Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) Joint and Cooperative Institutes (11.432)
Program
11.432 Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) Joint and Cooperative Institutes
Federal Agency
Agency: Department of Commerce
Office: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Authorization
Cooperative Agreements/Reimbursement to Further NOAA’s Mission, 15 U.S.C 1540; Weather Service Organic Act, 15 U.S.C 313; Navigation and Navigable Waters, 33 U.S.C 883d; National Climate Program Act, 15 U.S.C 2904; Navigation and Navigable Waters, 33 U.S.C 1442; Department of Commerce Appropriation Act of 1999; Federal Aviation Act, 49 U.S.C 44720(b); Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1956, 16 U.S.C 661; Fish and Wildlife Act, 16 U.S.C 753a; National Climate Program Act, 15 U.S.C 2901 et seq.
Program Number
11.432
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To increase the effectiveness of research and develop innovative approaches to education in the environmental sciences by facilitating cooperation between government, university, and nonprofit research institutions.
Types of Assistance
PROJECT GRANTS
Uses and Use Restrictions
Program authorizes funds to be used for research and development, education and training, advisory services and operational systems as they relate to specific NOAA programs. Specific restrictions, other than those mandated for cooperative agreements, are evaluated on an individual program basis. Most Cooperative Institutes (CIs) operate under a Memorandum of Understanding/Memorandum of Agreement and are geographically located near a NOAA Research laboratory or a NOAA facility. In addition, 118 Stat. 71 (2004) authorizes the Secretary to designate (delegated to the Under Secretary of NOAA) CIs to use the personnel, services, or facilities of such organizations for research, education, training, and outreach to further NOAA's mission under a cooperative agreement.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
University or nonprofit research institution usually located near a NOAA Research Laboratory or other NOAA facility. Single or multiple non-federal public and private non-profit universities, colleges and research institutions that collectively offer accredited graduate level degree-granting programs in NOAA related sciences.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Organizations and individuals with interests in oceanographic research, atmospheric research, limnology, solar environment research, near-space research, and Arctic research. Organizations with interests in support of the NOAA mission to understand and predict changes in Earth's environment and conserve and manage resources to meet the nations' economic, social, and environmental needs.
Credentials/Documentation
Proposals with statements of work and estimated budgets. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular Nos. A-21 for agreements with educational institutions, A-87 for State and local governments, and A-122 for nonprofit institutions. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
The standard application forms as furnished by the agency and required by OMB Circular Nos. A-21 and A-110 must be used for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372 and OMB Circular No. A-102. 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. 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.
Award Procedure
Accepted applications are subject to peer review by a review panel assembled by the Cooperative Institute Program Manager. All applicants are notified whether or not their proposal was funded.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
From 90 to 180 days from time of proposal submission.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
Initial awards are for five years; renewals may be made for a period of up to five additional years, based upon the availability of funds and the results of an extensive scientific and administrative review, typically occurring in the fourth year of the first five-year award..
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
Matching Requirements: In accordance with applicable report or announcement published in the Federal Register and/or Federal Funding Opportunities in Grants.gov.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Generally, five years with funding approved on individual and group proposal basis throughout the five years in accordance with DOC approval. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: As described in Standard Terms and Agreement.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
In accordance with applicable report or announcement published in the Federal Register and/or Federal Funding Opportunities in Grants.gov. In accordance with applicable report or announcement published in the Federal Register and/or Federal Funding Opportunities in Grants.gov. In accordance with applicable report or announcement published in the Federal Register and/or Federal Funding Opportunities in Grants.gov. In accordance with applicable report or announcement published in the Federal Register and/or Federal Funding Opportunities in Grants.gov. In accordance with applicable report or announcement published in the Federal Register and/or Federal Funding Opportunities in Grants.gov.
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), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend 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.
Records
Recipients are expected to maintain complete records for each cooperative agreement to insure funds are used for the purposes that the cooperative agreement was made. Records must be retained for three years; records shall be retained beyond the three-year period if audit findings have not been resolved.
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2008: In FY 2008, 21 NOAA Cooperative Institutes supported over 1,000 research and research support staff and over 380 undergraduate and graduate students. In addition, CI researchers published over 1,500 peer-reviewed scientific publications. In FY 2008, 13 OAR Cooperative Institutes supported 933 research and research support staff and 344 undergraduate and graduate students. In addition, OAR CI researchers published over 1,472 peer-reviewed scientific publications. 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 $210,000; FY 09 est $145,000,000; FY 10 est $145,000,000
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Total annual funding at current Cooperative Institutes ranges from $2,000,000 to $22,000,000. Average funding is $10,000,000.
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
11.417 Sea Grant Support; 11.420 Coastal Zone Management Estuarine Research Reserves; 11.426 Financial Assistance for National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science; 11.430 Undersea Research; 11.431 Climate and Atmospheric Research; 11.440 Environmental Sciences, Applications, Data, and Education; 11.455 Cooperative Science and Education Program; 11.459 Weather and Air Quality Research; 11.460 Special Oceanic and Atmospheric Projects; 11.462 Hydrologic Research; 11.468 Applied Meteorological Research; 11.473 Coastal Services Center
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None. OAR, Dr. John Cortinas - CI Program Manager , NOAA Research, R/LCX2, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 11308, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Telephone: 301-734-1090. E-mail: John.Cortinas@noaa.gov. NESDIS, Ingrid Guch, Chief, Cooperative Research Programs Division, World Weather Building, Suite 701, 5200 Auth Road, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Telephone: (301) 763-8282 x152. E-mail: Ingrid.Guch@noaa.gov. NMFS, Kathleen Jewett, 2725 Montlake Blvd East, Seattle, WA 98112-2097. Telephone: (206) 860-3208. E-mail: Kathleen.Jewett@noaa.gov.
Headquarters Office
John Cortinas, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 11308, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 Phone: (301) 734-1090.
Web Site Address
http://www.nrc.noaa.gov/ci/index.html.
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2008: : Cooperative Institute for Oceanographic Satellite Studies; Cooperative Institute for Climate Applications Research; Cooperative Institute for Climate Science; Cooperative Institute for Alaska Research; Cooperative Institute for Limnology and Ecosystem Research; Northern Gulf Institute. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Proposals are subject to peer-review evaluations, technical reviews, administrative reviews, and external reviews, if applicable, taking into primary consideration scientific merit and application to the mission goals of NOAA.
