NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) Comprehensive Grant Program | Apply Online

NCNR Comprehensive Grant Program (NIST) - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) Comprehensive Grant Program?

It is a discretionary federal funding opportunity offered by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to strengthen and expand U.S. capabilities in neutron-based research and spectroscopy. The program is designed to support work that directly enhances the NCNR user facility environment, with an emphasis on enabling high-quality experiments by visiting scientists, advancing neutron instrumentation, and strengthening collaborative research ties between external researchers and NIST staff.

Who is the funding agency for this opportunity?

The funding agency is the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

What is the main purpose of this program?

The program focuses on practical, facility-centered improvements that help NCNR users run strong neutron experiments. This includes day-to-day support for visiting scientists, upgrades and development of neutron instrumentation, and collaborative research that integrates external staff and activities into the NCNR operating and research environment.

What type of award is this: grant or cooperative agreement?

This opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant.

What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement generally indicates substantial involvement by NIST during the period of performance. Based on the announcement description, NIST is expected to be an active partner, including shaping technical direction, coordinating facility-based work, and integrating award-supported staff and activities into NCNR operations and research.

What kinds of activities or projects are supported?

Supported activities center on neutron research and spectroscopy and are intended to enhance the NCNR user facility environment. Examples described include improving how visiting researchers use instruments, increasing measurement quality and throughput, developing or significantly enhancing neutron instruments, and conducting collaborative research with NIST scientists. The program also explicitly includes outreach and educational activities that advance neutron use by U.S. academia and industrial scientists.

Does the opportunity support on-site staffing at NCNR?

Yes. A central feature of the opportunity is the expectation that scientific staff will be stationed at the NCNR and will work side-by-side with NIST scientists and facility users on a practical, day-to-day basis.

What is meant by "enhancing the NCNR user facility environment"?

The announcement frames this as work that makes the facility more effective for users, such as helping visiting scientists run high-quality experiments, improving measurement quality and throughput, expanding or improving instruments and supporting systems, and building stronger collaborations between external researchers and NIST staff.

Is neutron instrumentation development included?

Yes. A major emphasis is the development of new instrumentation or significant enhancements to existing neutron instruments.

What kinds of instrumentation improvements are included?

The announcement indicates instrumentation work can include hardware, detectors, sample environments, beamline components, data acquisition improvements, and other capabilities that increase the reach, precision, or efficiency of neutron measurements.

Are collaborative research projects with NIST scientists encouraged?

Yes. The program encourages collaborative research with NIST scientists, consistent with NCNR being both a national user facility and a research center focused on measurement science and standards-related research.

Are outreach and education activities allowable under this opportunity?

Yes. The announcement explicitly includes outreach and educational activities that advance the use of neutrons by U.S. academia and industrial scientists.

What are examples of outreach or educational activities mentioned or implied?

The description reasonably includes user training, workshops, schools, documentation and best-practices development, community engagement, and other capacity-building efforts that grow a skilled user base and increase productive utilization of NCNR resources.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes accredited institutions of higher education, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, commercial organizations, and state, local, and Indian tribal governments. The eligibility list also includes foreign governments, organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments, and international organizations.

Are foreign entities eligible to apply?

Yes. The eligibility list includes foreign governments, organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments, and international organizations. However, the program purpose is centered on advancing neutron use by U.S. academia and industrial scientists and supporting the NCNR mission, so proposals would be expected to demonstrate strong relevance to that domestic user community and the NCNR.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity states that no cost sharing or matching is required.

What is the CFDA number associated with this funding?

The CFDA number is 11.609 (Measurement and Engineering Research and Standards).

What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is 2012 NIST NCNR 01.

When was this opportunity posted?

The posted and created date is November 30, 2011.

What was the application deadline?

Proposals had to be received (paper and electronic) no later than 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, March 15, 2012.

Were late applications accepted?

No. Late submissions were not reviewed or considered.

Is this funding opportunity still open?

No. The listing was archived on April 16, 2012, indicating that the competition cycle has closed.

How does the program relate to visiting scientists using NCNR instruments?

The program places strong emphasis on enabling high-quality experiments by visiting scientists and supporting projects that help visiting researchers effectively use NCNR instruments, improve measurement quality and throughput, and broaden the scientific impact of experiments conducted at the facility.

Who is the contact for access issues related to the full announcement?

The listed contact is Christopher Hunton, Grants Technical Assistant, at 301-975-5718.