The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) launched a new competition for grants in January of 2011 to support the construction of new or expanded scientific research facilities at institutions of higher education and nonprofit scientific research organizations. Through the NIST Construction Grant Program (NCGP), the agency expects $20 million to be available for grants ranging from $5 to $10 million over a period of no more than five years. The program provides competitively awarded, cost-shared grants for the construction of new science research buildings or the expansion of existing buildings, including laboratories, test facilities, measurement facilities, research computing facilities, and observatories.
Proposed projects must complement the research goals of one or more of the U.S. Commerce Department's three science agencies: NIST, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Applicants must submit a Letter of Intent (form NIST-1102) to join the competition to NIST by 3 p.m. Eastern Time on February 24, 2011, and if determined to be eligible, a corresponding full proposal must be submitted by 3 p.m. Eastern Time on March 24, 2011.
