Opportunity Information: Apply for W911NF 16 R 0031
Apply for W911NF 16 R 0031
- The Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Robots in Manufacturing Environments Manufacturing Innovation Institute (RIME-MII)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.630.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2016-07-26.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-12-06. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $80,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Robots in Manufacturing Environments Manufacturing Innovation Institute (RIME-MII) funding opportunity (FOA number W911NF 16 R 0031) is a U.S. Department of the Army, Materiel Command discretionary research and development initiative aimed at standing up a national Manufacturing Innovation Institute focused on robotics used in manufacturing settings. The government is seeking a single lead organization to establish and operate a state-of-the-art, end-to-end institute that accelerates technology development, transitions innovations into real manufacturing use, and strengthens U.S. industrial competitiveness in the area of robots in manufacturing environments. The award mechanism is a Technology Investment Agreement (TIA) under 10 USC 2371, which is commonly used for flexible, collaborative R and D and prototyping activities with a strong emphasis on partnerships and shared investment.
Eligibility is narrowly defined: only U.S. non-profit organizations may apply, and they must serve as the lead organization and the direct recipient of the RIME-MII award. While the prime applicant must be a non-profit, the institute itself is expected to be built as a broad partnership. The lead non-profit is expected to assemble a consortium that can include businesses (large and small), manufacturing firms, universities, and non-profit industry consortia. The FOA explicitly encourages participation by companies of all sizes and structures through teaming arrangements, recognizing that specialized niche expertise often sits in smaller firms or unique industry groups. In practical terms, the proposal needs to show not only technical merit, but also a credible plan for building a functioning ecosystem that links research, development, demonstration, workforce considerations, and adoption by manufacturers.
A major theme of the opportunity is leadership and management capacity. The institute is expected to have regional importance while also achieving national prominence, meaning the selected lead must be capable of convening and aligning stakeholders across many disciplines and organizations. The government emphasizes that this is not a small coordination task; it requires an unusual combination of organizational strength, technical credibility, leadership and cultural skill, and the ability to execute quickly. The awardee is expected to pull together agreements, governance approaches, and funding commitments on an accelerated timeline so the institute becomes operational and impactful early in its period of performance.
Cost sharing is a core requirement. The FOA specifies a minimum 1:1 cost share, meaning the non-federal participants collectively must match the federal investment at least dollar for dollar. This requirement reinforces that the institute must be grounded in real industry demand and commitment, not only government funding. The federal award ceiling is listed as $80,000,000, underscoring that the effort is intended to be a large-scale national capability rather than a single research project. The anticipated institute term is seven years, and the FOA places strong emphasis on sustainability beyond that period. Applicants are expected to propose business models, membership structures, and programs that will continue attracting industry participation and other sources of support after the agreement ends, so the institute persists as a durable hub for advanced manufacturing innovation.
Administratively, the opportunity falls under CFDA 12.630 and is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development. It was created on 2016-07-26 with an original closing date of 2016-12-06. In summary, this FOA is about creating a long-lived, industry-connected manufacturing robotics institute led by a U.S. non-profit, supported by a substantial public-private cost-shared investment, and designed to deliver national-scale impact through coordinated R and D, transition to practice, and sustained ecosystem building.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Robots in Manufacturing Environments Manufacturing Innovation Institute (RIME-MII)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of the Army, Materiel Command discretionary research and development initiative to stand up a national Manufacturing Innovation Institute focused on robots used in manufacturing settings. It is titled the Robots in Manufacturing Environments Manufacturing Innovation Institute (RIME-MII).
What is the FOA number for this opportunity?
The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) number is W911NF 16 R 0031.
What is the main purpose of RIME-MII?
The goal is to establish and operate a state-of-the-art, end-to-end institute that accelerates technology development, transitions innovations into real manufacturing use, and strengthens U.S. industrial competitiveness in robotics for manufacturing environments.
Is this funding meant for a single research project or something larger?
This FOA is aimed at creating a large-scale national capability: a manufacturing innovation institute. It is not described as a single research project, but as an institute designed to coordinate R and D, demonstration, transition-to-practice, and broader ecosystem building.
How many awards does the government intend to make?
The FOA indicates the government is seeking a single lead organization to establish and operate the institute, which implies one lead awardee.
Who is eligible to apply as the lead applicant?
Eligibility is narrowly defined: only U.S. non-profit organizations may apply, and the non-profit must serve as the lead organization and the direct recipient of the RIME-MII award.
Can for-profit companies apply directly as the prime recipient?
No. The prime applicant must be a U.S. non-profit and must be the direct recipient of the award.
Can universities participate?
Yes. While the prime applicant must be a non-profit, the institute is expected to be a broad partnership (consortium) that can include universities.
Can small businesses and large businesses participate?
Yes. The FOA explicitly encourages participation by companies of all sizes and structures through teaming arrangements, noting that specialized niche expertise often sits in smaller firms or unique industry groups.
What kinds of organizations are expected to be part of the consortium?
The lead non-profit is expected to assemble a consortium that can include businesses (large and small), manufacturing firms, universities, and non-profit industry consortia.
What type of award mechanism will be used?
The award mechanism is a Technology Investment Agreement (TIA) under 10 USC 2371, commonly used for flexible, collaborative research and development and prototyping activities with strong emphasis on partnerships and shared investment.
What does the FOA emphasize besides technical merit?
In addition to technical merit, proposals are expected to show a credible plan for building a functioning ecosystem that links research, development, demonstration, workforce considerations, and adoption by manufacturers.
What leadership and management expectations are described for the institute?
The FOA strongly emphasizes leadership and management capacity. The institute is expected to have regional importance and national prominence, and the lead organization must be able to convene and align stakeholders across many disciplines and organizations.
How quickly is the awardee expected to get the institute operational?
The FOA highlights an accelerated timeline, expecting the awardee to pull together agreements, governance approaches, and funding commitments so the institute becomes operational and impactful early in its period of performance.
Is cost sharing required?
Yes. Cost sharing is a core requirement.
What is the minimum cost share requirement?
The FOA specifies a minimum 1:1 cost share, meaning non-federal participants collectively must match the federal investment at least dollar for dollar.
Why does the FOA require a 1:1 cost share?
Based on the FOA description, the cost share requirement is intended to ensure the institute is grounded in real industry demand and commitment, not solely supported by government funding.
What is the maximum federal funding amount?
The federal award ceiling is listed as $80,000,000.
How long is the anticipated institute term?
The anticipated institute term is seven years.
Does the FOA expect the institute to continue after the seven-year term?
Yes. The FOA places strong emphasis on sustainability beyond the seven-year period of performance. Applicants are expected to propose business models, membership structures, and programs that continue attracting industry participation and other support after the agreement ends.
What kinds of outcomes is the institute expected to deliver?
The institute is expected to accelerate technology development, transition innovations into real manufacturing use, and strengthen U.S. industrial competitiveness in robots used in manufacturing environments.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The opportunity falls under CFDA 12.630.
How is this opportunity categorized?
It is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
When was this opportunity created?
The FOA was created on 2016-07-26.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was 2016-12-06.
What should an applicant demonstrate about national versus regional impact?
The FOA indicates the institute should have regional importance while also achieving national prominence, meaning the proposal should credibly address both local/regional strength and national-scale convening and impact.
What practical elements should a strong proposal highlight, based on the FOA description?
Based on the provided description, a strong proposal would address: consortium building across industry and academia; governance and agreements; leadership capacity; an end-to-end plan from development through transition into manufacturing use; workforce considerations; cost share commitments meeting at least 1:1; and a sustainability plan beyond the seven-year term (business model, membership structure, ongoing programs).
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