Assessment of the Retrospective and Prospective Economic Impacts of Investments in U.S. Neutron Research Sources and Facilities from 1968 to 2030 | 2020 NIST TPO 01

Opportunity Information: Apply for 2020 NIST TPO 01

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), through its Technology Partnerships Office (TPO), is soliciting proposals for a study that looks back and looks forward at the economic value of U.S. investments in neutron research sources and facilities over a long time horizon, spanning roughly 1968 through 2030. The core purpose of the opportunity is to produce an evidence-based assessment of how neutron research infrastructure has contributed to the U.S. economy in the past, and how additional or alternative investments could shape future economic outcomes. The work is framed around the idea that advanced neutron sources, facilities, and instruments are foundational tools for modern science and engineering, with downstream effects on materials discovery and design, industrial innovation, technology development, national security capabilities, and everyday products that rely on improved materials and manufacturing processes.

A central requirement of the project is an economic impact assessment that covers both realized impacts (what has actually occurred as a result of past and current investments) and prospective impacts (what could occur under plausible future investment scenarios). In practice, that means the recipient is expected to analyze how neutron facilities enable research and development outcomes that translate into economic benefits, such as productivity improvements, new product development, commercialization activity, and broader competitiveness effects. Just as importantly, the analysis is not limited to dollars and jobs; it is also meant to connect scientific capability to economic vitality by showing how access to neutron tools supports innovation pipelines in areas like advanced materials, energy technologies, pharmaceuticals, electronics, aerospace, additive manufacturing, and other sectors where understanding structure and dynamics at the atomic or nanoscale can be decisive.

Alongside the economic analysis, NIST is asking for a needs-and-capabilities assessment of the U.S. neutron ecosystem: how well the current portfolio of U.S. neutron sources and facilities meets present-day scientific and technical demand, and whether it is positioned to meet anticipated future needs. The intent is to inform decisions that keep the United States scientifically competitive by identifying gaps, constraints, or strategic opportunities in the national suite of neutron capabilities. This part of the work is aimed at answering questions such as whether current capacity aligns with user demand, whether instrumentation and facility performance match emerging research directions, and what kinds of investments or policy choices would best sustain world-class capability through 2030.

This opportunity is issued as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement, which typically implies substantial involvement by the funding agency during the period of performance (for example, coordination on study direction, access to relevant stakeholders, or iterative review of interim outputs). The funding opportunity is identified as "Assessment of the Retrospective and Prospective Economic Impacts of Investments in U.S. Neutron Research Sources and Facilities from 1968 to 2030" with Funding Opportunity Number 2020 NIST TPO 01. The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and the CFDA number listed is 11.620. The original closing date for proposals was August 5, 2020, and the posting creation date was May 20, 2020. The notice materials provided do not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.

Eligibility is broad and is open to all non-Federal entities. Eligible applicants include accredited institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations incorporated in the United States, and state, local, territorial, and federally recognized Indian tribal governments. The notice also allows foreign public entities and foreign organizations to apply, which is notable compared to many U.S. federal opportunities. Individuals and unincorporated sole proprietors are explicitly not eligible because they do not meet the definition of a non-Federal entity for this program. Federal entities cannot receive funding under this notice, but they may participate as unfunded collaborators, which allows the project to draw on expertise or data from federal partners without making them direct recipients of the award.

In summary, NIST is seeking a qualified organization to deliver a rigorous, historically grounded and forward-looking evaluation that ties neutron research infrastructure to economic outcomes and to the nation’s innovation capacity. The deliverables are expected to help policymakers and stakeholders understand the return on past investments, the value of maintaining and upgrading neutron capabilities, and the strategic choices needed to ensure the U.S. neutron facility portfolio remains aligned with scientific demand and national competitiveness through 2030.

• The National Institute of Standards and Technology in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Assessment of the Retrospective and Prospective Economic Impacts of Investments in U.S. Neutron Research Sources and Facilities from 1968 to 2030" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.620.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-05-20.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-08-05. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for 2020 NIST TPO 01

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