NIST MEP Competitive Awards Program (CAP)
Supports manufacturing modernization by funding MEP Center competitive awards in workforce training, advanced production, and resilience planning.
The NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership Competitive Awards Program (CAP) is a supplemental cooperative-agreement vehicle operated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology under the U.S. Department of Commerce. CAP funds project-based expansions of capability at existing MEP Centers β the nationwide network of nonprofit and university-hosted centers that deliver hands-on manufactuβ¦
Expanding MEP Center capabilities in Industry 4.0, workforce development, and supply-chain resilience beyond the scope of the base cooperative agreement.
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Guides for this application
All guides βGrants for Robotics Startups: SBIR, Defense, NSF, and Pilot Funding
A practical guide to grants for robotics startups, including SBIR/STTR, NSF, DoD, NASA, field validation, TRL, pilot evidence, budgets, and commercialization strategy.
Submit & reportSAM.gov Registration and UEI Guide for Federal Grant Applicants
Learn how SAM.gov registration, UEI numbers, Grants.gov accounts, organization profiles, workspace roles, and renewal timing fit together.
BudgetBudget Narrative Example for Grant Proposals
See how to write a grant budget narrative with line-item examples, a template structure, weak vs strong wording, and reviewer-facing cost logic.
BudgetIndirect Costs in Grants: Rates, MTDC, and Examples
Understand indirect costs in grants, including direct vs indirect costs, negotiated rates, de minimis rates, MTDC, funder caps, and budget narrative implications.
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