[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 4, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10591-10593]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5531]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket No. 971222307-7307-01]
RIN: 0693-ZA20
Continuation of Fire Research Grants Program--Availability of
Funds
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to inform potential applicants
that the Fire Research Program, National Institute of Standards and
Technology, is continuing its Fire Research Grants Program. The Fire
Research Program is limited to innovative ideas generated by the
proposal writer, who chooses the topic and approach. The issuance of
awards is contingent upon the availability of funding.
DATES: Proposals must be received no later than the close of business
September 30, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Applicants must submit one signed original and two (2)
copies of the proposal along with the Application for Federal
Assistance, Standard Form 424, (Rev. 7-97), as referenced under the
provisions of OMB Circular A-110 to: Building and Fire Research
Laboratory (BFRL), Attention: Sonya Parham, Building 226, Room B206,
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland
20899-0001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Technical questions concerning the
NIST Fire Research Grants Program should be directed to Sonya Parham,
(301) 975-6854. Administrative questions concerning the NIST Fire
Research Grants Program may be directed to the NIST Grants Office at
(301) 975-6329. Additional information can be found in the Extramural
Fire Research Program: Program Announcement and Preparation Guide.
Copies may be downloaded from the BFRL web site (http://
www.bfrl.nist.gov) or obtained from Sonya Parham at the above address.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Name and Number Measurement
and Engineering Research and Standards--11.609
Authority
As authorized by section 16 of the Act of March 3, 1901, as amended
(15 U.S.C. 278f), the NIST Building and Fire Research Laboratory
conducts directly and through grants and cooperative agreements, a
basic and applied fire research program. The annual budget for the Fire
Research Grants Program is $1.36 million. Because of commitments for
the support of multi-year programs, only a portion of the budget is
available to initiate new programs in any one year. Most grants and
cooperative agreements are in the $10,000 to $100,000 per year range.
All proposals submitted must be in accordance with the programs and
objectives listed below.
Program Objectives
A. Fire Modeling and Applications
To perform research, develop and demonstrate the application of
analytical models for the quantitative prediction of the consequences
of fires and the means to assess the accuracy of those models. This
includes: Developing methods to assess fire hazard and risk; creating
advanced, usable modelling for the calculation of the effluent from
building fires; modelling the ignition and burning of furniture,
contents, and building elements such as walls; developing methods of
evaluating and predicting the performance of building safety design
features; developing a protocol for determining the accuracy of
algorithms and comprehensive models; developing data bases to
facilitate use of fire models; and developing methodologies to acquire,
model, and display fire information.
B. Large Fire Research
To perform research and develop techniques to measure, predict the
behavior and mitigate large fire events. This includes: Understanding
the mechanisms of large fires that control gas phase combustion,
burning rate, thermal and chemical emissions, and transport processes;
developing field measurement techniques to assess the near- and far-
field impact of large fires and their plumes; performing research on
the use of combustion for environmental cleanup; predicting the
performance and environmental impact of fire protection measures and
fire fighting systems and techniques; and developing and operating the
Fire Research Program large-scale experimental facility.
C. Advanced Fire Measurements
To produce the scientific basis and robust measurement methods for
characterizing fires and their effluents at full- and reduced-scales.
This includes discrete point, volume-integrated, and time- and space-
resolved measurements for such properties as temperature, smoke
density, chemical species, and flow velocity. Laboratory and
computational research are also performed to understand the
underpinning fire phenomena to ensure the soundness of the developed
measurement techniques.
D. Materials Fire Research
To perform research enabling the confident development by industry
of new, less-flammable materials and products. This capability is based
on understanding fundamentally the mechanisms that control the
ignition, flame spread and burning rate of materials, as well as and
the chemical and physical characteristics that affect these aspects of
flammability. This includes: Developing methods of measuring the
response of a material to fire conditions that enable assured
prediction of the full-scale performance of the final product;
developing computational molecular dynamics and other mechanistic
approaches to understand flame retardant mechanisms and the effects of
polymer chemical structure on flammability; characterizing the burning
rates of charring and non-charring polymers and composites; and
delineating and modeling the enthalpy and mass transfer mechanisms of
materials combustion.
E. Fire Sensing and Extinguishment
To develop understanding, metrology and predictive methods to
enable high-performance fire sensing and extinguishment systems; and
devising new approaches to minimize the impact of unwanted fires and
the suppression process. This includes: performing research for the
identification and in-situ measurement of the symptoms of pending and
nascent fires and the consequences of suppression; devising or adapting
monitors for these variables and the intelligence for timely
[[Page 10592]]
interpretation of the data; developing methods to characterize the
performance of new approaches to fire detection and suppression;
determining mechanisms for deflagration and detonation suppression by
advanced agents and principles for their optimal use; and modeling the
extinguishment process.
Award Period
Proposals will be considered for research projects from one to
three years. When a proposal for a multi-year is approved, funding will
initially be provided for only the first year of the program. 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. Funding for each subsequent year of a
multi-year proposal will be contingent on satisfactory progress, fit to
the NIST Fire Research Program and the availability of funds.
Matching Requirements
The Fire Research Grants Program does not involve the payment of
any matching funds and does not directly affect any state or local
government.
Eligibility
Academic institutions, non-Federal agencies, independent and
industrial laboratories, and research organizations.
Proposal Review Process
All proposals are assigned to the appropriate group leader of the
five programs listed above. Both technical value of the proposal and
the relationship of the work proposed to the needs of the specific
program are taken into consideration in the group leader's
recommendation to the Division Chief. Applicants should allow up to 90
days processing time. Proposals are evaluated for technical merit by at
least three reviewers chosen from NIST professionals, technical experts
from other interested government agencies and experts from the fire
research community at large.
Evaluation Criteria
a. Technical quality of the research: 0-35
b. Potential impact of the results: 0-25
c. Staff and institution capability to do the work: 0-20
d. Match of budget to proposed work: 0-20
Selection Procedures
The results of these technical evaluations are transmitted to the
Group Leader of the appropriate unit in the Building and Fire Research
Laboratory. He/She combines the above results with consideration of (a)
Fit to the program objectives listed above and (b) program balance, and
then prepares a Recommendation for Funding Memo. This is then approved
or disapproved by the Division Chief and Deputy Director.
Paperwork Reduction Act
The Standard Forms 424, 424A, 424B, and LLL mentioned in this
notice are subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act
and have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget, (OMB),
under Control Numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044, 0348-0040, and 0348-0046.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is required
to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure
to comply with a collection, subject to the requirements of the
Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information displays
a currently valid OMB Control Number.
Application Kit
An application kit, containing all required application forms and
certifications is available by calling Sonya Parham, NIST Fire Research
Grants Program (301) 975-6854. An application kit includes the
following:
SF-424 (Rev. 7/97)--APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE
SF-424A (Rev. 7/97)--BUDGET INFORMATION--Non-Construction Programs
SF-424B (Rev. 7/97)--ASSURANCES--Non-Construction Programs
CD-511 (7/91)--CERTIFICATIONS REGARDING DEBARMENT, SUSPENSION, AND
OTHER RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS; DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE REQUIREMENTS AND
LOBBYING
CD-512 (7/91)--CERTIFICATIONS REGARDING DEBARMENT, SUSPENSION,
INELIGIBILITY AND VOLUNTARY EXCLUSION--LOWER TIER COVERED TRANSACTIONS
AND LOBBYING
SF-LLL--DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES
Additional Requirements
Past Performance
Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal awards may result in
an application not being considered for funding.
Preaward Activities
Applicants who incur any costs prior to an award being made do so
solely at their own risk of not being reimbursed by the Government.
Notwithstanding any verbal assurance that may have been provided, there
is no obligation on the part of NIST to cover preaward costs.
Primary Application Certifications
All primary applicants must submit a completed Form CD-511,
``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other
Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements and
Lobbying,'' and the following explanations are hereby provided:
1. Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension. Prospective
participants (as defined at 15 CFR part 26, section 605) are subject to
15 CFR part 26, subpart F., ``Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension''
and the related section of the certification form prescribed above
applies;
2. Drug-Free Workplace. Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR part 26,
section 605) are subject to 15 CFR part 26, subpart F.,
``Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)'' and
the related section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
3. Anti-Lobbying. Persons (as defined at 15 CFR part 28, section
105) are subject to the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352,
``Limitation on use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal
contracting and financial transactions,'' and the lobbying section of
the certification form prescribed above applies to applications/bids
for grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than
$100,000, and loans and loan guarantees for more than $150,000, or the
single family maximum mortgage limit for affected programs, whichever
is greater, and;
4. Anti-Lobbying Disclosure. Any applicant that has been paid or
will pay for lobbying using any funds must submit an SF-LLL,
``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,'' as required under 15 CFR part
28, appendix B.
5. Lower-Tier Certifications. Recipients shall require applicants/
bidders for subgrants, contracts, subcontracts, or other lower tier
covered transactions at any tier under the award to submit, if
applicable, a completed Form CD-512, ``Certification Regarding
Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier
Covered Transactions and Lobbying'' and disclosure form, SF-LLL,
``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.'' Form CD-512 is intended for the
use of recipients and should not be transmitted to NIST. SF-LLL
submitted by any tier recipient or subrecipient should be submitted to
NIST in accordance with
[[Page 10593]]
the instructions contained in the award document.
Name Check Reviews
All for-profit and non-profit applicants will be subject to a name
check review process. Name checks are intended to reveal if any key
individuals associated with the applicant have been convicted of or are
presently facing, criminal charges such as fraud, theft, perjury, or
other matters which significantly reflect on the applicant's management
honesty or financial integrity.
False Statements
Applicants are reminded that a false statement may be grounds for
denial or termination of funds and grounds for possible punishment by
fine or imprisonment.
Delinquent Federal Debts
No award of Federal funds shall be made to an applicant who has an
outstanding delinquent Federal debt until either:
1. The delinquent account is paid in full;
2. A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one
payment is received; or
3. Other arrangements satisfactory to DoC are made.
No Obligation for Future Funding
If an application is accepted for funding, DoC has no obligation to
provide any additional future funding in connection with that award.
Renewal of an award, increased funding, or extending the period of
performance is at the total discretion of NIST.
Federal Policies and Procedures
Recipients and subrecipients under the Fire Research Grants Program
are subject to all applicable Federal laws and Federal and Departmental
policies, regulations and procedures applicable to Federal financial
assistance awards. The Fire Research Grant Program does not directly
affect any state or local government. Applications under this program
are not subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of
Federal Programs.''
Purchase of American-Made Equipment and Products
Applicants are hereby notified that they are encouraged, to the
greatest extent practicable, to purchase American-made equipment and
products with funding provided under this program.
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 cost dollar amount in the application, whichever is
less.
Executive Order Statement
This funding notice was determined to be ``not significant'' for
purposes of E.O. 12866.
Dated: February 26, 1998.
Robert E. Hebner,
Acting Deputy Director, National Institute of Standards and Technology.
[FR Doc. 98-5531 Filed 3-3-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-M
