Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center State Competition

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is seeking applications to establish and operate Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, and Puerto Rico, with applications due August 21, 2026. Eligible applicants are U.S.-based nonprofit institutions or consortia thereof, institutions of higher education, or state, local, or tribal governments. All applicants must provide a minimum 50% non-federal cost share annually, with no carryover between years.

NIST will award 14 cooperative agreements under CFDA 11.611 with a five-year initial period subject to annual performance reviews and funding availability, plus potential for an additional non-competitive five-year renewal. Year 1 federal funding ranges from $706,300 (Alaska) to $15,641,800 (California), with five-year federal totals ranging from $3,531,500 to $78,209,000.

MEP Centers must support small and mid-sized manufacturers to adopt advanced manufacturing technologies including robotics, artificial intelligence, automation, advanced materials, additive manufacturing, and biotechnology. Required activities include identifying manufacturing sectors with significant technology adoption opportunities, deploying strategies addressing adoption barriers, catalyzing manufacturer and OEM engagement, engaging financial institutions and government programs, developing workforce capabilities through technical colleges and academic institutions, and participating in the MEP Center network. Applicants must establish an oversight board or advisory committee meeting NIST standards and maintain direct accountability for core MEP management functions including budget execution, policy implementation, human resources management, and strategic planning.

Evaluation criteria weight Qualifications and Board Structure and Budget and Cost Share at 30 points each; Center Strategy at 20 points; and Industrial Landscape and Performance Measurement at 10 points each. A minimum fundable score of 70 points is required. Award decisions are expected by September 15, 2026, with an earliest start date of October 1, 2026.