GSBN: Of Possible Interest - PATH/NIST funding

[the black range blackrange@...]

Hi all,

Received this info about potential government funding -- if it is of
interest, check it out.

>To: blackrange@...
>From: "W. Laurence Doxsey" W._Laurence_Doxsey@... (by way of The
> Last Straw)
>Subject: Of Possible Interest - PATH/NIST funding
>Hi Catherine,
>
>I have enclosed an announcement for  funding support in building technology
>research that may be of
> interest to some folks that you are aware of. HUD is the lead agency on PATH
>and the green building
>agenda is of definite interest in PATH.  As usual most of the emphasis has
been
>toward highly manufactured
>approaches, but there is potential for advancing straw bale technology in
this
>project in my opinion.
>There is awareness and possibly some direct involvement with straw bale
already
>in PATH.
> You can check the PATH website <www.pathnet.org>
>
>I have been out of touch with the straw SIP company in Electra, TX.  Do you
>know
> anything about their status?
>They could be candidates for this type of support if they are viable and
going.

>PATH/NIST Technology Research Grants
>                    National Institute of Standards and Technology
>
>                    The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing, in
>conjunction with
>                    the National Institute of Standards and Technology, is
>seeking proposals
>                    from industry for research projects with potential of
>producing products
>                    within 18 months for site-built, factory-built, and
>manufactured housing as
>                    well as for the upgrade of existing homes.
>
>                    NIST will select and administer the technology
development
>effort called
>                    the Partnership for Advancing Technologies in Housing
>Cooperative
>                    Research Program (PATH-CoRP). PATH, a White House
>public/private
>                    initiative to integrate new housing technologies into the
>housing and
>                    construction industry, will fund up to 70 percent of the
>projects. PATH is
>                    providing $1 million for the PATH-CoRP. Private sector
>applicants must
>                    commit to cost-share expenditures of at least 30
percent of
>the total
>                    proposed project value. At least 20 percent of the
proposed
>cost share
>                    must be in cash. NIST expects to award approximately
>five to
> 10 of the
>                    cooperative agreements, ranging from $50,000 to $200,000
>each.
>
>                    "New technologies can revolutionize the American housing
>industry," said
>                    William C. Apgar, Assistant Secretary for Housing/Federal
>Housing
>                    Commissioner, Department of Housing and Urban
Development.
>"The
>                    private sector can drive critical changes in housing
>components,
>                    systems, designs and production methods. PATH-CoRP will
>jump
> start
>                    great private sector ideas and help move quality
>technologies quickly into
>                    the marketplace," he said.
>
>                    PATH-CoRP proposals must address at least one of the
>following seven
>                    PATH areas of interest: (1) labor-saving processes for
>housing
>                    construction cycle-time; (2) enhanced worker safety and
>simplified
>                    construction processes; (3) advanced materials and
systems
>for
>                    structural integrity; (4) advanced and innovative housing
>foundation
>                    systems for all types of soil conditions; (5) advanced
>materials and
>                    systems for the building envelope to control moisture in
>walls or to control
>                    infestation by termites and other insects; (6) new or
>innovative methods
>                    incorporating traditional exterior finishes with advanced
>framing systems;
>                    and (7) advanced materials and systems for interior
>finishes
> (ceilings,
>                    walls, built-in equipment) and advanced materials and
>systems for home
>                    function and operation.
>
>                    In addition, all proposals must address PATH's first goal
>which is to
>                    reduce the monthly cost of new housing by 20 percent or
>more. The
>                    proposals also must support at least one additional PATH
>goal. By 2010
>                    PATH is to decrease the environmental impact of and
energy
>use of new
>                    housing by 50 percent or more and reduce the energy
use in
>at least 15
>                    million existing homes by 30 percent or more; improve
>durability and
>                    reduce maintenance costs by 50 percent; diminish by at
>least
> 10 percent
>                    the risk of loss of life, injury, and property
destruction
>from natural
>                    hazards and to reduce by at least 20 percent residential
>construction
>                    work illnesses and injuries.
>
>                    The PATH CoRP program is open for participation by
>for-profit or
>                    non-profit industry organizations and industry-led
team of
>organizations.
>                    Although teams are encouraged, only a single industry
>organization, the
>                    project administrator, can submit an application. Team
>members may
>                    include universities, state and local governments and/or
>Federal
>                    government laboratories.
>
>                    Deadline for PATH-CoRP proposals is February 7, 2000. A
>NIST
> panel of
>                    three independent reviewers, selected for technical
>expertise in the
>                    research area covered by the proposal, will review each
>entry. The panel
>                    will evaluate all proposals and make recommendations
to the
>director of
>                    NIST Building and Fire Research Laboratory. The
director's
>selections
>                    will, in turn, be approved by the NIST Grants Officer for
>compliance with
>                    all requirements as well as selected organization's
ability
>to fulfill terms of
>                    the work.
>
>                    PATH is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing
and
>Urban
>                    Development. In addition to HUD, federal agencies
>participating in PATH
>                    include U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce,
Defense,
>Energy,
>                    Labor and Transportation, the Environmental Protection
>Agency, the
>                    Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Housing
>Finance
>                    Board, and the White House Office of Science and
Technology
>Policy.
>                    Private sector members include leaders of the home
>building,
> product
>                    manufacturing, insurance, and financial industries.
>
>                    NIST, as a non-regulatory agency of the U.S.
Department of
>Commerce's
>                    Technology Administration, promotes economic growth by
>working with
>                    industry to develop and apply technology, measurements
and
>standards
>                    through four partnerships: the Measurement and Standards
>Laboratories,
>                    the Advanced Technology Program, the Manufacturing
>Extension
>                    Partnership and the Baldrige National Quality Program.
>
>                    Applicants can submit technical questions to:
>                    Dr. H. S. Lew
>                    NIST, Building and Fire Research Laboratory, Structures
>Divisions
>                    100 Bureau Drive, STOP 8610
>                    Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8610
>                    Telephone: (301) 975-6060
>                    E-mail: hsl@...
>
>
>
>