Meteorologic and Hydrologic Modernization Development (11.467)

Program

11.467 Meteorologic and Hydrologic Modernization Development

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

11.467

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To maintain a cooperative university and Federal partnerships to conduct meteorological training, education, professional development, and research and development on issues common to the hydrometeorological community.

Types of Assistance

Direct Payments with Unrestricted Use; Dissemination of Technical Information; PROJECT GRANTS; Training

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

Eligible applicants are accredited Federally recognized institutions of higher learning, consortia of these institutions, agencies of State or local governments including school systems, quasi-public institutions, consultants, and companies involved in using and developing meteorological or hydrologic forecasts or forecast methodology.

Beneficiary Eligibility

The benefits of the overall program are for reduction in loss of life and damage which the general public can realize from improvement in weather forecasts, watches, and warnings of hazardous weather and resultant flooding. For the improvements from the modernization of the Nation's weather and hydrologic services to be realized, there must be significant involvement of the entire hydrometeorological community. Thus, benefits will accrue to: (1) General public through higher quality weather products and information; (2) State and local agencies responsible for the planning and implementation of emergency services, fire prevention, allocation and control of water resources, and those agencies who project economic conditions based on weather and water resource availability; (3) educational institutions (0-13+) which need to incorporate the information which will result from modernization of the weather services into their curricula; (4) scientists and developers who will be using the new information to enhance the State of the knowledge of the atmosphere and improve present system safety and reliability; and academic institutions which are funded for programs dealing with studies of the atmospheric and hydrologic science.

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 are frequently required to demonstrate high levels of collaboration with operational NWS components, it is recommended that applicants discuss potential interactions with relevant NWS 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 eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. 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 for grants is expected to range from 90 to 180 days, which includes processing of the award through the 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.
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Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

This program has no matching requirements.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

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. 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 have produced web-based hydro-meteorological training modules and other education material, conducted research on improving the performance of numerical weather prediction models, established graduate fellowships for students studying the atmospheric and related sciences, and worked toward developing communities better prepared for tsunamis. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

13-1450-0-1-306.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $7,348,084; FY 09 est $14,939,054; FY 10 est $15,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$6,000 to $2,783,042. Average: $409,810.

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; 11.468 Applied Meteorological Research

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Leroy Spayd Chief, Training Division
National Weather Service/OS6
1325 East West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 Email: leroy.spayd@noaa.gov Phone: 3077130280 Fax: 3017131598

Web Site Address

http://www.noaa.gov.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: The Cooperative Program for Meterological Education and Training; Alaska Tsunmai Hazard/Ready Program; American Meteorological Society/National Weather Service Graduate Fellowships; A Cooperative Agreement to Establish a Numerical Prediction Developmental Testbed. 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.