Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) Gaithersburg and Boulder Programs; Availability of Funds, 4535-4540 [E8-1333]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 17 / Friday, January 25, 2008 / Notices
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DC 20055. In addition, such proposals
must meet the requirements of the
Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131 et
seq.), 9 CFR parts 1, 2, and 3, and if
appropriate, 21 CFR part 58. These
regulations do not apply to proposed
research using pre-existing images of
animals or to research plans that do not
include live animals that are being cared
for, euthanized, or used by the project
participants to accomplish research
goals, teaching, or testing. These
regulations also do not apply to
obtaining animal materials from
commercial processors of animal
products or to animal cell lines or
tissues from tissue banks.
Limitation of Liability: Funding for
the programs listed in this notice is
contingent upon the availability of
Fiscal Year 2008 appropriations under
The Consolidated Appropriations Act,
2008 (Pub. L. 110–161). In no event will
the Department of Commerce be
responsible for proposal preparation
costs if these programs fail to receive
funding or are cancelled because of
other agency priorities. Publication of
this announcement does not oblige the
agency to award any specific project or
to obligate any available funds. Funding
of any award under any program
announced in this notice is subject to
the availability of funds.
Executive Order 12866: This funding
notice was determined to be not
significant for purposes of Executive
Order 12866.
Executive Order 13132 (Federalism):
It has been determined that this notice
does not contain policies with
federalism implications as that term is
defined in Executive Order 13132.
Executive Order 12372: Applications
under this program are not subject to
Executive Order 12372,
‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs.’’
Administrative Procedure Act/
Regulatory Flexibility Act: Notice and
comment are not required under the
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C.
553) or any other law, for rules relating
to public property, loans, grants,
benefits or contracts (5 U.S.C. 553 (a)).
Because notice and comment are not
required under 5 U.S.C. 553, or any
other law, for rules relating to public
property, loans, grants, benefits or
contracts (5 U.S.C. 553(a)), a Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis is not required and
has not been prepared for this notice, 5
U.S.C. 601 et seq.
Dated: January 22, 2008.
Richard F. Kayser,
Acting Deputy Director, NIST.
[FR Doc. E8–1334 Filed 1–24–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–13–P
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and
Technology
[Docket Number: 080107023–8025–01 ]
Summer Undergraduate Research
Fellowships (SURF) Gaithersburg and
Boulder Programs; Availability of
Funds
National Institute of Standards
and Technology, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST)
announces that the following programs
are soliciting applications for financial
assistance for FY 2008: (1) The
Gaithersburg Summer Undergraduate
Research Fellowship Program, and (2)
the Boulder Summer Undergraduate
Research Fellowship Program. Each
program will only consider applications
that are within the scientific scope of
the program as described in this notice
and in the detailed program
descriptions found in the Federal
Funding Opportunity (FFO)
announcement for these programs.
DATES: See below.
ADDRESSES: See below.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Name and Number:
Measurement and Engineering
Research and Standards–11.609.
Summer Undergraduate Research
Fellowships (SURF) Gaithersburg and
Boulder Programs
Program Description: The SURF
Gaithersburg Program is soliciting
applications in the areas of Electronics
and Electrical Engineering,
Manufacturing Engineering, Nanoscale
Science and Technology, Chemical
Science and Technology, Physics,
Materials Science and Engineering/
Neutron Research, Building and Fire
Research, and Information Technology
as described in the Federal Funding
Opportunity.
The SURF Boulder Program is
soliciting applications in the areas of
Electronics and Electrical Engineering,
Chemical Science and Technology,
Physics, Materials Science and
Engineering, and Information
Technology as described in the Federal
Funding Opportunity.
Applications for the Gaithersburg and
Boulder programs are separate.
Application to one program does not
constitute application to the other, and
applications will not be exchanged
between the Gaithersburg and Boulder
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4535
programs. If applicants wish to be
considered at both sites, two separate
applications must be submitted.
Both SURF programs will provide an
opportunity for the NIST laboratories
and the National Science Foundation
(NSF) to join in a partnership to
encourage outstanding undergraduate
students to pursue careers in science
and engineering. The programs will
provide research opportunities for
students to work with internationally
known NIST scientists, to expose them
to cutting-edge research and promote
the pursuit of graduate degrees in
science and engineering.
The NIST SURF Gaithersburg and
Boulder Program Directors will work
with appropriate department chairs,
outreach coordinators, and directors of
multi-disciplinary academic
organizations to identify outstanding
undergraduates (including graduating
seniors) who would benefit from offcampus summer research in a worldclass scientific environment.
The objective of the SURF programs is
to build a mutually beneficial
relationship between the student, the
institution, and NIST. NIST is one of the
nation’s premiere research institutions
for the physical and engineering
sciences and, as the lead Federal agency
for technology transfer, it provides a
strong interface between government,
industry and academia. NIST embodies
a special science culture, developed
from a large and well-equipped research
staff that enthusiastically blends
programs that address the immediate
needs of industry with longer-term
research that anticipates future needs.
This occurs in few other places and
enables the Electronics and Electrical
Engineering Lab (EEEL), Manufacturing
Engineering Lab (MEL), Center for
Nanoscale Science and Technology
(CNST), Chemical Science and
Technology Lab (CSTL), Physics Lab
(PL), Materials Science and Engineering
Lab (MSEL)/NIST Center for Neutron
Research (NCNR), Building and Fire
Research Lab (BFRL), and Information
Technology Lab (ITL) to offer unique
research and training opportunities for
undergraduates, providing them a
research-rich environment and exposure
to state of the art equipment.
EEEL, MEL, CNST, CSTL, PL, MSEL/
NCNR, BFRL, and ITL SURF
Gaithersburg Programs
All SURF Gaithersburg Program
applications, paper and electronic, must
be received no later than 5 p.m. Eastern
Standard Time on February 25, 2008.
ADDRESSES: For all SURF Gaithersburg
Programs, paper applications must be
DATES:
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submitted to: Ms. Anita Sweigert,
National Institute of Standards and
Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop
8400, Gaithersburg, MD 20899–8400;
Tel: (301) 975–4200; E-mail:
anita.sweigert@nist.gov; Web site:
https://www.surf.nist.gov/surf2.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
complete information about this
program and instructions for applying
by paper or electronically, read the
Federal Funding Opportunity Notice
(FFO) at https://www.grants.gov. A paper
copy of the FFO may be obtained by
calling (301) 975–6328. The
Gaithersburg and Boulder SURF
programs will publish separate FFOs on
www.grants.gov. Program questions
should be addressed to Ms. Anita
Sweigert, Administrative Coordinator,
National Institute of Standards and
Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop
8400, Gaithersburg, MD 20899–8400,
Tel: (301) 975–4200, E-mail:
anita.sweigert@nist.gov. The SURF
Gaithersburg Program Web site is:
https://www.surf.nist.gov/surf2.htm. All
grants related administration questions
concerning this program should be
directed to Melinda Chukran, NIST
Grants and Agreements Management
Division at (301) 975–5266 or
melinda.chukran@nist.gov or for
assistance with using Grants.gov contact
support@grants.gov.
Funding Availability
Funds budgeted for payment to
students under these programs are
stipends, not salary. The stipend is an
Anticipated
NSF funding
($)
Program
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EEEL ................................................................................................................
MEL ..................................................................................................................
CNST ...............................................................................................................
CSTL ................................................................................................................
PL .....................................................................................................................
MSEL/NCNR ....................................................................................................
BFRL ................................................................................................................
ITL ....................................................................................................................
The actual number of awards made
under this announcement will depend
on the proposed budgets and the
availability of funding. For all SURF
Gaithersburg Programs described in this
notice, it is expected that individual
awards to institutions will range from
approximately $3,000 to $70,000.
Funding for student housing will be
included in cooperative agreements
awarded as a result of this notice.
The SURF Gaithersburg Program is
anticipated to run from May 27, 2008
through August 8, 2008; adjustments
may be made to accommodate specific
academic schedules (e.g., a limited
number of 9-week cooperative
agreements).
Funding for the program(s) listed in
this notice is contingent upon the
availability of Fiscal Year 2008
appropriations under The Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2008 (Pub. L. 110–
161). In no event will NIST or the
Department of Commerce be responsible
for proposal preparation costs if this
program(s) fail to receive funding or are
cancelled because of other agency
priorities. Publication of this
announcement does not oblige NIST or
the Department of Commerce to award
any specific project or to obligate any
available funds.
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72,960
88,000
0
0
114,000
130,000
81,000
0
Statutory Authority: The authority for
the SURF Gaithersburg Program is 15
U.S.C. 278g–l, which authorizes NIST to
fund financial assistance awards to
students at institutions of higher
learning within the United States. These
students must show promise as present
or future contributors to the missions of
NIST.
Eligibility: NIST’s SURF Gaithersburg
Program is open to colleges and
universities in the United States and its
territories with degree granting
programs in materials science,
chemistry, nanoscale science, neutron
research, engineering, computer science,
mathematics, or physics. Participating
students must be U.S. citizens or
permanent U.S. residents. The SURF
Gaithersburg Program does not require
any matching funds.
Review and Selection Process: All
SURF Gaithersburg Program proposals
are submitted to the Administrative
Coordinator. Each proposal is examined
for completeness and responsiveness.
Incomplete or non-responsive proposals
will not be considered for funding, and
the applicant will be notified in writing.
The Program will retain one copy of
each non-responsive application for
three years for record keeping purposes.
The remaining copies will be destroyed.
Proposals should include the following:
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amount that is expected to be provided
to the participating student to help
defray the cost of living, for the duration
of the program, in the Washington
National Capital Region. The SURF
Gaithersburg Program will not authorize
funds for indirect costs or fringe
benefits. The table below summarizes
the anticipated annual funding levels
from the NSF to operate our REU
(Research Experience for
Undergraduates) programs, subject to
program renewals and availability of
funds. In some programs, anticipated
NIST co-funding will supplement the
number of awards supported. Program
funding will be available to provide for
the costs of stipends ($363.64 per week
per student), travel, and lodging (up to
$3400 per student).
Anticipated
NIST funding
($)
40,000
0
40,000
105,000
65,000
0
0
40,000
Total Program
funding
($)
112,960
88,000
40,000
105,000
179,000
130,000
81,000
40,000
Anticipated
number of
awards
∼5
∼13
∼5
∼16
∼26
∼22
∼10
∼5
(A) Student Information (student’s name
and university should appear on all
of these documents):
(1) student application information
cover sheet;
(2) academic transcript for each
student nominated for participation
(it is recommended that students
have a G.P.A. of 3.0 or better, out
of a possible 4.0);
(3) a statement of motivation and
commitment from each student to
participate in the 2008 SURF
program, including a description of
the student’s prioritized research
interests;
(4) a resume for each student;
(5) two letters of recommendation for
each student; and
(6) confirmation of U.S. citizenship or
permanent legal resident status for
each student.
(B) Information About the Applicant
Institution:
(1) description of the institution’s
education and research programs;
and
(2) a summary list of the student(s)
being nominated.
Institution proposals will be separated
into student/institution packets. Each
student/institution packet will be
comprised of the required application
forms, including a complete copy of the
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student information and a complete
copy of the institution information. The
student/institution packets will be
directed to the SURF Gaithersburg
Program designated by the student as
his/her first choice.
The selection process occurs in three
rounds. Each SURF Gaithersburg
Program will have three independent,
objective NIST employees, who are
knowledgeable in the scientific areas of
the program, conduct a technical review
of each student/institution packet based
on the Evaluation Criteria for the SURF
Gaithersburg Programs described in this
notice. For the first round of evaluations
and placement, each technical reviewer
will evaluate according to the
Evaluation Criteria listed below and
provide a score for each student/
institution packet. Based on the average
of the reviewers’ scores, a rank order of
the student/institution packets will be
prepared within each laboratory.
The SURF Program Director (e.g., the
Selecting Official) for each laboratory,
who is a NIST program official who did
not participate in the technical
evaluations, will then apply the
following Selection Factors, which may
result in revisions to the rank order:
relevance of the student’s course of
study to the program objectives of the
NIST laboratory in which that SURF
Gaithersburg Program resides as
described in the Funding Opportunity
Description section of this notice, the
relevance of the student’s statement of
commitment to the goals of the SURF
Gaithersburg Program, fit of the
student’s interests and abilities to the
available projects in that laboratory
program, compatibility of the student
with the research environment in that
laboratory, assessment of whether the
SURF program experience will make a
difference on the student, and the
availability of funding.
Based on these results, the Program
Director (e.g., Selecting Official) for each
laboratory will divide the rank ordered
student/application packets into three
categories: Priority Funding; Fund if
Possible; and Do Not Fund. Student/
institution packets placed in the Priority
Funding category will be selected for
funding in that SURF Gaithersburg
Program. Student/institution packets
placed in the Do Not Fund category will
not be considered for funding by any
other NIST laboratories.
Student/institution packets placed in
the Fund if Possible Category may be
considered for funding at a later time by
the category-designating SURF Program;
in the interim period these students will
be released for consideration for funding
by the SURF Gaithersburg Program
designated by the student as his/her
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second choice. The student’s second
choice laboratory’s Program Director
will take into consideration the
recommendations of the reviewers who
conducted the technical reviews for the
student’s first choice SURF Gaithersburg
Program, apply the selection factors
noted above as applied to that
laboratory and arrive at a final rank
order of the students available for the
second round of selections and
placements. The SURF Gaithersburg
Program designated by the student as
his/her second choice may choose not to
rank and select students in this round.
This action designates these students as
being available for the third round of
selections.
Students not selected for funding by
their first or second choice SURF
Gaithersburg Program, and students
who did not designate a second choice,
will then be considered for funding
from all SURF Gaithersburg Programs
that still have slots available in a third
round, conducted the same as the
second round. In making selections for
the third round of selections and
placement, each SURF Gaithersburg
Program Director (e.g., Selecting
Official) will take into consideration the
recommendations of the reviewers who
conducted the technical reviews for the
student’s first choice SURF Gaithersburg
Program, the selection factors noted
above as applied to that laboratory and
rank order the students in this selection
round. As in the second selection
round, each SURF Gaithersburg
Program may choose not to rank and
select a student in this third round.
Substitutions for students who decline
offers will be made from the available
pool of students consistent with the
program review process.
The final approval of selected
applications and award of cooperative
agreements will be made by the NIST
Grants Officer based on compliance
with application requirements as
published in this notice and other
applicable legal and regulatory
requirements. NIST also reserves the
right to reject an application where
information is uncovered that adversely
affects an applicant’s business integrity,
resulting in a determination by the
Grants Officer that an applicant is not
presently responsible. Applicants may
be asked to modify objectives, work
plans, or budgets and provide
supplemental information required by
the agency prior to award. The decision
of the Grants Officer is final.
The SURF Gaithersburg Program will
retain one copy of each unsuccessful
application for three years for record
keeping purposes, and unsuccessful
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4537
applicants will be notified in writing.
The remaining copies will be destroyed.
Evaluation Criteria: For the SURF
Gaithersburg Program, the evaluation
criteria are:
(A) Evaluation of Student’s Interest in
Participating in the Program, Academic
Ability, Laboratory Experience and
Advanced Degree Openness: Evaluation
of career goals and completed course
work, honors and awards, grade point
average in courses relevant to the SURF
Gaithersburg Program, English
proficiency and writing proficiency,
research skills, innovativeness, social
skills, safety consciousness, leadership
potential, independence, honesty, and
commitment of the student to working
in a laboratory environment, and
interest in pursuing graduate school.
(B) Institution’s Commitment to
Program Goals: Evaluation of the
institution’s academic department(s)
relevant to the discipline(s) of the
student(s).
Each of these factors is given equal
weight in the evaluation process.
SURF NIST Boulder Program
All SURF NIST Boulder Program
applications, paper and electronic, must
be received no later than 5 p.m.
Mountain Standard Time on February
25, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Paper applications for the
SURF NIST Boulder Program must be
submitted to: Ms. Eyvon Petty,
Administrative Coordinator, National
Institute of Standards and Technology,
325 Broadway, Mail Stop 847.00,
Boulder, CO 80305–3328.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
complete information about this
program and instructions for applying
by paper or electronically, read the
Federal Funding Opportunity Notice
(FFO) at https://www.grants.gov. A paper
copy of the FFO may be obtained by
calling (301) 975–6328. The
Gaithersburg and Boulder SURF
programs will publish separate FFOs on
www.grants.gov. Program questions
should be addressed to Ms. Eyvon Petty,
Administrative Coordinator, National
Institute of Standards and Technology,
325 Broadway, Mail Stop 847.00,
Boulder, CO 80305–3328, Tel: (303)
497–3295, E-mail:
pettye@boulder.nist.gov; Web site:
https://surf.boulder.nist.gov/. All grants
related administration questions
concerning this program should be
directed to Judy Murphy, Grants and
Agreements Management Division at
(301) 975–5603 or
judy.murphy@nist.gov.
Additional Information:
Funding Availability:
DATES:
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Funds budgeted for payment to
students under this program are
stipends, not salaries. The SURF NIST
Boulder Program will not authorize
funds for indirect costs or fringe
benefits. The stipend of $7340 includes
a fellowship of $4000 plus $3340 for all
expenses associated with travel and
subsistence. Once they receive their
awards, college and university grant
recipients are expected to provide the
full stipend to participating students in
one lump sum before May 27, 2008, the
start of the SURF NIST Boulder
Program. NIST will disburse funds to
college and university awardees via the
Anticipated
NSF funding
Laboratory
EEEL ................................................................................................................
PL .....................................................................................................................
CSTL ................................................................................................................
MSEL ...............................................................................................................
ITL ....................................................................................................................
The actual number of awards made
under this announcement will depend
on the proposed budgets and the
availability of funding. For the SURF
NIST Boulder Program described in this
funding opportunity, it is expected that
individual awards to institutions will be
$7340 times the number of participating
students from that institution.
The SURF NIST Boulder Program is
anticipated to run from May 27, 2008
through August 8, 2008; adjustments
may be made to accommodate specific
academic schedules (e.g., some 11-week
cooperative agreements shifted to begin
after the regular start in order to
accommodate institutions operating on
quarter systems).
Funding for the program(s) listed in
this notice is contingent upon the
availability of Fiscal Year 2008
appropriations under The Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2008 (Pub. L. 110–
161). In no event will NIST or the
Department of Commerce be responsible
for proposal preparation costs if this
program(s) fails to receive funding or is
cancelled because of other agency
priorities. Publication of this
announcement does not oblige NIST or
the Department of Commerce to award
any specific project or to obligate any
available funds.
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Statutory Authority: 15 U.S.C. 278g–1.
Eligibility: The SURF NIST Boulder
Program is open to colleges and
universities in the United States and its
territories with degree granting
programs in materials science,
chemistry, engineering, computer
science, mathematics, or physics.
Participating students must be U.S.
citizens or permanent U.S. residents.
The SURF NIST Boulder Program
focuses on undergraduate fellows.
Graduating seniors are eligible to
participate but the likelihood of funds
for their possible participation is
extremely limited. Up to three such
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(A) Student Information (student’s name
and university should appear on all
of these documents):
(1) student application information
cover sheet;
(2) academic transcript for each
student nominated for participation
(it is recommended that students
have a G.P.A. of 3.0 or better, out
of a possible 4.0);
(3) a statement of motivation and
commitment from each student to
participate in the SURF NIST
Boulder Program, including a
description of the student’s
prioritized research interests;
(4) a resume for each student;
(5) two letters of recommendation for
each student; and
(6) confirmation of U.S. citizenship or
permanent legal resident status for
each student.
(B) Information About the Applicant
Institution:
(1) Description of the institution’s
education and research programs;
and
(2) A summary list of the student(s)
being nominated, with one
paragraph of commentary about
each student from a dean or
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Anticipated
NIST funding
34,400
17,200
6,880
13,760
3,440
participants, approximately, might be
considered if funds become available. If
so, NIST will give priority to previous
SURF participants. The SURF NIST
Boulder Program does not require any
matching funds.
Review and Selection Process: All
SURF NIST Boulder Program proposals
are submitted to the Administrative
Coordinator. Each proposal is examined
for completeness and responsiveness.
Incomplete or non-responsive proposals
will not be considered for funding, and
the applicant will be so notified. The
Program will retain one copy of each
non-responsive application for three
years for record keeping purposes.
Proposals should include the following:
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Automated Standard Application for
Payments (ASAP) system.
The table below summarizes the
anticipated funding from NSF and NIST
to operate the SURF NIST Boulder
Program, broken out by Laboratory,
subject to program approval and
availability of funds.
39,000
19,500
7,800
15,600
3,900
Total program
funding
73,400
36,700
14,680
29,360
7,340
Anticipated
number of
awards
10
5
2
4
1
department chair that describes
why the students would be
successful in the SURF program.
Institution proposals will be separated
into student/institution packets. Each
student/institution packet will be
comprised of the required application
forms, including a complete copy of the
student information and a complete
copy of the institution information. The
student/institution packets will be
directed to a review committee of NIST
staff appointed by the SURF NIST
Boulder Directors.
First, all applications received in
response to this announcement will be
reviewed to determine whether or not
they are complete and responsive to the
scope of the stated program objectives.
Incomplete or non-responsive
applications will not be reviewed for
technical merit.
Second, each SURF student/
university packet will be reviewed by at
least three independent, objective NIST
employees, who are knowledgeable in
the scientific areas of the program and
are able to conduct a technical review
of each student/university packet based
on the Evaluation Criteria described in
this notice. The normalized scores based
on this merit review will be averaged for
each student/university applicant
packet, creating a rank order. The
Selecting Official, the Director of NIST
Boulder Laboratories, shall award in the
rank order unless a proposal is justified
to be selected out of rank order based
upon one or more of the following
factors: Availability of funding, balance
or distribution of funds by research or
technical disciplines.
The final approval of selected
applications and award of financial
assistance will be made by the NIST
Grants Officer based on compliance
with application requirements as
published in this notice, compliance
with applicable legal and regulatory
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requirements, and whether the
recommended applicants appear to be
responsible. Applicants may be asked to
modify objectives, work plans, or
budgets and provide supplemental
information required by the agency
prior to award. The decisions of the
Grants Officer are final.
Unsuccessful applicants will be
notified in writing. The Program will
retain one copy of each unsuccessful
application for three years for record
keeping purposes.
Evaluation Criteria: For the SURF
NIST Boulder Program the evaluation
criteria are as follows:
(A) Evaluation of Student’s Academic
Ability and Commitment to Program
Goals (80%): Includes evaluation of
completed course work; expressed
research interest; compatibility of the
expressed research interest with SURF
NIST Boulder research areas; research
skills; grade point average in courses
relevant to the SURF NIST Boulder
Program; career goals; honors and
activities;
(B) Evaluation of Applicant
Institution’s Commitment to Program
Goals (20%): Includes evaluation of the
institution’s academic department(s)
relevant to the discipline(s) of the
student(s).
The following information applies to
all programs announced in this notice:
The Department of Commerce PreAward Notification Requirements for
Grants and Cooperative Agreements:
The Department of Commerce PreAward Notification Requirements for
Grants and Cooperative Agreements
contained in the Federal Register notice
of December 30, 2004 (69 FR 78389). On
the form SF–424, the applicant’s 9-digit
Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) number
must be entered in the Applicant
Identifier block (68 FR 38402).
Collaborations with NIST Employees:
All applications should include a
description of any work proposed to be
performed by an entity other than the
applicant, and the cost of such work
should ordinarily be included in the
budget.
If an applicant proposes collaboration
with NIST, the statement of work
should include a statement of this
intention, a description of the
collaboration, and prominently identify
the NIST employee(s) involved, if
known. Any collaboration by a NIST
employee must be approved by
appropriate NIST management and is at
the sole discretion of NIST. Prior to
beginning the merit review process,
NIST will verify the approval of the
proposed collaboration. Any
unapproved collaboration will be
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16:59 Jan 24, 2008
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stricken from the proposal prior to the
merit review.
Use of NIST Intellectual Property: If
the applicant anticipates using any
NIST-owned intellectual property to
carry out the work proposed, the
applicant should identify such
intellectual property. This information
will be used to ensure that no NIST
employee involved in the development
of the intellectual property will
participate in the review process for that
competition. In addition, if the
applicant intends to use NIST-owned
intellectual property, the applicant must
comply with all statutes and regulations
governing the licensing of Federal
government patents and inventions,
described at 35 U.S.C. 200–212, 37 CFR
Part 401, 15 CFR 14.36, and in section
B.20 of the Department of Commerce
Pre-Award Notification Requirements,
published on December 30, 2004 (69 FR
78389). Questions about these
requirements may be directed to the
Counsel for NIST, 301–975–2803.
Any use of NIST-owned intellectual
property by a proposer is at the sole
discretion of NIST and will be
negotiated on a case-by-case basis if a
project is deemed meritorious. The
applicant should indicate within the
statement of work whether it already
has a license to use such intellectual
property or whether it intends to seek
one.
If any inventions made in whole or in
part by a NIST employee arise in the
course of an award made pursuant to
this notice, the United States
government may retain its ownership
rights in any such invention. Licensing
or other disposition of NIST’s rights in
such inventions will be determined
solely by NIST, and include the
possibility of NIST putting the
intellectual property into the public
domain.
Initial Screening of all Applications:
All applications received in response to
this announcement will be reviewed to
determine whether or not they are
complete and responsive to the scope of
the stated objectives for each program.
Incomplete or non-responsive
applications will not be reviewed for
technical merit. The Program will retain
one copy of each non-responsive
application for three years for record
keeping purposes. The remaining copies
will be destroyed.
Paperwork Reduction Act: The
standard forms in the application kit
involve a collection of information
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act.
The use of Standard Forms 424, 424A,
424B, SF–LLL, CD–346, and SURF
Program Student Applicant Information
have been approved by OMB under the
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Sfmt 4703
4539
respective Control Numbers 0348–0043,
0348–0044, 0348–0040, 0348–0046,
0605–0001, and 0693–0042.
Notwithstanding any other provision
of the law, no person is required to
respond to, nor shall any person be
subject to a penalty for failure to comply
with, a collection subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act, unless that collection of
information displays a currently valid
OMB Control Number.
Research Projects Involving Human
Subjects, Human Tissue, Data or
Recordings Involving Human Subjects:
Any proposal that includes research
involving human subjects, human
tissue, data or recordings involving
human subjects must meet the
requirements of the Common Rule for
the Protection of Human Subjects,
codified for the Department of
Commerce at 15 CFR Part 27. In
addition, any proposal that includes
research on these topics must be in
compliance with any statutory
requirements imposed upon the
Department of Health and Human
Services (DHHS) and other federal
agencies regarding these topics, all
regulatory policies and guidance
adopted by DHHS, FDA, and other
Federal agencies on these topics, and all
Presidential statements of policy on
these topics.
NIST will accept the submission of
human subjects protocols that have been
approved by Institutional Review
Boards (IRBs) registered with DHHS and
performed by entities possessing a
current, valid Federal-wide Assurance
(FWA) from DHHS. NIST will not issue
a single project assurance (SPA) for any
IRB reviewing any human subjects
protocol proposed to NIST.
On August 9, 2001, the President
announced his decision to allow Federal
funds to be used for research on existing
human embryonic stem cell lines as
long as prior to his announcement (1)
the derivation process (which
commences with the removal of the
inner cell mass from the blastocyst) had
already been initiated and (2) the
embryo from which the stem cell line
was derived no longer had the
possibility of development as a human
being. NIST will follow guidance issued
by the National Institutes of Health at
https://ohrp.osophs.dhhs.gov/
humansubjects/guidance/stemcell.pdf
for funding such research.
Research Projects Involving Vertebrate
Animals: Any proposal that includes
research involving vertebrate animals
must be in compliance with the
National Research Council’s ‘‘Guide for
the Care and Use of Laboratory
Animals’’ which can be obtained from
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 17 / Friday, January 25, 2008 / Notices
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
National Academy Press, 2101
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington,
DC 20055. In addition, such proposals
must meet the requirements of the
Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131 et
seq.), 9 CFR Parts 1, 2, and 3, and if
appropriate, 21 CFR Part 58. These
regulations do not apply to proposed
research using pre-existing images of
animals or to research plans that do not
include live animals that are being cared
for, euthanized, or used by the project
participants to accomplish research
goals, teaching, or testing. These
regulations also do not apply to
obtaining animal materials from
commercial processors of animal
products or to animal cell lines or
tissues from tissue banks.
Limitation of Liability: Funding for
the programs listed in this notice is
contingent upon the availability of
Fiscal Year 2008 appropriations under
the Consolidated Appropriations Act,
2008 (Pub. L. 110–161). In no event will
the Department of Commerce be
responsible for proposal preparation
costs if these programs fail to receive
funding or are cancelled because of
other agency priorities. Publication of
this announcement does not oblige the
agency to award any specific project or
to obligate any available funds.
Executive Order 12866: This funding
notice was determined to be not
significant for purposes of Executive
Order 12866.
Executive Order 13132 (Federalism):
It has been determined that this notice
does not contain policies with
federalism implications as that term is
defined in Executive Order 13132.
Executive Order 12372: Applications
under this program are not subject to
Executive Order 12372,
‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs.’’
Administrative Procedure Act/
Regulatory Flexibility Act: Notice and
comment are not required under the
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C.
553) or any other law, for rules relating
to public property, loans, grants,
benefits or contracts (5 U.S.C. 553(a)).
Because notice and comment are not
required under 5 U.S.C. 553, or any
other law, for rules relating to public
property, loans, grants, benefits or
contracts (5 U.S.C. 553(a)), a Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis is not required and
has not been prepared for this notice, 5
U.S.C. 601 et seq.
Dated: January 22, 2008.
Richard F. Kayser,
Acting Deputy Director, NIST.
[FR Doc. E8–1333 Filed 1–24–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–13–P
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XE98
Endangered Species; File No. 10101
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that
Tonya Wiley, Mote Marine Laboratory,
Center for Shark Research,1600 Ken
Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, Florida
34236, has applied in due form for a
permit to take smalltooth sawfish
(Pristis pectinata) for purposes of
scientific research.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail
comments must be received on or before
February 25, 2008.
ADDRESSES: The application and related
documents are available for review
upon written request or by appointment
in the following office(s):
Permits, Conservation and Education
Division, Office of Protected Resources,
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room
13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone
(301)713–2289; fax (301)427–2521; and
Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th
Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701;
phone (727)824–5312; fax (727)824–
5309.
Written comments or requests for a
public hearing on this application
should be mailed to the Chief, Permits,
Conservation and Education Division,
F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources,
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room
13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those
individuals requesting a hearing should
set forth the specific reasons why a
hearing on this particular request would
be appropriate.
Comments may also be submitted by
facsimile at (301)427–2521, provided
the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy
submitted by mail and postmarked no
later than the closing date of the
comment period.
Comments may also be submitted by
e-mail. The mailbox address for
providing e-mail comments is
NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Include
in the subject line of the e-mail
comment the following document
identifier: File No. 10100.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Patrick Opay or Jennifer Skidmore,
(301)713–2289.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
subject permit is requested under the
authority of the Endangered Species Act
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of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.) and the regulations
governing the taking, importing, and
exporting of endangered and threatened
species (50 CFR 222–226).
The applicant proposes to collect data
on the biology, distribution and
abundance of the endangered smalltooth
sawfish in order to facilitate the
recovery of the species. All sawfish
captured during field surveys would be
handled, measured, tagged, sampled,
and released alive. Capture methods
would include longline, rod and reel,
set lines (drum lines), gill nets, and
beach seines. Tagging methods include
rototags (fin tags), plastic headed dart
tags, Passive Integrated Transponder
(PIT) tags, acoustic tags (transmitters),
Pop-Up Archival Transmitting (PAT)
tags, and Smart Position Only
Transmitting (SPOT) tags. Sampling
would include a small fin clip and a
small blood sample. Sawfish acquired
through dead strandings or from law
enforcement confiscations would be
measured and sampled for scientific
purposes. Sampling would occur in
Florida, with the goal of taking 45
smalltooth sawfish per year. The
applicant requests a permit for five
years. Incidental take of sea turtles,
sturgeon, coral, dolphins, alligators,
crocodiles and manatees are unlikely
but possible.
Dated: January 18, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education
Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8–1315 Filed 1–24–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
RIN 0648–XE56
Marine Mammals and Endangered
Species; National Marine Fisheries
Service File No. 10074; U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service File No. PRT–165304
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce; U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
AGENCIES:
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that
Michael Etnier, Ph.D., Box 353100,
University of Washington, Seattle, WA
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 17 (Friday, January 25, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4535-4540]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1333]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket Number: 080107023-8025-01 ]
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) Gaithersburg and
Boulder Programs; Availability of Funds
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
announces that the following programs are soliciting applications for
financial assistance for FY 2008: (1) The Gaithersburg Summer
Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program, and (2) the Boulder Summer
Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program. Each program will only
consider applications that are within the scientific scope of the
program as described in this notice and in the detailed program
descriptions found in the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO)
announcement for these programs.
DATES: See below.
ADDRESSES: See below.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Name and Number:
Measurement and Engineering Research and Standards-11.609.
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) Gaithersburg and
Boulder Programs
Program Description: The SURF Gaithersburg Program is soliciting
applications in the areas of Electronics and Electrical Engineering,
Manufacturing Engineering, Nanoscale Science and Technology, Chemical
Science and Technology, Physics, Materials Science and Engineering/
Neutron Research, Building and Fire Research, and Information
Technology as described in the Federal Funding Opportunity.
The SURF Boulder Program is soliciting applications in the areas of
Electronics and Electrical Engineering, Chemical Science and
Technology, Physics, Materials Science and Engineering, and Information
Technology as described in the Federal Funding Opportunity.
Applications for the Gaithersburg and Boulder programs are
separate. Application to one program does not constitute application to
the other, and applications will not be exchanged between the
Gaithersburg and Boulder programs. If applicants wish to be considered
at both sites, two separate applications must be submitted.
Both SURF programs will provide an opportunity for the NIST
laboratories and the National Science Foundation (NSF) to join in a
partnership to encourage outstanding undergraduate students to pursue
careers in science and engineering. The programs will provide research
opportunities for students to work with internationally known NIST
scientists, to expose them to cutting-edge research and promote the
pursuit of graduate degrees in science and engineering.
The NIST SURF Gaithersburg and Boulder Program Directors will work
with appropriate department chairs, outreach coordinators, and
directors of multi-disciplinary academic organizations to identify
outstanding undergraduates (including graduating seniors) who would
benefit from off-campus summer research in a world-class scientific
environment.
The objective of the SURF programs is to build a mutually
beneficial relationship between the student, the institution, and NIST.
NIST is one of the nation's premiere research institutions for the
physical and engineering sciences and, as the lead Federal agency for
technology transfer, it provides a strong interface between government,
industry and academia. NIST embodies a special science culture,
developed from a large and well-equipped research staff that
enthusiastically blends programs that address the immediate needs of
industry with longer-term research that anticipates future needs. This
occurs in few other places and enables the Electronics and Electrical
Engineering Lab (EEEL), Manufacturing Engineering Lab (MEL), Center for
Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST), Chemical Science and
Technology Lab (CSTL), Physics Lab (PL), Materials Science and
Engineering Lab (MSEL)/NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR),
Building and Fire Research Lab (BFRL), and Information Technology Lab
(ITL) to offer unique research and training opportunities for
undergraduates, providing them a research-rich environment and exposure
to state of the art equipment.
EEEL, MEL, CNST, CSTL, PL, MSEL/ NCNR, BFRL, and ITL SURF Gaithersburg
Programs
DATES: All SURF Gaithersburg Program applications, paper and
electronic, must be received no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
on February 25, 2008.
ADDRESSES: For all SURF Gaithersburg Programs, paper applications must
be
[[Page 4536]]
submitted to: Ms. Anita Sweigert, National Institute of Standards and
Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8400, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8400;
Tel: (301) 975-4200; E-mail: anita.sweigert@nist.gov; Web site: https://
www.surf.nist.gov/surf2.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For complete information about this
program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically, read
the Federal Funding Opportunity Notice (FFO) at https://www.grants.gov.
A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling (301) 975-6328. The
Gaithersburg and Boulder SURF programs will publish separate FFOs on
www.grants.gov. Program questions should be addressed to Ms. Anita
Sweigert, Administrative Coordinator, National Institute of Standards
and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8400, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-
8400, Tel: (301) 975-4200, E-mail: anita.sweigert@nist.gov. The SURF
Gaithersburg Program Web site is: https://www.surf.nist.gov/surf2.htm.
All grants related administration questions concerning this program
should be directed to Melinda Chukran, NIST Grants and Agreements
Management Division at (301) 975-5266 or melinda.chukran@nist.gov or
for assistance with using Grants.gov contact support@grants.gov.
Funding Availability
Funds budgeted for payment to students under these programs are
stipends, not salary. The stipend is an amount that is expected to be
provided to the participating student to help defray the cost of
living, for the duration of the program, in the Washington National
Capital Region. The SURF Gaithersburg Program will not authorize funds
for indirect costs or fringe benefits. The table below summarizes the
anticipated annual funding levels from the NSF to operate our REU
(Research Experience for Undergraduates) programs, subject to program
renewals and availability of funds. In some programs, anticipated NIST
co-funding will supplement the number of awards supported. Program
funding will be available to provide for the costs of stipends ($363.64
per week per student), travel, and lodging (up to $3400 per student).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anticipated Anticipated Anticipated
Program NSF funding NIST funding Total Program number of
($) ($) funding ($) awards
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EEEL............................................ 72,960 40,000 112,960 ~5
MEL............................................. 88,000 0 88,000 ~13
CNST............................................ 0 40,000 40,000 ~5
CSTL............................................ 0 105,000 105,000 ~16
PL.............................................. 114,000 65,000 179,000 ~26
MSEL/NCNR....................................... 130,000 0 130,000 ~22
BFRL............................................ 81,000 0 81,000 ~10
ITL............................................. 0 40,000 40,000 ~5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The actual number of awards made under this announcement will
depend on the proposed budgets and the availability of funding. For all
SURF Gaithersburg Programs described in this notice, it is expected
that individual awards to institutions will range from approximately
$3,000 to $70,000. Funding for student housing will be included in
cooperative agreements awarded as a result of this notice.
The SURF Gaithersburg Program is anticipated to run from May 27,
2008 through August 8, 2008; adjustments may be made to accommodate
specific academic schedules (e.g., a limited number of 9-week
cooperative agreements).
Funding for the program(s) listed in this notice is contingent upon
the availability of Fiscal Year 2008 appropriations under The
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (Pub. L. 110-161). In no event
will NIST or the Department of Commerce be responsible for proposal
preparation costs if this program(s) fail to receive funding or are
cancelled because of other agency priorities. Publication of this
announcement does not oblige NIST or the Department of Commerce to
award any specific project or to obligate any available funds.
Statutory Authority: The authority for the SURF Gaithersburg
Program is 15 U.S.C. 278g-l, which authorizes NIST to fund financial
assistance awards to students at institutions of higher learning within
the United States. These students must show promise as present or
future contributors to the missions of NIST.
Eligibility: NIST's SURF Gaithersburg Program is open to colleges
and universities in the United States and its territories with degree
granting programs in materials science, chemistry, nanoscale science,
neutron research, engineering, computer science, mathematics, or
physics. Participating students must be U.S. citizens or permanent U.S.
residents. The SURF Gaithersburg Program does not require any matching
funds.
Review and Selection Process: All SURF Gaithersburg Program
proposals are submitted to the Administrative Coordinator. Each
proposal is examined for completeness and responsiveness. Incomplete or
non-responsive proposals will not be considered for funding, and the
applicant will be notified in writing. The Program will retain one copy
of each non-responsive application for three years for record keeping
purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed. Proposals should
include the following:
(A) Student Information (student's name and university should appear on
all of these documents):
(1) student application information cover sheet;
(2) academic transcript for each student nominated for
participation (it is recommended that students have a G.P.A. of 3.0 or
better, out of a possible 4.0);
(3) a statement of motivation and commitment from each student to
participate in the 2008 SURF program, including a description of the
student's prioritized research interests;
(4) a resume for each student;
(5) two letters of recommendation for each student; and
(6) confirmation of U.S. citizenship or permanent legal resident
status for each student.
(B) Information About the Applicant Institution:
(1) description of the institution's education and research
programs; and
(2) a summary list of the student(s) being nominated.
Institution proposals will be separated into student/institution
packets. Each student/institution packet will be comprised of the
required application forms, including a complete copy of the
[[Page 4537]]
student information and a complete copy of the institution information.
The student/institution packets will be directed to the SURF
Gaithersburg Program designated by the student as his/her first choice.
The selection process occurs in three rounds. Each SURF
Gaithersburg Program will have three independent, objective NIST
employees, who are knowledgeable in the scientific areas of the
program, conduct a technical review of each student/institution packet
based on the Evaluation Criteria for the SURF Gaithersburg Programs
described in this notice. For the first round of evaluations and
placement, each technical reviewer will evaluate according to the
Evaluation Criteria listed below and provide a score for each student/
institution packet. Based on the average of the reviewers' scores, a
rank order of the student/institution packets will be prepared within
each laboratory.
The SURF Program Director (e.g., the Selecting Official) for each
laboratory, who is a NIST program official who did not participate in
the technical evaluations, will then apply the following Selection
Factors, which may result in revisions to the rank order: relevance of
the student's course of study to the program objectives of the NIST
laboratory in which that SURF Gaithersburg Program resides as described
in the Funding Opportunity Description section of this notice, the
relevance of the student's statement of commitment to the goals of the
SURF Gaithersburg Program, fit of the student's interests and abilities
to the available projects in that laboratory program, compatibility of
the student with the research environment in that laboratory,
assessment of whether the SURF program experience will make a
difference on the student, and the availability of funding.
Based on these results, the Program Director (e.g., Selecting
Official) for each laboratory will divide the rank ordered student/
application packets into three categories: Priority Funding; Fund if
Possible; and Do Not Fund. Student/institution packets placed in the
Priority Funding category will be selected for funding in that SURF
Gaithersburg Program. Student/institution packets placed in the Do Not
Fund category will not be considered for funding by any other NIST
laboratories.
Student/institution packets placed in the Fund if Possible Category
may be considered for funding at a later time by the category-
designating SURF Program; in the interim period these students will be
released for consideration for funding by the SURF Gaithersburg Program
designated by the student as his/her second choice. The student's
second choice laboratory's Program Director will take into
consideration the recommendations of the reviewers who conducted the
technical reviews for the student's first choice SURF Gaithersburg
Program, apply the selection factors noted above as applied to that
laboratory and arrive at a final rank order of the students available
for the second round of selections and placements. The SURF
Gaithersburg Program designated by the student as his/her second choice
may choose not to rank and select students in this round. This action
designates these students as being available for the third round of
selections.
Students not selected for funding by their first or second choice
SURF Gaithersburg Program, and students who did not designate a second
choice, will then be considered for funding from all SURF Gaithersburg
Programs that still have slots available in a third round, conducted
the same as the second round. In making selections for the third round
of selections and placement, each SURF Gaithersburg Program Director
(e.g., Selecting Official) will take into consideration the
recommendations of the reviewers who conducted the technical reviews
for the student's first choice SURF Gaithersburg Program, the selection
factors noted above as applied to that laboratory and rank order the
students in this selection round. As in the second selection round,
each SURF Gaithersburg Program may choose not to rank and select a
student in this third round. Substitutions for students who decline
offers will be made from the available pool of students consistent with
the program review process.
The final approval of selected applications and award of
cooperative agreements will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on
compliance with application requirements as published in this notice
and other applicable legal and regulatory requirements. NIST also
reserves the right to reject an application where information is
uncovered that adversely affects an applicant's business integrity,
resulting in a determination by the Grants Officer that an applicant is
not presently responsible. Applicants may be asked to modify
objectives, work plans, or budgets and provide supplemental information
required by the agency prior to award. The decision of the Grants
Officer is final.
The SURF Gaithersburg Program will retain one copy of each
unsuccessful application for three years for record keeping purposes,
and unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The remaining
copies will be destroyed.
Evaluation Criteria: For the SURF Gaithersburg Program, the
evaluation criteria are:
(A) Evaluation of Student's Interest in Participating in the
Program, Academic Ability, Laboratory Experience and Advanced Degree
Openness: Evaluation of career goals and completed course work, honors
and awards, grade point average in courses relevant to the SURF
Gaithersburg Program, English proficiency and writing proficiency,
research skills, innovativeness, social skills, safety consciousness,
leadership potential, independence, honesty, and commitment of the
student to working in a laboratory environment, and interest in
pursuing graduate school.
(B) Institution's Commitment to Program Goals: Evaluation of the
institution's academic department(s) relevant to the discipline(s) of
the student(s).
Each of these factors is given equal weight in the evaluation
process.
SURF NIST Boulder Program
DATES: All SURF NIST Boulder Program applications, paper and
electronic, must be received no later than 5 p.m. Mountain Standard
Time on February 25, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Paper applications for the SURF NIST Boulder Program must be
submitted to: Ms. Eyvon Petty, Administrative Coordinator, National
Institute of Standards and Technology, 325 Broadway, Mail Stop 847.00,
Boulder, CO 80305-3328.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For complete information about this
program and instructions for applying by paper or electronically, read
the Federal Funding Opportunity Notice (FFO) at https://www.grants.gov.
A paper copy of the FFO may be obtained by calling (301) 975-6328. The
Gaithersburg and Boulder SURF programs will publish separate FFOs on
www.grants.gov. Program questions should be addressed to Ms. Eyvon
Petty, Administrative Coordinator, National Institute of Standards and
Technology, 325 Broadway, Mail Stop 847.00, Boulder, CO 80305-3328,
Tel: (303) 497-3295, E-mail: pettye@boulder.nist.gov; Web site: https://
surf.boulder.nist.gov/. All grants related administration questions
concerning this program should be directed to Judy Murphy, Grants and
Agreements Management Division at (301) 975-5603 or
judy.murphy@nist.gov.
Additional Information:
Funding Availability:
[[Page 4538]]
Funds budgeted for payment to students under this program are
stipends, not salaries. The SURF NIST Boulder Program will not
authorize funds for indirect costs or fringe benefits. The stipend of
$7340 includes a fellowship of $4000 plus $3340 for all expenses
associated with travel and subsistence. Once they receive their awards,
college and university grant recipients are expected to provide the
full stipend to participating students in one lump sum before May 27,
2008, the start of the SURF NIST Boulder Program. NIST will disburse
funds to college and university awardees via the Automated Standard
Application for Payments (ASAP) system.
The table below summarizes the anticipated funding from NSF and
NIST to operate the SURF NIST Boulder Program, broken out by
Laboratory, subject to program approval and availability of funds.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anticipated
Laboratory Anticipated Anticipated Total program number of
NSF funding NIST funding funding awards
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EEEL............................................ 34,400 39,000 73,400 10
PL.............................................. 17,200 19,500 36,700 5
CSTL............................................ 6,880 7,800 14,680 2
MSEL............................................ 13,760 15,600 29,360 4
ITL............................................. 3,440 3,900 7,340 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The actual number of awards made under this announcement will
depend on the proposed budgets and the availability of funding. For the
SURF NIST Boulder Program described in this funding opportunity, it is
expected that individual awards to institutions will be $7340 times the
number of participating students from that institution.
The SURF NIST Boulder Program is anticipated to run from May 27,
2008 through August 8, 2008; adjustments may be made to accommodate
specific academic schedules (e.g., some 11-week cooperative agreements
shifted to begin after the regular start in order to accommodate
institutions operating on quarter systems).
Funding for the program(s) listed in this notice is contingent upon
the availability of Fiscal Year 2008 appropriations under The
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (Pub. L. 110-161). In no event
will NIST or the Department of Commerce be responsible for proposal
preparation costs if this program(s) fails to receive funding or is
cancelled because of other agency priorities. Publication of this
announcement does not oblige NIST or the Department of Commerce to
award any specific project or to obligate any available funds.
Statutory Authority: 15 U.S.C. 278g-1.
Eligibility: The SURF NIST Boulder Program is open to colleges and
universities in the United States and its territories with degree
granting programs in materials science, chemistry, engineering,
computer science, mathematics, or physics. Participating students must
be U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents. The SURF NIST Boulder
Program focuses on undergraduate fellows. Graduating seniors are
eligible to participate but the likelihood of funds for their possible
participation is extremely limited. Up to three such participants,
approximately, might be considered if funds become available. If so,
NIST will give priority to previous SURF participants. The SURF NIST
Boulder Program does not require any matching funds.
Review and Selection Process: All SURF NIST Boulder Program
proposals are submitted to the Administrative Coordinator. Each
proposal is examined for completeness and responsiveness. Incomplete or
non-responsive proposals will not be considered for funding, and the
applicant will be so notified. The Program will retain one copy of each
non-responsive application for three years for record keeping purposes.
Proposals should include the following:
(A) Student Information (student's name and university should appear on
all of these documents):
(1) student application information cover sheet;
(2) academic transcript for each student nominated for
participation (it is recommended that students have a G.P.A. of 3.0 or
better, out of a possible 4.0);
(3) a statement of motivation and commitment from each student to
participate in the SURF NIST Boulder Program, including a description
of the student's prioritized research interests;
(4) a resume for each student;
(5) two letters of recommendation for each student; and
(6) confirmation of U.S. citizenship or permanent legal resident
status for each student.
(B) Information About the Applicant Institution:
(1) Description of the institution's education and research
programs; and
(2) A summary list of the student(s) being nominated, with one
paragraph of commentary about each student from a dean or department
chair that describes why the students would be successful in the SURF
program.
Institution proposals will be separated into student/institution
packets. Each student/institution packet will be comprised of the
required application forms, including a complete copy of the student
information and a complete copy of the institution information. The
student/institution packets will be directed to a review committee of
NIST staff appointed by the SURF NIST Boulder Directors.
First, all applications received in response to this announcement
will be reviewed to determine whether or not they are complete and
responsive to the scope of the stated program objectives. Incomplete or
non-responsive applications will not be reviewed for technical merit.
Second, each SURF student/university packet will be reviewed by at
least three independent, objective NIST employees, who are
knowledgeable in the scientific areas of the program and are able to
conduct a technical review of each student/university packet based on
the Evaluation Criteria described in this notice. The normalized scores
based on this merit review will be averaged for each student/university
applicant packet, creating a rank order. The Selecting Official, the
Director of NIST Boulder Laboratories, shall award in the rank order
unless a proposal is justified to be selected out of rank order based
upon one or more of the following factors: Availability of funding,
balance or distribution of funds by research or technical disciplines.
The final approval of selected applications and award of financial
assistance will be made by the NIST Grants Officer based on compliance
with application requirements as published in this notice, compliance
with applicable legal and regulatory
[[Page 4539]]
requirements, and whether the recommended applicants appear to be
responsible. Applicants may be asked to modify objectives, work plans,
or budgets and provide supplemental information required by the agency
prior to award. The decisions of the Grants Officer are final.
Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program
will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years
for record keeping purposes.
Evaluation Criteria: For the SURF NIST Boulder Program the
evaluation criteria are as follows:
(A) Evaluation of Student's Academic Ability and Commitment to
Program Goals (80%): Includes evaluation of completed course work;
expressed research interest; compatibility of the expressed research
interest with SURF NIST Boulder research areas; research skills; grade
point average in courses relevant to the SURF NIST Boulder Program;
career goals; honors and activities;
(B) Evaluation of Applicant Institution's Commitment to Program
Goals (20%): Includes evaluation of the institution's academic
department(s) relevant to the discipline(s) of the student(s).
The following information applies to all programs announced in this
notice:
The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for
Grants and Cooperative Agreements: The Department of Commerce Pre-Award
Notification Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements
contained in the Federal Register notice of December 30, 2004 (69 FR
78389). On the form SF-424, the applicant's 9-digit Dun and Bradstreet
Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number must be entered in the
Applicant Identifier block (68 FR 38402).
Collaborations with NIST Employees: All applications should include
a description of any work proposed to be performed by an entity other
than the applicant, and the cost of such work should ordinarily be
included in the budget.
If an applicant proposes collaboration with NIST, the statement of
work should include a statement of this intention, a description of the
collaboration, and prominently identify the NIST employee(s) involved,
if known. Any collaboration by a NIST employee must be approved by
appropriate NIST management and is at the sole discretion of NIST.
Prior to beginning the merit review process, NIST will verify the
approval of the proposed collaboration. Any unapproved collaboration
will be stricken from the proposal prior to the merit review.
Use of NIST Intellectual Property: If the applicant anticipates
using any NIST-owned intellectual property to carry out the work
proposed, the applicant should identify such intellectual property.
This information will be used to ensure that no NIST employee involved
in the development of the intellectual property will participate in the
review process for that competition. In addition, if the applicant
intends to use NIST-owned intellectual property, the applicant must
comply with all statutes and regulations governing the licensing of
Federal government patents and inventions, described at 35 U.S.C. 200-
212, 37 CFR Part 401, 15 CFR 14.36, and in section B.20 of the
Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements, published
on December 30, 2004 (69 FR 78389). Questions about these requirements
may be directed to the Counsel for NIST, 301-975-2803.
Any use of NIST-owned intellectual property by a proposer is at the
sole discretion of NIST and will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis
if a project is deemed meritorious. The applicant should indicate
within the statement of work whether it already has a license to use
such intellectual property or whether it intends to seek one.
If any inventions made in whole or in part by a NIST employee arise
in the course of an award made pursuant to this notice, the United
States government may retain its ownership rights in any such
invention. Licensing or other disposition of NIST's rights in such
inventions will be determined solely by NIST, and include the
possibility of NIST putting the intellectual property into the public
domain.
Initial Screening of all Applications: All applications received in
response to this announcement will be reviewed to determine whether or
not they are complete and responsive to the scope of the stated
objectives for each program. Incomplete or non-responsive applications
will not be reviewed for technical merit. The Program will retain one
copy of each non-responsive application for three years for record
keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
Paperwork Reduction Act: The standard forms in the application kit
involve a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction
Act. The use of Standard Forms 424, 424A, 424B, SF-LLL, CD-346, and
SURF Program Student Applicant Information have been approved by OMB
under the respective Control Numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044, 0348-0040,
0348-0046, 0605-0001, and 0693-0042.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is
required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty
for failure to comply with, a collection subject to the requirements of
the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information
displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.
Research Projects Involving Human Subjects, Human Tissue, Data or
Recordings Involving Human Subjects: Any proposal that includes
research involving human subjects, human tissue, data or recordings
involving human subjects must meet the requirements of the Common Rule
for the Protection of Human Subjects, codified for the Department of
Commerce at 15 CFR Part 27. In addition, any proposal that includes
research on these topics must be in compliance with any statutory
requirements imposed upon the Department of Health and Human Services
(DHHS) and other federal agencies regarding these topics, all
regulatory policies and guidance adopted by DHHS, FDA, and other
Federal agencies on these topics, and all Presidential statements of
policy on these topics.
NIST will accept the submission of human subjects protocols that
have been approved by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) registered
with DHHS and performed by entities possessing a current, valid
Federal-wide Assurance (FWA) from DHHS. NIST will not issue a single
project assurance (SPA) for any IRB reviewing any human subjects
protocol proposed to NIST.
On August 9, 2001, the President announced his decision to allow
Federal funds to be used for research on existing human embryonic stem
cell lines as long as prior to his announcement (1) the derivation
process (which commences with the removal of the inner cell mass from
the blastocyst) had already been initiated and (2) the embryo from
which the stem cell line was derived no longer had the possibility of
development as a human being. NIST will follow guidance issued by the
National Institutes of Health at https://ohrp.osophs.dhhs.gov/
humansubjects/guidance/stemcell.pdf for funding such research.
Research Projects Involving Vertebrate Animals: Any proposal that
includes research involving vertebrate animals must be in compliance
with the National Research Council's ``Guide for the Care and Use of
Laboratory Animals'' which can be obtained from
[[Page 4540]]
National Academy Press, 2101 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC
20055. In addition, such proposals must meet the requirements of the
Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.), 9 CFR Parts 1, 2, and 3,
and if appropriate, 21 CFR Part 58. These regulations do not apply to
proposed research using pre-existing images of animals or to research
plans that do not include live animals that are being cared for,
euthanized, or used by the project participants to accomplish research
goals, teaching, or testing. These regulations also do not apply to
obtaining animal materials from commercial processors of animal
products or to animal cell lines or tissues from tissue banks.
Limitation of Liability: Funding for the programs listed in this
notice is contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year 2008
appropriations under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (Pub. L.
110-161). In no event will the Department of Commerce be responsible
for proposal preparation costs if these programs fail to receive
funding or are cancelled because of other agency priorities.
Publication of this announcement does not oblige the agency to award
any specific project or to obligate any available funds.
Executive Order 12866: This funding notice was determined to be not
significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866.
Executive Order 13132 (Federalism): It has been determined that
this notice does not contain policies with federalism implications as
that term is defined in Executive Order 13132.
Executive Order 12372: Applications under this program are not
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs.''
Administrative Procedure Act/Regulatory Flexibility Act: Notice and
comment are not required under the Administrative Procedure Act (5
U.S.C. 553) or any other law, for rules relating to public property,
loans, grants, benefits or contracts (5 U.S.C. 553(a)). Because notice
and comment are not required under 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other law, for
rules relating to public property, loans, grants, benefits or contracts
(5 U.S.C. 553(a)), a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is not required
and has not been prepared for this notice, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.
Dated: January 22, 2008.
Richard F. Kayser,
Acting Deputy Director, NIST.
[FR Doc. E8-1333 Filed 1-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P
