NIST MEP E-Blast: Friday, March 2, 2012

CORE Metrics Webinar

Draft Center Renewal Submission Reminder: April 2

Federal Funding Opportunity: Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers for South Dakota and Kentucky

Manufacturing Innovation 2012 – Early Bird Registration / Room Rate

What's Happening Around MEP!

MEP in the NEWS

Upcoming Events of Interest

Following on the presentation and release of the new CORE Metrics performance and evaluation system in San Diego last month, we have heard many positive comments about the system’s movement towards a balanced scorecard and more specific impact metrics. In the event you missed it, or want to hear it again, or think there are key staff who would benefit from a similar presentation, please plan to attend the webinar “CORE Metrics”.  
 

Core Metrics Webinar
Thursday, March 15th
2:00 PM EST
Click here for webinar Link
 
For questions, please contact Gary Yakimov (gary.yakimov@nist.gov | 301-975-8198)

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Draft Center Renewal Packages will be due to the Center Operations division assistant, Margie Robb margaret.robb@nist.gov by no later than April 2, 2012. The submission should be through email and consist of the following elements:

• Operating Plan
• SF424 Application for Federal Assistance
• SF424a Budget Information Sheet
• SF424b Assurances – Non-Construction Programs
• CD511 Certification Regarding Lobbying
• Subaward Documents with Associated budgets if over $100k– if applicable
• Indirect Cost Rate Proposal or Proposal submission – if applicable

Please be aware that we are incorporating a new process for the way we provide feedback on these packages. We would like to communicate the necessary changes via track changes in the actual document. Please submit relevant documents in Microsoft Word format. This will assist us in clearly articulating changes and/or comments.

Renewal Packages will be reviewed in the order they are received. If the package is incomplete, we will communicate the missing elements and the package will not be reviewed until all elements are complete..

If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact Wiza Lequin adelwiza.lequin@nist.gov, Mellissa Ayala Mellissa.ayala@nist.gov, or Diane Henderson diane.henderson@nist.gov.

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NIST invites proposals from eligible proposers for funding two (2) separate MEP centers to provide manufacturing extension services to primarily small and medium-sized manufacturers in two separate locations, South Dakota and/or Kentucky.

South Dakota and Kentucky Competition Time-line
NIST MEP is planning to run a competition for the creation of a center in South Dakota and Kentucky. Below is an outline of the key steps along with the target timing of each. These actions will take place over the next several months. Updates and changes will be posted to this site as needed.

• March 2012 – Post Federal Register Notice (FRN)/Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) (60 Day Posting)
• Late April 2012 – FFO/FRN Closes and Review Process Begins
• May-June 2012 – Review Process Continues and Selection of Proposed Awardees
• July 2012 – Award

Webinar Information Session.
Monday, March 19th
2:00 PM EST

Organizations wishing to participate in the webinar must register by emailing Diane Henderson at diane.henderson@nist.gov with the participants name and organization. Please note that questions will not be taken during this webinar.

For questions, please contact Diane Henderson diane.henderson@nist.gov| 301-975-5105)

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All of the workshops and sessions that will take place at Manufacturing Innovation 2012 are now online. You can view a complete list of sessions and their descriptions by visiting www.mi2012.mepevents.com and clicking on the agenda tab. If you’ve already registered for MI2012 and would now like to go back and select your specific sessions, you may select the “already registered” option and then enter the confirmation number you received in your confirmation email.

If you haven’t registered yet, please do so before March 30th in order to get your all access event pass for $1,050. In addition, to the all access pass, we also have options for those attendees that only plan to attend one or two days of the event. You can view the different pricing options by going to the Fees tab on the event site.

Plan to visit www.mi2012.mepevents.comoften as new stuff will be added every week: new sessions, keynote speakers, business matchmaking and networking opportunities.

Hotel room rate is $195 / night.  To reserve your hotel room by phone please contact Passkey Reservations at 800-266-9432 and be sure to reference Manufacturing Innovation 2012 when booking your room.  Click here to reserve your hotel online.

For more information about the Manufacturing Innovation, please contact Kari Reidy (kari.reidy@nist.gov | 301-975-4919) or the Event Team at planner@mepevents.com

 
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Shutdown of MEP-U

Over the last eight years Atlantic Management Center, Inc. has provided management support to our MEP University. The AMCI team has supported the MEP mission by fulfilling orders for materials and kits, scheduling courses, and working with center staff to determine their training needs. Due to changes with MEP program direction, demand for courses and overall use of the University declining, NIST MEP has decided to shut down MEP University. We believe that training is still an extremely important part of center staff development, but due to changing needs and learning styles, have decided to reevaluate how best practices, knowledge sharing and professional development are delivered to the MEP system in the future. Throughout the month of March we will close the University and determine the best path to move forward. Our plans during this transition period:

• Courses currently on schedule – We will work with centers on how best to continue to offer those already scheduled events.
• Future courses – We will work with centers on connecting them with trainers, course materials, etc.
• Kits – Beginning on Tuesday, March 6th AMCI will take center orders for any items they have in stock at 75% off the normal price, available at www.mepuniversity.com
• Materials / Workbooks – We will post all files for training materials on MEIS, https://meis.nist.gov and centers will be able to download and print directly.
• Training Records – Over the years we have tracked the training records for the system. A copy of all training records for each center will be sent to the Center Director by the end of March. Training records going forward will not be maintained by NIST MEP.

This will be a transition for all of us, so please bear with us during this time. Additional communication will continue to be shared with the system. in the meantime, if you have any questions please contact Brian Lagas at Brian.lagas@nist.gov.

 

Lean Product Development Webinar

Hear about the latest framework, tools, and methods of Lean Product Development and how MEP centers can sell, deliver, sustain, and succeed using this powerful improvement methodology. Join us on Wednesday, March 14th 2pm Eastern time to learn about the newest and most successful LPD tools, a modular framework for client engagement, typical structure of an engagement and a proven delivery strategy. Understand what LPD materials and support are available through the National MEP system and how LPD synergizes with the current suite of consulting products available to MEP centers, including Innovation Engineering. NIST MEP will provide Lean Product Development master practitioners and fund them to kick start your LPD practice with visioning events to prospective clients, staff training and first client engagement facilitation.

Webinar Information:
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
2:00 PM EST
Meeting Number: 732 765 762
Meeting Password: mep
Click here for webinar Link

 

Building Construction Technology Extension Program (BCTEP) Pilot Projects

Last month, NIST MEP posted a Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) focused on re-tuning energy systems in smaller commercial and industrial buildings. Up to $1.3 million will be available to make 1-5 awards (over a period of up to 2 years). Eligible proposers are MEP Centers which are expected to partner with universities, community and technical colleges, and/or trade associations across the country will partner with to create robust training programs that leverage MEP’s efforts to help businesses create and retain jobs, increase profits, and save time and money. Training will be tailored to building operators, building managers and energy service providers and will provide energy performance solutions that can save businesses 5 to 20% on their energy bills.

Applications are due March 30, 2012
Click here to learn more

For more information about this funding opportunity, please contact Dave Cranmer (dave.cranmer@nist.gov | 301-975-5753)

 

EDA University Center Economic Development Program

On February 9, EDA issued a federal funding opportunity for its University Center Program. This competition provides grants to institutions of higher education to support initiatives that advance regional commercialization, entrepreneurship, and a high-skilled regional workforce. Click here to read the University Center FFO 

EDA's Atlanta and Seattle regional office held teleconference call for applicants. Both teleconferences playback will be available on March 30, 2012.

Teleconference Playback
Atlanta Regional Office
1-866-469-5765

Seattle Regional Office
1-866-424-4005

Note: March 30th is the closing date for receipt of applications. In addition throughout the month of March EDA will close the University.

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