OpportunityTitle: Embedding MEP in NNMI Institutes Pilot Projects
CategoryExplanation: Manufacturing Extension Partnership
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: Eligible applicants for this program are MEP Centers receiving current cooperative agreement funding from NIST.  An applicant MEP Center must form a collaboration, teaming arrangement, or other appropriate relationship with one or more of the current NNMI Institutes. NIST encourages project proposals involving participation from multiple MEP Centers and multiple NNMI Institutes, as well as other collaborating entities such as local economic development organizations, universities, community colleges, technology incubator programs, and other organizations.
Description: NIST invites proposals from current MEP Centers to pilot test approaches to provide needed technology acceleration assistance to small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers (referred to hereinafter as small U.S. manufacturers) through the establishment of meaningful and results oriented collaborations between the nationwide system of Centers operating as part of the NIST Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program (hereinafter referred to as NIST MEP), and the Institutes participating in the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI). The emphasis of these Pilot Projects will be to demonstrate ways to more fully leverage the assets and resources of the national MEP Program to provide assistance to small U.S. manufacturers in technology areas that are the focus of the NNMI Institutes. These Pilots will embed personnel from MEP Centers in residence at NNMI Institutes, targeting the cultivation of enduring collaborations among small U.S. manufacturers, NNMI Institutes, and MEP Centers for the benefit of all these entities. The Pilots will accelerate the processes by which small U.S. manufacturers transition the latest and most compelling technological innovations into the manufactured goods needed by our Nation.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: Agency Contact
GrantorContactText: Christopher Hunton &lt;br/&gt;Management and Program Analyst &lt;br/&gt;Phone 301-975-5718
CloseDateExplanation: Electronic applications in response to this FFO must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, June 17, 2016. Applications received after the deadline will not be reviewed or considered.