Opportunity Information: Apply for 2017 NIST MEP EMUSA 01
The grant opportunity titled "Embedding MEP in Manufacturing USA Institutes Pilot Projects - Round Two" is a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) funding effort designed to strengthen practical, results-driven partnerships between two national manufacturing support networks: the NIST Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers and the Manufacturing USA Institutes. The basic idea is to run pilot projects that test new, workable ways for MEP Centers to help small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers move faster in adopting and commercializing advanced technologies, especially in areas where the Manufacturing USA Institutes have specialized technical capabilities, research programs, facilities, and industry-led expertise.
At its core, this opportunity is about technology acceleration support for smaller manufacturers who often lack the time, staff, capital, or connections needed to engage with cutting-edge manufacturing innovations. NIST is asking current MEP Centers to propose pilot approaches that connect manufacturers to institute-focused technologies and resources, while also using the MEP network's on-the-ground reach, business assistance experience, and client relationships. In practice, these pilots are meant to show how the MEP system can be more effectively "plugged into" Manufacturing USA so that smaller firms can access applied R and D infrastructure, training, demonstrations, and pathways to adoption that might otherwise be out of reach.
Only one category of applicant is eligible: MEP Centers that are already receiving current cooperative agreement funding from NIST. This is not open to universities, companies, or nonprofits unless they are applying through an eligible MEP Center. A key requirement is that the applicant MEP Center must form a collaboration, teaming arrangement, or another appropriate formal relationship with one or more of four specific Manufacturing USA Institutes listed in the funding notice. These four institutes were selected because they were not already hosting embedded MEP representatives through the earlier related competition (2016-NIST-MEP-ENNMI-01). The four institutes named for this round are America Makes (focused on additive manufacturing), LIFT (Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow, focused on lightweight materials and advanced manufacturing methods), AFFOA (Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, focused on advanced textiles and functional fabrics), and the Clean Energy Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute (focused on smart manufacturing and energy-related manufacturing improvements).
The funding mechanism for the program is a cooperative agreement, which usually means NIST expects to have substantial involvement during the project period, such as coordinating, providing technical direction, monitoring progress, and ensuring that the pilot approach is producing measurable outcomes and lessons that can be shared or scaled across the national system. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary, and it is tied to CFDA number 11.611, which corresponds to the MEP program.
From the source information provided, NIST anticipated making up to four awards under this competition (ExpectedAwards: 4). The opportunity was created on October 17, 2016, and the original closing date listed is December 1, 2016. The listing includes an award ceiling field but it is not populated in the data shown, so the maximum award amount is not specified in the excerpt.
Overall, the purpose of this grant is not simply to fund another set of independent projects, but to test and demonstrate practical models for deeper MEP and Manufacturing USA integration. The expected outcome is that small and mid-sized manufacturers gain clearer, faster routes to adopting institute-relevant technologies, while NIST gains evidence about what kinds of partnerships, staffing models, service offerings, and engagement strategies actually work. The pilots are intended to be replicable and to inform broader implementation across the national MEP network, particularly in technology areas aligned with the selected Manufacturing USA Institutes.Apply for 2017 NIST MEP EMUSA 01
- The National Institute of Standards and Technology in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Embedding MEP in Manufacturing USA Institutes Pilot Projects – Round Two" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.611.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2016-10-17.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-12-01. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "Embedding MEP in Manufacturing USA Institutes Pilot Projects - Round Two" opportunity?
This is a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) grant opportunity to fund pilot projects that strengthen practical, results-driven partnerships between two national manufacturing support networks: NIST Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers and Manufacturing USA Institutes. The pilots are meant to test workable ways for MEP Centers to help small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers adopt and commercialize advanced technologies faster.
What is the main goal of this funding effort?
The main goal is to accelerate technology adoption and commercialization for small and mid-sized manufacturers by connecting them more directly to Manufacturing USA Institute technologies and resources, while leveraging the MEP network's established client relationships and on-the-ground business assistance capabilities.
What kinds of activities are these pilot projects expected to test?
The pilots are expected to test practical models for integrating MEP services with Manufacturing USA Institute capabilities, such as linking manufacturers to applied R&D infrastructure, training, demonstrations, specialized facilities, and other institute-supported pathways that help move technologies into real-world manufacturing use.
Who is eligible to apply?
Only MEP Centers that are currently receiving cooperative agreement funding from NIST are eligible to apply. The opportunity is not open to universities, private companies, or nonprofits unless they are applying through an eligible MEP Center.
Can a university, company, or nonprofit apply directly for this grant?
No. Based on the information provided, only currently funded NIST MEP Centers may apply directly. Other organizations may be involved only through collaboration with an eligible MEP Center.
Is partnering required, and if so, with whom?
Yes. A key requirement is that the applicant MEP Center must form a collaboration, teaming arrangement, or another appropriate formal relationship with one or more of four specific Manufacturing USA Institutes named in the funding notice.
Which Manufacturing USA Institutes are included in this round?
The four institutes named for this round are:
- America Makes (additive manufacturing)
- LIFT - Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow (lightweight materials and advanced manufacturing methods)
- AFFOA - Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (advanced textiles and functional fabrics)
- Clean Energy Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute (smart manufacturing and energy-related manufacturing improvements)
Why were these four institutes specifically selected for Round Two?
They were selected because they were not already hosting embedded MEP representatives through an earlier related competition identified as 2016-NIST-MEP-ENNMI-01.
What is meant by "embedding" MEP in Manufacturing USA Institutes in this context?
In this context, "embedding" refers to pilot approaches that connect MEP Centers more directly into Manufacturing USA Institute activities and resources so MEP can more effectively link small and mid-sized manufacturers to institute-relevant technologies, training, demonstrations, and adoption pathways.
What types of manufacturers are intended to benefit from these pilots?
The pilots are intended to benefit small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers, particularly those that may lack the time, staff, capital, or connections to engage with cutting-edge manufacturing innovations on their own.
What is the expected outcome for manufacturers?
The expected outcome is that manufacturers gain clearer and faster routes to adopting and commercializing advanced technologies aligned with the participating Manufacturing USA Institutes.
What is the expected outcome for NIST and the national MEP network?
NIST expects to gain evidence about what partnership structures and engagement approaches work in practice, including lessons about staffing models, service offerings, and strategies that can be shared, scaled, and replicated across the national MEP system.
What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?
The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement.
What does a cooperative agreement imply about NIST's role during the project?
A cooperative agreement typically means NIST expects substantial involvement during the project period. Based on the description provided, this may include coordinating activities, providing technical direction, monitoring progress, and ensuring the pilots produce measurable outcomes and lessons that can be shared or scaled.
How many awards does NIST expect to make?
NIST anticipated making up to four awards under this competition.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is tied to CFDA number 11.611, which corresponds to the MEP program.
When was this opportunity created, and what was the original closing date?
The opportunity was created on October 17, 2016, and the original closing date listed is December 1, 2016.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling field is not populated in the information provided, so the maximum award amount is not specified in the excerpt.
Is this opportunity considered discretionary funding?
Yes. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary.
Do the pilots need to be replicable beyond the initial project?
Yes. The pilots are intended to demonstrate practical models for deeper MEP and Manufacturing USA integration and to generate approaches and lessons that can inform broader implementation across the national MEP network.
Is the purpose to fund independent projects unrelated to national integration?
No. The stated purpose is not simply to fund independent projects, but to test and demonstrate practical models for integrating MEP Centers with Manufacturing USA Institutes in ways that produce measurable outcomes and can be scaled or replicated.
Do MEP Centers have to work with only one institute, or can they work with more than one?
The requirement is to collaborate with one or more of the four named institutes, so collaboration with multiple institutes is allowed based on the wording provided.
What kinds of institute resources are manufacturers expected to access through these pilots?
The description highlights access to institute-focused technologies and resources such as specialized technical capabilities, research programs, facilities, industry-led expertise, applied R&D infrastructure, training, and demonstrations.
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