Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Program Objective
Enhance competitiveness, productivity, and technological performance in United States manufacturing.
Establish, maintain, and support Manufacturing Extension Centers and services, the functions of which are to improve the competitiveness of firms by accelerating the usage of appropriate manufacturing technology by smaller
U.S. based manufacturing firms, and partner with the States in developing such technical assistance programs and services for their manufacturing base.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- Unrestricted by Entity Type
- U.S. Territory Government
- Local
- State
- Territorial
- Nonprofit Organization
- Federally Recognized Tribal Government
For MEP Center projects under 15 U.S.C. § 278k, eligible applicants shall be U.S.-based nonprofit institutions or organizations or a consortium thereof; institutions of higher education; or a State, U.S. territory, local or tribal government. Applicants generally must contribute at least 50 percent of the proposed service's capital, annual operating and maintenance costs. For competitive awards under 15 U.S.C. § 278k-1, eligible applicants are existing MEP Centers. For extension service planning and pilot services agreements under 15 U.S.C. § 278l, eligible applicants shall be State governments or State- affiliated nonprofit organizations. For multistate regional planning and pilot services agreements, eligible applicants shall be State and local governments, representing either themselves or a consortium of States, or appropriate private or public nonprofit organizations, operating on behalf of a consortium of States or as a representative of States.
Beneficiaries
- Other
Beneficiary shall be U.S.-based manufacturing firms, especially smaller companies.
How to Apply
Award Procedure
All timely submitted and qualified proposals are reviewed by a NIST selection panel. For proposals for Manufacturing Extension Centers, the finalists' proposals are selected on the basis of published evaluation criteria, and may undergo a site visit. For proposals for competitive awards, proposals are selected on the basis of published evaluation criteria, and may undergo a site visit. For proposals for extension services planning and pilot testing, proposals are selected on the basis of published evaluation criteria.
Decision Timeline
- Approval: From 90 to 120 days
Consult the applicable Federal Register Notice and/or Notice of Funding Opportunity or contact the MEP headquarters for application deadlines.
Program details & compliance
Description
The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network is a public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions by helping small and medium-sized manufacturers grow, make operational improvements, and reduce risk.
The MEP is committed to supporting manufacturers and building productive partnerships in all fifty states and Puerto Rico. Our goal is to ensure the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing in the global economy.
Mission Categories
Primary: Small Business
Other categories:
Economic Development
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
Federal funding provided under this program shall be used for the creation and support of manufacturing extension centers (MEP Centers), or used by the States to plan for and pilot test statewide extension services. It may also be used to plan for and pilot test services within a multistate region which has sufficient regional linkages to justify such services. Extension service providers shall be affiliated with a U.S. based nonprofit institution or organization, or a consortium thereof; institution of higher education; or a State, U.S. territory, local or tribal government. Funds may be used for the purpose of demonstrations, technology deployment, active transfer and dissemination of research findings and extension service expertise to a wide range of companies and enterprises, especially small manufacturers with fewer than 500 employees. Congressional funding has been provided annually since fiscal year 1988 (under Manufacturing Technology Centers and the State Technology Extension Program, which were combined into the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership in fiscal year 1993).
Required Documentation
An applicant for a Manufacturing Extension Center cooperative agreement must submit a proposal in accordance with the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which generally requires that applicants provide assurance that they will contribute 50 percent or more of the proposed Center's capital, annual operating and maintenance costs. Proposals also must contain sufficient information regarding management, technical, and technology strengths sufficient for a formal merit review of the proposal in accordance with the requirements set forth in the applicable NOFO. Applicants must have and demonstrate competence in areas for which financial assistance is requested. Costs will be determined in accordance with applicable cost principles found in 2 CFR 200 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards.
Matching Requirements
For MEP Center projects under 15 U.S.C. § 278k, applicants must contribute at least 50 percent of the capital and of the annual operating and maintenance costs required to establish and operate a MEP Center. For competitive awards under 15 U.S.C. § 278k-1, there is not a matching share requirement. For extension service planning and pilot services agreements under 15 U.S.C. § 278l, there is not a matching requirement.
Reporting & Compliance
Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts
- Subpart B — General Provisions
- Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart E — Cost Principles
- Subpart F — Audit Requirements
Formula
For MEP Center projects under 15 U.S.C. § 278k, applicants must contribute at least 50 percent of the capital and of the annual operating and maintenance costs required to establish and operate a MEP Center. For competitive awards under 15 U.S.C. § 278k-1, there is not a matching share requirement. For extension service planning and pilot services agreements under 15 U.S.C. § 278l, there is not a matching requirement.