§ 290.2 Definitions.

advanced manufacturing technology(a) The phrase refers to new technologies which have recently been developed, or are currently under development, for use in product or part design, fabrication, assembly, quality control, or improving production efficiency.

CenterRegional Center(b) The term or means a NIST-established Regional Center for the Transfer of Manufacturing Technology described under these procedures.

operating award(c) The term means a cooperative agreement which provides funding and technical assistance to a Center for purposes set forth in § 290.3 of these procedures.

Director(d) The term means the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

NIST(e) The term means the National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce.

ProgramCenters Program(f) The term or means the NIST program for establishment of, support for, and cooperative interaction with Regional Centers for the Transfer of Manufacturing Technology.

qualified proposal(g) The term means a proposal submitted by a nonprofit organization which meets the basic requirements set forth in § 290.5 of these procedures.

Secretary(h) The term means the Secretary of Commerce.

target firm(i) The term means those firms best able to absorb advanced manufacturing technologies and techniques, especially those developed at NIST, and which are already well prepared in an operational, management and financial sensse to improve the levels of technology they employ.