Letter to Mr. Aitken Requesting Emergency Review

Mr. Steven D. Aitken

Acting Administrator

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs

Office of Management and Budget

Washington, DC 20503

Dear Mr. Aitken:

Enclosed is a request for an emergency review of an information collection under the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Advanced Technology Program (ATP).

The ATP provides cost-shared funding to industry to accelerate the development and broad dissemination of challenging, high-risk technologies with the potential for significant commercial payoffs and widespread benefits for the nation. To receive ATP funding, U.S. businesses and industry-led joint ventures/consortia must submit proposals in response to NIST/ATP competition announcements/request for proposals, which are published in the Federal Register and on Grants.gov. This request is for the information collection requirements associated with applying for funding. The intent of the collection is to meet statutory requirements for ATP, as well as compliance with 15 C.F.R. Part 14.

In order for NIST/ATP to complete the competition process by the end of fiscal year 2007, the competition announcement should be published in the Federal Register and on Grants.gov by

April 1, 2007. To do this, emergency review of the information collection is necessary. NIST will then be in a better position to announce a competition in a timely manner. This will also allow sufficient time for potential awardees to prepare their proposals and for NIST to complete its proposal review and award process prior to the end of fiscal year 2007. Normally, six to nine months are required to complete the review and award process. However, in light of the competition announcement not expected to be made until April 1, 2007, NIST will accelerate its review and award process.

If ATP were to proceed with the normal information collection process rather than an emergency review, it would delay the competition process considerably and ATP may risk not obligating

the funds by the end of fiscal year 2007. Thus, this emergency measure needs OMB approval by March 28, 2007.

Your approval will be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Barry C. West

Enclosures