ATP Grant Update

Posted by Admin on Oct 06, 2005 at 01:43 AM
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From Derek: NIST-ATP:  After checking with their office today, I am happy to report that they are not entirely pessimistic about fielding new proposals in 2006—Their timeline for checking back on their website and sending out proposal kits was Nov/Dec.  Now, their funding is still not assured, so this suggests some lobbying on our part.  When I mentioned this on the phone, they were actually quite enthusiastic—I know you’ve mentioned Inouye in the past, Eric, but they thought it would be sufficient to contact our local members of Congress.  That actually works out quite well—Here in southern CA, we will target Adam Schiff and David Dreier, a Dem and Rep whose districts straddle JPL and whom I’ve lobbied in the past. Even if the money won’t be spent in their districts, I believe they’ll be receptive due to the utility of LPP’s tech to future deep space exploration, JPL’s history of support, and of course Bob lives and works in their districts.  Congresswomen Capps and Loretta Sanchez are other options, if necessary.

Update on NIST, from their website:

The President signed the America COMPETES Act (H.R. 2272) on August 9, 2007. 

This statute abolishes the Advanced Technology Program (ATP), but allows for continued support for previously awarded projects and the 56 new FY 2007 awards.

Separately the statute created the Technology Innovation Program (TIP). For more information about this program, see:  http://www.nist.gov/tip/