FY 2010 Measurement, Science and Engineering Research Grants Programs; Availability of Funds, 66276-66291 [E9-29825]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 15, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66276-66291]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29825]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Docket No. 0911121401-91402-01]


FY 2010 Measurement, Science and Engineering Research Grants 
Programs; Availability of Funds

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 
announces that the following programs are soliciting applications for 
financial assistance for FY 2010: (1) The Electronics and Electrical 
Engineering Laboratory Grants Program; (2) the Manufacturing 
Engineering Laboratory Grants Program; (3) the Chemical Science and 
Technology Laboratory Grants Program; (4) the Physics Laboratory Grants 
Program; (5) the Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory Grants 
Program; (6) the Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements 
Program; (7) the Fire Research Grants Program; (8) the Information 
Technology Laboratory Grants Program; (9) the NIST Center for Neutron 
Research Grants Program; (10) Center for Nanoscale Science and 
Technology Grants Program; and (11) the Technology Services Grants 
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. Prior to preparation of a 
proposal, it is strongly suggested that potential applicants contact 
the Program Manager for the appropriate field of research, as specified 
in the FFO announcement found at https://www.grants.gov, for 
clarification of the program objectives and to determine whether their 
proposal is responsive to this notice.

DATES: For all programs except the Fire Research Grants Program, 
applications received after June 1, 2010 may be processed and 
considered for funding under this solicitation in the current fiscal 
year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds. 
For the Fire Research Grants Program, applications received after 
January 15, 2010 may be processed and considered for funding under this 
solicitation in the current fiscal year or in the next fiscal year, 
subject to the availability of funds. Applications, paper and 
electronic, must be received prior to the publication date in the 
Federal Register of the FY 2011 solicitation for the NIST Measurement, 
Science and Engineering Research Grants Programs in order to be 
processed under this solicitation.

ADDRESSES: See below.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Name 
and Number: Measurement and Engineering Research and Standards--11.609.

Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory (EEEL) Grants Program

    Program Description: The Electronics and Electrical Engineering 
Laboratory (EEEL) Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative 
agreements for the development of fundamental electrical metrology and 
of metrology supporting industry and government agencies in the broad 
areas of semiconductors, electronic instrumentation, radio-frequency 
technology, optoelectronics, magnetics, superconductors, electronic 
commerce as applied to electronic products and devices, the 
transmission and distribution of electrical power, national electrical 
standards (fundamental, generally quantum-based physical standards), 
and law enforcement standards. Financial support may be provided for 
conferences, workshops, or other technical research meetings that are 
relevant to the mission of the Electronics and Electrical Engineering 
Laboratory. Specific information regarding program objectives can be 
found in the corresponding Federal Funding Opportunity for this 
announcement.

DATES: Applications will be considered on a continuing basis. 
Applications received after June 1, 2010 may be processed and 
considered for funding under this solicitation in the current fiscal 
year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds. 
All applications, paper and electronic, must be received prior to the 
publication date in the Federal Register of the FY 2011 solicitation 
for the NIST Measurement, Science and Engineering Research Grants 
Programs in order to be processed under this solicitation.

ADDRESSES: Paper applications must be submitted to: Ms. Sheilda Bryner, 
Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory, National Institute 
of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau

[[Page 66277]]

Drive, Stop 8100, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8100. Electronic applications 
and associated proposal information should be uploaded to https://www.grants.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Program questions should be addressed 
to Sheilda Bryner, Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory, 
National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 
8100, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8100, Tel.: (301) 975-2959, Fax: (301) 
975-4091. Grants administration questions concerning this program 
should be addressed to: Christopher Hunton, NIST Grants and Agreements 
Management Division, (301) 975-5718; christopher.hunton@nist.gov. For 
assistance with using https://www.grants.gov, contact grants.gov">support@grants.gov 
or (800) 518-4726.
    Electronic Access: Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the 
Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) available at https://www.grants.gov 
for complete information about this program, all program requirements, 
and instructions for applying by paper or electronically. A paper copy 
of the FFO may be obtained by calling (301) 975-6328.
    Funding Availability: In fiscal year 2009, the EEEL Grants Program 
made 5 new awards, totaling $388,383. The amount available each year 
fluctuates considerably based on programmatic needs and funding 
availability. For FY 2010, awards are expected to range between $5,000 
and $150,000.
    For the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory Grants 
Program, proposals will be considered for research projects from one to 
three years. When a proposal for a multi-year award is approved, 
funding will generally be provided for only the first year of the 
program. If an application 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 total discretion of NIST. Funding for 
each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent upon 
satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the 
Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory Grants Program, and 
the availability of funds. Multi-year awards must have scopes of work 
that can be easily separated into annual increments of meaningful work 
that represent solid accomplishments if prospective funding is not made 
available to the applicant, (i.e., the scopes of work for each funding 
period must produce identifiable and meaningful results in and of 
themselves).

    Statutory Authority: As authorized by 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c), 
the NIST Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory conducts 
a basic and applied research program directly and through grants and 
cooperative agreements to eligible recipients.

    Eligibility: The Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory 
Grants Program is open to institutions of higher education; hospitals; 
non-profit organizations; commercial organizations; State, local, and 
Indian Tribal governments; foreign governments; organizations under the 
jurisdiction of foreign governments; and international organizations.
    Review and Selection Process: For the Electronics and Electrical 
Engineering Laboratory Grants Program, proposals will be reviewed in a 
three-step process. First, the EEEL Grants Coordinator, or the Deputy 
Director of EEEL, will determine the compatibility of the applicant's 
proposal with EEEL Program Areas and the relevance to the objectives of 
the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory Grants Program, 
described in the Program Description section above. If it is determined 
that the proposal is incomplete or non-responsive to the scope of the 
stated objectives, the proposal will not be reviewed for technical 
merit. If it is determined that sufficient funding is not available to 
consider grant and cooperative agreement proposals in the technical 
area of the proposal, the proposal will not be reviewed for technical 
merit. One copy of any such proposal will be retained for record 
keeping purposes for three years and all remaining copies will be 
destroyed. Proposers may contact EEEL at 301-975-2959 to find out if 
funds have been exhausted for the fiscal year. EEEL will also post a 
notice on its Web site, https://www.eeel.nist.gov/eeel_grants/, when 
funds are exhausted for the fiscal year. EEEL will notify proposers in 
writing if their proposals are not reviewed for technical merit.
    Second, proposals will be distributed for technical review by the 
EEEL Grants Coordinator, or other technical professionals familiar with 
the programs of the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory, 
to the appropriate Division or Office based on technical area. At least 
three independent, objective individuals knowledgeable about the 
particular scientific area addressed by the proposal will conduct a 
technical review based on the evaluation criteria. If non-Federal 
reviewers are used, the reviewers may discuss the proposals with each 
other, but scores will be determined on an individual basis, not as a 
consensus.
    Reviews will be conducted on a monthly basis, and all proposals 
received on or before the 15th day of the month will be ranked based on 
the reviewers' scores.
    Third, the Division Chief or Office Director will make application 
selections. In making application selections, the Division Chief or 
Office Director will take into consideration the results of the 
reviewers' evaluations, the availability of funding, and relevance to 
the objectives of the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory 
Grants Program, as described in the Program Description section above. 
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 and the FFO, 
compliance with applicable legal and regulatory 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 
decision of the Grants Officer is 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. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
    Evaluation Criteria: For the Electronics and Electrical Engineering 
Laboratory Grants Program, the evaluation criteria the technical 
reviewers will use in evaluating the proposals are as follows:
    1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the 
applicant's approach and the extent to which the proposal effectively 
addresses scientific and technical issues.
    2. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the 
potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it 
would contribute to the field of electronics, electrical engineering 
and metrology research. Proposals must be relevant to current EEEL 
research and have a relation to the objectives of ongoing EEEL programs 
and activities.
    3. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider 
the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed 
personnel to perform the work in the project.
    4. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to 
which the proposer has access to the necessary

[[Page 66278]]

facilities and overall support to accomplish project objectives.
    Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation 
process.
    Cost Share Requirements: The Electronics and Electrical Engineering 
Laboratory Grants Program does not require any cost share or matching 
funds.

Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory (MEL) Grants Program

    Program Description: The Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory (MEL) 
Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements in the 
following fields of research: Dimensional Metrology for Manufacturing, 
Mechanical Metrology for Manufacturing, Machine Tool and Machining 
Process Metrology, Intelligent Systems, and Information Systems 
Integration for Applications in Manufacturing. Financial support may be 
provided for conferences, workshops, or other technical research 
meetings that are relevant to the mission of the Manufacturing 
Engineering Laboratory. Specific information regarding program 
objectives can be found in the corresponding Federal Funding 
Opportunity for this announcement.
    Dates: Applications will be considered on a continuing basis. 
Applications received after June 1, 2010 may be processed and 
considered for funding under this solicitation in the current fiscal 
year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds. 
All applications, paper and electronic, must be received prior to the 
publication date in the Federal Register of the FY 2011 solicitation 
for the NIST Measurement, Science and Engineering Research Grants 
Programs in order to be processed under this solicitation.
    Addresses: Paper applications must be submitted to: Ms. Alana 
Glover, Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8200, Gaithersburg, 
Maryland 20899-8200. Electronic applications and associated proposal 
information should be uploaded to https://www.grants.gov.
    For Further Information Contact: Program questions should be 
addressed to Ms. Alana Glover, Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory, 
National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 
8200, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8200, Tel: (301) 975-3400, E-mail: 
aglover@nist.gov. Grants administration questions concerning this 
program should be addressed to: Christopher Hunton, NIST Grants and 
Agreements Management Division, (301) 975-5718; 
christopher.hunton@nist.gov. For assistance with using https://www.grants.gov, contact grants.gov">support@grants.gov or (800) 518-4726.
    Electronic Access: Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the 
Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) available at https://www.grants.gov 
for complete information about this program, all program requirements, 
and instructions for applying by paper or electronically. A paper copy 
of the FFO may be obtained by calling (301) 975-6328.
    Funding Availability: In fiscal year 2009, the MEL Grants Program 
funded six new awards, totaling $473,613. In fiscal year 2010 awards 
are expected to range from approximately $25,000 to $250,000.
    For the MEL Grants Program, proposals will be considered for 
research projects from one to five years. When a proposal for a multi-
year award is approved, funding will generally be provided for only the 
first year of the program. If an application is selected for funding, 
NIST has no obligation to provide any additional funding in connection 
with the award. Continuation of an award to increase funding or extend 
the period of performance is at the total discretion of NIST. Funding 
for each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent 
upon satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the 
MEL Grants Program, and the availability of funds. Multi-year awards 
must have scopes of work that can be easily separated into annual 
increments of meaningful work that represent solid accomplishments if 
prospective funding is not made available to the applicant, (i.e., the 
scopes of work for each funding period must produce identifiable and 
meaningful results in and of themselves).

    Statutory Authority:  As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and 
(c), the MEL conducts a basic and applied research program directly 
and through grants and cooperative agreements to eligible 
recipients.

    Eligibility: The MEL Grants Program is open to institutions of 
higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial 
organizations; State, local, and Indian Tribal governments; foreign 
governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign 
governments; and international organizations.
    Review and Selection Process: For the MEL Grants Program responsive 
proposals will be assigned, as received on a rolling basis, to the most 
appropriate area for review. Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling 
basis in a three-step process. First, the MEL Deputy Director or the 
appropriate MEL Division Chief will determine the applicability of the 
proposal with regard to MEL programs and the relevance of the 
proposal's objectives to current MEL research. If it is determined that 
the proposal is incomplete or non-responsive to the scope of the stated 
objectives, the proposal will not be reviewed for technical merit. One 
copy of any such proposal will be retained for record keeping purposes 
for three years and any remaining copies will be destroyed. Second, the 
appropriate MEL Division Chief or MEL Program Manager will determine 
the possibility for funding availability within the MEL technical 
program area most relevant to the objectives of the proposal. If it is 
determined that sufficient funding is not available to consider grant 
and cooperative agreement proposals in the technical area of the 
proposal, the proposal will not be reviewed for technical merit. One 
copy of any such proposal will be retained for record keeping purposes 
for three years and all remaining copies will be destroyed. Proposers 
may contact MEL at 301-975-3400 to find out if funds have been 
exhausted for the fiscal year. MEL will also post a notice on its Web 
site, https://www.mel.nist.gov when funds are exhausted for the fiscal 
year. MEL will notify proposers in writing if their proposals are not 
reviewed for technical merit. Third, if the proposal passes the first 
two steps, at least three independent, objective individuals 
knowledgeable about the particular scientific area addressed by the 
proposal will conduct a technical review based on the evaluation 
criteria. If non-Federal reviewers are used, the reviewers may discuss 
the proposal with each other, but scores will be determined on an 
individual basis, not as a consensus.
    The MEL Director or appropriate MEL Division Chief will make 
application selections from the grants proposals submitted. In making 
the application selections, the Laboratory Director or Division Chief 
will take into consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations, 
the availability of funds, and relevance to the objectives or research 
areas of the MEL Grants Program. These objectives are described above 
in the Program Description section.
    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 and the FFO, 
compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, and 
whether the recommended applicants appear to be responsible. Applicants 
may be asked to modify objectives, work plans, or

[[Page 66279]]

budgets and provide supplemental information required by the agency 
prior to award. The decision of the Grants Officer is 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. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
    Evaluation Criteria: For the MEL Grants Program, the evaluation 
criteria the technical reviewers will use in evaluating the proposals 
are as follows:
    1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the 
applicant's approach and the extent to which the proposal effectively 
addresses scientific and technical issues.
    2. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the 
potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it 
would contribute to the field of manufacturing engineering and 
metrology research. Proposals must be relevant to current MEL research 
and have a relation to the objectives of ongoing MEL programs and 
activities.
    3. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider 
the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed 
personnel to perform the work in the project.
    4. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to 
which the proposer has access to the necessary facilities and overall 
support to accomplish project objectives.
    Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation 
process.
    Cost Share Requirements: The MEL Grants Program does not require 
any cost share or matching funds.

Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Grants Program

    Program Description: The Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory 
(CSTL) Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements 
consistent with the CSTL mission in the following fields of measurement 
science research, focused on reference methods, reference materials and 
reference data: Biochemical Science, Chemical and Biochemical Reference 
Data, Process Measurements, Surface and Microanalysis Science, 
Thermophysical Properties, and Analytical Chemistry. Financial support 
may be provided for conferences, workshops, or other technical research 
meetings that are relevant to the mission of the CSTL. Specific 
information regarding program objectives can be found in the 
corresponding Federal Funding Opportunity for this announcement.
    The Programs are structured to support CSTL's three objectives:
    1. Provide the national traceability and international 
comparability structure for measurements in chemistry, chemical 
engineering, and biochemical sciences.
    2. Assure that U.S. industry has access to accurate and reliable 
data and predictive models to determine the chemical and physical 
properties of materials and processes.
    3. Anticipate and address next-generation measurement needs of the 
Nation.
    Dates: Applications will be considered on a continuing basis. 
Applications received after June 1, 2010 may be processed and 
considered for funding under this solicitation in the current fiscal 
year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds. 
All applications, paper and electronic, must be received prior to the 
publication date in the Federal Register of the FY 2011 solicitation 
for the NIST Measurement, Science and Engineering Research Grants 
Programs in order to be processed under this solicitation.
    Addresses: Paper applications must be submitted to: Ms. Donna 
Kimball, Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory, National Institute 
of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8300, Gaithersburg, 
MD 20899-8300. Electronic applications and associated proposal 
information should be uploaded to https://www.grants.gov.
    For Further Information Contact: Program questions should be 
addressed to Ms. Donna Kimball, Chemical Science and Technology 
Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau 
Drive, Stop 8300, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8300, Tel (301) 975-8300, e-
mail: donna.kimball@nist.gov. Grants administration questions 
concerning this program should be addressed to: Christopher Hunton, 
NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division, (301) 975-5718; 
christopher.hunton@nist.gov. For assistance with using https://www.grants.gov, contact grants.gov">support@grants.gov or (800) 518-4726.
    Electronic Access: Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the 
Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) available at https://www.grants.gov 
for complete information about this program, all program requirements, 
and instructions for applying by paper or electronically. A paper copy 
of the FFO may be obtained by calling (301) 975-6328.
    Funding Availability: No funds have been set aside specifically for 
the CSTL Grants Program. The availability of funds depends upon actual 
authorization of funds and other costs expected to be incurred by 
individual divisions within the laboratory. Where funds are identified 
as available for grants, those funds will be awarded to highly ranked 
proposals as determined by the process described in this notice.
    In fiscal year 2009, the CSTL Grants Program funded 7 new awards, 
totaling $1,688,939. In fiscal year 2010, the CSTL Grants Program 
anticipates funding of approximately $1,000,000. For FY 2010 awards are 
expected to range from approximately $5,000 to $200,000.
    For the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Grant Program, 
proposals will be considered for research projects from one to three 
years. When a proposal for a multi-year award is approved, funding will 
generally be provided for only the first year of the program. If an 
application 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 total discretion of NIST. Funding for each subsequent year of a 
multi-year proposal will be contingent upon satisfactory progress, 
continued relevance to the mission of the Chemical Science and 
Technology Laboratory Grants Program, and the availability of funds. 
The multi-year awards must have scopes of work that can be easily 
separated into annual increments of meaningful work that represent 
solid accomplishments if prospective funding is not made available to 
the applicant, (i.e. the scopes of work for each funding period must 
produce identifiable and meaningful results in and of themselves).

    Statutory Authority:  As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and 
(c), the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory conducts a basic 
and applied research program directly and through grants and 
cooperative agreements to eligible recipients.

    Eligibility: The Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Grants 
Program is open to institutions of higher education; hospitals; non-
profit organizations; commercial organizations; State, local, and 
Indian Tribal governments; foreign governments; organizations under the 
jurisdiction of foreign governments; and international organizations.
    Review and Selection Process: For the Chemical Science and 
Technology Laboratory Grants Program, proposals will be reviewed in a 
three-step process. First, the CSTL Grants Coordinator, the Deputy 
Director of CSTL or the corresponding CSTL Division Chief will 
determine the compatibility of the

[[Page 66280]]

applicant's proposal with CSTL Program Areas and the relevance to the 
objectives of the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Grants 
Program, described in the Program Description section above. If it is 
determined that the proposal is incomplete or non-responsive to the 
scope of the stated objectives, the proposal will not be reviewed for 
technical merit. One copy of any such proposal will be retained for 
record keeping purposes for three years and all remaining copies will 
be destroyed.
    Second, at least three independent, objective individuals 
knowledgeable about the particular measurement science area addressed 
by the proposal will conduct a technical review based on the evaluation 
criteria. Reviews will be conducted on a quarterly basis, subject to 
the availability of funds, and all responsive, complete proposals 
received and reviewed since the last quarter will be ranked based on 
the reviewers' scores. If non-Federal reviewers are used, the reviewers 
may discuss the proposals with each other, but scores will be 
determined on an individual basis, not as a consensus.
    Third, the Division Chief or the CSTL Deputy Director, generally 
after collaboration, will make application selections, taking into 
consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations, the 
availability of funds, and the relevance to the objectives described in 
the Program Description section above.
    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 and the FFO, 
compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, whether 
the application furthers the objectives of the Department of Commerce, 
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. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
    Evaluation Criteria: For the Chemical Science and Technology 
Laboratory Grants Program, the evaluation criteria the technical 
reviewers will use in evaluating the proposals are as follows:
    1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the 
applicant's approach and the extent to which the proposal effectively 
addresses scientific and technical issues.
    2. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider 
the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed 
personnel to perform the work in the project.
    3. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to 
which the proposer has access to the necessary facilities and overall 
support to accomplish project objectives.
    4. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the 
potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it 
would contribute to the field of measurement science, especially as it 
pertains to reference methods, reference materials and reference data 
in Chemical Science and Technology.
    Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation 
process.
    Cost Share Requirements: The Chemical Science and Technology 
Laboratory Grants Program does not require any cost sharing or matching 
funds.

Physics Laboratory Grants Program

    Program Description: The Physics Laboratory (PL) Grants Program 
will provide grants and cooperative agreements in the following fields 
of research: Electron and Optical Physics, Atomic Physics, Optical 
Technology, Ionizing Radiation, Time and Frequency, and Quantum 
Physics. Specific information regarding program objectives can be found 
in the corresponding Federal Funding Opportunity for this announcement. 
Financial support may be provided for conferences, workshops, or other 
technical research meetings that are relevant to the mission of the 
Physics Laboratory.
    Dates: Applications will be considered on a continuing basis. 
Applications received after June 1, 2010 may be processed and 
considered for funding under this solicitation in the current fiscal 
year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds. 
All applications, paper and electronic, must be received prior to the 
publication date in the Federal Register of the FY 2011 solicitation 
for the NIST Measurement Science and Engineering Research Grants 
Programs in order to be processed under this solicitation.
    Addresses: Paper applications must be submitted to: Ms. Anita 
Sweigert, Physics Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8400, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8400. 
Electronic applications and associated proposal information should be 
uploaded to https://www.grants.gov.
    For Further Information Contact: Program questions should be 
addressed to Ms. Anita Sweigert, Physics Laboratory, 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. It 
is strongly suggested to first confirm the program objectives with the 
Program Manager prior to preparing a detailed proposal. Grants 
administration questions concerning this program should be addressed 
to: Christopher Hunton, NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division, 
(301) 975-5718; christopher.hunton@nist.gov. For assistance with using 
https://www.grants.gov contact, grants.gov">support@grants.gov or (800) 518-4726.
    Electronic Access: Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the 
Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) available at https://www.grants.gov 
for complete information about this program, all program requirements, 
and instructions for applying by paper or electronically. A paper copy 
of the FFO may be obtained by calling (301) 975-6328.

Funding Availability

    In fiscal year 2009, the PL Grants Program funded 21 new awards, 
totaling $2,566,192. In fiscal year 2010, the PL Grants Program 
anticipates funding of approximately $2,000,000, including new awards 
and continuing projects. Funding availability will be apportioned by 
quarter. For FY 2010 individual awards are expected to range from 
approximately $5,000 to $500,000 per year.
    For the Physics Laboratory Grants Program, proposals will be 
considered for research projects from one to five years. When a 
proposal for a multi-year project is approved, funding will generally 
be provided for only the first year of the program. If an application 
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 
total discretion of NIST. Funding for each subsequent year of a multi-
year proposal will be contingent upon satisfactory progress, continued 
relevance to the mission of the Physics Laboratory Grants Program, and 
the availability of funds. The multi-year awards must have scopes of 
work that can be easily separated into annual increments of meaningful 
work that represent solid accomplishments if prospective funding is not 
made available to the applicant (i.e., the scopes of work for each 
funding period must produce identifiable and

[[Page 66281]]

meaningful results in and of themselves).

    Statutory Authority: As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and 
(c), the Physics Laboratory conducts a basic and applied research 
program directly and through grants and cooperative agreements to 
eligible recipients.

    Eligibility: The Physics Laboratory Grants Program is open to 
institutions of higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; 
commercial organizations; State, local, and Indian Tribal governments; 
foreign governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign 
governments; and international organizations.
    Review and Selection Process: For the Physics Laboratory Grants 
Program, responsive proposals will be considered as follows: If a 
preliminary review determines that the proposal is incomplete or non-
responsive to the scope of the stated objectives, the proposal will not 
be reviewed for technical merit. One copy of any such proposal will be 
retained for record keeping purposes for three years and all remaining 
copies will be destroyed. All applications that are complete and 
responsive to the solicitation will be reviewed for technical merit.
    First, at least three independent, objective individuals 
knowledgeable about the particular scientific area described in the 
proposal will conduct a technical review of each proposal, based on the 
evaluation criteria described in the Evaluation Criteria section below. 
Reviews will be conducted on a monthly basis within each division of 
the Physics Laboratory, and all proposals received during the month 
will be ranked based on the reviewers' scores. If non-Federal reviewers 
are used, reviewers may discuss the proposals with each other, but 
scores will be determined on an individual basis, not as a consensus.
    Next, the Division Chief will make final application selections, 
taking into consideration the results of the reviewers' evaluations, 
including rank; the compilation of a slate that, when taken as a whole, 
is likely to best further the program interests described in the 
Program Description section above; and the availability of funds. 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 and the FFO, 
compliance with applicable legal and regulatory 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. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
    Evaluation Criteria: For the Physics Laboratory Grants Program, the 
evaluation criteria the technical reviewers will use in evaluating the 
proposals are as follows:
    1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the 
applicant's approach and the extent to which the proposal effectively 
addresses scientific and technical issues that are relevant to Physics 
Laboratory programs.
    2. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider 
the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed 
personnel to perform the work in the project.
    3. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to 
which the proposer has access to the necessary facilities and overall 
support to accomplish project objectives.
    4. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the 
potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it 
would contribute to the field of physics.
    Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation 
process.
    Cost Share Requirements: The Physics Laboratory Grants Program does 
not require any cost sharing or matching funds.

MSEL Grants Program

    Program Description: The Materials Science and Engineering 
Laboratory (MSEL) Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative 
agreements in the following fields of research: Ceramics; Metallurgy; 
Polymers; and Materials Reliability. Specific information regarding 
program objectives can be found in the corresponding Federal Funding 
Opportunity for this announcement. Financial support may be provided 
for conferences, workshops, or other technical research may be provided 
for conferences, workshops, or other technical research meetings that 
are relevant to the mission of the MSEL.
    Dates: Applications will be considered on a continuing basis. 
Applications received after June 1, 2010 may be processed and 
considered for funding under this solicitation in the current fiscal 
year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds. 
All applications, paper and electronic, must be received prior to the 
publication date in the Federal Register of the FY 2011 solicitation 
for the NIST Measurement, Science and Engineering Research Grants 
Programs in order to be processed under this solicitation.
    Addresses: Paper applications must be submitted to: Ms. Nancy 
Selepak, Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory, National 
Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8500, 
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8500. Electronic applications and 
associated proposal information should be uploaded to https://www.grants.gov.
    For Further Information Contact: Program questions should be 
addressed to Ms. Nancy Selepak, Materials Science and Engineering 
Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau 
Drive, Stop 8500, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8500, Tel: (301) 975-
2047 E-mail: nancy.selepak@nist.gov. Grants administration questions 
concerning this program should be addressed to: Christopher Hunton, 
NIST Grants and Agreements Management Division, (301) 975-5718; 
christopher.hunton@nist.gov. For assistance with using https://www.grants.gov, contact grants.gov">support@grants.gov or (800) 518-4726.
    Electronic Access: Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the 
Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) available at https://www.grants.gov 
for complete information about this program, all program requirements, 
and instructions for applying by paper or electronically. A paper copy 
of the FFO may be obtained by calling (301) 975-6328.
    Funding Availability: In fiscal year 2009, the MSEL Grants Program 
funded 19 new awards, totaling $2,496,714. In fiscal year 2010, the 
MSEL Grants Program anticipates funding of approximately $4,600,000, 
including new awards and continuing projects. For FY 2010 most grants 
and cooperative agreements are expected to be in the $2,000 to $500,000 
per year range.
    For the MSEL Grants Program, proposals will be considered for 
research projects from one to five years. When a proposal for a multi-
year award is approved, funding will generally be provided for only the 
first year of the program. If an application 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 total discretion of

[[Page 66282]]

NIST. Funding for each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be 
contingent upon satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the 
mission of the MSEL Grants Program, and the availability of funds. The 
multi-year awards must have scopes of work that can be easily separated 
into annual increments of meaningful work that represent solid 
accomplishments if prospective funding is not made available to the 
applicant (i.e., the scopes of work for each funding period must 
produce identifiable and meaningful results in and of themselves).

    Statutory Authority: As authorized under 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and 
(c), the MSEL conducts a basic and applied research program directly 
and through grants and cooperative agreements to eligible 
recipients.

    Eligibility: The MSEL Grants Program is open to institutions of 
higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial 
organizations; State, local, and Indian Tribal governments; foreign 
governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign 
governments; and international organizations.
    Review and Selection Process: For the MSEL Grants Program proposals 
will be reviewed in a two-step process. If a preliminary review 
determines that the proposal is incomplete or non-responsive to the 
scope of the stated objectives, the proposal will not be reviewed for 
technical merit. One copy of any such proposal will be retained for 
record keeping purposes for three years and all remaining copies will 
be destroyed. All applications that are complete and responsive to the 
solicitation will be reviewed for technical merit using the following 
process.
    First, at least three independent, objective individuals 
knowledgeable in the particular scientific area addressed by the 
proposal will conduct a technical review. Proposals are received and 
will be reviewed on a rolling basis based on the evaluation criteria. 
If non-Federal reviewers are used, the reviewers may discuss the 
proposals with each other, but scores will be determined on an 
individual basis, not as a consensus. Second, the Division Chief or 
Laboratory Deputy Director will make application selections. In making 
application selections, the Division Chief or Laboratory Deputy 
Director will take into consideration the results of the reviewers' 
evaluations, the availability of funds, and relevance to the objectives 
of the MSEL Grants Program, described in the Program Description 
section of the FFO. For applications for funding for conferences, 
workshops, or other technical research meetings, the Division Chief or 
Laboratory Deputy Director will also take into consideration whether 
they align with ongoing MSEL programmatic activities. 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 and the FFO, 
compliance with applicable legal and regulatory 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 
decision of the Grants Officer is 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. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
    Evaluation Criteria: For the MSEL Grants Program, the evaluation 
criteria the technical reviewers will use in evaluating the proposals 
are as follows:
    1. Rationality. Reviewers will consider the coherence of the 
applicant's approach and the extent to which the proposal effectively 
addresses scientific and technical issues.
    2. Qualifications of Technical Personnel. Reviewers will consider 
the professional accomplishments, skills, and training of the proposed 
personnel to perform the work in the project.
    3. Resources Availability. Reviewers will consider the extent to 
which the proposer has access to the necessary facilities and overall 
support to accomplish project objectives.
    4. Technical Merit of Contribution. Reviewers will consider the 
potential technical effectiveness of the proposal and the value it 
would contribute to the field of materials science and engineering. 
Proposals must be relevant to current MSEL research and have a relation 
to the objectives of ongoing MSEL programs and activities.
    Each of these factors will be given equal weight in the evaluation 
process.
    Cost Share Requirements: The MSEL Grants Program does not require 
any cost sharing or matching funds.

Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program

    Program Description: The Building Research Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements in 
the following fields of research: Structures, Construction Metrology 
and Automation, Inorganic Materials, Polymeric Materials, HVAC & R 
Equipment Performance, Mechanical Systems and Controls, Heat Transfer 
and Alternative Energy Systems, Computer Integrated Building Processes, 
Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation, the National Earthquake Hazard 
Reduction Program, and Building Economics. Financial support may be 
provided for conferences, workshops, or other technical research 
meetings that are relevant to the mission of the Building and Fire 
Research Laboratory.
    The Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program 
supports the formal mission of the Building and Fire Research 
Laboratory, which is to promote U.S. innovation and competitiveness by 
anticipating and meeting the measurement science, standards and 
technology needs of the U.S. building and fire safety industries in 
ways that enhance economic security and improve the quality of life. 
All proposals submitted must be in accordance with the program 
objectives found in the corresponding Federal Funding Opportunity for 
this announcement.
    Dates: Applications will be considered on a continuing basis. 
Applications received after June 1, 2010 may be processed and 
considered for funding under this solicitation in the current fiscal 
year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds. 
All applications, paper and electronic, must be received prior to the 
publication date in the Federal Register of the FY 2011 solicitation 
for the NIST Measurement Science and Engineering Research Grants 
Programs in order to be processed under this solicitation.
    Addresses: Paper applications must be submitted to: Karen Perry, 
Building and Fire Research Laboratory, National Institute of Standards 
and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8602, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-
8602. Electronic applications and associated proposal information 
should be uploaded to https://www.grants.gov.
    For Further Information Contact: Program questions should be 
addressed to Karen Perry, Building and Fire Research Laboratory, 
National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 
8602, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8602, Tel.: (301) 975-5910, 
karen.perry@nist.gov, Fax: (301) 975-4032, and Web site https://www.bfrl.nist.gov. Grants administration questions concerning this 
program should be addressed to: Christopher Hunton, NIST Grants and 
Agreements Management Division, (301) 975-5718; 
christopher.hunton@nist.gov. For assistance with using https://

[[Page 66283]]

www.grants.gov, contact grants.gov">support@grants.gov or (800) 518-4726.
    Electronic Access: Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the 
Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) available at https://www.grants.gov 
for complete information about this program, all program requirements, 
and instructions for applying by paper or electronically. A paper copy 
of the FFO may be obtained by calling (301) 975-6328.
    Funding Availability: In fiscal year 2009, the Building Research 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program funded 18 new awards, 
totaling $1,953,509. No funds have been set aside specifically for the 
Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program. The 
availability of funds depends upon actual authorization of funds and 
other costs expected to be incurred by the individual divisions. The 
amount available each year fluctuates considerably based on 
programmatic needs. For FY 2010 awards are expected to range between 
$5,000 and $500,000.
    For the Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements 
Program, proposals will be considered for research projects from one to 
three years. When a proposal for a multi-year award is approved, 
funding will generally be provided for only the first year of the 
program. If an application 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 total discretion of NIST. Funding for 
each subsequent year of a multi-year proposal will be contingent upon 
satisfactory progress, continued relevance to the mission of the 
Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program, and the 
availability of funds. The multi-year awards must have scopes of work 
that can be easily separated into annual increments of meaningful work 
that represent solid accomplishments if prospective funding is not made 
available to the applicant (i.e., the scopes of work for each funding 
period must produce identifiable and meaningful results in and of 
themselves).

    Statutory Authority: As authorized by 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c) 
and 42 U.S.C. 7704, the NIST Building and Fire Research Laboratory 
conducts a basic and applied research program directly and through 
grants and cooperative agreements to eligible recipients.

    Eligibility: The Building Research Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements Program is open to institutions of higher education; 
hospitals; non-profit organizations; commercial organizations; State, 
local, and Indian Tribal governments; foreign governments; 
organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments; and 
international organizations.
    Review and Selection Process: For the Building Research Grants and 
Cooperative Agreements Program proposals will be reviewed in a two-step 
process. If a preliminary review determines that the proposal is 
incomplete or non-responsive to the scope of the stated objectives, the 
proposal will not be reviewed for technical merit. One copy of each 
such proposal will be retained for record keeping purposes for three 
years and all remaining copies will be destroyed.
    All applications that are complete and responsive to the 
solicitation will be reviewed for technical merit using the following 
process.
    First, at least three independent, objective individuals 
knowledgeable about the particular scientific area addressed by the 
proposal will conduct a technical review. Proposals are received and 
will be reviewed on a rolling basis based on the evaluation criteria 
listed in the Evaluation Criteria section below. If non-Federal 
reviewers are used, reviewers may discuss the proposals with each 
other, but scores will be determined on an individual basis, not as a 
consensus. Second, the Division Chief or Laboratory Director or Deputy 
Director will take into consideration the results of the reviewers' 
evaluation, the availability of funds, and relevance to the objectives 
described in the Program Description section of the FFO.
    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 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 
award decision of the Grants Officer is final. Applicants should allow 
up to 90 days processing time.
    Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. The Program 
will retain one copy of each unsuccessful application for three years 
for record keeping purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
    Evaluation Criteria: The Divisions of the Building and Fire 
Research Laboratory will score proposals based on the following 
criteria and weights:
    1. Technical quality of the research. Reviewers will assess the 
rationality, innovation and imagination of the proposal and the fit to 
NIST's in-house building research programs. (0-35 points).
    2. Potential impact of the results. Reviewers will assess the 
potential impact and the technical application of the results. (0-25 
points).
    3. Staff and institution capability to do the work. Reviewers will 
evaluate the quality of the facilities and experience of the staff to 
assess the likelihood of achieving the objective of the proposal. (0-20 
points).
    4. Match of budget to proposed work. Reviewers will assess the 
budget against the proposed work to ascertain the reasonableness of the 
request. (0-20 points).
    Cost Share Requirements: The Building Research Grants and 
Cooperative Agreements Program does not require any cost sharing or 
matching funds.

Fire Research Grants Program

    Program Description: The Fire Research Grants Program will provide 
funding through grants and cooperative agreements to support the 
conduct of research or a recipient's portion of collaborative research 
in areas of current interest to the Building and Fire Research 
Laboratory. For details on current fire research activities, please see 
the Building and Fire Research Laboratory Web site at https://www.bfrl.nist.gov. Specific information regarding program objectives 
can be found in the corresponding Federal Funding Opportunity for this 
announcement. Financial support may be provided for conferences, 
workshops, or other technical meetings that are relevant to the 
objectives of the Fire Research Grants Program.
    Dates: For the Fire Research Grants Program, applications received 
by January 15, 2010 will be processed and considered for funding under 
this solicitation in the current fiscal year. Applications received 
after January 15, 2010 may be processed and considered for funding 
under this solicitation in the current fiscal year or in the next 
fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds. Applications, paper 
and electronic, must be received prior to the publication date in the 
Federal Register of the FY 2011 solicitation for the NIST Measurement 
Science and Engineering Research Grants Programs in order to be 
processed under this solicitation.
    Addresses: Paper applications must be submitted to: Ms. Wanda 
Duffin-

[[Page 66284]]

Ricks, Building and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL), National Institute 
of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8660, Gaithersburg, 
Maryland 20899-8660. Electronic applications and associated proposal 
information should be uploaded to https://www.grants.gov.
    For Further Information Contact: Program questions should be 
addressed to Ms. Wanda Duffin-Ricks, Building and Fire Research 
Laboratory (BFRL), National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 
Bureau Drive, Stop 8660, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8660, Tel: (301) 
975-6863, E-mail: wanda.duffin@nist.gov, Web site: https://www.bfrl.nist.gov. Grants administration questions concerning this 
program should be addressed to: Christopher Hunton, NIST Grants and 
Agreements Management Division, (301) 975-5718; 
christopher.hunton@nist.gov. For assistance with using https://www.grants.gov, contact grants.gov">support@grants.gov or (800) 518-4726.
    Electronic Access: Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the 
Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) available at https://www.grants.gov 
for complete information about this program, all program requirements, 
and instructions for applying by paper or electronically. A paper copy 
of the FFO may be obtained by calling (301) 975-6328.
    Funding Availability: For the Fire Research Grants Program, the 
annual budget is approximately $1.0 to $1.5 million. Because of 
commitments for the support of multi-year projects and because 
proposals may have been deferred from the previous year's competition, 
only a portion of the budget is available to fund applications received 
in response to this notice. For FY 2010 most grants and cooperative 
agreements are in the $25,000 to $125,000 per year range, with a 
maximum requested duration of three years. In fiscal year 2009, the 
Fire Research Grants Program funded 4 new awards, totaling $337,406.
    For the Fire Research Grants Program, proposals will be considered 
for research projects from one to three years. When a proposal for a 
multi-year project is approved, funding will generally be provided for 
only the first year of the program. If an application is selected for 
funding, NIST has no obligation to provide any additional future 
funding in connection with that award. Continuation of an award to 
increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the total 
discretion of NIST. Funding for each subsequent year of a multi-year 
proposal will be contingent on satisfactory progress, continuing 
relevance to the mission of the Fire Research Grants Program, and the 
availability of funds. The multi-year awards must have scopes of work 
that can be easily separated into annual increments of meaningful work 
that represent solid accomplishments if prospective funding is not made 
available to the applicant (i.e., the scopes of work for each funding 
period must produce identifiable and meaningful results in and of 
themselves).

    Statutory Authority:  As authorized by 15 U.S.C. 278f, the NIST 
Building and Fire Research Laboratory conducts directly and through 
grants and cooperative agreements, a basic and applied fire research 
program.

    Eligibility: The Fire Research Grants Program is open to 
institutions of higher education; hospitals; non-profit organizations; 
commercial organizations; State, local, and Indian Tribal governments; 
foreign governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign 
governments; and international organizations.
    Review and Selection Process: Prospective proposers are encouraged 
to contact the group leaders listed in the FFO announcement to 
determine the responsiveness of the proposal and compliance with 
program objectives prior to preparation of a detailed proposal; 
however, written pre-proposals and white papers are not solicited and 
will not be reviewed for other than informational purposes. Responsive 
proposals will be assigned to the most appropriate group and reviewed 
as received on a rolling basis. If it is determined that the proposal 
is incomplete or non-responsive to the scope of the stated objectives, 
the proposal will not be reviewed for technical merit. One copy of any 
such proposal will be retained for record keeping purpose for three 
years and all remaining copies will be destroyed. Proposals are 
evaluated for technical merit based on the evaluation criteria 
described below by at least three reviewers chosen from NIST 
professionals, technical experts from other interested government 
agencies, and experts from the fire research community at large. When 
non-Federal reviewers are used, reviewers may discuss the proposals 
with each other, but scores will be determined on an individual basis, 
not as a consensus.
    A Review Panel, consisting of group leaders and the Deputy Division 
Chief, will make funding recommendations to the Selecting Official (the 
Fire Research Division Chief). In making recommendations for 
application selections, the Review Panel and the Selecting Official 
will consider the results of the reviewers' evaluations, the scores of 
the reviewers, the availability of funds, program balance, and the 
relevance to the objectives of the Fire Research Grants Program, as 
described in the Program Description section of the FFO and at the 
Building and Fire Research Laboratory Web site at https://www.bfrl.nist.gov.
    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 and the FFO, 
compliance with applicable legal and regulatory 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 
award decision of the Grants Officer is final. Applicants should allow 
up to 90 days processing time.
    Proposals submitted to another agency will be considered for 
possible joint funding if