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The technical focus is to leverage existing AM data to create AM part families to increase the amount validated AM data within the public domain and develop Q&C standards. The goal is to drive broader adoption of AM in such specific industries as aerospace, medical, and aviation where Q&C of AM parts is critically needed. There is a minimum cost share requirement of 25%.

The technical focus of this project is to apply such hybrid AM approaches as additive and subtractive manufacturing operations to remedy various AM material and product defects. The goal is to develop and demonstrate reliable methods to mitigating defect formation during the AM processes, as well explore and validate methods to remedying defects as built.

The technical focus of this project is to advance in-situ molten pool temperature measurement for AM of reactive metals. The goal is to measure molten pool surface temperatures accurately and reliably as a method to correlate processing parameters to material microstructure for metal AM.

The technical focus of this project is to support lightweight design methods of AM thin walls and struts by advancing the processability of these structures. The goal is to foster a deeper understanding of the manufacturability of lightweight designs and structures to advance their adoption in the automotive, aerospace, medical, and energy industries.

The technical focus of this project is to gain a greater understanding of how to best leverage the Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to benefit AM processes. The goal is to use IoT technologies on digital data extracted from AM process to quantify, assess, and improve AM product performance and quantify AM product pedigree.

Please consider the evaluation criteria, All responses should highly consider evaluation criteria

Those considerations are within the scope of topic 5.

Sub 1 mm below 40 thousandths,  All responses should be done in an industrially relevant manner with transition being considered. Should detail an approach that is done in an industrially relevant manner

Topic 5 is limited to responses utilizing PBF

Yes.  Proposers should consider providing evidence to support the merits of a given AM process and material for the focus of their efforts and, if possible, evidence which justifies a specific type of build interruption for further analysis.

If the proposer believes that looking at post-processing interruptions in addition to AM process interruptions is meaningful and viable within the allotted funding and PoP, that would be suitable.  A response which looks more extensively at post-processing interruptions compared to build interruptions is discouraged.  The RFP for topic 1 explicitly defines AM process interruptions.  Responses which address post-processing in addition to topic 1 are encouraged to clearly explain how proposed efforts will compliment and not detract from addressing the core focus of topic 1. Please note, responses will be evaluated for the following, “The degree to which the proposal clearly explains why the approach exhibits a high likelihood of success and the value/significance of the approach is supported by the quality and quantity of deliverables, perceived member value (near term/long term), return on investment opportunity, or other industrial demand factors.”

Federal agencies can be team members but may not receive any federal funding.  They can participate through cost share or in an advisor role.

Yes, cost share is looked at as favorable.

The final report should be submitted at the end of the five month execution period and all data gathering and analysis should cease.  The last two months are for review and revision.  From the RFP, ” complete first draft shall be submitted to PM/NCDMM no later than conclusion of month five of proposed effort.”

Yes, teams may submit more than one Project Proposal.

Questions should be emailed to ric@americamakes.us. Questions will be posted to the America Makes website according to the schedule. Questions asked AFTER the scheduled Q&A session will NOT be addressed.

Yes, but only if they are members. The approval process for foreign-owned entities can take up to 4 weeks to complete, so non-members would not have sufficient time to apply and be approved prior to this deadline.

Federal dollars cannot be spent outside of the United States. It is the Lead / team’s responsibility to ensure compliance with all applicable export control laws and regulations.

Yes.  The proposals will only be reviewed by the evaluation team and each team member signs a confidentiality agreement.

The owning organization should list anything that they are leveraging that is not going to be made available to the membership at the completion of the project.  This could be a patent number or a description of the background IP that is being leveraged.

The IP is owned by the organization that developed the IP, however that IP is subject to the rules outlined in the membership agreement.