[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 12 (Thursday, January 19, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3839-3841]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-1423]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[Docket No. 950113015-5015-01]
RIN 0648-ZA12
Global Learning and Observations To Benefit the Environment
(GLOBE)
agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, COMMERCE
(DOC).
action: NOTICE, Competitive Solicitation for a GLOBE Joint Project
Agreement.
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summary: GLOBE is an international environmental education and science
program involving students in kindergarten through twelfth grade (or
equivalent) throughout the world. The goals of the GLOBE Program are to
enhance the environmental awareness of individuals worldwide, to
increase scientific understanding of the Earth by collecting data for
use by the international community of environmental scientists and
others, and to help all students reach higher standards in science and
mathematics education. The goals will be accomplished through a number
of activities, including having students making environmental
observations at or near their schools. The data resulting from these
observations will be transmitted through the Internet and satellite
communications for processing. As these data are processed, global
environmental visualizations will be created based on the students'
observations and other environmental information and relayed back to
the students. The data acquired by the students will also be available
through the Internet to environmental scientists throughout the world
to support their research.
These goals will be accomplished in the United States through a
partnership between the Federal Government and the private sector, and
internationally through partnerships between the United States and
other countries.
This notice solicits proposals for the private sector partner
(``GLOBE Private Sector Partner'') for the GLOBE Program, which must be
a non-profit organization, from private sector non-profit organizations
and from other respondents that are willing to form non-profit
organizations to enter into a Joint Project Agreement (``JPA'') to
solicit and manage private resources to assist many schools in the U.S.
and overseas to participate in the GLOBE Program, and to encourage and
coordinate private sector participation in the GLOBE Program in other
ways. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the
lead agency of the public sector GLOBE Program (``GLOBE Program''),
which is a U.S. Government interagency activity that plans and
implements the national and international GLOBE Program, has determined
that a JPA is the most effective mechanism to engage in a partnership
with the U.S. Globe Private Sector Partner, since program goals and
program implementation will be of mutual interest, and the parties to
the JPA will agree to bear equitable portions of the costs of the
overall program consistent with their responsibilities.
dates: Proposals for the GLOBE Joint Project Agreement to be selected
as a result of this solicitation should be received by February 21,
1995. Proposals received after that date may be considered if a
qualified respondent has not yet been selected when a proposal is
received.
ADDRESSES: Proposals must be sent by mail to Thomas N. Pyke, Jr.,
Director, The GLOBE Program, 744 Jackson Place, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20503 or delivered to Director, The GLOBE Program, The White House, New
Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street, N.W., Room G-1, Washington,
D.C. 20006. FACSIMILE COPIES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested respondents should contact
Thomas N. Pyke, Jr., Director, The GLOBE Program, at (202) 395-7600.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Description of The GLOBE Program and U.S. Government Involvement
GLOBE is an international environmental education and science
program involving students in kindergarten through twelfth grade (or
equivalent) throughout the world, which will enhance the environmental
awareness of individuals worldwide, increase scientific understanding
of the Earth by collecting data for use by the international community
of environmental scientists and others, and help all students reach
higher standards in science and mathematics education.
In the United States, the public sector GLOBE program is an
interagency effort led by NOAA, which is an agency of the U.S.
Department of Commerce. The other Federal agencies involved are the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National
Science Foundation (NSF), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
the Departments of Education and State; and the Council on
Environmental Quality and the Office of Science and Technology Policy
at the White House. Over 100 other nations have expressed an interest
in the GLOBE Program. The first bilateral
[[Page 3840]]
international GLOBE agreement was signed with the Russian Federation on
December 16, 1994.
Working with its international partner nations and with the GLOBE
Private Sector Partner, the GLOBE Program will encourage participation
in the program and the use of GLOBE student measurement data by
providing upon request information on its plans and activities to
individuals and organizations throughout the world through a wide range
of publications, press releases, and media events. It will design a
global information network, develop prototype school computer system
hardware and software, and specify scientific instruments and develop
scientific and educational materials for use by teachers and students.
It will plan and conduct a worldwide training effort for teachers in
GLOBE schools and will develop and operate a GLOBE central data
processing and visualization system.
U.S. Government funding to support the GLOBE Program is contained
in the budgets of NOAA, NASA, NSF, and EPA. It is anticipated that a
very significant portion of the resources for the overall GLOBE Program
will be provided over the long term by non-U.S. Government sources,
including resources from the private sector and other nations.
The purpose of soliciting a GLOBE Private Sector Partner, to be
recognized through this JPA, is to provide a mechanism by which the
GLOBE Program and the GLOBE Private Sector Partner can collaborate in
supporting the implementation of GLOBE in schools. A three-year,
renewable Joint Project Agreement is planned, under which the GLOBE
Private Sector Partner will be responsible for coordinating and
encouraging private sector participation in GLOBE.
The GLOBE Program, through its participating Federal agencies, may
enter any necessary and appropriate agreements with governmental
entities other than the U.S. Government and with other authorities
having responsibility for the schools participating in the GLOBE
Program as to the acceptable use of equipment and other materials
provided by the U.S. Government and by the GLOBE Private Sector Partner
through this JPA in support of the GLOBE Program.
NOAA initially published a Federal Register notice on August 24,
1994, soliciting overall interest from non-profit, research or public
organizations to participate in JPA's supporting the GLOBE Program (59
FR 43555). On November 23, 1994, NOAA published a second Federal
Register notice, announcing registration procedures for U.S. schools to
be designated as GLOBE schools, and soliciting applications for Federal
assistance in the form of computers and other resources to enable
schools to become GLOBE schools (59 FR 60351).
II. GLOBE Private Sector Partner Responsibilities
The GLOBE Private Sector Partner, a non-profit organization, will
solicit and manage private resources to assist many schools in the U.S.
and in other countries to participate in the GLOBE Program, and it will
otherwise encourage and coordinate private sector participation in the
GLOBE Program. In doing so, it will promote improved scientific
understanding of the environment and environmental awareness through
environmental education and other appropriate means.
The GLOBE Private Sector Partner will solicit, accept and expend
substantial amounts of private funding and other private resources to
implement a significant part of the GLOBE Program in such a way as to
build on, complement, and complete the information systems, scientific
and educational support, and other capabilities initiated or created
with funding from the U.S. Government, as quickly as possible, so as to
meet the goals of the GLOBE Program, as stated above. The GLOBE Private
Sector Partner will facilitate support of participation of schools in
the GLOBE Program in such a way as to be inclusive in the opportunity
for the Nation's and the world's young people to participate in the
program.
The GLOBE Private Sector Partner will purchase, or accept as
donations, computers and other equipment necessary for schools to
participate in the GLOBE Program, based on prototypes and
specifications developed by the public sector GLOBE Program. In
consultation with the public sector GLOBE Program, the GLOBE Private
Sector Partner will distribute computer hardware, software, and
scientific instruments to schools to enable them to participate in the
GLOBE Program. It will support equipment installation, systems support,
training, and educational support services. The GLOBE Private Sector
Partner will also support, as needed and to the extent possible,
terrestrial or satellite-based communications links between schools and
Internet access points.
The GLOBE Private Sector Partner will solicit, receive, manage, and
maintain control over private funding and other private resources
necessary to participate as a partner with the public sector GLOBE
Program. In soliciting and accepting donations of resources, the GLOBE
Private Sector Partner will avoid preferential treatment, the
appearance of preferential treatment, or endorsement and other
appearances of impropriety consistent with guidelines developed by the
Private Sector Partner and approved by the GLOBE Program. NOAA and
other agencies of the U.S. Government may report, advertise, or
otherwise publicize the existence, source, and nature of donations to
the Private Sector Partner. The use by the GLOBE Private Sector Partner
of the term ``GLOBE'' or any other reference to its association with
The GLOBE Program in performing all activities through which it carries
out its responsibilities under the JPA shall be as a result of a
revocable license to do so granted to the GLOBE Private Sector Partner
by the U.S. Government through the Joint Project Agreement established
as a result of this solicitation.
The Private Sector Partner will seek to involve a broad range of
other private sector participants, including foundations and for-profit
business organizations, in collaborative support of the GLOBE Program.
The Private Sector Partner may work with similar private organizations
in other nations to accomplish its responsibilities to support the
worldwide implementation of the GLOBE Program.
The GLOBE Private Sector Partner is strongly encouraged to
establish or support the establishment of a highly visible public
environmental learning center to support the goals of the GLOBE
Program. It will include appropriate exhibit space that features vivid,
imaginative displays based on data acquired at GLOBE schools combined
with real-time and historical satellite imagery and other environmental
data and information. It is expected that such a center will employ
advanced virtual reality technology so as to provide an authentic and
stimulating experience for large numbers of visitors.
Any private funds or other resources received as charitable
contributions by the GLOBE Private Sector Partner intended to implement
its responsibilities under this JPA shall be employed only to support
activities as permitted under the GLOBE Private Sector Partner's
charter as a non-profit organization, and must be consistent with GLOBE
Program goals and priorities.
The Federal Government will not assume liability for the acts of
the GLOBE Private Sector Partner or any third persons arising out of
its involvement with the GLOBE Program
[[Page 3841]]
or its actions under the JPA, nor will the Federal Government reimburse
or indemnify the GLOBE Private Sector Partner for its liability due to
any losses resulting in any way from its actions arising out of its
involvement in the GLOBE Program or its actions under the JPA.
III. Authority
NOAA is authorized to enter into Joint Project Agreements in
accordance with the U.S. Department of Commerce Joint Project
Authority, 15 U.S.C. 1525, which authorizes the Secretary to engage in
joint efforts of mutual interest with non-profit, research, or public
organizations upon an equitable distribution of the costs of the
project. This Agreement is undertaken by NOAA in accordance with 15
U.S.C. 1540, which authorizes the Secretary of Commerce, through the
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, to enter into
cooperative agreements and other financial agreements to aid and
promote scientific and educational activities to foster public
understanding of NOAA or its programs and to solicit private donations
in support of such activities; 15 U.S.C. 2938, which authorizes NOAA to
provide global change research findings to other Federal agencies; and,
49 U.S.C. App. 1463, which authorizes NOAA to engage in activities that
support weather and other related environmental forecasting.
IV. Eligibility Criteria
Each respondent must itself be a non-profit private entity or be a
person or private entity that proposes to form a suitable non-profit
private entity to become the GLOBE Private Sector Partner. The entity
proposed to be the GLOBE Private Sector Partner must be chartered and
organized to operate exclusively for charitable and educational
purposes and to support and promote increased scientific understanding
of the environment and education of the people of the world about the
environment though its active involvement in support of the GLOBE
Program. Respondents will be required to raise funding and provide
private support for non-governmental activities related to the GLOBE
Program.
V. Proposal Submission Guidelines
The guidelines for proposals provided below are mandatory. Failure
to adhere to these guidelines may result in proposals being returned
without review.
(a) Proposals: (1) Respondents must submit one original and two
copies of their proposals. (2) Proposals must be limited to 40 single-
space typewritten pages (numbered), including vitae, and all
appendices. (3) Proposals must be sent or delivered to The GLOBE
Director at the above address. (4) Facsimile transmissions or
electronic mail submissions will not be accepted.
(b) Required Elements: All Proposals must include the following
elements: (1) A Statement of Eligibility relative to the Eligibility
Criteria in Section IV above. (2) A Statement of proposed activities
and how the respondent will organize to carry out these activities,
specifically addressing all evaluation factors set forth below and the
GLOBE Private Sector Partner responsibilities as described in Section
II above.
VI. Evaluation of JPA Proposals
Proposals will be evaluated based on three selection factors and
additional credit factor, which are derived from the U.S. GLOBE Private
Sector Partner responsibilities specified above, and in the context of
the GLOBE Program goals. These goals are to enhance environmental
awareness of individuals worldwide, to increase scientific
understanding of the Earth, and to help all students reach higher
standards in science and mathematics education. The selection factors
will be given approximately equal value in the evaluation of proposals.
--The estimated amount of private monetary and in-kind resources that
would be made available within the first year after the JPA is signed
by the proposed Private Sector Partner to support the widespread
implementation of the GLOBE Program, both domestically and
internationally, including a willingness to commit to specific funding
goals and schedules. It is expected that the GLOBE Private Sector
Partner will provide support during the first year for at least 1,000
GLOBE schools, with a nominal value of such support of $5,000 per
school, and that support of well over 10,000 schools be planned over
the long term.
--The ability of the proposed GLOBE Private Sector Partner to promote
and coordinate the involvement of a broad range of other private sector
participants, including foundations and for-profit business
organizations, in collaborative support of the GLOBE Program. The GLOBE
Private Sector Partner will be expected to raise private funding and
support to achieve the goal of providing a very significant amount of
total GLOBE funding from private sector resources over the long term.
--The ability of the Private Sector Partner to facilitate support of
participation by thousands of schools in the GLOBE Program in a way so
as to involve diverse groups of schools and to be inclusive in the
opportunity to participate for the Nation's and the world's young
people.
As an additional credit factor, proposals will be given additional
credit in the evaluation process if they propose that the GLOBE Private
Sector Partner establish or support the establishment of a highly
visible public environmental learning center and appropriate exhibit
space that features vivid, imaginative displays based on data acquired
at GLOBE schools combined with real-time and historical satellite
imagery and other environmental data and information. It is expected
that such a center would utilize advanced virtual reality technology so
as to provide an authentic and stimulating experience for large numbers
of visitors.
VII. Selection Procedures
NOAA will convene an interagency review panel to evaluate the
proposals received in accordance with the factors stated above, and to
make recommendations to the GLOBE Director, who is an official of and
is acting on behalf of NOAA. If there are more than five proposals
received prior to the final selection being made by the GLOBE Director,
the panel shall specifically designate no more than five of the
proposals as those the panel has rated most highly. The review panel's
recommendations, along with overall program goals and the evaluation
factors stated above, will be considered by the GLOBE Director in the
final selection of the GLOBE Private Sector Partner.
VIII. Other Information
Intergovernmental Review: This action has been determined not to
require intergovernmental review.
Classification: This action has been determined to be not
significant for purposes of E.O. 12866.
PRA: This action has been determined not to be subject to the
Paperwork Reduction Act.
Thomas N. Pyke, Jr.,
Director, The GLOBE Program.
[FR Doc. 95-1423 Filed 1-17-95; 12:46 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-12-M
