Hydrologic Research (11.462)
Program
11.462 Hydrologic Research
Federal Agency
Agency: Department of Commerce
Office: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Authorization
Meteorological Services to Aviation, 49 U.S.C 44720; Weather Service Organic Act, 15 U.S.C 313.
Program Number
11.462
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To maintain a cooperative university/Federal partnership to conduct joint research and development on pressing surface water hydrology issues common to National, regional, local operational offices, private consulting hydrologists, and academics.
Types of Assistance
PROJECT GRANTS
Uses and Use Restrictions
Funds can be used to support research and development on issues related to the forecasting of surface hydrologic conditions. Specific restrictions, other than those mandated for grants, are evaluated on an individual grant or program basis. The program office may support non-competitive awards by direction from legislative language or unsolicited projects that are individually qualified.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants are Federally recognized institutions of higher learning, agencies of State or local governments, quasi-public institutions such as water supply or power companies, hydrologic consultants and companies involved in using and developing hydrologic forecasts (either for reducing flood damages or for water management decisions).
Beneficiary Eligibility
Since the benefits of the overall program are for a reduction in loss of life and damage resulting from flooding and drought, and improved utilization of water supply and water dependent industries, benefits accrue from these projects to: (1) Federal agencies responsible to forecast, assess, manage, disperse, project economic conditions based on projections of water supply for agriculture and industry, and control water resources; (2) interstate commissions to control and allocate surface waters; (3) State agencies responsible for allocating and controlling water resources and for making projections for the use of water for industry and agriculture and for planning and developing infrastructure within the State that is impacted by rivers and lakes; (4) local agencies dependent on water for economic planning, emergency preparedness, and public water supply; (5) all businesses and industries depending all or in part upon surface water supplies or adequate water in lakes for recreation, in rivers to generate power, or in production or dispersion of products or who must take action in order to ameliorate damage during flood situations, (6) wildlife interests at all levels that are dependent upon water management for managing the environment; (7) homeowners or farmers who must plan for proper responses to flooding or inadequate water supply; and (8) academic institutions which are funded for programs dealing with the studies of hydrologic science.
Credentials/Documentation
Proposals with statement of work, estimated budget, and curriculum vitae. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular Nos. A-87 for State and local governments, A-21 for educational institutions and A-122 for nonprofit and for-profit organizations. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. 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 made on the basis of proposal evaluations and technical and administrative reviews. Proposal will be submitted to the NOAA Grants Management Division for review and approval. Cooperative activities and funding amounts are determined through an evaluation conducted in coordination with the Director of the Office of Hydrologic Development by the Senior Scientist of the Hydrology Laboratory, and the technical experts of the Laboratory.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Approval time is expected to range from 90 to 180 days, which includes processing of the award through the NWS and NOAA financial assistance functions.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
By negotiations with the Office of Hydrologic Development. Cooperative activities are normally continuing subject to the availability of funding for subsequent budget periods. 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 usually for a 12-month period. In some instances, award periods may extend beyond 12-months. The funding is spent in the award's budget period unless an extension is requested by the principal investigator and approved by NOAA Grants Office. Since many cooperative projects with universities depend upon student labor there are times when unfunded extensions are required. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
No program reports are required. No cash reports are required. Progress reports are not applicable. Expenditure reports are not applicable. Reports are due in accordance with the terms and conditions of the award. The Department's Financial Assistance Standard Terms and Conditions generally require that financial and performance reports be submitted quarterly or semiannually.
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. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), recipients that are States, Local Governments, Nonprofit Organizations (to include Hospitals), and Institutions of Higher Learning shall be subject to the audit requirements contained in the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501-7507). Commercial organizations shall be subject to the audit requirements as stipulated in the award document. 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
Records will be retained in accordance with provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110 for institutions of higher education, other nonprofit organizations, and commercial organizations and in accordance with 15 CFR Part 24 for State and local governments.
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2008: This program has developed an improved method for automatic calibration of hydrologic models to river basins, made definite progress in the development of distributed rainfall/runoff models; demonstrated improved flash flood models for urbanizing environments; develop new methods for estimation of uncertainty in hydrologic forecasts and display of those probabilistic forecasts; develop new techiques of probabilistic forecast verification; demonstrated the improvements in forecasts from coupled estuary-river models; improve data assimilation techniques. 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 $634,735; FY 09 est $1,101,599; FY 10 est $1,100,000
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$80,162 to $124,999. Average: $105,789.
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; 11.467 Meteorologic and Hydrologic Modernization Development; 11.468 Applied Meteorological Research
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Senior Scientist Senior Scientist Hydrology Laboratory
National Weather Service - W/OHD-1,
1325 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 Phone: 3017130640
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2008: (1) Project to further automate the calibration of hydrologic models; (2) development of procedure to enhance flash flood guidance; (3) development and testing of distributed rainfall/runoff models using radar-derived rainfall data; (4) demonstration project to show practical benefits from extended streamflow predictions in a probabilistic framework; (5) investigations of flash flood models in arid climates; (6) determination of uncertainty bounds around probabilistic performance measures; (7) assimilation of snow observations; (8) design of user interface for disemination of probabilistic information;. 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.
