Proposers Day Conference Lightweight and Modern Metals Manufacturing Innovation (LM3I) Proposed Institute | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Funding Opportunity Number 13-SN-0021?

Funding Opportunity Number 13-SN-0021 is a Grants.gov Special Notice. It is not a traditional grant solicitation for immediate funding. Instead, it announces a Proposers Day conference hosted by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), in coordination with the Office of the Secretary of Defense Manufacturing Technology Office.

Is this notice offering funding right now?

No. This notice is informational and does not represent an open solicitation where applicants submit proposals for research funding at this stage. Its purpose is to brief potential participants on a future, competitive Broad Agency Announcement (BAA).

What is the purpose of the Proposers Day conference mentioned in the notice?

The Proposers Day conference was intended to brief interested parties on the government vision for an upcoming BAA connected to establishing a Lightweight and Modern Metals Manufacturing Innovation (LM3I) Institute. The event was meant to help potential participants understand anticipated technical focus areas, likely collaboration expectations, and how proposals would be structured once the BAA was released.

When was the Proposers Day conference scheduled?

The conference was scheduled for July 9, 2013.

What do the posted, closing, and archive dates mean for this notice?

The notice shows Posted: June 13, 2013; Closing: July 9, 2013; and Archive: July 10, 2013. These dates correspond to the Proposers Day timeframe (and related administrative timing), not a deadline to submit a research proposal for funding under this notice.

Is there anything to apply for under this Special Notice?

No. The notice explicitly states there is nothing to apply for at this stage. The posting includes an "application package" only because of an administrative requirement that Grants.gov announcements include one, but the notice clarifies that the package does not apply to this announcement.

Why does Grants.gov show an application package if there is no application?

According to the notice, the application package appears only due to an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) administrative requirement for Grants.gov postings. The notice emphasizes that the package is not applicable to this Special Notice.

Where should someone look to find the full details of the announcement?

The notice directs interested parties to use the "FULL ANNOUNCEMENT" link at the top of the Grants.gov synopsis page to locate the complete announcement text.

What is the LM3I Institute referenced in the notice?

LM3I stands for Lightweight and Modern Metals Manufacturing Innovation Institute. The Special Notice signals the government's intent to launch a broader competitive effort (via a future BAA) focused on advancing manufacturing innovation in lightweight and modern metals.

What type of opportunity category is this listed under on Grants.gov?

On Grants.gov, the notice is categorized as a discretionary program.

What funding instrument type is associated with this opportunity?

The funding instrument type listed is a cooperative agreement. In general, a cooperative agreement indicates substantial government involvement during execution, such as coordination, milestones, collaboration requirements, or programmatic oversight beyond what is typical for a standard grant.

What is the activity category for this opportunity?

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

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity and what does it indicate?

The notice is associated with CFDA 12.300 (Basic and Applied Scientific Research). This aligns the effort with defense-related research and development funding pathways.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

The notice indicates "Yes" for cost sharing or matching. This suggests that when the actual institute competition is released, applicants may be expected to bring non-federal cost share, in-kind contributions, industry participation, or other matching resources as part of the institute model.

Who is expected to be eligible if a future solicitation is released?

The notice is forward-looking and states that if a solicitation is released later, ONR planned a special competition limited to U.S. nonprofit organizations and universities. This implies the institute lead or prime applicant would likely need to be a U.S.-based nonprofit entity or an academic institution.

Does the notice say anything about industry participation?

While the notice does not provide detailed institute membership rules, it frames the effort as an institute-style model and references cost sharing/matching, which suggests substantial collaboration and participation (potentially including in-kind or other contributions) consistent with public-private partnership approaches.

Who is hosting the Proposers Day conference?

The Proposers Day conference was hosted by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) in coordination with the Office of the Secretary of Defense Manufacturing Technology Office.

Who can be contacted for issues accessing the full announcement?

The notice lists Wade Wargo, Contracting Officer, as the point of contact for access issues related to the full announcement. Phone: 703-696-0719.

Where should general questions about the posting be directed?

The notice references Grants.gov for general questions.

What is the main takeaway from this Special Notice?

The main takeaway is that the government was providing an informational on-ramp to a forthcoming competitive BAA related to the LM3I Institute. The Special Notice alerts stakeholders, offers a venue to hear directly from program officials at Proposers Day, and sets expectations around cooperative agreement mechanics, cost share, and likely eligibility constraints for the eventual solicitation.