Applied Meteorological Research (11.468)

Program

11.468 Applied Meteorological Research

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Commerce
Office: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Authorization

Weather Service Organic Act, 15 U.S.C 313; Meteorological Services to Aviation, 49 U.S.C 44720.

Program Number

11.468

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

"Through the Collaborative Science, Technology, and Applied Research (CSTAR) program, NOAA/NWS provides funding to the university community for highly collaborative applied research hydro-meteorological activities to create a cost-effective transition from basic and applied research to operations and services. The NOAA/NWS Minority Serving Instition (MSI) Program presents an effort to promote and increase diversity in the atmospheric and related sciences through collaborative
research between operational forecasters and academic institutions which have expertise in the environmental sciences in support of the NOAA Weather and Water mission goal. The Remote Community Alert Systems (ALERT) Program represents an effort to provide for outdoor alerting technologies in remote communities effectively underserved by commercial mobile service for the purpose of enabling residents of those communities to receive emergency messages. ".

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

The funds are used by recipients to implement programs described in proposals submitted and selected in response to calls for proposals from the program office or NOAA. The program office may support non-competitive awards in case specific instances or by direction from legislative language or unsolicited projects that are individually qualified.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

College and universities in the United States.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Colleges and universities with interests in atmospheric and related sciences.

Credentials/Documentation

Proposals will be considered if applicants meet the qualifications listed in solicitations. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

No preapplication coordination is required. However, since proposals must demonstrate high levels of collaboration with operational NWS components, it is recommended that applicants discuss potential interactions with relevant NWS operational personnel prior to submission. Consultation and assistance is available through the NWS program manager. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Proposals for new cooperative agreements are solicited with an announcement in the Federal Register or grants.gov. These announcements include specific information for proposal submission. All proposals are subject to the requirements of OMB Circular Nos. A-21 and A-110, as applicable. Standard Form 424 series, certification, and other related forms must accompany formal proposals. Detailed instructions are contained in solicitations. Applications will be submitted through the program manager to the NOAA Grants Management Division for review and approval. The Department of Commerce will review all projects before an award is executed by the NOAA Grants Officer.

Award Procedure

Awards are selected by the program office and are made on the basis of proposal evaluations and technical and administrative reviews.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Approval time is expected to be about four months, which includes processing the award through NWS, NOAA, and DOC financial assistance functions.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Grants and cooperative agreements are approved on an annual basis, but may be continued beyond the first segment, subject to approved time frame and scope of work, satisfactory progress, and availability of funds. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the sole discretion of the Department of Commerce.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Awards are for a 12-60 month period, although only one year is funded at a time. Outyears are funded based on availability of funds and adequate progress. Funds are disbursed through the U.S. Treasury Payment System. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: One year funded at a time.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Program reports are not applicable. Cash reports are not applicable. Semiannual technical and financial progress reports are due within 30 days of the end of the evaluation period. Final reports are due within 90 days of the expiration of the award. Expenditure reports are not applicable. Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Audits will be conducted in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-133 for universities and nonprofit organizations. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, (Revised, June 27, 2003), Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal Awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for the year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Financial records and supporting documents and all other records, i.e., property, performance work products, etc., pertinent to the agreement shall be maintained in accordance with the provisions of 15 CFR 14.53 as applicable.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: Projects awarded through the CSTAR program are leading to a deeper understanding of meteorological factors involved in the NWS warning and forecasting programs, which, in turn, will benefit the U.S. public with more responsive warning and forecast programs. The MSI program has engaged in studies seeking to improve estimation of quantitative precipitation estimation used in hydrologic forecasts with algorithms derived from satellite data. Alert warning systems are being implemented in remote areas as a results of the ALERT program. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

13-1450-0-1-306.

Obligations

(Cooperative Agreements) FY 08 $12,891,234; FY 09 est $12,478,103; FY 10 est $10,425,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$10,000 to $5,084,742. Average: $409,267.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Allowable cost will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular A-87 for State and local governments and Indian Tribes; OMB Circular A-122 for nonprofit and for-profit organizations; OMB Circular A-21 for institutions of higher education; and 48 CFR Part 31 for commercial organizations. Financial assistance management will be in accordance with 15 CFR Part 14 for institutions of higher education, hospitals, and other non-profit and commercial organizations, and with 15 CFR Part 24 for State and local governments.

Related Programs

11.432 Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) Joint and Cooperative Institutes; 11.462 Hydrologic Research; 11.467 Meteorologic and Hydrologic Modernization Development

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None. N/A.

Headquarters Office

Samuel Contorno CSTAR and MSI Program
1325 East-West Highway
SSMC2, Room 15326
Mailcode W/OST12

"ALERT Program Craig Hodan 1325 East-West Highway SSMC2, Room 3348, Mailcode W/OPS17 Silver Spring, MD 20910. Telephone: (301) 713-9480 x187.
Email: craig.hodan@noaa.gov
"
, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 Phone: 301-713-557 x150

Web Site Address

http://www.noaa.nws.gov.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Awards are related to topics of regional and national importance such as developing an operational system for probabilistic quantitative precipitation forecasts in the U.S., improving the prediction of warm- and cool-season heavy precipitation events, improving forecasts of topographically-forced weather systems, and improving operational radar and satellite-based algorithms. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Selection criteria are announced within solicitations published in the Federal Register. Examples of criteria used in past solicitations included operational applicability, scientific merit, technology transfer and methodology, capability of researchers, and cost effectiveness.