Federal Register #2026-10105

NIST MEP Pilot Program for Advanced Manufacturing Technologies

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is preparing to launch a competitive pilot program under the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) to advance U.S. manufacturing capabilities. - Government Buyer: - U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) - OEMs and Vendors: - NIST is the only OEM or vendor specifically mentioned - Products/Services Requested: - No specific products or part numbers are listed at this stage - The primary service is a competitive pilot program to accelerate adoption and commercialization of advanced manufacturing technologies - Focus areas: - Additive manufacturing for aerospace components - Development of a domestic critical minerals supply chain - Unique or Notable Requirements: - Only current MEP Center primary awardees or their consortiums are eligible to apply - The program encourages collaboration with industry, academia, federal labs, and state/local governments - Anticipated funding is approximately $20 million per pilot project - Expected period of performance is two years per project - This is a Notice of Intent, not a formal solicitation, and is intended to provide advance notice for proposal development

Description

The Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is initiating a competitive pilot program for existing MEP centers to accelerate the adoption and commercialization of advanced manufacturing technologies. The program targets key sectors to develop and validate shared technology frameworks that accelerate acceptance of advanced manufacturing methods or transform fragmented supply chains into robust ecosystems. The pilot focuses on two manufacturing technology topics: additive manufacturing for aerospace components and a domestic critical minerals supply chain. This notice of intent allows potential applicants to begin developing proposal strategies and collaborations among industry, academic, federal laboratory, and state/local government partners.

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