Opportunity Information: Apply for 2023 NIST TIPC 01
The Training for Improving Plastics Circularity (TIPC) Grant Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Commerce through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Its core goal is workforce development for a more circular U.S. plastics economy. In practical terms, the program is aimed at helping schools and training providers build and deliver coursework and hands-on training that prepares people to work in areas tied to circular plastics, especially where stronger measurement skills, manufacturing know-how, and systems-level thinking are needed to scale domestic circular plastics industries.
The emphasis is on training content and learning experiences that connect polymer science to real-world circularity challenges. NIST highlights three major focus areas: polymer measurement methods (how plastics and polymer systems are characterized, tested, and evaluated), manufacturing (skills relevant to processing, production, and potentially recycling or reprocessing workflows), and systems thinking (understanding plastics as part of a broader system that includes materials sourcing, product design, collection, sorting, reprocessing, quality control, and end markets). The intent is not simply academic enrichment, but building a skilled and distributed workforce that can support expansion and increased scale across circular plastics supply chains in the United States.
The program supports multiple types of training development. One pathway is academic coursework creation and implementation at the associate or bachelor level, suggesting community colleges, four-year institutions, and similar partners could develop new classes, modules, lab components, or program tracks. Another pathway is continuing education designed for an existing workforce, which points to short courses, professional certificates, intensive bootcamps, or other upskilling formats that working professionals could complete while employed. Alongside curriculum and program development, the opportunity explicitly allows for related purchases and installation of equipment, which is often critical for hands-on polymer measurement and manufacturing training. It also mentions possible training experiences, implying support may extend to structured practical experiences that reinforce classroom learning, such as lab-based training, applied projects, or other experiential components that build job-ready skills.
Administratively, the opportunity is identified as "Training for Improving Plastics Circularity (TIPC) Grant Program" with Funding Opportunity Number "2023 NIST TIPC 01" and CFDA (Assistance Listing) number 11.620. It is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, but the description makes clear that the funded work is strongly training-oriented, with an applied, capacity-building purpose. The funding instrument type is a grant. The posting lists an expected 100 awards, indicating NIST anticipated making a relatively large number of awards compared to many federal R&D programs, consistent with a workforce and training expansion effort. The award ceiling is listed as 0, which typically means the maximum award size was not specified in the summary fields provided and would normally be clarified in the full notice of funding opportunity.
Eligibility is summarized as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," which signals that eligible applicant types are broader than a single standard category and would require checking the detailed eligibility section in the full announcement to confirm which organizations can apply (for example, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, certain private entities, or other training-focused organizations). Key dates shown include a creation date of March 17, 2023 and an original closing date of July 17, 2023, indicating the application window in that cycle.
Overall, the TIPC program is best understood as a workforce training investment tied to plastics circularity: developing and delivering associate- and bachelor-level coursework and/or continuing education, equipping training environments with relevant tools and equipment, and promoting practical learning experiences so that more workers across the country gain the measurement, manufacturing, and systems competencies needed to grow circular plastics industries at scale.Apply for 2023 NIST TIPC 01
- The Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Training for Improving Plastics Circularity (TIPC) Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.620.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 17, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 17, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 100 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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TIPC Grant Program FAQs
What is the Training for Improving Plastics Circularity (TIPC) Grant Program?
The Training for Improving Plastics Circularity (TIPC) Grant Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity focused on workforce development for a more circular U.S. plastics economy. It is administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Which federal agency runs the TIPC program?
The program is run by NIST, which is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?
The core goal is to strengthen the U.S. workforce needed to support a circular plastics economy. In practice, the funding is intended to help schools and training providers build and deliver coursework and hands-on training that prepares people for jobs connected to circular plastics industries.
What does "plastics circularity" mean in the context of this program?
Based on the program description, plastics circularity is treated as a systems-level challenge that includes materials sourcing, product design, collection, sorting, reprocessing, quality control, and end markets. The training emphasis is on building the skills needed to operate and scale those circular supply chains.
What types of training activities does the TIPC program support?
The opportunity supports training development and delivery, including creation and implementation of academic coursework (associate or bachelor level) and continuing education options for the existing workforce (such as short courses, professional certificates, or bootcamps). The description also points to hands-on and practical training experiences that reinforce classroom learning.
Does the program support academic coursework at community colleges or four-year institutions?
Yes. One pathway described is academic coursework creation and implementation at the associate or bachelor level, which aligns well with community colleges, four-year institutions, and similar partners developing new classes, modules, lab components, or program tracks.
Does the TIPC program fund continuing education or upskilling for working professionals?
Yes. Another pathway described is continuing education designed for an existing workforce, including formats such as short courses, professional certificates, and intensive bootcamps that can be completed while employed.
Is hands-on or experiential learning included in the scope of this opportunity?
Yes. The description references training experiences and emphasizes learning experiences that connect polymer science to real-world circularity challenges. Examples mentioned or implied include lab-based training, applied projects, or other structured experiential components.
What are the major technical focus areas highlighted by NIST for training content?
NIST highlights three major focus areas for training content: polymer measurement methods, manufacturing, and systems thinking.
What does "polymer measurement methods" mean for training purposes?
In this program, polymer measurement methods refer to how plastics and polymer systems are characterized, tested, and evaluated. Training in this area would strengthen measurement-related skills that are important for quality, performance, and scaling circular plastics workflows.
What does the program mean by "manufacturing" as a focus area?
Manufacturing is described as skills relevant to processing, production, and potentially recycling or reprocessing workflows. The grant is oriented toward preparing learners with practical know-how tied to industrial operations within circular plastics supply chains.
What does "systems thinking" mean in the TIPC program?
Systems thinking refers to understanding plastics as part of a broader interconnected system that can include materials sourcing, design decisions, collection and sorting, reprocessing, quality control, and end markets. The program emphasizes this systems view to support scaling domestic circular plastics industries.
Is this grant more research-focused or training-focused?
Although the listing is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, the description makes clear the funded work is strongly training-oriented and focused on applied capacity building (developing training programs, coursework, and hands-on learning environments).
What kinds of costs or resources are explicitly allowed beyond curriculum development?
The opportunity explicitly allows for related purchases and installation of equipment, which can be important for hands-on polymer measurement and manufacturing training environments.
Does the opportunity mention equipment installation as part of the grant scope?
Yes. In addition to program and curriculum development, the description explicitly notes that equipment purchases and installation are allowed.
What is the funding instrument type for this opportunity?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
What is the official name of the funding opportunity?
The official name is "Training for Improving Plastics Circularity (TIPC) Grant Program."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is 2023 NIST TIPC 01.
What is the CFDA (Assistance Listing) number for this opportunity?
The CFDA (Assistance Listing) number is 11.620.
How many awards were expected under this opportunity?
The posting lists an expected 100 awards, suggesting NIST anticipated making a relatively large number of awards consistent with a workforce and training expansion effort.
Is there a published maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is listed as 0 in the summary information provided. In federal postings, this typically indicates the maximum award size was not specified in those summary fields and would normally be clarified in the full notice of funding opportunity.
Who is eligible to apply for the TIPC grant?
Eligibility is summarized as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)." This indicates eligibility may be broader than a single standard applicant category and that the full announcement would need to be consulted to confirm exactly which organization types can apply.
Does the summary specify exactly which organization types are eligible?
No. The summary only indicates "Others" and directs applicants to the detailed eligibility information in the full announcement for clarification.
What were the key dates shown for this funding cycle?
The key dates shown include a creation date of March 17, 2023 and an original closing date of July 17, 2023.
What does the stated closing date indicate?
The original closing date of July 17, 2023 indicates the end of the application window for that cycle as presented in the provided information.
What is the practical intent of the program for the U.S. plastics industry?
The intent is to build a skilled and distributed workforce that can support expansion and increased scale across circular plastics supply chains in the United States, especially by strengthening measurement skills, manufacturing capabilities, and systems-level understanding.
Does the program focus on connecting polymer science to real-world problems?
Yes. The emphasis is on training content and learning experiences that connect polymer science to real-world circularity challenges.
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