NIST MEP Expansion Awards Pilot Program (MEAPP)

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UPDATE: This opportunity has closed.

2023 MEP Expansion Awards Pilot Program: MEP National Supply Chain Optimization and Intelligence Network Request for Applications (RFA)  

The NIST Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), authorized by 15 U.S.C. § 278k-2, is seeking non-competitive applications from all current MEP Centers to enter into cooperative agreements to implement projects to expand existing MEP capabilities to provide National Supply Chain Optimization and to establish a supply chain Intelligence Network.

Building upon the existing national infrastructure of the MEP National Network™, the National Supply Chain Optimization and Intelligence Network will comprehensively support supplier scouting services, rigorously assess and analyze domestic manufacturing capabilities, expand knowledge of each MEP Center’s local manufacturing ecosystems to stimulate the growth of the U.S. supply base which thereby strengthens the nation’s manufacturer resilience. 

Awards made pursuant to this RFA shall support projects that provide services to improve the resiliency of domestic supply chains and to build capabilities in the MEP National Network™ for domestic supply chain resiliency and optimization. NIST MEP will pilot a National Supply Chain Optimization and Intelligence Network program to support nationwide coordination of comprehensive supplier scouting, optimize supply network service offerings, and capture marketplace supplier data for public use.

Under this pilot program, NIST MEP expects to accomplish these goals by:

• Ensuring that there is dedicated Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff per year at each MEP Center staff focused on supplier scouting services;
• Establishing new service offerings to augment and optimize current national and local supplier network capabilities;
• Collecting and analyzing supplier capability and capacity data to map local supply network ecosystems;
• Identifying key Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and supply chain gaps and helping to fill those gaps by connecting Small and Medium-sized Manufactures (SMMs) to these opportunities; and
• Tracking SMMs and the results of matches, introductions, and services by the MEP Center.

To view a PDF of the full Request for Applications (RFA), click here.

Applications must be submitted via www.grants.gov under Funding Opportunity Number: 2023-NIST-RFA-MEAPP-01.  

Anticipated Amounts
Total anticipated funding for each award is up to $400,000 for a period of performance of 24 months. NIST anticipates funding one (1) award to each MEP Center or one (1) award to a consortium of MEP Centers (with each MEP Center receiving up to $400,000).

Funding Instrument: Cooperative Agreement

Who is Eligible?
Eligibility is limited to MEP Centers or a consortium of MEP Centers.

Requirements
Non-federal cost share is not required for awards issued pursuant to this RFA.

Neither an MEP Center nor its subrecipients may generate program income under awards issued pursuant to this RFA.

Please see the full text of the RFA for additional program requirements.

Timeline
Below is an outline of key actions and dates. Updates will be posted to this site as needed.

MEP Resources
The following resources are currently available:

• RFA FAQs (please see links under the FAQ section of this page)
• Application Guide
• Required MEP Single-Year Budget Workbook Template
• Required Award Budget Summary Table Template
• Required Current and Pending Support Form
• Most recent NIST MEP Strategic Plan
• Most recent MEP Annual Report
• MEP Reporting Guidelines
• Federal Program Officer assigned to the Center*
• Resource Manager assigned to the Center*
• Other NIST MEP staff*
• Other Centers
• MEP Center Annual Review
• Supplier Scouting Information
• Webinar Link

* Please note that MEP staff cannot assist Centers with writing their applications.

Virtual Information Forum
NIST MEP held a virtual information forum on March 2, 2023 at 3:00PM EST.  NIST MEP staff provided general information about the MEP Expansion Awards Pilot Program, the RFA, applicant eligibility, and other program and application requirements. Participation is not required to submit an application.

A link to the recorded session and presentation slides are available.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Questions from applicants pertaining to eligibility, evaluation criteria and selection factors, selection process, and the general characteristics of a responsive application may be directed to the Center’s assigned Federal Program Officer and Resource Manager.

However, applicants are encouraged to submit all such questions in writing to meprfa [at] nist.gov (meprfa[at]nist[dot]gov). Answers to such written questions submitted to NIST MEP may be made available to the public as part of the FAQ document (links below), which will be updated periodically on this page.

• FAQ – Mar. 1, 2023
• FAQ – Mar. 7, 2023
• FAQ – Mar. 23, 2023