[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 48 (Monday, March 13, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13407-13410]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6108]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 940961-4261]
RIN 0648-ZA11
NOAA Seasonal-to-Interannual Climate Prediction Program Research
Centers, Program Announcement
AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NOAA invites interested institutions to submit letters of
intent indicating interest in establishing a cooperative agreement with
NOAA to participate in a multinational network of Research Centers
within the proposed Seasonal to Interannual Climate Prediction Program
(SCPP).
The proposal to establish an end-to-end, multinational SCPP is
based on the evolution of existing program efforts to observe,
understand, predict, and assess the ocean and the atmosphere. The
programmatic strength of these efforts has been derived from the
support of individual federal agencies working together within the
context of the U.S. Global Change Research Program (GCRP). These
interrelated efforts provide the foundation which has enabled the
research community to provide useful predictions of climate variability
on seasonal to interannual time scales and are each a component of a
comprehensive Program.
The U.S. proposes to initiate a multinational planning process
intended to lead to the establishment of the multinational
infrastructure needed to generate and transfer useful climate
information and forecasts. This Announcement of Opportunity is intended
to result in the establishment of NOAA-designated Research Centers to
pursue the development of ENSO forecast techniques in anticipation of
the full multinational structure which will evolve for SCPP. NOAA
intends to ask one or a group of such Centers selected through this
announcement to assume specific responsibilities for establishing a
center to prepare and disseminate regularly an experimental forecast to
all interested countries. Recognizing the value of El Nino-Southern
Oscillation (ENSO) forecasting to countries throughout the world, this
center is referred to as the International Research Institute (IRI) in
the U.S. proposal to establish a Seasonal-to-Interannual Climate
Prediction Program. This action on the part of U.S. will represent the
first step in the process of initializing the participation of all
interested countries, and therefore NOAA wishes to emphasize that
extensive multinational consultation will be an integral part of the
process leading to a U.S. site for an International Research Institute
for SCPP.
Funding for activities supported under this announcement will be
provided through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) Climate and Global Change Program administered by the NOAA
Office of Global Programs.
DATES: Letters of intent should be submitted to J. Michael Hall,
Director, NOAA Office of Global Programs no later than April 12, 1995.
Response letters will be issued from NOAA by April 26, 1995. Those
institutions which are encouraged to submit full proposals should do so
by June 16, 1995. Designation of U.S. Research Centers for SCPP will be
completed by July 14, 1995, with appropriate funding action initiated
at that time. Selection of the institution(s) which the U.S. will offer
as a host site for the Institute is planned to be completed by
September 1, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Letters of Intent and Proposals should be submitted to:
Office of Global Programs, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, 1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1225, Silver Spring, MD 20910-
5063, Attn.: Dr. J. Michael Hall.
An Applications Kit can be obtained from: Grants Management
Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1325 East
West Highway, Room 5426, Silver Spring, MD 20910, Attn: Michael Nelson.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr. Kenneth Mooney, NOAA/Office of Global Programs, 1100 Wayne Avenue,
Suite 1225, Silver Spring, MD 20910-5603; 301-427-2089, Internet:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Funding Availability
A total of $5.0 million is available for first-year awards under
this announcement. Of this amount, $4.0 million is envisioned to
establish an International Research institute for SCPP and $1.0 million
is to support work at designed SCPP Research Centers.
This Program Announcement is for projects to be conducted over a
three-year period. NOAA believes that the SCPP will benefit
significantly from a strong partnership with outside investigators. The
funding instrument will be a cooperative agreement based on need for
substantial NOAA involvement in the implementation of the project for
which an award is to be made. Funding for non-U.S. institutions and
contractual arrangements for services and products for delivery to NOAA
are not available under this announcement.
Program Authority
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 1463; 33 U.S.C. 883d and 883e; 15 U.S.C.
2907; 15 U.S.C. 2931
(CFDA No. 11.431)--Climate and Atmospheric Research
Program Objectives
The multinational network of research, application and operational
centers is designed to catalyze the international scientific community
in a coordinated research effort to produce the best possible climate
forecasts a season to a year to two in advance and to provide forecasts
guidance products which are socially and economically useful to
countries of the world vulnerable to the impacts of climate
variability. The network's Research Centers will promote research
efforts designed to continually develop coupled models of the global
atmosphere, ocean, and land surface to serve as a basis for improved
climate prediction one season or one year or more in advance. Research
Centers will transfer model improvements to the International Research
Institute for SCPP and to national operational centers.
The International Research Institute will have the responsibility
of producing, assessing, and distributing experimental climate forecast
guidance products on an international basis and will seek funding from
non-U.S. sources as well as from the U.S. The Institute will generate
and disseminate experimental forecast guidance and analyses to Regional
Application Centers, located around the world, which will refine the
forecast based on analyses of local and regional conditions and
distribute products of social and economic benefit to users. The U.S.
will assist as appropriate in the establishment of Application Centers
through a separate process. All of the NOAA-designated Research Centers
will work closely with interested national and international
operational centers, such as NOAA's National Meteorological Center,
which have responsibilities for routine delivery of climate
products. [[Page 13408]]
Program Priorities
All proposals should provide detailed three-year plans for modeling
research, education and training which build upon the existing program
outlined in the letter of intent. Proposals from institutions also
interested in hosting the IRI for SCPP should also include detailed
information describing the unique qualifications of the institution(s)
which will enable it (them) to combine the research and operational
activities required to effectively coordinate the program. The
following areas should be addressed in the proposal: Creation and
maintenance of a climate data base; proposed mechanisms for the
development and implementation of model improvements; strategy for
generating experimental forecasts guidance products; evidence of
capacity for assessing and distributing forecast guidance and
supporting analyses to Application Centers and national operational
weather prediction centers; support for the preparation for new
forecast guidance products based on Application Center needs; and
commitment to providing education and training for scientists and
potential users of climate information.
Eligibility
Extramural eligibility is limited to U.S. institutions. Non-
academic proposers are urged to seek collaboration with academic
institutions. Universities, non-profit organizations, for-profit
organizations, State and local governments, and Indian Tribes, are
included among entities eligible for funding under this announcement.
Award Period
Proposal for SCPP Research Centers are expected to be of three-year
duration.
Evaluation Criteria
Consideration for financial assistance will be given to those
proposals which address the Program Priorities listed above and meet
the following evaluation criteria. Equal weight is assigned to each of
the criteria.
(1) Scientific Merit: Intrinsic scientific value of the proposed
research program.
(2) Relevance: Importance and relevance to the goal of the SCPP.
(3) Methodology: Focused scientific objective and strategy,
including modeling research, education and training considerations;
project milestones; and final products.
(4) Readiness: Quality of the larger research and education
environment; relevant history and status of existing work; level of
planning, including existence of supporting documents; strength of
proposed scientific and management team; past performance record of
proposers.
(5) Linkages: Connections to existing or planned national and
international programs; partnerships with other agency or NOAA
participants, and inclination towards ability to function within a
network of institutions with an international perspective.
(6) Costs: Adequacy of proposed resources; appropriate share of
total available resources; prospects for joint funding; identification
of long-term commitments. Matching funding is encouraged, but is not
required.
Selection Procedures
Upon completing the evaluation of the letters of intent,
institutions will be either discouraged or encouraged to submit full
proposals for designation as a SCPP Research Center or as a SCPP
Research Center/and proposed U.S. host for the International Research
Institute for SCPP. All proposals will be evaluated and ranked using
the above evaluation criteria by a NOAA review panel which may include
NOAA and non-NOAA experts in the field. Their recommendations and
evaluations are considered by the Program Manager in final selections.
Those ranked by the panel and rated by the Program Manager as not
recommended for funding are not given further consideration and are
notified of non-selection. For the proposals rated either Excellent,
Very Good or Good, the Program Manager will: (a) Ascertain which
proposals meet the objectives, fit the criteria posted, and do not
substantially duplicate other projects that are currently funded by
NOAA or are approved for funding by other federal agencies, (b) select
the proposals to be funded, (c) determine the total duration of funding
for each proposal, and (d) determine the amount of funds available for
each proposal.
Unsatisfactory performance by a recipient under prior Federal
awards may result in an application not being considered for funding.
Proposal Submission
The guidelines for proposal preparation provided below are
mandatory. Failure to heed these guidelines may result in proposals
being returned without review.
(a) Letters of Intent: (1) Letters of Intent are required prior to
submission of a full proposal. (2) Letters of Intent should be no more
than ten pages in length and include the name(s) and institution(s) of
principal investigator(s); detailed description of the resources and
unique capabilities that the institution would bring to the network,
specifically scientific expertise, specialized facilities, ongoing
research activities, educational and training programs, and university
faculty positions. Explicitly identify existing resource levels for
TOGA and other relevant research projects supported by NOAA and other
agencies. Letters of intent from institutions interested in designation
as a SCPP Research Center which would then, individually or in concert,
provide host facilities for the Institute should indicate in addition
specific interest in and capability for serving as the host site for a
center which will take on the responsibility for systematic production,
assessment and distribution of experimental climate forecast guidance
products (the International Research Institute). (3) An original,
signed letter of intent is required by the deadline date. Facsimile and
electronic mail submission of letters of intent will not be accepted.
(4) Evaluation will be by program management, according to the
selection criteria for full proposals described above. (5) Projects
deemed unsuitable during program review should not be submitted as full
proposals.
(a) Full Proposals: (1) Applicants are not required to submit more
than an original and two copies of applications. (2) Proposals must be
limited to 30 pages (numbered), including budget, investigators vitae,
and all appendices, and should be limited to funding requests for
three-year duration. Required government standard forms are not
included in the page limit. (3) An original, signed proposal is
required by the deadline date. Facsimile transmissions and electronic
mail submission of full proposals will not be accepted.
(b) Required Elements: All proposals should include the following
elements:
(1) Signed title page: The title page should be signed by the
Principal Investigator (PI) and the institutional representative and
should clearly indicate which project area is being addressed. The PI
and institutional representative should be identified by full name,
title, organization, telephone number and address. The total amount of
Federal funds being requested should be listed for each budget period.
(2) Abstract: An abstract must be included and should contain an
introduction, rationale and a brief summary of work to be completed.
The abstract should appear on a separate page, headed with the proposal
title, institution(s) investigators(s), total proposed cost and budget
period. [[Page 13409]]
(3) Statement of work: The proposed project must be completely
described, including identification of the problem, scientific
objectives, proposed methodology, relevance to the goal of the SCPP,
and the program priorities listed above. Benefits of proposed project
to the general public and the scientific community should be discussed.
Results from related projects supported by NOAA and other agencies
should be included. The statement of work, excluding figures and other
visual materials, must not exceed 15 pages of text. Appended
information may not be used to circumvent the page length limit.
Investigators wishing to submit group proposals that may exceed the 15
page limit should discuss this possibility with the Program Manager
prior to submission. In general, proposals from 3 or more investigators
may include a statement of work containing up to 10 pages of overall
project description plus up to 5 pages per person of individual project
descriptions.
(4) Budget: Applicants must submit a detailed budget using the
Standard Form 424a(4-92), Budget Information--Non-Construction
Programs. The form is included in the standard NOAA application kit.
Unless otherwise directed by the Program Manager, proposals should
indicate a target start date of September 1, 1995.
(5) Vitae: Abbreviated Curriculum vitae are sought with each
proposal. Reference lists should be limited to all publications in the
last three years with up to five other relevant papers.
(6) Current and pending support: For each investigator, submit a
list that includes project title, supporting agency with grant number,
investigator months, dollar value and duration. Requested values should
be listed for pending support.
(c) Other requirements:
Primary applicant Certification--All primary applicants must submit
a completed Form CD-511, ``Certification Regarding Debarment,
Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace
Requirements and Lobbying.'' Applicants are also hereby notified of the
following:
(1) Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension--Prospective
participants (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, section 105) are subject to
15 CFR Part 26, ``Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension,'' and the
related section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
(2) Drug Free Workplace--Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR part 26,
section 605) are subject to 15 CFR Part 26, Subpart F, ``Governmentwide
Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)'' and the related section
of the certification form prescribed above applies;
(3) Anti-Lobbying--Persons (as defined at 15 CFR Part 28, section
105) are subject to the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352,
``Limitation on use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal
contracting and financial transactions,'' and the lobbying section of
the certification form prescribed above applies to applications/bids
for grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than
$100,000, and loans and loan guarantees for more than $150,000, or the
single family maximum mortgage limit for affected programs, whichever
is greater; and
(4) Anti-Lobbying Disclosures--Any applicant that has paid or will
pay for lobbying using any funds must submit an SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of
Lobbying Activities,'' as required under 15 CFR part 28, appendix B.
Lower Tier Certifications--Recipients must require applicants/
bidders for subgrants, contracts, subcontracts, or lower tier covered
transactions at any tier under the award to submit, if applicable, a
completed Form CD-512, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment,
Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered
Transactions and Lobbying'' and disclosure form SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of
Lobbying Activities.'' Form CD-512 is intended for the use of
recipients and should not be transmitted to DOC. SF-LLL submitted by
any tier recipient or subrecipient should be submitted to DOC in
accordance with the instructions contained in the award document.
(5) Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all applicable
Federal laws and Federal and Department of Commerce policies,
regulations, and procedures applicable to Federal financial assistance
awards.
(6) Preaward Activities--If applicants incur any costs prior to an
award being made, they do so solely at their own risk of not being
reimbursed by the Government. Notwithstanding any verbal assurance that
may have been received, there is no obligation to the applicant on the
part of Department of Commerce to cover pre-award costs.
(7) Applications under this program are not subject to Executive
Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''
(8) All non-profit and for-profit applicants are subject to a name
check review process. Name checks are intended to reveal if any key
individuals associated with the applicant have been convicted of, or
are presently facing criminal charges such as fraud, theft, perjury, or
other matters which significantly reflect on the applicant's
management, honesty, or financial integrity.
(9) A false statement on an application is grounds for denial or
termination of funds and grounds for possible punishment by a fine or
imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.
(10) No award of Federal funds shall be made to an applicant who
has an outstanding delinquent Federal debt until either:
(i) The delinquent account is paid in full,
(ii) A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least
one payment is received, or
(iii) Other arrangements satisfactory to the Department of Commerce
are made.
(11) Buy American-Made Equipment or Products--Applicants are hereby
notified that they are encouraged to the extent feasible, to purchase
American-made equipment or products with funding provided under this
program in accordance with Congressional intent as set forth in the
resolution contained in Public Law 103-317, Section 607 (a) and (b).
(12) The total dollar amount of the indirect costs proposed in an
application under this program must not exceed the indirect cost rate
negotiated and approved by a cognizant Federal agency prior to the
proposed effective date of the award or 100 percent of the total
proposed direct cost dollar amount in the application, whichever is
less.
(d) If an application is selected for funding, the Department of
Commerce has no obligation to provide any additional future funding in
connection with the award. Renewal of an award to increase funding or
extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of the
Department of Commerce.
(e) In accordance with Federal statutes and regulations, no person
on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin or disability
shall be excluded from participation in, denied benefits of, or be
subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving
financial assistance from the NOAA Climate and Global Change Program.
The NOAA Climate and Global Change Program does not have direct TDD
(Telephone Device for the Deaf) capabilities, but can be reached
through the State of Maryland supplied TDD contact number, 800-735-
2258, between the hours of 8:00 am-4:30 pm.
Classification: This notice has been determined to be not
significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866. The standard forms
have been approved by [[Page 13410]] the Office of Management and
Budget pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act under OMB approval
number 0348-0043, 0348-0044, and 0348-0046.
Dated: January 9, 1995.
J. Michael Hall,
Director, Office of Global Programs, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
[FR Doc. 95-6108 Filed 3-10-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-12-M