The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is offering the MEP Disaster Assessment Program, a federal grant opportunity aimed at supporting Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers in assessing the impact of disasters on small- and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) following FEMA Disaster Declarations. Eligible applicants, specifically current MEP Center recipients, are required to conduct assessments that identify operational impacts due to disasters and assist SMMs in accessing recovery resources while developing risk mitigation plans for future events. This initiative is crucial for enhancing disaster resilience and recovery strategies within the manufacturing sector, ultimately promoting sustainability and economic stability. Applications must be submitted within 60 days of a FEMA Disaster Declaration, and interested parties can reach out to Ashley Smothers at grants@nist.gov for further information.

NIST MEP DISASTER ASSESSMENT PROGRAM APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS.pdf

NIST.pdf

The NIST MEP Disaster Assessment Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) outlines an initiative to support organizations in assessing and mitigating the impact of disasters on manufacturing enterprises. The primary focus is to provide federal funding assistance to eligible applicants, enabling them to develop and implement strategies that enhance disaster resilience and recovery in the manufacturing sector. The program emphasizes the importance of comprehensive disaster assessments that provide insights for improving preparedness and response strategies. Potential applicants must refer to the full announcement (2020-NIST-MEP-MDAP-01) for detailed application instructions, eligibility criteria, and funding specifics. This funding opportunity serves as a crucial resource for manufacturers looking to fortify their operations against potential disruptions, ultimately fostering sustainability and economic stability within the industry.

NIST invites applications from current recipients of Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center cooperative agreements (MEP Centers) to perform assessments of small- and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) in areas subject to a FEMA Disaster Declaration. These assessments should be designed to identify the impact, if any, to the operations of the SMMs as result of the subject disaster. MEP Centers receiving funding pursuant to this program must also assist impacted SMMs in identifying and accessing Federal, State and local resources to aid in business recovery efforts and, as appropriate, in the development of a risk mitigation plan for future disasters. Award recipients will further be required to share the results of their project, including disaster preparedness lessons learned and SMMs best practices, with other SMMs, NIST and the MEP National NetworkTM in order to help the SMM community with future disaster resilience planning efforts. See Section I. in the Full Announcement Text of this NOFO.

Ashley Smothers &lt;br/&gt;NOFO Coordinator

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