President Releases the FY 2014 Budget Request

FFO: MEP Center for Nebraska

Department of Commerce Launches ACE Tool

The Make it in America Challenge

Edison Nation® “Made in America” Supplier Scouting Opportunities & Webcast

Tech Scouting and TDMI Workshop in Nashville, Tennessee

What's Happening Around MEP

MEP in the NEWS

Calendar of Events

Make it in America Manufacturer of the Week!

View eblast from April 5, 2013

The FY2014 budget request for the Department of Commerce includes $128M for MEP base operations along with a $25M increase for the development of Manufacturing Technology Acceleration Centers (M-TACs).

A critical component of the Administration’s goal of enhancing U.S. competitiveness in advanced manufacturing is support for highly effective supply chains in technology intensive manufacturing sectors. To advance this objective NIST plans to establish through the MEP program Manufacturing Technology Acceleration Centers (M-TACs), teams of experts in specific technology/industrial sectors, offering specialized services to groups of firms. M-TACs will deploy content and services through the well-established national network of local centers, utilizing “tiger teams” and direct consulting for centers and manufacturers. M-TACs would serve as national centers of expertise aligned with industry specific associations, trade groups, and OEMs to identify key barriers to supply chain development and draw upon their resources to develop new approaches and establish or reinforce supply chain networks. The M-TACs will provide technology acceleration support to U.S. small and mid-sized manufacturers through a program that is nationally connected and locally deployed, enhancing the ability of supply chains to adopt advanced technologies into their manufacturing processes and products.

In FY13, NIST MEP will issue a request for information (RFI) to help inform the design and implementation of the M-TACs in FY14. The RFI will seek input and feedback on elements of the M-TACs that include the business model, technology transition and commercialization tools, connections to supply chain needs, and performance measures and evaluation techniques. In parallel, NIST MEP anticipates issuing a federal funding opportunity (FFO) in FY13 to fund two M-TAC pilot projects that will inform future NIST MEP investment leading to the development of a network of Manufacturing Technology Assistance Centers (M-TACs). NIST MEP anticipates the RFI and FFO will be posted in the May/June timeframe.

We will be sharing updates with you the status of the RFI and FFO. In addition, we will keep you updated on the FY14 budget request as it moves through the Congressional budgeting process. Feel free to send any questions to mfg@nist.gov

Back to Top 

On Tuesday, April 9, 2013, we announced a Federal Funding Opportunity for the establishment of an MEP Center in Nebraska:

NIST invites proposals from eligible proposers for funding one (1) MEP center to provide manufacturing extension services to primarily small and medium-sized manufacturers in Nebraska. The MEP center will become part of the MEP national system of extension service providers, currently comprised of more than 400 centers and field offices located throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

For more information about the Federal Funding Opportunity, click here. Additional information on the proposal process is available in the notice of Federal Funding Opportunity posted at www.grants.gov under Funding Opportunity Number 2013-NIST-MEP-NE-01 . All Proposals are due on June 10, 2013 by 5:00pm EST.

An informational webinar for applicants who are considering to apply to this opportunity will be held on Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. EST..

For further information or to register for the April 30th webinar, please contact Diane Henderson at diane.henderson@nist.gov | (301) 975-5105

Back to Top 

The Department of Commerce has launched a new tool to help inform manufacturing firms’ location decisions. The Assess Costs Everywhere (ACE) tool outlines the wide range of costs and risks associated with offshore production, and provides links to important public and private resources, so that firms can more accurately assess the total cost of operating overseas. ACE also shares case studies of firms that reversed their decisions to locate offshore once the full range of costs became clear.

To learn more about the ACE Tool, visit the ACE website at http://acetool.commerce.gov. For questions, contact Samm Bowman at samm.bowman@nist.gov, (301)975-5978.

Back to Top 

The Make it in America Challenge will provide up to $40 million in competitive grant funding through the DOC’s EDA and NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP), DOL’s ETA, and the DRA. This collaboration will allow applicants to submit one application to compete for funding from three agencies to support the development and implementation of a regional economic development strategy accelerating job creation by:

• encouraging re-shoring by U.S. firms,
• fostering foreign direct investment,
• encouraging U.S. companies to keep or expand their businesses in the United States,
• and training local workers.

NIST is making up to $6 million available through the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) as part of this challenge. MEP expects to issue new cooperative agreements of up to $125,000 per year over three years to up to 15 existing MEP Centers as part of selected Make it in America Challenge projects, subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance. MEP Centers can be represented in more than one proposal from that state. More information and resources are also available at http://manufacturing.gov/make_it_in_america.html

Supply Chain Optimization Initiative and the Make it in America Challenge
MEP Supply Chain Optimization services offer companies a unique way of quickly focusing in the critical area of the supply chain with a strategic approach. The tools and resources developed by the Supply Chain Optimization Initiative (supply chain tCAR) support the objectives of the Make it in America FFO as built-in flexibility provides MEP centers an access point to the the top-tier and supplier levels of the chain. MEP centers quantify strategic supply chain needs and then focus on improving the points in the process impeding growth, thereby improving performance. Possible methods for improving throughput include implementation of system-wide growth, lean, supplier/ technology scouting, product development and process improvement tools and methodologies.Additionally, MEP Centers can draw upon initiative- developed tools such as:

• Risk Management Workshops
• Total Cost of Ownership Workshops, and
• Total Cost of Ownership Calculators

Applying for the Make it in America Challenge
For more information and to apply visit the Grants Opportunity page at Grants.gov (www.grants.gov) under Funding Opportunity Number MIIA2013. All applications are due on May 31, 2013.

Contact Mark Troppe at mark.troppe@nist.gov, (301)975-5745 or Megean Blum at Megean.blum@nist.gov, (301)975-3160 with any questions. For additional information about the Supply Chain Optimization Initiative and its relevance to the Make it in America FFO, contact Mark Schmit at mark.schmit@nist.gov, (301)975-3255.

Back to Top 

Edison Nation®, an idea-to-shelf product developer and innovation platform has partnered once again with the NIST MEP on their Made in America Program. This program, gives U.S.-based manufacturers the first chance to bid on producing new products for large, established companies. The companies and brands participating in this program are Belk, Bob Timberlake, Snapware, Pyrex, Chicago Cutlery, Corelle, Worx, and ToyQuest.

This is a great opportunity for U.S. based manufacturers to bid on making products with a guaranteed large distribution channel. The product requests for quotes (RFQs) are currently available for all companies and brands on MEP Connect in three groups:

• Belk, Bob, Timberlake - Due by Friday April 19,2013
• Snapware, Pyrex, Chicago Cutlery, Corelle - Due by Friday April 26, 2013
• WORX, ToyQUEST - Due by May 1, 2013

If you would like to learn more about the Edison Nation® Made in America program and what it can do for your manufacturing clients, an informational webcast for Tuesday, April 16, at 12:00 pm EDT.

Webinar Link
Meeting Password: P@ssword1234

To request a copy of the current Edison Nation RFQ's or for questions, please contact Dave Cranmer (David.Cranmer@nist.gov | 301-975-5753 or Caroline Ranghel Ashley (Ranghel@rti.org | 919- 541-6822

Back to Top 

If you or your colleagues haven’t had a chance to attend the combined Technology Scouting and Technology-Driven Market Intelligence (TDMI) training there is an opportunity to do so in Nashville, Tennessee on May 7-9, 2013. The course provides MEP representatives with the instruction and tools needed to initiate Technology Scouting and TDMI services for MEP clients. This training is part of a larger collaboration between NIST MEP and RTI International to bring RTI practitioners’ new market research and scouting skills to MEP field agents.

Led by practitioners and mentors of Tech Scouting and TDMI services, participants will work in both large and small groups to learn the full process and methodology for both services. The course approach is interactive and involves participatory activities to practice the core skills involved in promoting and performing both services including: expert interviewing, technology and market based research, intelligence and project organization and needs based analysis.

For questions and registration information, please contact Dave Cranmer (David.Cranmer@nist.gov | 301-975-5753 or Caroline Ranghel Ashley (Ranghel@rti.org | 919- 541-6822

Back to Top 

NIST Vacancy Announcement: Director, Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems Program Office

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, Maryland, is seeking a highly qualified individual for the position of Director, Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems Program Office. This is a career Senior Executive Service (SES) position. The Director, Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems Program Office, will work with industry and government partners to lead the development and deployment of measurement science and standards required to create a new generation of interoperable, dynamic, and efficient “smart systems” through the convergence of networking, information, and communication technologies with distributed sensing, control, data analytics, and predictive tools. The resulting cyber-physical systems will form the core innovation-based growth engine for the Industrial Internet revolution and grow new high-value American jobs and the economy in a broad range of sectors such as energy, manufacturing, transportation, buildings, critical infrastructure, and emergency response. The incumbent will also serve as the NIST National Coordinator for Smart Grid Interoperability.

For more information, or to apply for this position, please visit usajobs.gov and search for vacancy number: SES-2013-0010. The vacancy closes on April 29, 2013.

Back to Top 

• New Program Trains Students for Local Industry The Innovative Manufacturing Partnerships Advancing Careers through Technical Training Programs, a program started by CITEC and several other partners, addresses the local manufacturing industry's need for a skilled workforce and helps high-school graduates find sustainable-wage jobs in Clinton County. Read Article

• MRC Hosts Manufacturing & Trade Roundtable  MRC Director Jack Pfunder hosted Congressman Charlie Dent and a delegation of officials from Kaiserslautern, Germany, on a visit to the Lehigh Valley.  Part of the day’s agenda included a roundtable discussion on economic policies, including manufacturing and trade, and how to close the manufacturing skills gap.  Read Article

• SBDC-NEPIRC Supply Chain Collaboration A new collaborative initiative designed to promote regional small businesses through the creation of localized manufacturer supply chains, was recently announced by NEPIRC and the University of Scranton SBDC. The initiative has the potential of saving northeastern Pennsylvania manufacturers time and money by introducing them to local providers of goods, services, consumable maintenance supplies and subcomponents used within their manufacturing processes.Read More

• CMTC and MANEX in conjunction with the California Network for Manufacturing Innovation (CNMI), held an Additive Manufacturing Forum The event attracted over 145 attendees including manufacturers, service providers, economic development groups and academia. The all day event discussed the applications of Additive Manufacturing in new product development and how it can significantly increase the speed from design to market. To learn more about California's Additive Manufacturing efforts, click here

• Manufacturers, state hopeful about new partnership Kentucky manufacturers are expected to benefit from a new partnership with universities and state government. The partnership, dubbed the Advantage Kentucky Alliance Manufacturing Extension Partnership, was announced last week during an event at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green. It aims to support business growth by making services such as marketing research, supplier development and focus group testing available to Kentucky manufacturers.Read More

• Read the Latest from the

  Back to Top

 Send us your News Clips! Email us at mepeblast@nist.gov