Section III
Description
In response to the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (P.L. 111-5, 123 Stat. 115), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will provide grants and cooperative agreements for measurement science and engineering research in the following six focus areas of critical national importance: energy, environment and climate change, information technology/cybersecurity, biosciences/healthcare, manufacturing, and physical infrastructure, with priority funding in areas of special interest to NIST as described below. The program is intended to advance the state of knowledge and practice in these areas of critical national importance, in support of NIST’s mission to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. The program will advance purposes established in Section 3 of the Recovery Act by:• creating jobs, • promoting economic recovery,• providing investments needed to increase economic efficiency by spurring technological advances in science and health,• making investments in research areas such as environmental protection and infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits, and • helping to stabilize state and local government budgets, in order to minimize and avoid reductions in essential services and counterproductive state and local tax increases. Competitive proposals will also result in achieving commencement of activities as quickly as possible consistent with prudent management. Applicants may propose projects that include collaboration between scientific staff and NIST to help advance these program objectives. Please see information in Award Administration Information section regarding collaborations with NIST employees.Proposals submitted to the Recovery Act Measurement Science and Engineering Research Grants Program must address one of the areas of critical national importance listed in the Full Announcement. Applicants should clearly note which program area (e.g., energy) the proposal is addressing. Proposals that address the sub-topics listed in the Full Announcement will receive high priority for consideration of funding. Applicants whose proposal addresses a sub-topic listed in the Full Announcement should also clearly note which sub-topic the proposal addresses.