ERROR -- ATP REQUESTS PROPOSALS AND ANNOUNCES PUBLIC MEETINGS FOR FOCUSED PROGRAM COMPETITONS : 98-05, Catalysis & Biocatalysis Technologies 98-07, Selective-Membrane Platforms The Advanced Technology Program The NIST Advanced Technology Program (ATP) provides competitive, cost-shared awards for industry to develop high-risk, enabling technologies with broad-based economic benefits. The ATP seeks to help U.S. industry fill the gap between basic research and product development, and to invest in technology that would not be developed in a competitive time frame without government cost sharing. Along with general competitions which are open to proposals from all technical areas, the ATP has also funded focused programs, each with specific business and technical goals. ATP REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Introduction ATP has announced that in 1998, it will hold both a second competition in Catalysis & Biocatalysis Technologies and the first competition in the Selective-Membrane Platforms focused program. Descriptions of the technical scope and business/technical goals for each of these two competitions are available on the ATP World Wide Web site (http://www.atp.nist.gov) and may be requested by phone (1-800-ATP-FUND), fax (301-926-9524 or 301- 590-3053), e-mail (atp@nist.gov), or written request at the address shown on page 5. An estimated $82 million in first-year ATP funding will be available for the 98-01 general competition and seven to nine focused program competitions to be held in 1998. Seven focused competitions have already been announced. The actual number of proposals funded in any competition will depend on the quality of the proposals received and the amount of funding requested in the highest-ranked proposals. Out-year funding is contingent on the approval of future Congressional appropriations and satisfactory project performance. Background The goal of the Catalysis & Biocatalysis Technologies focused program (98B05) is to enable the catalysis-based processing industries to speed technological breakthroughs via systems-oriented, multi-disciplinary approaches to catalytic process design. Breakthroughs in these core technologies should significantly (1) reduce the manufacturing cost and environmental impact of the commercial production of chemicals and plastics; (2) reduce the time and costs involved in the development of new catalysts, biocatalysts, catalytic processes, and catalyst-derived products; and (3) speed the availability of computational-based design/modeling tools for catalysis. The Selective-Membrane Platforms focused program (98B07) objectives are to develop a group of membrane platforms and accelerate their diffusion into the chemical and allied process industries. Individual projects are anticipated to deliver step-change improvements in membrane performance that result in increased selectivity for the concentration, purification or isolation of chemical species that have only small differences in size, functional group or structure; increased productivity available over a wide range of production scales and stream concentrations; robustness at extremes of pH, temperature or pressure; resistance to hydrolysis, organic solvents, impurity poisoning or reactive mixtures; and attractive economics in use. ATP Kit and Focused Program Booklets Both the ATP Proposal Preparation Kit dated December, 1997 (containing proposal cover sheets and other required forms, background material, and instructions for submission of proposals), as well as individual focused program booklets (describing the technical scope of the two focused programs and containing instructions for preparing pre-proposals) may be requested by phone (1-800-ATP-FUND), fax (301-926-9524 or 301-590-3053), e-mail (atp@nist.gov), or written request at the address shown above. Individuals whose names are currently on the ATP mailing list should have already received the December, 1997 version of the ATP Proposal Preparation Kit. The ATP Kit and focused program booklets are also available on our World Wide Web site (http://www.atp.nist.gov). Abbreviated Proposals and Full Proposal Deadlines Abbreviated proposals (pre-proposals) are allowed but are optional for focused programs 98-05 and 98-07. The pre-proposal deadline for both the 98-05 and 98-07 competitions is 3 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, February 27, 1998. All pre-proposals should be submitted to the address shown below. Pre-proposals and proposals submitted by facsimile or electronic mail WILL NOT be accepted. No audio or video tapes should be submitted as part of a pre-proposal or proposal. The due date for submission of full proposals for both the 98-05 and 98-07 competitions is 3 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, April 22, 1998. Should the NIST facility be closed on the specified due date, ATP proposals will be due at 3 p.m. Eastern time on the next business day that the NIST facility is open. Proposals received after this deadline WILL NOT be considered. Send pre-proposals and full proposals to: National Institute of Standards and Technology Advanced Technology Program Bldg. 101, Rm. A407Quince Orchard & Clopper Roads Gaithersburg, MD 20899-0001 Mark envelope 98-05 or 98-07, as appropriate. ATP ANNOUNCES PUBLIC MEETINGS Proposers= Conference for 98-05 and 98-07 Focused Competitions A public meeting (Proposers= Conference) for potential proposers and other interested parties under these two focused program competitions, 98-05 and 98-07, will be held on Wednesday, February 18, 1998 at the Holiday Inn, Montgomery Village Avenue and Rt. 355 (exit 11 on I-270), Gaithersburg, MD. The meeting, which will begin at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time and end at approximately 4:30 p.m., will provide general information regarding the ATP, offer tips on preparing good proposals, and provide opportunities for attendees to ask questions both on the scope and technical and business goals of these focused programs. A panel of current ATP awardees will also be available to answer questions. Attendance at this public meeting is not required. For those who cannot make the February 18 meeting, ATP will hold a number ofProposers= Conferences throughout the U.S. in January. A flyer describing these meetings will be mailed to everyone on the ATP mailing list and can be requested by calling 1-800-ATP-FUND. The same descriptions are available on the ATP website (http://www.atp.nist.gov). There is NO registration fee to attend the Catalysis & Biocatalysis Technologies and Selective-Membrane Platforms Proposers= Conference on February 18. In order that ATP can estimate the number of attendees for this Proposers Conference, please register by phone: 1-800-ATP-FUND; fax: (301) 926-9524 or (301) 590-3053; or email: atp@nist.gov, with your name, number of attendees, telephone and fax number. Catalysis, Biocatalysis and Separations Program Workshop Immediately following the Proposers= Conference on February 18, ATP will hold a Program Workshop for Catalysis, Biocatalysis and Separations Technologies. The goals of this meeting are to: ! inform the technical community about ATP projects in catalysis, biocatalysis, and separations technologies; ! stimulate scientific discussions toward innovation; ! promote strategic partnering among organizations throughout these technology areas; ! accelerate commercialization of technologies emerging from ATP-supported research; ! promote networking between ATP project participants and the technical community; ! share ideas on best practices for project management and alliance formation as well as provide the ATP with ideas about future competition concepts. In addition, because this workshop is being held immediately after the February 18th Proposers= Conference for the 1998 Selective-Membrane Platforms and Catalysis & Biocatalysis Technologies Focused Program Competitions, potential applicants can learn about submitting ATP proposals, specific ATP projects, and ATP project management processes directly from current awardees. The meeting will consist of a series of presentations and networking sessions designed to stimulate creative thinking, brainstorm ideas, and make valuable contacts. The networking sessions will also double as poster sessions in which ATP awardees will share non-proprietary aspects of their research and NIST laboratory scientists will present generic research in support of these technology areas. Abstracts of the projects that will have posters at the workshop can be accessed through the ATP homepage (http://www.atp.nist.gov). Plenary speakers will include academic researchers in catalysis, biocatalysis, and membrane separations who will give their view of cutting edge technological developments that may spark ideas for ATP projects or innovative research teaming. Business leaders will also share novel approaches both to partnering and setting aggressive goals for business growth. ATP staff will provide opportunities for industry to suggest improvements to ATP processes and to brainstorm possible future topics for ATP Focused Programs. The meeting will begin with a reception and dinner on February 18, featuring a presentation by Dr. Lura Powell, Director, ATP. The registration fee to attend the Biocatalysis, Catalysis and Separations Combined Program Workshop on February 18B19 is $200 per person and includes workshop materials, reception and dinner on February 18, coffee breaks and lunch on February 19. To register, please contact: Tammie Grice NIST Conference Office Telephone: (301) 975-3883 Fax: (301) 948-2067 Email: tammie.grice@nist.gov Meeting Accommodations The Gaithersburg Holiday Inn (301) 948-8900, has been selected as the headquarters hotel for both of these meetings. A special rate of $85, single or double (plus 12% tax), has been arranged for attendees. To reserve a room, please send the enclosed hotel reservation form or call the hotel directly no later than February 1, 1998, and mention that you are attending the NIST/ATP Workshop. After that date, rooms will be released for sale at the prevailing hotel rates. WEB: Advanced Technology Program, atp.nist.gov. E-MAIL: atp@nist.gov, atp@nist.gov.

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