NIST MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
The National Institute of Standards and Technology's Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) works with small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers to help them create and retain jobs, increase profits, and save time and money. The nationwide network provides a variety of services, from innovation strategies to process improvements to green manufacturing. MEP also works with partners at the state and federal levels on programs that put manufacturers in position to develop new customers, expand into new markets and create new products.
NIST MEP advocates Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for projects designed to enhance the productivity, technical performance and global competitiveness of U.S. Manufacturers. NOFOs are implemented through the MEP National Network consisting of; Centers located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, 558 service locations, more than 1,200 Center field staff and over 2,300 service providers. These opportunities help encourage the creation and adaption of improved technologies and provide resources to develop new products that respond to changing market needs.
MEP Disaster Assessment Program
NIST invites applications from current recipients of Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center cooperative agreements (MEP Centers) to perform assessments of small- and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) in areas subject to a FEMA Disaster Declaration. These assessments should be designed to identify the impact, if any, to the operations of the SMMs as result of the subject disaster. MEP Centers receiving funding pursuant to this program must also assist impacted SMMs in identifying and accessing Federal, State and local resources to aid in business recovery efforts and, as appropriate, in the development of a risk mitigation plan for future disasters. Award recipients will further be required to share the results of their project, including disaster preparedness lessons learned and SMMs best practices, with other SMMs, NIST and the MEP National Network™ in order to help the SMM community with future disaster resilience planning efforts. Learn More
Rolling Competitive Awards Program
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) invites applications from current MEP Centers to add capabilities to the MEP Program, including the development of projects to solve new or emerging manufacturing problems, that are not already provided for under an applicant’s and its collaborating Center’s base MEP award. Themes for FY 17 include new manufacturing technologies of relevance to small and mid-size manufacturers, particularly those related to Industry/Manufacturing 4.0 (these technologies are described more fully in Section I.1. of the NOFO; supply chain management technologies and practices; and workforce intermediary and business services. However, so long as an application addresses the program priorities listed in Section I.2. of the NOFO, it need not focus upon any of the identified thematic areas to be considered for funding under the NOFO. Learn More
