AI for Resilient Manufacturing Institute Competition FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Application Process

1. Who should I contact with additional questions about the application process?
2. What are the deadlines for this funding opportunity?
3. How do I submit a concept paper and when are they due?
4. How many awards will be made for this NOFO?

Competition Documents

1. What do I need to have for a complete application for this NOFO?
2. What proactive steps can we take to prepare for a possible submission?
3. Are the concept paper's Cover Page, Table of Contents, and Letters of Interest excluded from the 20-page limit?
4. Do we need to identify all key partners needed at the Concept Paper stage?
5. Can you offer guidance, or do you have expectations, regarding the technical approach proposed and the distribution of research funding?
6. What Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) range are you expecting the R&D projects to be focused on?
7. Will the funding also cover Education and Workforce Development (EWD) activities, and will it be structured the same as existing institutes?
8. What is the typical duration of a project in the Annual Institute Plan (AIP)?
9. Do Industry partners need to provide additional letters of commitment if letters already exist between the industry partner and lead organization for a similar effort?
10. What is the interaction between the Annual Institute Plan (AIP) and the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) attachments?
11. Are applicants required to create their own Current & Pending Investigator activity forms to accommodate additional activities that will not fit on the form?
12. Is the expectation that state-wide and/or regional Workforce Development and Apprenticeship organizations be included in proposals?
13. Are legal costs considered cost share? (i.e. IP, patenting, licensing, etc.)
14. If a sub awardee plans to provide cost share, does the applicant need to address the sub awardee’s cost share in their own justification?
15. The funding opportunity indicated the Project Performance/Site Locations(s) is required, but the form is not in the Grants.gov application. Where can we find it?
16. Are Other Direct Costs, such as materials/supplies, laptops/monitors, allowable?
17. Under Section 4.3.3.1.6.d.4, applicants are required to provide “Integrated Technical Project-level schedule, milestones, and deliverables.” Section 4.3.3.1.6 requires a Gantt chart, which would typically include those items and is excluded from the page count. Are all schedule materials not included in the page count?
18. There is conflicting guidance on the AIP between the template provided and the NOFO. Which one should I follow?
19. For the Rough Order of Magnitude Budget “Section B – Budget Categories” include planned expenditures for both federal funds and non-federal cost share, or just the federal funds?

Eligibility

1. Who is eligible to apply?
2. Who is not eligible to apply?
3. My organization currently operates an existing Manufacturing USA institute. Am I eligible to apply for this NOFO?
4. What role can Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) play with respect to this funding opportunity?
5. Are there any topics that are excluded from the AI for Resilient Manufacturing Institute Funding Opportunity?
6. How can my organization partner with others?
7. Can existing Manufacturing USA institutes be a funded partner/sub-awardee to a lead organization?
8. Are incorporated (e.g., LLC, S Corporation) single-member businesses allowed to participate?
9. Are permanent residents who are faculty in US public academic institutes eligible to apply?
10. Are organizations which are included within a larger University system considered separate organizations?

Federal Funding & Non-Federal Cost-Share

1. How much funding will be awarded?
2. Can federal funding be used for construction?
3. Is there a cost-share requirement?
4. What constitutes "cost-sharing?"
5. Is the cost-share required to be cash or in-kind?
6. What is an acceptable cost-share structure?
7. Can a university use partial of indirect costs as cost-share?

General Questions

1. Will the new institute be a Center of Excellence?
2. Does the funding opportunity have requirements from Made in America?
3. Can you comment on the gap between promised AI capabilities and the actual performance of AI capabilities once deployed?
4. What support does NIST provide during the application process?
5. Can NIST facilitate any partnering with groups that have not been invited to move forward to the second phase of the competition?
6. Will you be sharing how many invitations applicants were invited for Full Proposals?
7. Can you describe the general composition of the proposal reviewers? For example, will the reviewers be entirely from NIST, entirely from government, or from industry, academia and government?
8. Will you be able to provide some guidelines to engage NIST MEPs across many states?
9. Do teaming partners need to be regionally proximate to each other?
10. What is derisked technology?
11. Does a protocol exist for responding to inquiries on the Teaming List? For example, if there are multiple inquiries should we respond to all applicable requests or just one.
12. The submission deadline has passed, but is there a potential to collaborate with the winning team? 
13. Is there a salary cap?
14. The system limits our listed “Other Personnel” to six and will not allow us to enter additional entries. What is an acceptable work around to ensure all our “Other Personnel” is listed?

Answers

Application Process

Who should I contact with additional questions about the application process?

The application process consists of a mandatory concept paper and a full application. Full applications will only be accepted from applicants invited after the concept paper evaluation.

See Section 4 of the Funding Opportunity for detailed information concerning the application process for this funding opportunity.

What are the deadlines for this funding opportunity?

• Concept papers are due by September 30, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.  
• Full applications (by invitation only): NIST anticipates full applications will be due on or about January 23, 2025. The final date will be confirmed in the invitation to submit a full proposal.

See section 4.3.5 of the Funding Opportunity for additional information concerning the submissions deadlines for this funding opportunity.

How do I submit a concept paper and when are they due?

Applicants are required to submit a concept paper. Concept papers will only be accepted through Grants.gov. The deadline for receipt of a concept paper must be received at Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, September 30, 2024.

How many awards will be made for this NOFO?

NIST expects to establish one institute through this competition with follow-on years of the award... subject to availability of funding. NIST reserves the right to change the number of awards or to not make an award from this competition, subject to the merit of applications received and the availability of federal funding.

Competition Documents

What do I need to have for a complete application for this NOFO?

The NOFO at Grants.gov contains links to download the full application package, including all required forms. Please pay close attention to all the details.

What proactive steps can we take to prepare for a possible submission?

• Make sure that you are registered or have renewed your SAM.gov account. The free annual registration process in SAM.gov may take as long as three weeks. 
• Make sure that you are currently registered 

Are the Concept Paper's Cover page, Table of Contents, and Letters of Interest excluded from the 20-page limit in the Concept Paper?

The Cover Page and Table of Contents do not contribute to the number of pages. The Letter(s) of Interest are optional, and do not contribute to the number of pages and may be submitted at the Full Proposal stage.

Do we need to find and identify all key partners needed at the Concept Paper stage?

No, it is not critical to identify all key partners at the Concept Paper stage. However, it would be good practice to identify as many as possible or at least outline the roles that need to be fulfilled.

Can you offer any guidance, or do you have expectations, regarding the technical approach proposed and the distribution of research funding?

NIST will not provide guidance or specific expectations. We are interested in the applicant’s proposed approach and how they will balance the needs of the consortium partners. It is up to applicants to propose the priorities, the process for determining them, and how to achieve the best outcomes and impact from the federal investment.

What Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) range are you expecting the R&D projects to be focused on?

The institute focuses on applied R&D in the TRL/MRL 4-7 range, up to commercialization readiness. While the emphasis is on pre-competitive R&D below TRL/MRL 8, it is good practice to not place hard boundaries on the technology, allowing progress to the next phase as technology matures. The NOFO emphasizes having a transition plan for the technology.

Will the funding also cover Education and Workforce Development (EWD) activities, and will it be structured the same as existing institutes?

EWD is vital for preparing a skilled workforce. Your proposal should include plans for supporting the next generation of workers in AI for resilient manufacturing. This may involve partnering with appropriate academic, non-profit, private, or public organizations, and how EWD is structured is up to the applicants.

What is the typical duration of a project in the Annual Institute Plan (AIP)?

Duration of a project depends on your proposed institute Project Calls identified in your proposal. The duration of any single project is up to the applicant. The existing Manufacturing USA institutes have a mix of short-term and long-term commitments. A sample AIP template can be found here: https://www.nist.gov/document/oam-sample-template-annual-institute-plan

Do Industry partners need to provide additional letters of commitment if letters already exist between the industry partner and lead organization for a similar effort?

It is up the applicant whether they choose to provide specific letters of commitment for the AI for Resilient Manufacturing NOFO or if they want to provide letters that have been used for a similar effort in the past. However, it is advised to review each letter of commitment to ensure it mentions the commitment of specific resources or funding to the proposed institute in the event that the application is funded. See section 4.3.3.1.11 on Letters of Commitment and Interest for full details.

What is the interaction between the Annual Institute Plan (AIP) and the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) attachments?

The AIP is an example of projects and plans for a full year. The WBS is to show planned projects through the lifetime of the institute. Both documents provide the reviewers a whole picture of how the applicants plan to run the institute.

Are applicants required to create their own Current & Pending Investigator activity forms to accommodate additional activities that will not fit on the form?

The Current and Pending Support Form assists NIST in identifying potential scientific, budgetary, and commitment overlap in financial assistance awards. The Current and Pending Support Form is required for all NIST NOFOs. The form includes instructions on how to complete and submit current and pending (other) support information for each senior/key person identified on a proposed project. Applicants must submit a separate Current and Pending Support Form for each proposal and active project, as well as in-kind contributions. Should an applicant need to exceed the 1500-character limit on the “Overall Objectives” or “Statement of Potential Overlap” sections of the Current and Pending Support Form, applicants may include that additional information by creating a continuation page.

Current and Pending Support Common Form, OMB 3145-0279, exp 10/31/2026.

Is the expectation that state-wide and/or regional Workforce Development and Apprenticeship organizations be included in proposals?

It is up to the applicant to determine if including state-wide and/or regional Workforce Development and Apprenticeship programs fits in their operational model and within the scope of their proposal.

Are legal costs considered cost share? (i.e. IP, patenting, licensing, etc.)

This is determined on a case-by-case basis. The applicant may propose different types of cost share for evaluation by the NIST Agreements Officer. As stated in Section 3.3 of the NOFO: “The applicant’s cost share may include cash, services, contributions or donations of equipment or other property for use in the project, and third-party in-kind contributions that would be allowable pursuant to 2 CFR 200.306. The applicant may propose different types of cost share for evaluation other than those that would allowable under 2 CFR 200.306, provided that the proposed cost share is allocable and necessary for the success of the project and approved in writing by the NIST Agreements Officer.”

If a sub awardee plans to provide cost share, does the applicant need to address the sub awardee’s cost share in their own justification?

The lead organization (awardee) is responsible for ensuring that the requisite cost share is contributed to the award and is also responsible for documenting and justifying the cost share contributions across the entire award.  The Table of Cost Share Components and Contributors should be tabulated at the institute-level, not at the sub-awardee level. Justifications of these cost share contributions should indicate how it will be used for institute operations.

The funding opportunity indicated the Project Performance/Site Locations(s) is required, but the form is not in the Grants.gov application. Where can we find it?

The link to the requested form can be found here - https://grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/r-r-family.

Are Other Direct Costs, such as materials/supplies, laptops/monitors, allowable?

Please see Section 4.3.3.1.8 Budget Narrative and Justification of the Funding Opportunity, particularly c. Equipment Description and f. Other Direct Costs.

Under Section 4.3.3.1.6.d.4, applicants are required to provide “Integrated Technical Project-level schedule, milestones, and deliverables.” Section 4.3.3.1.6 requires a Gantt chart, which would typically include those items and is excluded from the page count. Are all schedule materials not included in the page count?

In the Funding Opportunity Section 4.3.3.1.6.d.4 that discusses the Annual Institute Plan (AIP), it is noted that it DOES count under the page count. The Gantt chart/timeline provided will not count against the total page limit.

There is conflicting guidance on the AIP between the template provided and the NOFO. Which one should I follow?

The language in the Funding Opportunity ALWAYS takes precedence over any example. Applicants should refer to Section 4.3.3.1.6 d. Annual Institute Plan in the Funding Opportunity, for instructions that should be followed.

For the Rough Order of Magnitude Budget “Section B – Budget Categories” include planned expenditures for both federal funds and non-federal cost share, or just the federal funds?

Both federal and non-federal funds are to be included in “Section B – Budget Categories.”

Eligibility

Who is eligible to apply?

All accredited institutions of higher education; non-profit organizations and for-profit organizations that are organized and operated in the United States (including U.S. territories) with majority domestic ownership or control; and State, local, Territorial, and Indian Tribal Governments.

Who is not eligible to apply?

Individuals and unincorporated sole proprietors are not eligible to apply under this NOFO. Foreign public entities and foreign organizations are not eligible to apply. Federal agencies and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) are not eligible to apply for this NOFO. Existing Manufacturing USA institutes are not eligible to apply to this NOFO.

My organization currently operates an existing Manufacturing USA institute. Am I eligible to apply for this NOFO?

Yes. Organizations executing existing Manufacturing USA institutes, as well as those operating Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), consortia, or other federally supported membership-based programs, are eligible to apply to this NOFO, provided the proposed institute will be operationally separate and distinct from other supported efforts.  See additional information below specific to FFRDCs.

What role can Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) play with respect to this funding opportunity?

• An FFRDC may not be included as a lead applicant, funded sub-recipient, or contractor at the time of application.  
• After an award is issued: 
  • Institutes will be expected to interact with FFRDCs, as appropriate, through mechanisms consistent with those organizations’ respective missions, purposes, and operational structures. Institutes are encouraged to utilize federal entities to support aligned program goals to the extent appropriate. 
  • FFRDCs may be allowed as sub-recipients or contractors, with prior written approval of the NIST Agreements Officer and to the extent  otherwise allowed by law, based on the unique and specific needs of the Institute, subject to the provisions of the NOFO

What topics are excluded from the AI for Resilient Manufacturing Institute Funding Opportunity?

Applicants must define the scope of the new institute to avoid substantive duplication with the scope and operations of the existing network of Manufacturing USA institutes as well as the upcoming CHIPS Manufacturing USA institute - Digital Twins for Semiconductor Manufacturing. Please note that the AI for resilient manufacturing funding opportunity is separate from activities related to the NIST-sponsored US. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (USAISI) consortium. 

See Section 3 of this NOFO for additional information concerning the eligibility requirements for this funding opportunity.

How can my organization partner with others?

We encourage you to put your name on the Teaming list. Write down what your capabilities are and indicate you are willing to partner with another organization, whether it is as a lead organization or secondary organization. Proposers Day is another good opportunity to partner with other organizations.

Can existing Manufacturing USA institutes be a funded partner/sub-awardee to a lead organization?

Existing Manufacturing USA Institutes are not eligible to serve as a funded partner/sub-awardee but may support the proposed Institute as an unfunded partner.  The organization operating an existing Institute (e.g., a non-profit that runs the institute as well as other business operations) may be listed as a funded partner, provided that the Institute and the operator are separate and distinct legal entities and further provided that NIST approves the amount and scope of the proposed funding.  Post-award, the new institute will be encouraged to partner with existing institutes, as appropriate.

Are incorporated (e.g., LLC, S Corporation) single-member businesses allowed to participate?

Single-member limited liability corporations (LLCs) and S corporations that are disregarded for tax purposes are eligible to apply for funding pursuant to this NOFO. The NOFO prohibits individuals and unincorporated businesses from applying, which does not include LLCs or S Corporations since they are incorporated pursuant to applicable State law. This is the case regardless of whether the LLC is a single-member entity and regardless of whether the S Corporation is a disregarded entity for tax purposes.

Are permanent residents who are faculty in U.S. public academic institutes eligible to apply?

The funding opportunity is open to all accredited institutions of higher education. Individuals employed by such institutions whose legal status allows them to live and work in the United States are eligible to apply through their institutions, but not as individuals. Additional information regarding eligibility is found in Section 3 of the NOFO.

Are organizations which are included within a larger University system considered separate organizations?

The award will be made to a single or lead organization, as identified on the SF-424 and as described in the project narrative.  This entity (applicant) must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM) registration, in accordance with Section 4.3.4 of the NOFO. As part of the application, the lead applicant will need to identify anticipated subrecipients, as well as other project collaborators. Organizations within a larger University system are considered separate organizations from the applicant to the extent that they are separately organized under applicable State law and/or have separate Employer Identification Numbers (EINs).

Unrecovered indirect costs, including indirect costs on cost sharing, may be included as part of cost sharing with the prior approval of the Federal agency or pass-through entity. Unrecovered indirect cost means the difference between the amount charged to the Federal award and the amount which could have been charged to the Federal award under the recipient's or subrecipient's approved indirect cost rate. 

Federal Funding & Non-Federal Cost Share

How much federal funding will be awarded?

NIST anticipates funding up to $70 million over a five-year period, subject to the availability of federal funds, for the recipient to establish and operate the institute.

Can federal funding be used for construction?

Construction activities are not an allowable cost under this NOFO using either federal funds or non-federal cost share. However, costs related to internal modifications of existing buildings that would be necessary to carry out the proposed research tasks may be allowed at NIST’s discretion. Any plans should be described in detail as part of an application.  

Is there a cost-share requirement?

Yes. This program requires non-federal cost-share in an amount equal to at least the total amount of Federal funding over the lifetime of the award (i.e., 50% or more of the total funding for the institute must come from non-federal sources). Non-federal cost-share is that portion of the project costs not borne by the Federal Government. 

What constitutes "cost-sharing?"

• Cost-share is a contribution from a non-Federal source that directly supports the institute’s operations. Both in-kind and cash contributions count toward the requirement. Cost-share must be tangible, meaningful, and substantial enough in the aggregate to signal strong and committed industry, regional, and local partnerships. 
• Applicants should consider the merits and uncertainties inherent in different types of cost-share when preparing applications.

See Section 2.2 of this NOFO for additional information concerning the availability of funding for this program, Section 3.3 of this NOFO for additional information concerning the non-federal cost share requirements for this program, and Section 3.4. of this NOFO for the eligible uses of federal and non-federal cost-share funding for this program.

Is the cost-share required to be cash or in-kind?

Both cash and in-kind are allowed. However, the valuation of in-kind cost share is important, so we encourage you to carefully review Sections 3.3 and 3.4 of the NOFO to determine what types of contributions may qualify as in-kind cost share.

What is an acceptable cost-share structure?

NIST does not specify a cost-share structure. The percentage of cash versus in-kind contributions is up to the applicant. However, both cash and in-kind contributions must directly support the institute's work, and for the Concept Paper stage, the proposed cost-share will be evaluated in accordance with Section 5.1.1.3.2. of the NOFO.

Can a university use partial of indirect costs as cost-share?

Per 4.3.3.1.8, ‘When cost share is included in the budget, the written justification must also identify the federal and non-federal portion of each cost, to include indirect costs, as applicable. (See cost-share section 3.3 of this NOFO for match requirements.)’ While the NOFO does not require adherence to 2 CFR 200, applicants should use 2 CFR 200 or other similar cost principles as a guide. Accordingly, the applicant should consider reviewing the guidance at eCFR :: 2 CFR 200.306 -- Cost sharing. and eCFR :: 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart E -- Cost Principles.

General Questions

Will the new institute be a Center of Excellence?

No, this is a public-private partnership. NIST will select a lead for the public-private consortium, which will direct the institute's strategy and technology roadmaps with guidance from NIST. This model differs from a Center of Excellence. In addition, the focus is on applied research and maturing technology for commercial deployment, not fundamental research.

Does the funding opportunity have requirements from Made in America? 

The NOFO outlines considerations for domestic production and encourages applicants to explain their approach. It also provides guidance on important questions to ask. Specific requirements depend on your proposal and how you plan to address the issue.  See Section 4.3.7 of the NOFO.

Can you comment on the gap between promised AI capabilities and the actual performance of AI capabilities once deployed?

NIST aims to ensure AI tools delivered to industry meet their promises. Processes and tools must be in place to assess risks and capabilities transparently.

What support does NIST provide during the application process?

Please submit all questions to ManufacturingUSA [at] nist.gov (ManufacturingUSA[at]nist[dot]gov). Our team is ready and available to respond to questions you may have. Please note that we will not answer questions specific to the content of your proposal.

Can NIST facilitate any partnering with groups that have not been invited to move forward to the second phase of the competition?

Since we are still in the competition phase, any information related to applications, including applicant-specific contact details, is considered competition-sensitive. Therefore, we are unable to share this information at this time. Thus, NIST cannot facilitate partnering and cannot disclose which applicants did and did not proceed to the full application round. However, applicants are welcome to view the  AI for Resilient Manufacturing Institute Teaming Partner List on our website.

Will you be sharing how many invitations applicants were invited for Full Proposals?

No, that information will not be released at this time.

Can you describe the general composition of the proposal reviewers? For example, will the reviewers be entirely from NIST, entirely from government, or from industry, academia and government?

By statute, the merit review process will include review by a diverse group on individuals with relevant expertise from both the private and public sectors.

Will you be able to provide some guidelines to engage NIST MEPs across many states?

You are free to contact and engage with MEP Centers across the states. Please find more information and a list of MEP centers here: MEP Centers.

Do teaming partners need to be regionally proximate to each other?

No, teaming partners do not need to be regionally proximate to each other. 

What is derisked technology?

De-risking technology involves increasing certainty of elements that would otherwise be unknowns or assumptions. Concept papers and full proposals should describe how the proposed institute will catalyze an effective advanced manufacturing applied research partnership and infrastructure that will develop, de-risk, and deploy AI tools to address industry-wide challenges too big for single entities to address in isolation.

Does a protocol exist for responding to inquiries on the Teaming List? For example, if there are multiple inquiries, should we respond to all applicable requests or just one.

There is no limit to the number of proposal teams that an organization may join. We encourage all potential applicants and partners to take the approach that is most aligned with your organization’s interests and mission. You can find the teaming list here: (Teaming Partner List)

The submission deadline has passed, but is there a potential to collaborate with the winning team? 

Post-award, organizations are encouraged to reach out to the institute to see how they can get involved.

Is there a salary cap?

The complete terms and conditions, including salary terms, of the Other Transaction (OT) Agreement issued under the Funding Opportunity are subject to negotiation and will be contained in the OT Agreement entered between NIST and the recipient.

The system limits our listed “Other Personnel” to six and will not allow us to enter additional entries. What is an acceptable work around to ensure all our “Other Personnel” is listed?

It is acceptable to enter additional information for “Other Personnel” in the Budget Justification. We suggest adding a note into Grants.gov to direct reviewers to the Budget Justification for that information.