Integrated Flood Observing and Warning System (IFLOWS) (11.450)

Program

11.450 Integrated Flood Observing and Warning System (IFLOWS)

Federal Agency

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

Authorization

Commerce and Trade, 15 U.S.C 313; Navigation and Navagable Waters, 33 U.S.C 883d.

Program Number

11.450

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

The objective of the Automated Flood Warning Systems Program is to provide funding to communities with flood or flash flood problems that affect safety of life and property to assist them in creating, renovating, or enhancing Automated Flood Warning Systems (AFWS).

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

The funds are used by entities who can demonstrate they have significant flood and flash flood risk, and ability to operate and maintain an AFWS. Data received by the NWS will be redistributed to the public without restrictions.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Eligible applicants are States, counties, municipalities, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Since the basic goal of the AFWS program is to effectively reduce loss of life and damage resulting from flooding, benefits accrue to the general public.

Credentials/Documentation

The applicant must describe the organizational entity that will administer the AFWS on a long-term basis. Documentation may also include a copy of by-laws for non-profit organizations, or other supporting documentation that affirms the viability of the organization. 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

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

An initial administrative review/screening will be conducted to determine compliance with requirements/completeness. All proposals will then be evaluated and individually ranked in accordance with the assigned weights of published evaluation criteria by an independent peer panel review. Three to seven NOAA/NWS experts may be used in this process. The merit reviewers ratings are used to produce a rank order of the proposals. The Selecting Official then makes final award recommendations after considering the peer panel reviews, selection factors listed in the Federal Register Notice, and funding availability. The Selecting Official's recommendations will be in rank order unless the proposal is selected out of rank order based upon one or more of the selection factors.

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

Grant period is up to 12 months for this program. Award of a grant does not preclude the applicant from applying for subsequent grants.

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

The award period shall not exceed 12 months. Funds are disbursed through the U.S. Treasury Payment System. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.

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

Not Applicable.

Financial Information

Account Identification

13-1450-0-1-306.

Obligations

(Cooperative Agreements) FY 08 $0; FY 09 est $0; FY 10 est $0 - No estimate available for future funding.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

No new awards were made during the period.

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 CRF Part 24 for state and local governments.

Related Programs

11.462 Hydrologic Research; 11.467 Meteorologic and Hydrologic Modernization Development; 11.468 Applied Meteorological Research

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None. AFWS Operations Manager, Hydrologic Services Division, National Weather Service Eastern Region - W/ER2, Airport Corporate Center, 630 Johnson Avenue, Bohemia, NY 11716. Telephone: (631) 244-0112.

Headquarters Office

AFWS Operations Manager Hydrologic Services Division, National Weather Service Eastern Region - W/ER2, Airport Corporate Center, 630 Johnson Avenue, Bohemia, New York 11716 Phone: 6312440112

Web Site Address

http://www.noaa.nws.gov

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Past awards included the following: Three Rivers Wet Weather of Pittsburgh was awarded $100,000 to upgrade an existing gauge network with radio telemetry and integrate its data stream with that from other flood warning systems. The City of Fort Wayne, IN, was awarded $95,000 to upgrade the city's existing AFWS with new hardware. The County of Augusta, VA., was awarded $48,135 to add additional rainfall and stream gauges. 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 are flood risk, technical merit, qualification of applicants, and cost effectiveness.