Request for Information on Pilots to Inform the Creation of Potential New Manufacturing Technology Acceleration Centers (M-TACs), 37522-37524 [2013-14895]

Download as PDF 37522 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 120 / Friday, June 21, 2013 / Notices three notices issued under the authority of 48 CFR 5.205(b). In particular, we are interested in feedback regarding the proposed scope of the work to be performed by the FFRDC, and the presence of any existing private- or public-sector capabilities in this area that NIST should be considering. NIST intends to publicly summarize and address all comments received in response to these notices. It is anticipated that a Request for Proposal (RFP) will be posted on FedBizOpps in the summer of 2013. Alternatively, a copy of the RFP can be obtained by contacting the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above once the RFP is posted. Dated: June 18, 2013. Michael Herman, Executive Officer. [FR Doc. 2013–14897 Filed 6–20–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–13–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Institute of Standards and Technology [Docket No. 130426414–3414–01] Request for Information on Pilots to Inform the Creation of Potential New Manufacturing Technology Acceleration Centers (M–TACs) National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice; Request for Information (RFI). AGENCY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) invites interested parties to comment on NIST’s planning for a Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO), anticipated in fiscal year 2014 (FY14), subject to the availability of appropriated funding. The anticipated 2014 FFO will competitively fund a select number of new Manufacturing Technology Acceleration Centers (M–TACs). The M–TACs will focus on addressing the technical and business challenges encountered by small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers as they attempt to integrate, adopt, transition, and commercialize both existing and emerging product and process technologies into their operations to help them grow and compete within manufacturing supply chains as innovative, value-adding components of our nation’s economy. U.S. small and mid-sized manufacturers are a critical segment of our economy, comprising TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:32 Jun 20, 2013 Jkt 229001 over 90% of all manufacturing establishments and approximately 45% of employment.1 U.S. small and midsized manufacturers are also playing a growing role in technology innovation, including product and process technologies.2 The emphasis of these future M–TACs will be to conduct technology transition and commercialization activities with small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers to foster their readiness to adopt and/or adapt advanced technologies into their manufacturing processes and products. M–TACs will amplify the effectiveness of the current Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) network, establishing teams of experts in specific technology/supply chains, offering multiple services and deep expertise through the national MEP network. This Request For Information (RFI) seeks comments relating to four primary issue areas regarding the M–TACs that are further defined herein: (1) Technology transition and commercialization tools and services that should be provided by M–TACs; (2) M–TAC roles relating to supply chain needs; (3) potential business models for M–TACs; and (4) M–TAC performance and impact metrics. In addition, NIST seeks comments relating to other critical issues that NIST should consider in its strategic planning for future M–TAC investments. DATES: Comments are due on or before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 22, 2013. ADDRESSES: Comments will be accepted by email only. Comments must be sent to diane.henderson@nist.gov with the subject line ‘‘M–TAC RFI Comments.’’ FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Henderson, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 4800, Gaithersburg, MD 20899–4800, 301–975–5105, diane.henderson@nist.gov; or David Stieren, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 4800, Gaithersburg, MD 20899–4800, 301–975–3197, david.stieren@nist.gov. Please direct media inquiries to NIST’s Office of Public Affairs at (301) 975– NIST. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The objective of this RFI is to assist NIST in 1 ‘‘2010 County Business Patterns,’’ U.S. Census Bureau Data, release date 10/2012. For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, see https:// www.census.gov/econ/susb/methodology.html. 2 ‘‘International Benchmarking of Countries’ Policies and Programs Supporting SME Manufacturers,’’ Stephen J. Ezell and Dr. Robert Atkinson, The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, September 2011, https:// www.itif.org/files/2011-sme-manufacturing-techprogramss-new.pdf. PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the development of the anticipated 2014 FFO for the creation of M–TACs, should NIST receive future appropriated funds for this purpose. NIST notes that in advance of the targeted 2014 M–TAC FFO that is the subject of this RFI, NIST will be releasing an FFO in 2013 to fund approximately two pilot projects that will also inform the planning for future M–TAC investments. Small and mid-sized manufacturers have proven to be flexible and adaptable in their approach to profitable growth through new markets, customers, products, and processes. Yet there remains a gap between the research being performed by universities, federal labs, consortia, and other entities, and the readiness of many small and midsized manufacturers to adopt both existing and emerging technologies into their products and processes to respond to the quality and performance requirements of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Recent reports by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology,3 as well as the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation,4 point out that small and mid-sized manufacturers lack the financial resources and technical capabilities that large manufacturers have to be able to stay abreast of, and gain access to, the universe of emerging technologies and processes being constantly innovated around the globe. As a result, technology adoption rates of smaller U.S. manufacturers lag those of larger ones. Through the efforts of its existing network of Centers to provide Next Generation innovation services, NIST’s Hollings MEP program has made strides forward to address these needs. However, to effectively assist small and mid-sized manufacturing firms to compete in the global economy, deep expertise specific to a given supply chain or sector is required. The lack of readiness of small and mid-sized manufacturers and the corresponding lagging technology adoption rates of smaller manufacturers will be primary focus areas of M–TACs. Bridging the gap between available technologies and commercial adoption 3 ‘‘Report to the President on Capturing Domestic Competitive Advantage in Advanced Manufacturing,’’ President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, Executive Office of the President, July 2012, https://www.whitehouse.gov/ sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/pcast_amp_ steering_committee_report_final_july_27_2012.pdf. 4 ‘‘International Benchmarking of Countries’ Policies and Programs Supporting SME Manufacturers,’’ Stephen J. Ezell and Dr. Robert Atkinson, The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, September 2011, https:// www.itif.org/files/2011-sme-manufacturing-techprogramss-new.pdf. E:\FR\FM\21JNN1.SGM 21JNN1 TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 120 / Friday, June 21, 2013 / Notices by manufacturers is essentially a twopart problem that first requires a critical step of translating available technologies into competitive market advantage. Second, bridging the gap requires addressing a variety of challenges that serve as barriers to small and mid-sized manufacturers incorporating technology solutions into their processes and new product portfolio. These challenges include technology and knowledge transfer, technology transition, and technology diffusion steps, along with numerous commercialization interventions needed to bring a technology from lab to market. M–TACs will emphasize the provision of technical and business assistance to small and mid-sized manufacturers along the broad spectrum of process improvement and product development services they may need. A key success factor of the Administration’s focus on enhancing U.S. competiveness in advanced manufacturing is the support for highly effective supply chains in technology intensive manufacturing sectors. NIST envisions that future M–TACs will become the connective fabric for efficiently connecting academia, researchers, scientists, engineers and manufacturers with valuable supply chain and market demands, with a particular focus on the needs of small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers. These M–TACs can serve as a coordination point within key supply chains. The anticipated approach should result in increased job creation and economic growth. This M–TAC effort aligns with the President’s plan to launch a nationwide network of innovation institutes across the country that will develop worldleading manufacturing technologies and capabilities that U.S.-based manufacturers can apply in production to support U.S. manufacturing sector growth.5 The expectation is that M– TACs will work in collaboration with existing resources, including research consortia and institutions such as those operating as part of or in conjunction with the proposed National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI), state and local technology-based economic development intermediaries, industry associations, industry-university partnerships, and manufacturing organizations. NIST envisions that M– TACs will operate on a national level 5 ‘‘Fact Sheet: The President’s Plan to Make America a Magnet for Jobs by Investing in Manufacturing,’’ The White House Office of the Press Secretary, February 13, 2013, https:// www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/13/ fact-sheet-president-s-plan-make-america-magnetjobs-investing-manufactu. VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:32 Jun 20, 2013 Jkt 229001 using sustainable business models that will allow technology commercialization scale-up to occur to serve substantial numbers of small and mid-sized manufacturers—on the order of several thousand annually. By providing direct technical and business assistance in technology transition and commercialization areas, M–TACs will address the gap between the research being performed by universities, federal labs, consortia, and other entities, and the readiness of many small and mid-sized manufacturers to adopt new and existing technologies into their products and processes. The ultimate goal of the M–TACs is to deploy scalable resources to increase and accelerate the commercialization of existing and emerging technologies that lead to sustainable economic growth and job creation through more robust domestic supply chains. The goals of future M–TACs include: • Demonstrating the operation of business models that enable small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers to effectively and efficiently access—on a continuing and financially sustainable basis—the assortment of technology transition and commercialization services they need to adopt and/or adapt technology into their products and processes; • Establishing the appropriate partnerships and demonstrating the interfaces necessary to enable small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers to effectively access the diverse array of technology transition and commercialization services they need; • Fostering connections between the existing MEP system and its network of Centers, and other public and private initiatives tasked with linking technologically promising research discoveries and ideas for advanced, high-value-added products and processes with existing U.S. manufacturers and aspiring start-up firms; and • Identifying where on the technology development and commercialization continuum small and mid-sized manufacturers tend to operate by identifying technology transition and commercialization areas in which small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers most critically need assistance. M–TACs are expected to achieve these goals through: 1. Interacting with small and midsized U.S. manufacturers through the nationwide network of MEP Centers to operate an effort that is focused on the provision of technology transition and commercialization services to manufacturers, doing so in a manner PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 37523 that is locally driven and nationally connected; 2. Creating teams of experts in specific technology or industrially organized supply chains and offering multiple services and deep expertise to support small and mid-sized manufacturer needs relating to technology transition and commercialization; • Emphasis will be placed on assisting small and mid-sized manufacturers in functions that apply to the spectrum of technology transition and commercialization services that small and mid-sized manufacturers may need. This may include those services associated with technology and process integration, engineering, new product development, existing product and process innovation, manufacturing scale up, supply chain development, financing, legal (intellectual property and regulatory), marketing, market analysis and research, and workforce development. 3. Collaborating with research consortia and institutions such as those operating as part of or in conjunction with the proposed NNMI, state and local technology-based economic development intermediaries, industry associations, industry-university partnerships, and manufacturing standards organizations. Request for Information As noted above, this RFI will assist NIST in developing the anticipated 2014 FFO for the creation of M–TACs, should NIST receive future appropriated funds for this purpose. As such, the questions below are intended to assist in the formulation of comments that will be used to inform future strategic planning. These questions should not be construed as a limitation on the number of comments that interested parties may submit, or as a limitation on the issues that may be addressed in such comments, and the fifth question here provides an opportunity to comment on issues not specifically covered by the first four questions. Submissions should clearly indicate which RFI questions are being addressed by each comment. Comments containing references, studies, research, and other empirical data that are not widely published should include copies of the referenced materials. Comment submissions must be kept to a maximum of 10 pages, using 12 point, single-spaced font. Do not include in comments or otherwise submit proprietary or confidential information, as all comments received by the deadline will be made publicly available at www.nist.gov/mep/. NIST is specifically interested in receiving input E:\FR\FM\21JNN1.SGM 21JNN1 TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 37524 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 120 / Friday, June 21, 2013 / Notices on one or more of the following questions: 1. What are the specific types of technology transition and commercialization tools and services that should be provided by M–TACs? Emphasis is on the alignment of these tools and services with the most pressing needs of small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers. a. How would M–TAC services complement the services currently offered by MEP Centers? 2. What role should future M–TACs play with respect to supply chain needs? How should OEMs participate? How can industry associations, professional societies, and other appropriate national organizations participate? 3. Is there a particular long-term scalable and financially sustainable business model that should be implemented by future M–TACs that will enable small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers to effectively access and benefit from the technology transition and commercialization assistance and other resources they need? a. Because of the programmatic connection to the NIST MEP Program, M–TACs may require cost share. Are there cost share models for future M– TACs that promote scale up to reach nationally dispersed clusters of small and mid-sized manufacturers? If so, what are those models, and why might they be successful? b. The generation of intellectual property is possible, and even likely as a result of M–TAC operations. What types of intellectual property arrangements and management constructs would promote active engagement of industry in these pilots, especially among small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers that would be supportive of the business model? As appropriate, please include a set of potential options, and please explain your responses. 4. How should an M–TAC’s performance and impact be evaluated? What are appropriate measures of success for future M–TACs? Please explain your response including the value of the performance measure to business growth. 5. Are there any other critical issues that NIST MEP should consider in its strategic planning for future M–TAC investments that are not covered by the first four questions? If so, please address those issues here and explain your response. VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:32 Jun 20, 2013 Jkt 229001 Dated: June 12, 2013. Phillip Singerman, Associate Director for Innovation & Industry Services. [FR Doc. 2013–14895 Filed 6–20–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–13–P COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR SEVERELY DISABLED Procurement List; Proposed Additions and Deletions Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled. ACTION: Proposed Additions to and Deletions from the Procurement List. AGENCY: The Committee is proposing to add products and services to the Procurement List that will be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities, and deletes products previously furnished by such agencies. DATES: Comments Must Be Received on or Before: July 22, 2013. ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, 1401 S. Clark Street, Suite 10800, Arlington, Virginia 22202–4149. SUMMARY: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO SUBMIT COMMENTS CONTACT: Barry S. Lineback, Telephone: (703) 603–7740, Fax: (703) 603–0655, or email CMTEFedReg@AbilityOne.gov. This notice is published pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 8503(a)(2) and 41 CFR 51–2.3. Its purpose is to provide interested persons an opportunity to submit comments on the proposed actions. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Additions If the Committee approves the proposed additions, the entities of the Federal Government identified in this notice will be required to procure the products and services listed below from nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities. The following products and services are proposed for addition to the Procurement List for production by the nonprofit agencies listed: Products NSN: 8020–00–NIB–0050—Utility Knife, Snap Off Blade, Standard Duty, 9mm NSN: 8020–00–NIB–0052—Utility Knife, Snap Off Blade, Heavy Duty, 18mm NSN: 8020–00–NIB–0058—Snap Off Blades, Replacement, Utility Knife, Heavy Duty, 18mm, 8pt COVERAGE: A-List for the Total Government PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Requirement as aggregated by the General Services Administration. NSN: 8020–00–NIB–0006—Trimmer, Edge, Paint, Refillable, 43⁄4″ W x 31⁄2″ H NSN: 8020–00–NIB–0008—Refill Pads, Trimmer, Edge NSN: 8020–00–NIB–0044—Brush, Synthetic Filament, Flexible Handle, Ergonomic, 2″ NSN: 8020–00–NIB–0045—Brush, Synthetic Filament, Recycled Handle, 2″ NSN: 8020–00–NIB–0046—Brush, Synthetic Filament, Recycled Handle, 1.5″ NSN: 8020–00–NIB–0051—Utility Knife, Snap Off Blade, Standard Duty, 18mm NSN: 8020–00–NIB–0053—Utility Knife, Snap Off Blade, Cushion Grip, Ergonomic, Heavy Duty, 18mm NSN: 8020–00–NIB–0054—Utility Knife, Snap Off Blade, Cushion Grip, Ergonomic, Heavy Duty, 25mm NSN: 8020–00–NIB–0055—Utility Knife, Retractable, Cushion Grip, Ergonomic, Heavy Duty, 2 pt Blade NSN: 8020–00–NIB–0056—Snap Off Blades, Replacement, Utility Knife, Standard Duty, 9mm, 13 pt NSN: 8020–00–NIB–0057—Snap Off Blades, Replacement, Utility Knife, Standard Duty, 18mm, 8pt NSN: 8020–00–NIB–0059—Snap Off Blades, Replacement, Utility Knife, Heavy Duty, 25mm, 7pt NSN: 8020–00–NIB–0060—Replacement Blades, Utility Knife COVERAGE: B-List for the Broad Government Requirement as aggregated by the General Services Administration. NPA: Industries for the Blind, Inc., West Allis, WI Contracting Activity: General Services Administration, Tools Acquisition Division I, Kansas City, MO NSN: MR 10623—Container, Frozen Waffle, Expandable NSN: MR 10627—Garden Seed Packets, Assorted, 4PK NPA: Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind, Inc., Winston-Salem, NC Contracting Activity: Military Resale-Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA), Fort Lee, VA COVERAGE: C-List for the requirements of military commissaries and exchanges as aggregated by the Defense Commissary Agency. Folder, File, Hanging NSN: 7530–01–372–3102—Light Blue, Letter Size, 1 Divider, 4 Sections NSN: 7530–00–NIB–1098—Light Blue, Letter Size, 2-Dividers, 6 Sections NSN: 7530–00–NIB–1099—Light Blue, Legal Size, 1-Divider, 4 Sections NSN: 7530–00–NIB–1100—Light Blue, Legal Size, 2-Dividers, 6 Sections NPA: Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Cincinnati, OH Contracting Activity: GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, NEW YORK, NY COVERAGE: A-List for the Total Government Requirement as aggregated by the General Services Administration. Helmet, Safety, Cap Style, 6–3/4″ to 8″ 8415–00–935–3132—Blue E:\FR\FM\21JNN1.SGM 21JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 120 (Friday, June 21, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37522-37524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14895]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Docket No. 130426414-3414-01]


Request for Information on Pilots to Inform the Creation of 
Potential New Manufacturing Technology Acceleration Centers (M-TACs)

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 
Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; Request for Information (RFI).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 
invites interested parties to comment on NIST's planning for a Federal 
Funding Opportunity (FFO), anticipated in fiscal year 2014 (FY14), 
subject to the availability of appropriated funding. The anticipated 
2014 FFO will competitively fund a select number of new Manufacturing 
Technology Acceleration Centers (M-TACs).
    The M-TACs will focus on addressing the technical and business 
challenges encountered by small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers as 
they attempt to integrate, adopt, transition, and commercialize both 
existing and emerging product and process technologies into their 
operations to help them grow and compete within manufacturing supply 
chains as innovative, value-adding components of our nation's economy. 
U.S. small and mid-sized manufacturers are a critical segment of our 
economy, comprising over 90% of all manufacturing establishments and 
approximately 45% of employment.\1\ U.S. small and mid-sized 
manufacturers are also playing a growing role in technology innovation, 
including product and process technologies.\2\ The emphasis of these 
future M-TACs will be to conduct technology transition and 
commercialization activities with small and mid-sized U.S. 
manufacturers to foster their readiness to adopt and/or adapt advanced 
technologies into their manufacturing processes and products.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ ``2010 County Business Patterns,'' U.S. Census Bureau Data, 
release date 10/2012. For information on confidentiality protection, 
sampling error, non-sampling error, and definitions, see https://www.census.gov/econ/susb/methodology.html.
    \2\ ``International Benchmarking of Countries' Policies and 
Programs Supporting SME Manufacturers,'' Stephen J. Ezell and Dr. 
Robert Atkinson, The Information Technology and Innovation 
Foundation, September 2011, https://www.itif.org/files/2011-sme-manufacturing-tech-programss-new.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    M-TACs will amplify the effectiveness of the current Hollings 
Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) network, establishing teams 
of experts in specific technology/supply chains, offering multiple 
services and deep expertise through the national MEP network.
    This Request For Information (RFI) seeks comments relating to four 
primary issue areas regarding the M-TACs that are further defined 
herein: (1) Technology transition and commercialization tools and 
services that should be provided by M-TACs; (2) M-TAC roles relating to 
supply chain needs; (3) potential business models for M-TACs; and (4) 
M-TAC performance and impact metrics. In addition, NIST seeks comments 
relating to other critical issues that NIST should consider in its 
strategic planning for future M-TAC investments.

DATES: Comments are due on or before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 
22, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Comments will be accepted by email only. Comments must be 
sent to diane.henderson@nist.gov with the subject line ``M-TAC RFI 
Comments.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Henderson, 100 Bureau Drive, 
Mail Stop 4800, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-4800, 301-975-5105, 
diane.henderson@nist.gov; or David Stieren, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 
4800, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-4800, 301-975-3197, 
david.stieren@nist.gov. Please direct media inquiries to NIST's Office 
of Public Affairs at (301) 975-NIST.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The objective of this RFI is to assist NIST 
in the development of the anticipated 2014 FFO for the creation of M-
TACs, should NIST receive future appropriated funds for this purpose. 
NIST notes that in advance of the targeted 2014 M-TAC FFO that is the 
subject of this RFI, NIST will be releasing an FFO in 2013 to fund 
approximately two pilot projects that will also inform the planning for 
future M-TAC investments.
    Small and mid-sized manufacturers have proven to be flexible and 
adaptable in their approach to profitable growth through new markets, 
customers, products, and processes. Yet there remains a gap between the 
research being performed by universities, federal labs, consortia, and 
other entities, and the readiness of many small and mid-sized 
manufacturers to adopt both existing and emerging technologies into 
their products and processes to respond to the quality and performance 
requirements of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Recent reports 
by the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology,\3\ as 
well as the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation,\4\ point 
out that small and mid-sized manufacturers lack the financial resources 
and technical capabilities that large manufacturers have to be able to 
stay abreast of, and gain access to, the universe of emerging 
technologies and processes being constantly innovated around the globe. 
As a result, technology adoption rates of smaller U.S. manufacturers 
lag those of larger ones.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ ``Report to the President on Capturing Domestic Competitive 
Advantage in Advanced Manufacturing,'' President's Council of 
Advisors on Science and Technology, Executive Office of the 
President, July 2012, https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/pcast_amp_steering_committee_report_final_july_27_2012.pdf.
    \4\ ``International Benchmarking of Countries' Policies and 
Programs Supporting SME Manufacturers,'' Stephen J. Ezell and Dr. 
Robert Atkinson, The Information Technology and Innovation 
Foundation, September 2011, https://www.itif.org/files/2011-sme-manufacturing-tech-programss-new.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Through the efforts of its existing network of Centers to provide 
Next Generation innovation services, NIST's Hollings MEP program has 
made strides forward to address these needs. However, to effectively 
assist small and mid-sized manufacturing firms to compete in the global 
economy, deep expertise specific to a given supply chain or sector is 
required.
    The lack of readiness of small and mid-sized manufacturers and the 
corresponding lagging technology adoption rates of smaller 
manufacturers will be primary focus areas of M-TACs. Bridging the gap 
between available technologies and commercial adoption

[[Page 37523]]

by manufacturers is essentially a two-part problem that first requires 
a critical step of translating available technologies into competitive 
market advantage. Second, bridging the gap requires addressing a 
variety of challenges that serve as barriers to small and mid-sized 
manufacturers incorporating technology solutions into their processes 
and new product portfolio. These challenges include technology and 
knowledge transfer, technology transition, and technology diffusion 
steps, along with numerous commercialization interventions needed to 
bring a technology from lab to market. M-TACs will emphasize the 
provision of technical and business assistance to small and mid-sized 
manufacturers along the broad spectrum of process improvement and 
product development services they may need.
    A key success factor of the Administration's focus on enhancing 
U.S. competiveness in advanced manufacturing is the support for highly 
effective supply chains in technology intensive manufacturing sectors. 
NIST envisions that future M-TACs will become the connective fabric for 
efficiently connecting academia, researchers, scientists, engineers and 
manufacturers with valuable supply chain and market demands, with a 
particular focus on the needs of small and mid-sized U.S. 
manufacturers. These M-TACs can serve as a coordination point within 
key supply chains. The anticipated approach should result in increased 
job creation and economic growth.
    This M-TAC effort aligns with the President's plan to launch a 
nationwide network of innovation institutes across the country that 
will develop world-leading manufacturing technologies and capabilities 
that U.S.-based manufacturers can apply in production to support U.S. 
manufacturing sector growth.\5\ The expectation is that M-TACs will 
work in collaboration with existing resources, including research 
consortia and institutions such as those operating as part of or in 
conjunction with the proposed National Network for Manufacturing 
Innovation (NNMI), state and local technology-based economic 
development intermediaries, industry associations, industry-university 
partnerships, and manufacturing organizations. NIST envisions that M-
TACs will operate on a national level using sustainable business models 
that will allow technology commercialization scale-up to occur to serve 
substantial numbers of small and mid-sized manufacturers--on the order 
of several thousand annually.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ ``Fact Sheet: The President's Plan to Make America a Magnet 
for Jobs by Investing in Manufacturing,'' The White House Office of 
the Press Secretary, February 13, 2013, https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/13/fact-sheet-president-s-plan-make-america-magnet-jobs-investing-manufactu.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    By providing direct technical and business assistance in technology 
transition and commercialization areas, M-TACs will address the gap 
between the research being performed by universities, federal labs, 
consortia, and other entities, and the readiness of many small and mid-
sized manufacturers to adopt new and existing technologies into their 
products and processes. The ultimate goal of the M-TACs is to deploy 
scalable resources to increase and accelerate the commercialization of 
existing and emerging technologies that lead to sustainable economic 
growth and job creation through more robust domestic supply chains.
    The goals of future M-TACs include:
     Demonstrating the operation of business models that enable 
small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers to effectively and efficiently 
access--on a continuing and financially sustainable basis--the 
assortment of technology transition and commercialization services they 
need to adopt and/or adapt technology into their products and 
processes;
     Establishing the appropriate partnerships and 
demonstrating the interfaces necessary to enable small and mid-sized 
U.S. manufacturers to effectively access the diverse array of 
technology transition and commercialization services they need;
     Fostering connections between the existing MEP system and 
its network of Centers, and other public and private initiatives tasked 
with linking technologically promising research discoveries and ideas 
for advanced, high-value-added products and processes with existing 
U.S. manufacturers and aspiring start-up firms; and
     Identifying where on the technology development and 
commercialization continuum small and mid-sized manufacturers tend to 
operate by identifying technology transition and commercialization 
areas in which small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers most critically 
need assistance.
    M-TACs are expected to achieve these goals through:
    1. Interacting with small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers through 
the nationwide network of MEP Centers to operate an effort that is 
focused on the provision of technology transition and commercialization 
services to manufacturers, doing so in a manner that is locally driven 
and nationally connected;
    2. Creating teams of experts in specific technology or industrially 
organized supply chains and offering multiple services and deep 
expertise to support small and mid-sized manufacturer needs relating to 
technology transition and commercialization;
     Emphasis will be placed on assisting small and mid-sized 
manufacturers in functions that apply to the spectrum of technology 
transition and commercialization services that small and mid-sized 
manufacturers may need. This may include those services associated with 
technology and process integration, engineering, new product 
development, existing product and process innovation, manufacturing 
scale up, supply chain development, financing, legal (intellectual 
property and regulatory), marketing, market analysis and research, and 
workforce development.
    3. Collaborating with research consortia and institutions such as 
those operating as part of or in conjunction with the proposed NNMI, 
state and local technology-based economic development intermediaries, 
industry associations, industry-university partnerships, and 
manufacturing standards organizations.

Request for Information

    As noted above, this RFI will assist NIST in developing the 
anticipated 2014 FFO for the creation of M-TACs, should NIST receive 
future appropriated funds for this purpose. As such, the questions 
below are intended to assist in the formulation of comments that will 
be used to inform future strategic planning. These questions should not 
be construed as a limitation on the number of comments that interested 
parties may submit, or as a limitation on the issues that may be 
addressed in such comments, and the fifth question here provides an 
opportunity to comment on issues not specifically covered by the first 
four questions. Submissions should clearly indicate which RFI questions 
are being addressed by each comment. Comments containing references, 
studies, research, and other empirical data that are not widely 
published should include copies of the referenced materials. Comment 
submissions must be kept to a maximum of 10 pages, using 12 point, 
single-spaced font. Do not include in comments or otherwise submit 
proprietary or confidential information, as all comments received by 
the deadline will be made publicly available at www.nist.gov/mep/. NIST 
is specifically interested in receiving input

[[Page 37524]]

on one or more of the following questions:
    1. What are the specific types of technology transition and 
commercialization tools and services that should be provided by M-TACs? 
Emphasis is on the alignment of these tools and services with the most 
pressing needs of small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers.
    a. How would M-TAC services complement the services currently 
offered by MEP Centers?
    2. What role should future M-TACs play with respect to supply chain 
needs? How should OEMs participate? How can industry associations, 
professional societies, and other appropriate national organizations 
participate?
    3. Is there a particular long-term scalable and financially 
sustainable business model that should be implemented by future M-TACs 
that will enable small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers to effectively 
access and benefit from the technology transition and commercialization 
assistance and other resources they need?
    a. Because of the programmatic connection to the NIST MEP Program, 
M-TACs may require cost share. Are there cost share models for future 
M-TACs that promote scale up to reach nationally dispersed clusters of 
small and mid-sized manufacturers? If so, what are those models, and 
why might they be successful?
    b. The generation of intellectual property is possible, and even 
likely as a result of M-TAC operations. What types of intellectual 
property arrangements and management constructs would promote active 
engagement of industry in these pilots, especially among small and mid-
sized U.S. manufacturers that would be supportive of the business 
model? As appropriate, please include a set of potential options, and 
please explain your responses.
    4. How should an M-TAC's performance and impact be evaluated? What 
are appropriate measures of success for future M-TACs? Please explain 
your response including the value of the performance measure to 
business growth.
    5. Are there any other critical issues that NIST MEP should 
consider in its strategic planning for future M-TAC investments that 
are not covered by the first four questions? If so, please address 
those issues here and explain your response.

    Dated: June 12, 2013.
Phillip Singerman,
Associate Director for Innovation & Industry Services.
[FR Doc. 2013-14895 Filed 6-20-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P
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