[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 13 (Friday, January 20, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4081-4087]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-1313]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
15 CFR Part 291
[Docket No. 941097-4363]
RIN 0693-AB36
Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Environmental Projects
agency: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.
action: Final rule.
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summary: The purpose of this rule is to provide for integration of
environmental services and resources into the national manufacturing
extension system and to codify the process by which NIST will solicit
and select applications for cooperative agreements and financial
assistance on projects which have the dual benefit of promoting the
competitiveness and environmental soundness of smaller U.S.
manufacturers. The intended effect is to increase the scope and scale
of environmental services provided through the national manufacturing
extension system.
effective date: January 20, 1995.
addresses: Applicants must submit one signed original plus six copies
of the proposal along with Standard Form 424, 424A (Rev 4-92)
prescribed by the applicable OMB circular and Form CD-511,
Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility
Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements and Lobbying. SF-424, 424A
(Rev 4-92) and Form CD-511 will not be considered part of the page
count of the Basic Proposal. Proposals must be submitted to: MEP
Environmental Projects, Attention Environmental Projects Manager,
National Institute of Standards and Technology Bldg. 224 Room B115,
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-0001.
for further information contact: The Manufacturing Extension
Partnership Environmental Projects Manager, 301-975-5020.
supplementary information: In the November 14, 1994 Federal Register,
Volume 59, No. 218, 59 FR 56439, the National Institute of Standards
and Technology published a notice of proposed rulemaking to add 15 CFR
part 291 to provide for the integration of environmental services and
resources into the national manufacturing extension system and to
codify the process by which NIST will solicit and select applications
for cooperative agreements and financial assistance on projects which
have the dual benefit of promoting the competitiveness and
environmental soundness of smaller U.S. manufacturers. No comments on
the rules were received. These final rules are the same as the proposed
rules with the addition of section 291.6 which clarifies the additional
requirements to which recipients and subrecipients are subject.
The purpose of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Manufacturing Extension Partnership is to promote the competitiveness
of smaller U.S. manufacturers. This is done primarily through technical
assistance provided by a network of nonprofit manufacturing extension
centers. The purpose of this rule is to provide for the integration of
environmental services and resources into the national manufacturing
extension system and to codify the process by which NIST will solicit
and select applications for cooperative agreements and financial
assistance on projects which have the dual benefit of promoting the
competitiveness and environmental soundness of smaller U.S.
manufacturers. Proposals from qualified organizations will periodically
be solicited for projects which accomplish any one of the following
objectives:
Integration of Environmental Services Into Manufacturing
Extension Centers: to support the integration of environmentally-
focused technical assistance, and especially pollution prevention
assistance, for smaller manufacturers into the broader services
[[Page 4082]] provided by manufacturing extension centers.
Development of Environmentally Related Technical Assistance
Tools and Techniques: to support the initial development and
implementation of tools or techniques which will aide manufacturing
extension organizations in providing environmentally-related
services, and especially pollution prevention services, to smaller
manufacturers and which also may be of direct use by the smaller
manufacturers themselves. Specific industry sectors and categories
of tools and techniques may be specified in solicitations.
Pilots for National Industry-Specific Pollution Prevention and
Environmental Compliance Information Centers: to support the pilot
implementation of national centers for specific industry sectors
specified in solicitations. The centers will provide easy access to
relevant, current, reliable and comprehensive information on
innovative technologies, pollution prevention opportunities and
regulatory compliance.
Integration projects are open to existing manufacturing extension
affiliates of the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
Projects for development of tools or techniques and national
information centers are open to all nonprofit organizations including
universities, community colleges, state governments, and independent
nonprofit organizations.
Announcements of solicitations will be made in the Commerce
Business Daily.
In accordance with the provisions of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 272(b)(1) and (c)(3) and 2781),
as amended, NIST will provide assistance to integrate environmentally-
related services and resources into the national manufacturing
extension system. This assistance will be provided by NIST often in
cooperation with other federal agencies such as the EPA. Under the NIST
Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), NIST will periodically make
merit-based awards to existing MEP manufacturing extension affiliates
for integration of environmental services into extension centers and to
non-profit organizations for development of environmentally-related
tools and techniques. In addition, NIST will initiate pilot centers
providing environmental information for specific industrial sectors to
be specified in solicitations. MEP assumes a broad definition of
manufacturing, and recognizes a wide range of technology and concepts,
including durable goods production; chemical, biotechnology, and other
materials processing; electronic component and system fabrication; and
engineering services associated with manufacturing, as lying within the
definition of manufacturing.
Classification
This notice relating to public property, loans, grants, benefits,
or contracts is exempt from all requirements of section 553 of the
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2)) including notice and
opportunity for comment. Therefore, a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
is not required and was not prepared for this notice for purposes of
the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 603 and 604). The program is
not a major Federal action requiring an environmental assessment under
the National Environmental Policy Act. This notice does not contain
policies with Federalism implications sufficient to warrant preparation
of a Federalism assessment under Executive Order 12612. This notice
contains collection of information requirements subject to the
Paperwork Reduction Act which have been approved by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB Control Number 0693-0010, 0348-0043 and
0348-0044). Public reporting burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average 40 hours per response, including the time for
reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering the
data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of
information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other
aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for
reducing this burden, to the address shown above; and to the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget,
Washington, D.C. 20503.
It has been determined that this rule is not significant for
purposes of EO 12866.
List of Subjects in 15 CFR Part 291
Environmental projects, Environmental compliance assistance,
Manufacturing extension, Pollution prevention assistance, Technical
assistance.
Dated: January 13, 1995.
Samuel Kramer,
Associate Director.
For the reasons set out in the preamble, 15 CFR part 291 is added
as set forth below.
PART 291--MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP; ENVIRONMENTAL
PROJECTS
Sec.
291.1 Program description.
291.2 Environmental integration projects.
291.3 Environmental tools and techniques projects.
291.4 National industry-specific pollution prevention and
environmental compliance resource centers.
291.5 Proposal selection process.
291.6 Additional requirements.
Authority: 15 U.S.C. Sec. 272(b)(1) and (c)(3) and Sec. 2781.
Sec. 291.1 Program description.
(a) In accordance with the provisions of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. Sec. 272(b)(1) and (c)(3) and
Sec. 2781), as amended, NIST will provide financial assistance to
integrate environmentally-related services and resources into the
national manufacturing extension system. This assistance will be
provided by NIST often in cooperation with the EPA. Under the NIST
Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), NIST will periodically make
merit-based awards to existing MEP manufacturing extension affiliates
for integration of environmental services into extension centers and to
non-profit organizations for development of environmentally-related
tools and techniques. In addition, NIST will initiate pilot centers
providing environmental information for specific industrial sectors to
be specified in solicitations. MEP assumes a broad definition of
manufacturing, and recognizes a wide range of technology and concepts,
including durable goods production; chemical, biotechnology, and other
materials processing; electronic component and system fabrication; and
engineering services associated with manufacturing, as lying within the
definition of manufacturing.
(b) Announcements of solicitations. Announcements of solicitations
will be made in the Commerce Business Daily. Specific information on
the level of funding available and the deadline for proposals will be
contained in that announcement. In addition, any specific industry
sectors or types of tools and techniques to be focused on will be
specified in the announcement.
(c) Proposal workshops. Prior to an announcement of solicitation,
NIST may announce opportunities for potential applicants to learn about
these projects through workshops. The time and place of the workshop(s)
will be contained in a Commerce Business Daily announcement.
(d) Indirect costs. The total dollar amount of the indirect costs
proposed in an application under this program must not exceed the
indirect cost rate negotiated and approved by a cognizant Federal
agency prior to the proposed effective date of the award or 100 percent
of the total proposed direct costs dollar amount in the application,
whichever is less. [[Page 4083]]
(e) Proposal format. The Proposal must not exceed 20 typewritten
pages in length for integration proposals. Proposals for tools and
techniques projects and national information centers must not exceed 30
pages in length. The proposal must contain both technical and cost
information. The Proposal page count shall include every page,
including pages that contain words, table of contents, executive
summary, management information and qualifications, resumes, figures,
tables, and pictures. All proposals shall be printed such that pages
are single-sided, with no more than fifty-five (55) lines per page. Use
21.6 x 27.9 cm (8\1/2\'' x 11'') paper or A4 metric paper. Use an easy-
to-read font of not more than about 5 characters per cm (fixed pitch
font of 12 or fewer characters per inch or proportional font of point
size 10 or larger). Smaller type may be used in figures and tables, but
must be clearly legible. Margins on all sides (top, bottom, left and
right) must be at least 2.5 cm. (1''). The applicant may submit a
separately bound document of appendices, containing letters of support
for the Basic Proposal. The basic proposal should be self-contained and
not rely on the appendices for meeting criteria. Excess pages in the
Proposal will not be considered in the evaluation. Applicants must
submit one signed original plus six copies of the proposal along with
Standard Form 424, 424A (Rev 4/92) and Form CD-511.
(f) Content of basic proposal. The Basic Proposal must, at a
minimum, include the following:
(1) An executive summary summarizing the planned project consistent
with the Evaluation Criteria stated in this notice.
(2) A description of the planned project sufficient to permit
evaluation of the proposal in accordance with the proposal Evaluation
Criteria stated in this notice.
(3) A budget for the project which identifies all sources of funds
and which breaks out planned expenditures by both activity and object
class (e.g., personnel, travel, etc.).
(4) A description of the qualifications of key personnel who will
be assigned to work on the proposed project.
(5) A statement of work that discusses the specific tasks to be
carried out, including a schedule of measurable events and milestones.
(6) A Standard Form 424, 424A (Rev 4-92) prescribed by the
applicable OMB circular and Form CD-511, Certification Regarding
Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free
Workplace Requirements and Lobbying. SF-424, 424A (Rev 4-92) and Form
CD-511 will not be considered part of the page count of the Basic
Proposal.
(7) The application requirements and the standard form requirements
have been approved by OMB (OMB Control Number 0693-0010, 0348-0043 and
0348-0044).
(g) Applicable federal and departmental guidance. This includes:
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audits. [Dependent
upon type of Recipient organization: nonprofit, for-profit, state/local
government, or educational institution]
(1) Nonprofit organizations.
(i) OMB Circular A-110--Uniform Administrative Requirements of
Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals,
and Other Nonprofit Organizations.
(ii) OMB Circular A-122--Cost Principles for Nonprofit
Organizations.
(iii) 15 CFR part 29b--Audit Requirements for Institutions of
Higher Education and Other Nonprofit Organizations [implements OMB
Circular A-133--Audits for Institutions of Higher Education and Other
Nonprofit Organizations].
(2) State/local governments.
(i) 15 CFR part 24--Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants
and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments.
(ii) OMB Circular A-87--Cost Principles for State and Local
Governments.
(iii) 15 CFR part 29a--Audit Requirements for State and Local
Governments [implements OMB Circular A-128--Audit of State and Local
Governments].
(3) Educational institutions
(i) OMB Circular A-110--Administrative Requirements for Grants and
Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other
Nonprofit Organizations.
(ii) OMB Circular A-21--Cost Principles for Educational
Institutions.
(iii) 15 CFR part 29b--Audit Requirements for Institutions of
Higher Education and Other Nonprofit Organizations [implements OMB
Circular A-133--Audits for Institutions of Higher Education and Other
Nonprofit Organizations].
Sec. 291.2 Environmental integration projects.
(a) Eligibility criteria. Eligible applicants for these projects
are manufacturing extension centers or state technology extension
programs which at the time of solicitation have grants, cooperative
agreements or contracts with the NIST Manufacturing Extension
Partnership. Only one proposal per organization per solicitation is
permitted in this category.
(b) Project objective. The purpose of these projects is to support
the integration of environmentally-focused technical assistance, and
especially pollution prevention assistance, for smaller manufacturers
into the broader services provided by existing MEP manufacturing
extension centers. Proposers are free to structure their project in
whatever way will be most effective and efficient in increasing the
ability of the center to deliver high quality environmental and
pollution prevention technical assistance (either directly or in
partnership with other organizations). Following are some examples of
purposes for which these funds could be used. This list is by no means
meant to be all inclusive. A center might propose a set of actions
encompassing several of these examples as well as others.
(1) Environmental needs assessment. Detailed assessment of the
environmentally-related technical assistance needs of manufacturers
within the state or region of the manufacturing extension center. This
would be done as part of a broader plan to incorporate environmentally
related services into the services of the manufacturing extension
center. The center might propose to document its process and findings
so that other centers may learn from its work.
(2) Partnership with another organization. The center might propose
to partner with an existing organization which is providing
environmentally-focused technical assistance to manufacturers. The
partnership would lead to greater integration of service delivery
through joint technical assistance projects and joint training.
(3) Accessing private-sector environmental resources. The center
might propose to increase it's ability to access environmental
technical services for smaller manufacturers from environmental
consultants or environmental firms.
(4) Training of field engineers/agents in environmental topics.
Funding for training which empowers the field engineer/agent with the
knowledge needed to recognize potential environmental, and especially
pollution prevention, problems and opportunities. In addition, training
might be funded which empowers the field engineer/agent with the
knowledge needed to make appropriate recommendations for solutions or
appropriate referrals to other sources of information or expertise. The
over-arching goal is for the field engineer/agent to enable the
manufacturer to be both environmentally clean and
competitive. [[Page 4084]]
(5) Access to environmentally related information or expertise. A
center might propose to fund access to databases or other sources of
environmentally-related information or expertise which might be
necessary to augment the environmentally focused activities of the
manufacturing extension center.
(6) Addition of environmentally focused staff. It may be necessary
for manufacturing extension centers to have an environmental program
manager or lead field engineer/agent with environmental training and
experience. Funds could be requested to hire this person. However, the
proposer would have to demonstrate a clear and reasonable plan for
providing for the support of this person after the funds provided under
this project are exhausted since no commitment is being made to on-
going funding.
(c) Award period. Projects initiated under this category may be
carried out over multiple years. The proposer should include optional
second and third years in their proposal. Proposals selected for award
may receive one, two or three years of funding from currently available
funds at the discretion of DOC. If an application is selected for
funding, DOC has no obligation to provide any additional future funding
in connection with that award. A separate cooperative agreement will be
written with winning applicants. Renewal of an award to increase
funding or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion
of DOC. It is anticipated that successful projects will be given the
opportunity to roll the funding for these efforts into the base funding
for the extension center. Such a roll-over will be based on a
performance review and the availability of funds.
(d) Matching requirements. No matching funds are required for these
proposals. However, the presence of matching funds (cash and in-kind)
will be considered in the evaluation under the Financial Plan criteria.
(e) Environmental integration projects evaluation criteria. In most
solicitations, preference will be given to projects which are focused
on a single industry sector. This is desired to build on the expertise
and resources which are being built in tools and resources projects in
these industry sectors. Industry focus will be specified in the
solicitation announcement. However, actual services need not be limited
exclusively to this sector. In addition preference may be given to
extension centers which do not have extensive environmentally-related
services already in place. In addition to these preferences, the
criteria for selection of awards will be as follows in descending order
of importance:
(1) Demonstrated commitment to incorporating environmentally
related services. The extension center must demonstrate its commitment
to incorporate environmentally-related technical services into its
overall manufacturing extension services even after funding for this
project is exhausted. It is not the objective of this effort to
establish completely autonomous environmentally focused extension
centers. Rather, the goal is to ensure that such services are
integrated directly with general manufacturing extension services
focused on competitiveness. The center must demonstrate that such
integration will take place. Factors that may be considered include:
The amount of matching funds devoted to the efforts proposed as
demonstration of the center's commitment to the activity; indication
that environmental services are a significant aspect of the
organization's long range planning; strength of commitment and plans
for continuing service beyond funding which might be awarded through
this project; the degree to which environmental services will become an
integral part of each field engineers' portfolio of services; the level
of current or planned education and training of staff on relevant
environmental issues; and the extent of environmentally related
information and expert resources which will be easily accessible by
field engineers.
(2) Demonstrated understanding of the environmentally related
technical assistance needs of manufacturers in the target population.
Target population must be clearly defined. The manufacturing center
must demonstrate that it understands the populations environmentally
related needs or include a coherent methodology for identifying those
needs. The proposal should show that the efforts being proposed will
enable the center to better meet those needs. Factors that may be
considered include: A clear definition of the target population, its
size and demographic characteristics; demonstrated understanding of the
target population's environmental technical assistance needs or a plan
to develop this understanding; and appropriateness of the size of the
target population and the anticipated impact for the proposed
expenditure.
(3) Coordination with other relevant organizations. Wherever
possible the project should be coordinated with and leverage other
organizations which are providing high quality environmentally-related
services to manufacturers in the same target population or which have
relevant resources which can be of assistance in the proposed effort.
If no such organizations exist, the proposal should build the case that
there are no such organizations. Applicants will need to describe how
they will coordinate to allow for increased economies of scale and to
avoid duplication of services in providing assistance to small and
medium-sized manufacturers. Factors that may be considered include:
Demonstrated understanding of existing organizations and resources
relevant for providing technology assistance related services to the
target population; adequate linkages and partnerships with existing
organizations and clear definition of those organizations' roles in the
proposed activities; and that the proposed activity does not duplicate
existing services or resources.
(4) Program evaluation: The applicant should specify plans for
evaluation of the effectiveness of the proposed program and for
ensuring continuous improvement of program activities. Factors that may
be considered include: Thoroughness of evaluation plans, including
internal evaluation for management control, external evaluation for
assessing outcomes of the activity, and ``customer satisfaction''
measures of performance.
(5) Management experience and plans. Applicants should specify
plans for proper organization, staffing, and management of the
implementation process. Factors that may be considered include:
Appropriateness and authority of the governing or managing organization
to conduct the proposed activities; qualifications of the project team
and its leadership to conduct the proposed activity; soundness of any
staffing plans, including recruitment, selection, training, and
continuing professional development; appropriateness of the
organizational approach for carrying out the proposed activity;
evidence of involvement and support by private industry.
(6) Financial plan: Applicants should show the relevance and cost
effectiveness of the financial plan for meeting the objectives of the
project; the firmness and level of the applicant's total financial
support for the project; and a plan to maintain the program after the
cooperative agreement has expired. Factors that may be considered
include: Reasonableness of the budget both in income and expenses;
strength of commitment and amount of the proposer's cost share, if any;
effectiveness of management plans for control of budget;
appropriateness of matching contributions; and plans for
[[Page 4085]] maintaining the program after the cooperative agreement
has expired.
Sec. 291.3 Environmental tools and techniques projects.
(a) Eligibility criteria. Eligible applicants for these projects
include all nonprofit organizations including universities, community
colleges, state governments, state technology programs and independent
nonprofit organizations. Organizations may submit multiple proposals
under this category in each solicitation for unique projects.
(b) Project objective. The purpose of these projects is to support
the initial development and implementation of tools or techniques which
will aide manufacturing extension organizations in providing
environmentally-related services to smaller manufacturers and which may
also be of direct use by the smaller manufacturers themselves. Specific
industry sectors to be addressed and sub-categories of tools and
techniques may be specified in solicitations. These sectors or sub-
categories will be specified in the solicitation announcement. Examples
of tools and techniques include, but are not limited to, manufacturing
assessment tools, environmental benchmarking tools, training delivery
programs, electronically accessible environmental information
resources, environmental demonstration facilities, software tools, etc.
Projects must be completed within the scope of the effort proposed and
should not require on-going federal support.
(c) Award period. Projects initiated under this category may be
carried out over up to three years. Proposals selected for award will
receive all funding from currently available funds. If an application
is selected for funding, DOC has no obligation to provide any
additional future funding in connection with that award. Renewal of an
award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the
total discretion of DOC.
(d) Matching requirements. No matching funds are required for these
proposals. However, the presence of matching funds (cash and in-kind)
will be considered in the evaluation under the Financial Plan criteria.
(e) Environmental tools and techniques projects evaluation
criteria. Proposals from applicants will be evaluated and rated on the
basis of the following criteria listed in descending order of
importance:
(1) Demonstrated understanding of the environmentally-related
technical assistance needs of manufacturers and technical assistance
providers in the target population. Target population must be clearly
defined. The proposal must demonstrate that it understands the
population's environmentally related tool or technique needs. The
proposal should show that the efforts being proposed meet the needs
identified. Factors that may be considered include: A clear definition
of the target population, size and demographic distribution;
demonstrated understanding of the target population's environmental
tools or techniques needs; and appropriateness of the size of the
target population and the anticipated impact for the proposed
expenditure.
(2) Technology and information sources. The proposal must delineate
the sources of technology and/or information which will be used to
create the tool or resource. Sources may include those internal to the
center (including staff expertise) or from other organizations. Factors
that may be considered include: Strength of core competency in the
proposed area of activity; and demonstrated access to relevant
technical or information sources external to the organization.
(3) Degree of integration with the manufacturing extension
partnership. The proposal must demonstrate that the tool or resource
will be integrated into and will be of service to the NIST
Manufacturing Extension Centers. Factors that may be considered
include: Ability to access the tool or resource especially for MEP
extension centers; methodology for disseminating or promoting use of
the tool or technique especially within the MEP system; and
demonstrated interest in using the tool or technique especially by MEP
extension centers.
(4) Coordination with other relevant organizations. Wherever
possible the project should be coordinated with and leverage other
organizations which are developing or have expertise on similar tools
or techniques. If no such organizations exist, the proposal should show
that this the case. Applicants will need to describe how they will
coordinate to allow for increased economies of scale and to avoid
duplication. Factors that may be considered include: Demonstrated
understanding of existing organizations and resources relevant to the
proposed project; Adequate linkages and partnerships with existing
organizations and clear definition of those organizations' roles in the
proposed activities; and that the proposed activity does not duplicate
existing services or resources.
(5) Program evaluation. The applicant should specify plans for
evaluation of the effectiveness of the proposed tool or technique and
for ensuring continuous improvement of the tool. Factors that may be
considered include: Thoroughness of evaluation plans, including
internal evaluation for management control, external evaluation for
assessing outcomes of the activity, and ``customer satisfaction''
measures of performance.
(6) Management experience and plans. Applicants should specify
plans for proper organization, staffing, and management of the
implementation process. Factors that may be considered include:
Appropriateness and authority of the governing or managing organization
to conduct the proposed activities; qualifications of the project team
and its leadership to conduct the proposed activity; soundness of any
staffing plans, including recruitment, selection, training, and
continuing professional development; and appropriateness of the
organizational approach for carrying out the proposed activity.
(7) Financial plan: Applicants should show the relevance and cost
effectiveness of the financial plan for meeting the objectives of the
project; the firmness and level of the applicant's total financial
support for the project; and a plan to maintain the program after the
cooperative agreement has expired. Factors that may be considerable
include: Reasonableness of the budget, both in income and expenses;
strength of commitment and amount of the proposers's cost share, if
any; effectiveness of management plans for control of budget
appropriateness of matching contributions; and plan for maintaining the
program after the cooperative agreement has expired.
Sec. 291.4 National industry-specific pollution prevention and
environmental compliance resource centers.
(a) Eligibility criteria. Eligible applicants for these projects
include all nonprofit organizations including universities, community
colleges, state governments, state technology programs and independent
nonprofit organizations. Only one proposal per organization is
permitted in this category.
(b) Project objective. These centers will provide easy access to
relevant, current, reliable and comprehensive information on pollution
prevention opportunities, regulatory compliance and technologies and
techniques for reducing pollution in the most competitive manner for a
specific industry sector or industrial process. The sector or
industrial process to be addressed will be specified in the
[[Page 4086]] solicitation. The center will enhance the ability of
small businesses to implement risk based pollution prevention
alternatives to increase competitiveness and reduce adverse
environmental impacts. The center should use existing resources,
information and expertise and will avoid duplication of existing
efforts. The information provided by the center will create links
between relevant EPA Pollution Prevention programs, EPA and other
technical information, NIST manufacturing extension efforts, EPA
regulation and guidance, and state requirements. The center will
emphasize pollution prevention methods as the principal means to both
comply with government regulations and enhance competitiveness.
(c) Project goal. To improve the environmental and competitive
performance of smaller manufacturers by:
(1) Enhancing the national capability to provide pollution
prevention and regulatory requirements information (federal, state and
local) to specific industries.
(2) Providing easy access to relevant and reliable information and
tools on pollution prevention technologies and techniques that achieve
manufacturing efficiency and enhanced competitiveness with reduced
environmental impact.
(3) Providing easy access to relevant and reliable information and
tools to enable specific industries to achieve the continued
environmental improvement to meet or exceed compliance requirements.
(d) Project customers. (1) The customers for this center will be
the businesses in the industrial sector or businesses which use the
industrial process specified as the focus for the solicitation. In
addition, consultants providing services to those businesses, the NIST
Manufacturing Extension Centers, and federal state and local programs
providing technical, pollution prevention and compliance assistance.
(2) The center should assist the customer in choosing the most
cost- effective, environmentally sound options or practices that
enhance the company's competitiveness. Assistance must be accessible to
all interested customers. The center, wherever feasible, shall use
existing materials and information to enhance and develop the services
to its customers. The centers should rarely, if ever, perform research,
but should find and assimilate data and information produced by other
sources. The center should not duplicate any existing distribution
system. The center should distribute and provide information, but
should not directly provide on-site assistance to customers. Rather,
referrals to local technical assistance organizations should be given
when appropriate. Information would likely be available through
multiple avenues such as phone, fax, electronically accessible data
bases, printed material, networks of technical experts, etc.
(e) Award period. The pilot initiated under this category may be
carried out over multiple years. The proposers should include optional
second and third years in their proposal. Proposals selected for award
may receive one, two or three years of funding from currently available
finds at the discretion of DOC. If an application is selected for
funding, DOC has no obligation to provide any additional future funding
in connection with that award. Renewal of an award to increase funding
or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of DOC.
Successful centers may be given an opportunity to receive continuing
funding as a NIST manufacturing center after the expiration of their
initial cooperative agreement. Such a roll-over will be based upon the
performance of the center and availability of funding.
(f) Matching requirements. A matching contribution from each
applicant will be required. NIST may provide financial support up to
50% of the total budget for the project. The applicant's share of the
budget may include dollar contributions from state, county, industrial
or other non-federal sources and non-federal in-kind contributions
necessary and reasonable for proper accomplishment of project
objectives.
(g) Resource center evaluation criteria. Proposals from applicants
will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the following criteria
listed in descending order of importance:
(1) Demonstrated understanding of the environmentally-related
information needs of manufacturers and technical assistance providers
in the target population. Understanding the environmentally-related
needs of the target population (i.e., customers) is absolutely critical
to the success of such a resource center. Factors that may be
considered include: A clear definition of the target population, size
and demographic distribution; demonstrated understanding of the target
population's environmentally-related information needs or a clear plan
for identifying those customer needs; and methodologies for continually
improving the understanding of the target population's environmentally-
related information needs.
(2) Delivery mechanisms. The proposal must set forth clearly
defined, effective mechanisms for delivery of services to target
population. Factors that may be considered include: Potential
effectiveness and efficiency of proposed delivery systems; and
demonstrated capacity to form the effective linkages and partnerships
necessary for success of the proposed activity.
(3) Technology and information sources. The proposal must delineate
the sources of information which will be used to create the
informational foundation of the resource center. Sources may include
those internal to the Center (including staff expertise), but it is
expected that many sources will be external. Factors that may be
considered include: Strength of core competency in the proposed area of
activity; demonstrated access to relevant technical or information
sources external to the organization.
(4) Degree of integration with the manufacturing extension
partnership and other technical assistance providers. The proposal must
demonstrate that the source center will be integrated into the system
of services provided by the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership
and other technical assistance providers. Factors that may be
considered include: Ability of the target population including MEP
Extension Centers to access the resource center; and methodology for
disseminating or promoting use of the resource center especially within
the MEP system.
(5) Coordination with other relevant organizations. Wherever
possible the project should be coordinated with and leverage other
organizations which are developing or have expertise on similar tools
or techniques. If no such organizations exist, the proposal should show
that this is the case. Applicants will need to describe how they will
coordinate to allow for increased economies of scale and to avoid
duplication. Factors that may be considered include: Demonstrated
understanding of existing organizations and resources relevant to the
proposed project; and adequate linkages and partnerships with existing
organizations and clear definition of those organizations' roles in the
proposed activities.
(6) Program evaluation. The applicant should specify plans for
evaluation of the effectiveness of the proposed resource center and for
ensuring continuous improvement. Factors that may be considered
include: Thoroughness of evaluation plans, including internal
evaluation for management control, external evaluation for assessing
outcomes of the [[Page 4087]] activity, and ``customer satisfaction''
measures of performance; and the proposer's plan must include
documentation, analysis of the results, and must show how the results
can be used in improving the resource center.
(7) Management experience and Plans. Applicants should specify
Plans for proper organization, staffing, and management of the
implementation process. Factors that may be considered include:
Appropriateness and authority of the governing or managing organization
to conduct the proposed activities; qualifications and experience of
the project team and its leadership to conduct the proposed activity;
soundness of any staffing plans, including recruitment, selection,
training, and continuing professional development; and appropriateness
of the organizational approach for carrying out the proposed activity.
(8) Financial plan. Applicants should show the relevance and cost
effectiveness of the financial plan for meeting the objectives of the
project; the firmness and level of the applicant's total financial
support for the project; and a plan to maintain the program after the
cooperative agreement has expired. Factors that may be considered
include: Reasonableness of the budget, both in income and expenses;
strength of commitment and amount of the proposer's cost share;
effectiveness of management plans for control of the budget; and
appropriateness of matching contributions.
Sec. 291.5 Proposal selection process.
The proposal evaluation and selection process will consist of three
principal phases: Proposal qualification; proposal review and selection
of finalists; and award determination.
(a) Proposal qualification. All proposals will be reviewed by NIST
to assure compliance with the proposal content and other basic
provisions of this notice. Proposals which satisfy these requirements
will be designated qualified proposals; all others will be disqualified
at this phase of the evaluation and selection process.
(b) Proposal review and selection of finalists. NIST will appoint
an evaluation panel composed of NIST and in some cases other federal
employees to review and evaluate all qualified proposals in accordance
with the evaluation criteria and values set forth in this notice. A
site visit may be required to make full evaluation of a proposal. From
the qualified proposals, a group of finalists will be numerically
ranked and recommended for award based on this review.
(c) Award determination. The Director of the NIST, or her/his
designee, shall select awardees based on total evaluation scores,
geographic distribution, and the availability of funds. All three
factors will be considered in making an award. Upon the final award
decision, a notification will be made to each of the proposing
organizations.
Sec. 291.6 Additional requirements; federal policies and procedures.
Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all Federal laws and
Federal and Department of Commerce policies, regulations, and
procedures applicable to Federal financial assistance awards.
[FR Doc. 95-1313 Filed 1-19-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-M
