CIPP FAQ

Follow the instructions outlined in the Congressionally Identified Projects Program (CIPP) NOFO. The NOFO includes guidelines on how to submit an application for a Federal financial assistance award (e.g, a grant) in Grants.gov.

NIST is authorized to award CIPP via a grant agreement. To facilitate the award, recipient organizations must submit an application that meets the requirements described in the CIPP NOFO.

Your organization must register with SAM.gov (to obtain a UEI), then Grants.gov. An application submitted to NIST via Grants.gov is required for your organization to receive a CIPP award. SAM.gov and Grants.gov applicant registration information is available here. 

Information on the UEI can be obtained here.

Eligible applicants are listed in Section V., Applicant Projects, of the NOFO.

Your application for the funding must be consistent with the proposal submitted to the applicable Congressional sponsoring office and must adhere to the project goals and objectives as submitted to NIST. In general, CIPP projects will expand and improve upon the scientific, technological, and educational capacity of the United States. Questions regarding project scope may be directed to cipp [at] nist.gov (CIPP Office.)

Your organization will submit an electronic application through Grants.gov. Paper applications will not be accepted.

Required forms are described in Section I., Required Forms and Information, of the NOFO. They include, but are not limited to, the SF-424 Family Forms, a Project Narrative, a Budget Narrative and Justification, and current and pending support documentation for key personnel. 

The Project Narrative is limited to 20 pages, double-spaced. The page limit includes the Project Narrative with all required information, including figures, graphs, tables, images and pictures, references, cover page, and table of contents, as applicable.  

To upload documents to the application in Grants.gov, click the “Add Attachments” button in box 15 of the SF-424.  Once uploaded, a Delete Attachments and View Attachments button will appear for use.

As set forth in the NOFO, NIST will evaluate the technical soundness and merits of the application in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 8.G. of the Department of Commerce Federal Financial Assistance Manual (Interim Change 1 dated March 31, 2025), as may be periodically amended. 

If there are any issues with the submitted application, NIST will work with the recipient organization and the Congressional sponsors, as necessary, to ensure that the proposed project is within the parameters of the fiscal appropriation and all Department of Commerce and NIST requirements.

The application period will be open for 30 days. If you have issues or need additional time, please contact the cipp [at] nist.gov (CIPP Office) as soon as possible to discuss. Please be aware that the sooner your application is submitted, the sooner NIST can review it, and the sooner the funding may become available.

NIST anticipates issuing awards by September for all applications submitted by the deadline stated in the NOFO. 

Funds will generally become available for draw down once a Notice of Award is issued to your organization by the NIST Grants Officer.

For the vast majority of the CIPP projects, a period of performance of one to two years is the expectation.  Please contact the cipp [at] nist.gov (CIPP Office) if your organization anticipates needing more than two years to complete its CIPP project.

The period of performance is determined by the applicant and its plan for executing the project.  For example, if equipment purchase is involved, one might consider the time required to solicit bids, the manufacturer's lead time, and installation requirements.
 

See guidelines described in Sections I.5)A) Executive Summary and II.C.8. Research Activities Involving Human Subjects or Vertebrate Animals in the NOFO, to include additional resources available through NIST’s Research Protections Office. 

See guidelines described in Sections I.5)A) Executive Summary and II.C.8. Research Activities Involving Human Subjects or Vertebrate Animals in the NOFO, to include additional resources available through NIST’s Research Protections Office.

Yes, personnel and fringe benefit costs may be an allowable expense when the effort is associated with the CIPP project goals and objectives and is included in the approved Budget Narrative and Justification.

Resume(s) or CV(s) are required for all key personnel, see Section I.9) of the NOFO.

Yes, personnel, fringe benefits, and travel costs for non-U.S. citizens (e.g. foreign students, research assistants, etc.) may be allowable when the effort is associated with the CIPP project goals and objectives and is included in the approved Budget Narrative and Justification.  In this connection, the Budget Narrative and Justification should expressly identify award costs attributable to non-U.S. citizens.  CIPP projects that involve the engagement of non-U.S. citizens in research and development activities should follow the procedures of the recipient organization in accordance with the National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 (NSPM-33) and the NSPM-33 implementation guidance.    

In addition to the Current and Pending (Other) Support and bio sketch (e.g., CV/resume) forms, indicate in the project narrative that all required training of “covered individuals” participating in the project was completed, and include copies of any memorandum or correspondence that indicate that a risk review was conducted by your organization's research security or equivalent office.

The NIST Research Security Office (RSO) reserves the right to conduct an administrative review of all projects that involve the participation of foreign nationals. 

It depends.  The applicability of BABA and the requirements thereunder are set forth in 2 C.F.R. part 184. See the Department of Commerce BABA page for additional information concerning BABA’s scope and application:  https://www.commerce.gov/oam/build-america-buy-america.  BABA generally applies where some or all of the equipment acquired with CIPP award funds requires building alterations for installation, leading to the equipment acquired with CIPP funds being permanently affixed or fully integrated into a building structure.  For example, an HVAC system integrated into an existing building structure would be subject to BABA, while equipment not requiring building alterations for installation (e.g., standard laboratory equipment) would not be subject to BABA. Recipients should indicate in its application whether BABA applies to equipment being acquired with CIPP funds and why the organization arrived at such a determination.  Recipients should consult with the cipp [at] nist.gov (CIPP Office) or their Grants Officer when there are questions on BABA applicability.

Conditional title to CIPP funded equipment vests with the recipient organization upon acquisition subject to the requirements described in 2 CFR 200.313 for the continued use, management, and disposition following the end of the award.

Yes,  A financial report (SF-425) and programmatic report (Technical Report or Research Performance Progress Report) are required during the award period of performance. The reports will be due semi-annually, with the reporting periods and due dates described in your award. Additional reporting may be required depending on the scope of your project, see Section II.D., Reporting, in the NOFO.  

NIST’s Research Performance Progress Report  (RPPR) template is used for research projects. For non-research projects, there is no standard format. Report guidance will be provided in a Specific Award Condition (SAC) in your award.

Yes, a no cost extension can be requested by submitting a request to UGAM [at] NIST.gov (UGAM[at]NIST[dot]gov). Importantly, a request for a no-cost extension must be made by a recipient no less than 90 calendar days prior to the expiration of the award period of performance.  Please refer to the Financial Assistance Reference Guide for complete instructions or reach out to your assigned Grants Management Specialist or Federal Program Officer (FPO).