-8d5e9e7fb6b6/FLC-Bylaws-June-2022-Final.pdf

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March 28, 2024 formal collaborations with federal laboratories to gain access to unique capabilities and facilities and/or to advance the development of a technology, or (b) the results of federal research efforts are transferred to a private sector entity for commercialization and ultimately, public use. Federal laboratories of a certain size are mandated by legislation to have T2 offices staffed with professionals who complete the T2 activities (i.e., patenting, licensing, establishing formal research collaborations, etc.), in ways that support each agency’s mission3.The professional organization for federal T2 is the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC)4.

The FLC originally was a self-organized body created in the mid-1970s. The FLC was later formally chartered by the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 19865 to strengthen and promote federal T2 nationwide. As a quasi-governmental organization, the FLC was envisioned by the Congress as a body that served Government-Owned, Government-Operated (GOGO), Government-Owned, Contractor-Operated (GOCO) laboratories, and the private sector to facilitate communication and coordination, educate the T2 community, and serve as a clearinghouse for technology requests, among other activities. Because the ultimate goal of federal technology transfer is to benefit the public through the adoption of federal research results, many tools, and services of the FLC are focused on enabling the public to engage with the FLC members6 and access information about federal intellectual property and facilities. FLC members work directly with non-federal parties, and they often work indirectly to engage in T2 activities through partnership intermediaries7.

2. Program Requirements

NIST, on behalf of the FLC Executive Board, is soliciting applications for a cooperative agreement to Accelerate Federal Technology Transfer (the AFTT Program) in which the FLC's Executive Board, including NIST, collaborate with the awardee on the development of outreach and educational programs, tools, and best practices that will enhance the ability of the private sector to engage with FLC members in T2 and research commercialization. The goals of the AFTT Program encompass three primary areas: (1) development and administration of the necessary tools and services to promote the utilization of FLC member’s intellectual property, user facilities, and other R&D resources by the non-federal

3 15 U.S.C. § 3710(b) 4 http://www.FederalLabs.org 5 P.L. 99-502 6 FLC membership consists of all federal laboratories with 200 or more full–time equivalent scientific, engineering and related technical positions, whether operated by the Federal Government (GOGO) or a contractor (GOCO); any other federal laboratories that choose to join the FLC; and the parent agencies of the member laboratories.

7 15 U.S.C.§ 3715 http://www.federallabs.org/

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March 28, 2024 sector; (2) development and administration of a suitable education and training infrastructure in T2 for the FLC members and other stakeholders; and (3) engagement with FLC stakeholder communities8 to facilitate access to federal R&D collaborations and federal T2 opportunities.

Examples of activities that may occur under the AFTT Program to support the program goals may include but are not limited to: (1) Enable the implementation of the long-term vision and mission of the FLC through direct collaboration with the FLC Executive Board. (2) Design, develop, and maintain a user-friendly centralized FLC website. (3) Design, develop, and maintain the FLCBusiness database for stakeholders to search available technologies, user facilities, and other data that will enable engagement with FLC members. (4) Develop and maintain resources, such as administrative and other infrastructures, that will enable federal T2 professionals to improve their T2 activities and engagements with stakeholders. (5) Develop, administer, and maintain education, training, and workforce development courses and materials to enhance T2 capabilities for FLC members missions and raise T2 awareness for the public. (6) Conduct outreach and engagement with stakeholder groups through individual meetings, showcases, conference attendance at other stakeholder groups’ annual meetings, and other in-person or electronic contacts. (7) Increase the recognition of federal T2 activities and successful collaborations with the private sector through internal awards, success stories, case studies, technical or trade publications, and creation/distribution of other materials. (8) Facilitate the sharing of technology transfer best practices and FLC member partnering opportunities with the industry and academic communities, through in-person and/or electronic means, including organizing and staffing an Annual FLC Meeting and regional/technology focused FLC meetings.

(9) Develop public reports9 and other printed and/or digital materials about the activities and impacts of the FLC.

Under the AFTT Program, it is envisioned that the awardee will collaborate closely with the members of the FLC Executive Board, including NIST, through a national committee structure focused on achieving broad FLC goals and a regional network structure focused on enabling non-federal stakeholders to engage with specific laboratories or economic development clusters10. As part of the AFTT program, 8 The FLC stakeholder communities include public and private academic institutions, for-profit businesses, non-profit organizations, state and local governments, economic development organizations, partnership intermediaries, and professional membership bodies that represent the aforementioned groups.

9 To include assistance in preparing required annual reporting on FLC activities as listed in 15 U.S.C. §

3710(e)(6).

10 Clusters are industry-led geographic concentrations of companies in related businesses, specialized suppliers, service providers, and associated entities that are present in geographic area. Such clusters develop because commercial entities increase their overall productivity with symbiotic relationships and economies of scale, and thus are more able to compete nationally and internationally. See Porter, Michael E. "Reshaping Regional Economic Development: Clusters and Regional Strategy."

http://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/download.aspx?name=20140926-US%20Cluster%20Mapping%20Launch-%20FINAL%20FOR%20POSTING.pdf

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NIST and other members of the FLC Executive Board will collaborate with the awardee to plan and execute the FLC Annual Meeting and regional/technology focused meetings for the FLC and other stakeholder communities, to enable the sharing of technology transfer best practices and promoting partnering opportunities as described in item (7) above. Awardees will be required to send sufficient personnel to assist with the successful execution of the FLC annual and regional meetings. These meetings should be included in project timelines and budgets. Costs for attending this meeting and any other travel must be included in the budget form SF-424 (R&R) (see Section IV.2.a.(1) of this NOFO) and described in the budget narrative (see Section IV.2.a.(8)(D) of this NOFO).

NIST therefore invites applications from eligible applicants to facilitate federal T2 and promote engagement with non-federal stakeholders for the FLC members.

The awardee will work in conjunction with the FLC Executive Board, including NIST, to develop and implement specific programmatic activities that achieve the aims of this NOFO.

Wherever possible, the results of the program should generally be made available to the public. The Department of Commerce Financial Assistance Standard Terms and Conditions, dated November 12, 2020, will govern any award made under this NOFO. Pursuant to 2 C.F.R. § 200.315(b), NIST will reserve a royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable right to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use the materials for federal purposes, and to authorize others to do so.

II. Federal Award Information

NIST, as the Host Agency for the FLC, is seeking applications from eligible applicants to develop and implement the tools, programs, and activities necessary to promote federal technologies and related resources to the private sector community, educate T2 professionals, and facilitate access to FLC members’ technologies and user facilities. Research proposals must support the goals and objectives of the FLC11 as well as align with existing NIST TPO programs and goals, to the extent that they also reflect the aims of the FLC through their role as the Host Agency.

1. Funding Instrument.

The funding instrument that will be used is a Cooperative Agreement. 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.

11 Goals and objectives of the FLC are outlined in the FLC Strategic Plan;

https://federallabs.org/about/what-we-do/flc-strategic-pillars https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjdpb-njJ-DAxVeGFkFHTYzCEsQFnoECA8QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commerce.gov%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2F2020-11%2FDOC%2520Standard%2520Terms%2520and%2520Conditions%2520-%252012%2520November%25202020%2520PDF_0.pdf&usg=AOvVaw2bE27s5h3phSMkLOJs1nJM&opi=89978449 https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjdpb-njJ-DAxVeGFkFHTYzCEsQFnoECA8QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commerce.gov%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2F2020-11%2FDOC%2520Standard%2520Terms%2520and%2520Conditions%2520-%252012%2520November%25202020%2520PDF_0.pdf&usg=AOvVaw2bE27s5h3phSMkLOJs1nJM&opi=89978449 https://federallabs.org/about/what-we-do/flc-strategic-pillars

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2. Multi-Year Funding Policy.

When a proposal for a multi-year award is approved, funding will usually be provided for only the first year of the program. If a project is selected for funding, NIST has no obligation to provide any additional funding in connection with that award. Continuation of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the sole discretion of NIST.

Continued funding will be contingent upon satisfactory performance, continued relevance to the mission and priorities of NIST, and the availability of funds.

Under this NOFO, NIST may also provide additional multi-year funding and extend the original period of performance for up to an additional five

(5) years. The amount of additional funds will be based on funding availability at that time. The additional period of performance will be commensurate with available funds. A revised Project Narrative and Budget Narrative will be requested from the recipient and must be approved by NIST before proceeding. NIST cannot guarantee that the additional funding and period of performance will be authorized. Factors that include the availability of funding, strategic priorities, NIST’s assessment of the quality of the management of the award (for example, timeliness and quality of progress reports), and NIST’s assessment of the progress of the work funded under the award will be considered.

3. Funding Availability.

In FY25, NIST anticipates funding one (1) award for up to $4,000,000 per year for up to five (5) years, consistent with the multi-year funding policy described in Section II.2 of this NOFO. Proposed funding levels must be consistent with project scope. NIST will consider applications with lower funding amounts.

4. Indirect (F&A) Costs.

NIST will reimburse applicants for proposed indirect (F&A) costs in accordance with 2 CFR § 200.414. Applicants proposing indirect (F&A) costs must follow the application requirements set forth in Section IV.2.a.(9) of this NOFO.

III. Eligibility Information

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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, but are not limited to, institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, state and local governments, Indian tribes, 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.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching funds ARE 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 2024-NIST-AFTT-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.

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, http://www.grants.gov/ 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

Accelerating Federal Technology Transfer Notice of Funding Opportunity

March 28, 2024 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- AFTT-01” in the Award Number field. Enter the title of the application, or an abbreviation of that title, in the Project Name field.

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

(item (6) below), the Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (item (9) below), the Data Management Plan (item (11) below), and the Current and

Pending Support Form (item (12 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 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 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

Accelerating Federal Technology Transfer Notice of Funding Opportunity

March 28, 2024 form to successfully pass through Grants.gov. Please attach a document to field 7 stating, “A Project Summary/Abstract is not relevant to this competition”.

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

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

The projective narrative should contain the following information:

a. Executive Summary. An executive summary of the proposed approach, consistent with the evaluation criteria (see Section V.1.

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

b. Project Approach. A description of the applicant’s approach to clearly address the program goals (see Section I. of this NOFO).

This section should address the Problems, Solutions, and Technical Approach and Success Metrics evaluation criterion (see Sections V.1.a. and V.1.d. 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 Statement of Work evaluation criterion (see Section V.1.b. of this NOFO).

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 Qualifications evaluation criterion (see Section V.1.c. of this NOFO).

e. Dissemination Plan. A description of the applicant’s approach to broadly disseminate the results of the project to the public. The plan should include an approach to publish results through publications and white papers in appropriate literature, and through presentations at public meetings or technical events.

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

(8) Budget Narrative and Justification.

There is no set format for the Budget Narrative and Justification, however, the written justification should include the necessity and the basis for the cost, as described below. Proposed funding levels must be consistent with the project scope, and only allowable costs should be included in the budget. Information on cost allowability is available in the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards at 2 C.F.R. Part 200, which apply to awards in this program.

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

This section will be evaluated in accordance with the Budget Narrative evaluation criteria. 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.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200

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

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

D. Travel - For all travel costs, required by the recipient to complete the project, including attendance at any relevant conferences such as the FLC annual and regional meetings described in Section I.2., 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

Accelerating Federal Technology Transfer Notice of Funding Opportunity charged to the award.

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

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

Accelerating Federal Technology Transfer Notice of Funding Opportunity

March 28, 2024 and scrolling down to the R & R Subaward Budget Attachment(s) Form and selecting “Instructions.”

(11) Data Management Plan. Consistent with NIST Policy 5700.0012, Managing Public Access to Results of Federally Funded Research, and NIST Order 5701.0013, 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 to use the template as long as the DMP contains the required information.

If an application stands a reasonable chance of being funded and the DMP is determined during the review process to be insufficient, the program office may 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.

12 https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2018/06/19/final_p_5700.pdf 13 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

Accelerating Federal Technology Transfer Notice of Funding Opportunity

March 28, 2024

(12) 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, project lead, 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

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”.

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

Accelerating Federal Technology Transfer

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

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

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

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

After submitting the application, check the status of your application here: CHECK APPLICATION STATUS. If any, or all, of the required 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.

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

Accelerating Federal Technology Transfer Notice of Funding Opportunity

March 28, 2024

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

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

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

c. Application Format

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

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

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

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

(5) Page Limit Exclusions:

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

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

CD-511, Certification Regarding Lobbying;

Research and Related Other Project Information;

SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities;

Resume(s) or CV(s);

Budget Narrative and Justification;

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement;

Subaward Budget Form;

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.

https://www.grants.gov/applicants/grant-applications/track-my-application

Accelerating Federal Technology Transfer

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

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

handwritten forms will not be accepted.

d. Application Replacement Pages. Applicants may not submit replacement pages and/or missing documents once an application has been submitted.

Any revisions must be made by submission of a new application that must be received by NIST by the submission deadline.

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, 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, May 28, 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

Accelerating Federal Technology Transfer Notice of Funding Opportunity

March 28, 2024 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/2023/06/SPOC-list-as-of- 2023.pdf.

6. Funding Restrictions Construction activities are not an allowable cost under this program. Applications for product development and/or commercialization are not considered responsive to this NOFO. In addition, a recipient or a subrecipient may not charge profits, fees, or other increments above cost to an award issued pursuant to this NOFO.

7. Other Submission Requirements

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

(1) Applicants should carefully follow specific Grants.gov instructions to ensure that all attachments will be accepted by the Grants.gov system. A receipt from Grants.gov indicating an application is received does not provide information about whether attachments have been received. For further information or questions regarding applying electronically for the 2024-NIST-AFTT-01 announcement, contact the Grants.gov Help Desk at 800-518-4726.

b. Amendments. Any amendments to this NOFO will be announced through

Grants.gov. Applicants may sign up on Grants.gov to receive amendments by e-mail or may request copies by e-mail from john.bittman@nist.gov.

http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SPOC-list-as-of-2023.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SPOC-list-as-of-2023.pdf http://www.grants.gov/

Accelerating Federal Technology Transfer Notice of Funding Opportunity

March 28, 2024

V. Application Review Information

1. Evaluation Criteria

The evaluation…