Business to Business Network Pilots | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), through its Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, offered a discretionary grant opportunity called "Business to Business Network Pilots" (Funding Opportunity Number: 2014 NIST MEP B2BN 01). The goal of this opportunity was to fund the deployment and ongoing operation of one or more pilot Business to Business Network (B2B Network) projects designed to help companies find and act on business opportunities in real time. These pilots were meant to combine both people and information systems so they could actively scout for opportunities and then connect the right firms with the right leads, rather than simply providing a static database or passive referral list.

At its core, the program aimed to build a practical, working network with the capability to do four main types of "scouting": business opportunity scouting (finding near-term deals and contracts), technology scouting (identifying relevant technologies and innovation opportunities), supplier scouting (matching firms with capable suppliers and supply chain partners), and market scouting (spotting market openings and demand signals). A key feature of the pilots was that they were expected to include active content management and human interaction to support data quality. In other words, the effort was not just about buying software; it was about maintaining accurate, current information, validating leads, identifying promising matches, and facilitating connections on behalf of participating companies. The pilots were intended to function as an enabled network where curated information and knowledgeable staff work together to turn scattered signals into actionable matches.

The funding instrument for this opportunity was a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency during the project period (for example, collaboration, guidance, or coordination), rather than a hands-off grant. The activity category was listed as science and technology and other research and development, and it fell under CFDA 11.611 (Manufacturing Extension Partnership). Importantly, the opportunity stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants were not required to provide matching funds as a condition of award.

Eligibility was limited to existing Hollings MEP Centers. While single-center applications were allowed, NIST strongly encouraged applicants to form teaming arrangements that brought together multiple MEP Centers and relevant service providers. The intent behind encouraging multi-center teams was to create shared, regional capability by pooling infrastructure and expertise. Examples of shared infrastructure cited included hardware, software, specialized knowledge, and services needed to support scouting activities. The program also allowed applicants to propose subawardees, contractors, or other collaborators as part of a broader team or consortium, as long as the prime applicant was an eligible MEP Center.

Key dates associated with the opportunity were: posted and created on June 20, 2014, with an application deadline of August 4, 2014. The opportunity was archived on September 3, 2014. For applicants who could not access the full announcement electronically, the listed point of contact was Christopher Hunton, Grants Technical Assistant at NIST, reachable by phone at 301-975-5718.

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