[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 142 (Monday, July 26, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40352-40354]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18920]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 980608149-8149-01]
RIN 0648-ZA44
Use of Satellite Data for Studying Local and Regional Phenomena
AGENCY: National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of Federal assistance.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Research and Applications announces the
availability of Federal assistance for fiscal year 2000 to expand the
use of satellite data for the study of scientific phenomena in local
and regional areas. This announcement provides detailed guidelines for
the technical program, evaluation criteria, and selection procedures.
The standard NOAA Grant Application can be obtained from the Office of
Research and Applications (301-763-8127). Each funded project will
establish a grant.
DATES: Proposals will be accepted through 5:00 p.m. EST on November 15,
1999. Final selection will occur approximately December 31, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Office of Research and Applications; NOAA/NESDIS; 5200 Auth
Road; Rm 701; Camp Springs, MD 20746-4304.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. James Purdom, 301-763-8127 or
jpurdom@nesdis.noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: Statutory authority for this program is provided
under 49 U.S.C. 44720, 33 U.S.C. 833a, 833d, 833e.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)
This program is listed in the CFDA under Number 11.440.
Program Description. NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data,
and Information Service (NESDIS) Office of Research and Applications
(ORA) is establishing a program which will provide free real-time
satellite data to academic institutions for their use in studying local
and regional phenomena. The emphasis of the program is to expand the
use of satellite data within the academic community. In order to do so,
ORA will: (1) Provide free access to satellite data for use in ongoing
projects; (2) provide data and funds for the purchase of basic
equipment required for analysis as part of an existing program or
teaching laboratory; and (3) provide data to support students for
research purposes.
The purpose of these guidelines is to identify eligibility
criteria, roles and responsibilities, milestones, and selected criteria
associated with the award. Each funded project will establish a 1-year
grant between ORA and the grantee. Most projects will be funded from $0
plus free data to $22,000 for equipment and personnel plus free data.
No cost sharing is required.
Background
ORA provides overall guidance and direction to the research and
application activities of NESDIS. ORA provides expert service to other
NESDIS offices relating to sensor development, instrument problems, or
systems hardware components. It coordinates with NESDIS, other
appropriate NOAA units, and U.S. Government agencies in the
implementation and evaluation of operational and research satellite
data and products that result from research activities. It coordinates
research activities of mutual interest with the academic community,
NASA laboratories, and with foreign laboratories, particularly those in
satellite operating countries. ORA provides advice to the Assistant
Administrator concerning interfaces among centers and offices of NESDIS
and among the major NOAA elements in relation to broad scale scientific
projects. It produces and provides specific programmatic studies and
statistics as needed. ORA provides support and coordination on NOAA's
activities in the Strategic Plan and the U.S. Global Change Research
Program.
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Roles and Responsibilities
ORA: ORA will have primary responsibility for the following
activities: Provide satellite data needed for the project. (The
original data are the property of ORA and cannot be used for purposes
other than stated in the proposals, i.e., the data cannot be sold or
used for commercial purposes, with the exception of use in academic
text.) Provide technical guidance for image processing and analysis.
Monitor progress and evaluate progress reports.
Grantee: The grantee shall have primary responsibility for the
following activities associated with the project:
Organize and manage grant activities.
Identify Principal Investigator that will take the lead for all
technical aspects of the grant and be responsible for using satellite
data as a key tool in the activity.
Submit a progress report every 4 months and a final report at the
end of the 1-year project period.
Submit scientific findings for this activity.
Project Proposals
All project proposals should include the following sections for a
total of 6-8 pages maximum. Multi-year proposals will be accepted;
however, future funding will be dependent upon satisfactory performance
and the availability of funds. The annual awards must have scopes of
work that are clearly severable that can be easily separated into
annual increments of meaningful work which represent solid
accomplishments if prospective funding is not made available to the
Applicant.
Goals and Objectives--identify broad project goals and quantifiable
objectives.
Background/Introduction--state the problem and summary of existing
federal/state/local efforts.
Audience--identify explicitly the audience and describe specifics
of how the project will contribute to improve the use of satellite data
with the primary target audience.
Project Description/Methodology--describe the specifics of the
activity (3 pages maximum), with a complete and explicit description of
the project area.
Expected Results--list desired outcomes in terms of products or
services.
Project Budget--provide a detailed budget breakdown by category and
provide a brief narrative budget justification.
Selection Process
Applicants will submit project proposals to the Office of Research
and Applications by the published due date. A project selection panel
will be convened to review and recommend selection using the criteria
published in these guidelines. Each proposal will be reviewed by three
internal reviewers. This selection panel will present its
recommendations to the Director, ORA, for final selection. In addition
to the rankings assigned by the panel, the Director may consider
program policy factors such as geographic location and balance of
technical areas in making his final decision.
Selection Criteria (With Weights)
NOAA Relevance
Will the activity foster broader knowledge concerning the use of
satellite data in meteorological and/or oceanographic research at your
institution? (40 points)
Technical Merit
Is the proposed activity scientifically sound and relevant. (60
points)
Selection Schedule
Proposals due--November 15, 1999.
Final Selection--Approximately December 31, 1999.
Grant start date--Approximately March 1, 2000.
Note: All deadlines are for receipt by 5:00 p.m. EST on the
dates identified. All applicants are required to submit one original
and two copies of a completed and signed NOAA Grants Application
Package. The application package may be obtained by calling (301)
763-8127 or accessed on-line from the NOAA Grants Home Page at
http://www.rdc.noaa.gov/grants/index/html.
Project Reporting/Evaluation Requirements
The Grantee will be asked to provide progress reports every 4
months and a final report.
Funding Availability
There is no guarantee that sufficient funds will be available to
make awards for all approved projects. Publication of this notice does
not obligate NOAA to award any specific grant or cooperative agreement
or to obligate all or any part of the available funds. NOAA expects
that approximately $100,000 will be available in FY 2000 for this
program.
Cost Sharing
None.
Eligibility Criteria
The emphasis of this program is to foster new uses of satellite
data within the academic community. Any state university, college,
institute or laboratory, any public or private nonprofit institution or
consortium may apply. Ongoing activities that use this program solely
as a source of free data with no other costs encumbered are encouraged
to do so.
Indirect Costs
The total dollar amount of the indirect costs proposed in an
application under this program must not exceed the current indirect
cost rate negotiated and approved by the Applicant's cognizant Federal
agency, prior to the proposed effective date of the award or 100
percent of the total proposed direct cost dollar amount in the
application, whichever is less.
Federal Policies and Procedures
Recipients and sub-recipients are subject to all Federal laws and
Federal and DOC policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to
Federal assistance awards.
Name Check Review
All non-profit and for-profit applicants are subject to a name
check review process. Name checks are intended to reveal, if any, key
individuals associated with the recipient have been convicted of, or
are presently facing, criminal charges such as fraud, theft, perjury,
or other matters that significantly reflect on the recipient's
management, honesty, or financial integrity.
Past Performance
Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal awards may result in
an application not being considered for funding.
Pre-Award Activities
If applicants incur any costs prior to an award being made, they do
so solely at their own risk of not being reimbursed by the Government.
Notwithstanding any verbal or written assurance that may have been
received, there is no obligation on the part of DOC to cover pre-award
costs.
No Obligation for Future Funding
If the application is selected for funding, DOC has no obligation
to provide any additional future funding in connection with that award.
Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of
performance is at the total discretion of DOC.
Delinquent Federal Debts
No award of Federal funds shall be made to an applicant who has an
outstanding delinquent Federal debt under either:
(i) The delinquent account is paid in full,
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(ii) A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least
one payment is received, or
(iii) Other arrangements satisfactory to DOC are made.
Primary Applicant Certifications
All organizations or individuals preparing grant applications must
submit a completed Form CD-511 ``Certifications Regarding Debarment,
Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters: Drug-Free Workplace
Requirements and Lobbying,'' and explanations are hereby provided.
Non-Procurement Debarment and Suspension
Prospective participants (as defined at 15 CFR part 26, Section
105) are subject to 15 CFR part 26, ``Nonprocurement Debarment and
Suspension'' and the related section of the certification form
prescribed above applies.
Drug-Free Workplace
Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR, part 26, Section 605) are subject
to 15 CFR part 26, subpart f, ``Government-wide Requirements for Drug-
Free Workplace (Grants)'' and the related section of the certification
form prescribed above applies.
Anti-Lobbying
Persons (as defined at 15 CFR part 28, Section 105) are subject to
the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352, ``Limitations on use of
appropriated funds to influence certain Federal contracting and
financial transactions,'' and the lobbying section of the certification
form prescribed above applies to application/bids for grants,
cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than $100,000, and loans
and loan guarantees for more than $150,000, or the single family
maximum mortgage limit for affected programs, whichever is greater.
Anti-Lobbying Disclosures
Any applicant that has paid or will pay for lobbying using any
funds must submit an SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,'' as
required under 15 CFR Part 28, Appendix B.
Lower-Tier Certifications
Recipients shall require applicants/bidders for sub-grants,
contracts, subcontracts, or other lower-tier covered transactions at
any tier under the award to submit, if applicable, a completed Form CD-
512, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility
and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered Transactions and Lobbying''
and disclosure form, SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.''
Form CD-512 is intended for the use of recipients and should not be
transmitted to DOC. SF-LLL submitted by any tier recipient or sub-
recipient should be submitted to DOC in accordance with the
instructions contained in the award document.
False Statements
A false statement on an application is grounds for denial or
termination of funds and grounds for possible punishment by a fine or
imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.
Intergovernmental Review
Applications under this program are subject to Executive Order
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''
Buy American-Made Equipment or Products
Applicants are hereby notified that they will be encouraged, to the
greatest extent practicable, to purchase American-made equipment and
products with funding provided under this program in accordance with
Congressional intent.
Classification
This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes
of Executive Order 12866.
Prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required
by the Administrative Procedure Act of any other law for this notice
concerning grants, cooperative agreements, benefits, and contracts.
Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required for
purposes of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall a
person be subject to, a penalty for failure to comply with a collection
of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction
Act (PRA) unless that collection of information displays a currently
valid OMB control number. This Notice involves a collection of
information requirement subject to PRA which has been approved under
OMB Control Number 0348-0046.
Dated: July 16, 1999.
Gregory W. Withee,
Assistant Administrator for Satellite and Information Services.
[FR Doc. 99-18920 Filed 7-23-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-HR-P
