[Federal Register: May 5, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 86)]
[Notices]
[Page 23697-23702]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05my03-58]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No.: 000616180-3103-07]
RIN 0648-ZA91
NOAA Climate and Global Change Program, Program Announcement
AGENCY: Office of Global Programs, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric
Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department
of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Climate and Global Change Program represents a National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) contribution to evolving
national and international programs designed to improve our ability to
observe, understand, predict, and respond to changes in the global
environment. This program builds on NOAA's mission requirements and
long-standing capabilities in global change research and prediction.
The NOAA Program is a key contributing element of the U.S. Global
Change Research Program (USGCRP), which is coordinated by the
interagency Committee on Environmental and Natural Resources. NOAA's
program is designed to complement other agencies' contributions to that
national effort.
All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements
below. Failure to heed these guidelines will result in proposals being
returned without review.
DATES: Unless otherwise noted, strict deadlines for submission to the
FY 2004 process are: Full Proposals must be received at the Office of
Global Programs no later than 5 p.m. EDT 60 Business Days after the
Announcement appears in the Federal Register. Letters of Intent should
be received at the Office of Global Programs no later than 5 p.m. EDT
20 Business Days after the Announcement appears in the Federal
Register.
ADDRESSES: Full Proposals must be submitted to: NOAA Office of Global
Programs; 1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1210; Silver Spring, MD 20910-5603.
It is important to note that Full Proposals may not be submitted via
facsimile or e-mail.
General Information Contact: Diane Brown at the above address, or
diane.brown@noaa.gov 301-427-2089 ext. 107, fax: 301-427-2222.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Funding Availability
NOAA believes that the Climate and Global Change Program will
benefit significantly from a strong partnership with outside
investigators. Please be advised that actual funding levels will depend
upon the final FY 2004 budget appropriations. In FY 2002, approximately
$6,000,000 in first year funding was available for approximately 60 new
awards.
This Program Announcement is for projects to be conducted by
investigators outside the Federal Government, primarily over a one-,
two- or three-year period. The NOAA Climate and Global Change Program
has been approved for multi-year funding up to a three-year duration.
The funding instrument for awards will be a grant unless it is
anticipated that NOAA will be substantially involved in the
implementation of the project, in which case the funding instrument
should be a cooperative agreement. Examples of substantial involvement
may include, but are not limited to, proposals for collaboration
between NOAA or NOAA
[[Page 23698]]
scientists and a recipient scientist or technician and/or contemplation
by NOAA of detailing Federal personnel to work on proposed projects.
NOAA will make decisions regarding the use of a cooperative agreement
on a case-by-case basis. Funding for contractual arrangements for
services and products for delivery to NOAA is not available under this
announcement. Matching share is not required by this program.
2. Program Authority
49 U.S.C. 44720 (b); 33 U.S.C. 883d; 15 U.S.C. 2904; 15 U.S.C.
2931-2934; (CFDA No. 11.431)--Climate and Atmospheric Research.
3. Program Elements
In FY 2004, NOAA will only accept individual proposals in the Main
Program Elements listed below. The names, affiliations and phone
numbers of relevant Climate and Global Change Program Managers are
provided. Investigators are encouraged to visit the Climate & Global
Change Program Web page (http://www.ogp.noaa.gov/) for general program
information prior to submitting full proposals. Applicants may also
communicate with Program Managers for information.
(A) Atmospheric Composition and Climate (ACC)
The Atmospheric Composition and Climate Program pursues two overall
research objectives: (1) to improve the predictive understanding of the
radiative forcing of the climate system by aerosols and by chemically-
active greenhouse gases, such as tropospheric ozone and methane, and
(2) to better characterize the recovery of the stratospheric ozone
layer, including its role in climate change. The integrated research
activities that address these objectives involve instrument
development, global observations, laboratory studies, and theoretical
modeling by NOAA and extramural partners. A hallmark of the Program is
that its objectives are cooperatively framed with both national and
international collaborators. Nationally, the Program's aerosol research
is part of the interagency National Aerosol Climate Interaction Program
(NACIP). Internationally, the Program's research contributes to the
projects of the International Global Atmospheric Chemistry (IGAC)
program of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program (IGBP), and
the Stratospheric Processes and their role in Climate (SPARC) program
of the World Climate Research Program (WCRP).
For FY 2004, proposals are encouraged that support three
activities:
(1) Intercontinental Transport and Chemical Transformation (ITCT)--
a part of IGAC. The interagency-international ITCT-2K4 study is aimed
at providing observational data and diagnostic studies needed to
evaluate and improve model estimates of the outflow of chemicals from
North America across the Atlantic Ocean and to evaluate the impact of
these compounds on the radiative balance and chemistry of the
atmosphere over the Eastern United States and North Atlantic. Proposals
are encouraged that target: (a) Development of measurement techniques
related to this study (and other such field studies), (b) carrying out
atmospheric measurements needed to determine the sources and processes
that govern the distribution of ozone and the distribution and
chemical/radiative properties of aerosols over this region, and (c)
development, evaluation, and application of theoretical models that can
simulate these chemical/radiative effects and their influence on the
radiative balance in the earth's atmosphere.
(2) Regular vertical profiling of aerosols. NOAA is expanding its
effort at carrying out regular measurements of aerosols and their
properties at selected sites using small aircraft. Proposals are sought
that focus on developing measurement techniques that are applicable to
such studies.
(3) Aerosol indirect effects. In addition, proposals are encouraged
for developing and carrying out new techniques and approaches to
understanding the relation between the atmospheric concentration and
chemical composition of aerosols and their effect on cloud microphysics
and radiative properties.
More information about these activities can be found on the
Internet: http://www.al.noaa.gov/WWWHD/pubdocs/ and the Atmospheric
Composition and Climate Home page: http://www.ogp.noaa.gov/mpe/atmochem.
For further information, investigators may contact one of the
NOAA program managers, Kea Duckenfield of the Office of Global Programs
(Kea.Duckenfield@noaa.gov, 301-427-2089 ext. 112, fax: 301-427-2073) or
Fred C. Fehsenfeld of the Aeronomy Laboratory (fcf@al.noaa.gov, 303-
497-5819).
(B) Climate Observation
The goal of this element is to build and sustain the global climate
observing system that is needed to satisfy the long-term observational
requirements of the operational forecast centers, international
research programs, and major scientific assessments. The element
supports in-situ ocean components that contribute to global networks
for understanding climate variability and change, the global water
cycle, and the global carbon cycle, and looks for efficiencies to be
gained by utilizing common platforms/sites/data infrastructure for
several objectives in parallel. This program element will not accept
applications for new projects in FY 2004. For further information,
investigators may contact the NOAA program manager, Michael Johnson
(Mike.Johnson@noaa.gov, 301-427-2089 ext. 169, fax: 301-427-2073).
(C) Climate and Societal Interactions (CSI)
Research on Vulnerability, Opportunities, and Response Options.
Variability, change, and surprise results from a wide variety of
climatological, social, economic and ecological circumstances and
interactions. The purpose of this program is to increase understanding
of the impacts of climate variability and change as conditioned by
ongoing processes of decision-making and socio-economic transformation.
The suite of efforts is intended to further research-based integration
between studies of the whole of the climate system, including human
components, such as health, and evolving informational and educational
needs of decision-makers in climate sensitive sectors around the world.
The goal is to provide the basis for more effective application of
climate information, including climate forecasts, for purposes of
adaptation. The intent of this program is to encourage overlapping
research approaches to integrate knowledge for problem solving. The CSI
is a chapeau for a suite of activities. CSI Web site information is
available at: http://www.ogp.noaa.gov/mpe/csi/index.htm. Prospective
applicants must apply to one of the following CSI program elements:
Human Dimensions of Global Change Research (HDGCR)--One of the main
goals of the HDGCR program is understanding and analyzing the decision
process as it relates to information about a dynamic climate system.
The program is interested in building on analyses, modeling, and field
work of societal adaptation to climate and the use of scientific
information. For further information, investigators may contact one of
the NOAA program managers, Nancy Beller-Simms (Nancy.Beller-
Simms@noaa.gov, 301-427-2089 ext. 180, fax: 301-427-2082) or Caitlin
Simpson (Caitlin.Simpson@noaa.gov, 301-427-2089 ext. 152, fax: 301-427-
2082).
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Climate Variability and Health Program (CVHP)--It is anticipated
that a joint interagency and private sector announcement of opportunity
for research on climate variability and human health will be published
in a future Federal Register Notice. For more information,
investigators may contact the NOAA program manager, Juli Trtanj
(Juli.Trtanj@noaa.gov, 301-427-2089 ext. 134).
Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA)--The Regional
Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) program possesses three
distinct qualities: (1) Interdisciplinary, integration and synthesis;
(2) Bridging the gap between climatic, environmental and societal
interactions on different temporal and spatial scales; and (3) Decision
support and services. It requires innovative partnerships among a
spectrum of interested parties (Federal, State, local and private) to
enable regional organizational capacity to develop accurate (i.e.,
identifying risks, uncertainties, and/or indeterminacies), balanced
syntheses and services on an ongoing basis. As such, the program relies
heavily on consolidating the results and data from ongoing NOAA-OGP
disciplinary program elements, already funded in a region, into an
integrated framework. This program will not accept applications to
initiate new activities. For further information, investigators may
contact the NOAA program manager, Harvey Hill (Harvey.Hill@noaa.gov,
301-427-2089 ext. 197, fax: 301-427-2082).
Environment, Science and Development (ESD)--The goal of the ESD
program is to enhance our understanding of societal capacity to adapt
to climate in the context of integrated environment, science and
development issues. The program is designed to stimulate and support
solution-oriented, place-based research most relevant to the influence
of climate on development objectives and disaster preparedness. ESD
seeks to apply this knowledge to improve the institutional, scientific
and technical capacity needed to successfully apply climate information
to practical challenges associated with sustainable development.
Collaborative, multi-disciplinary proposals are encouraged. For more
information, investigators may contact one of the NOAA program
managers, Lisa Farrow Vaughan (Lisa.Vaughan@noaa.gov, 301-427-2089 ext.
132, fax: 301-427-2082) or Candyce Clark (Candyce.Clark@noaa.gov, 301-
427-2089 ext. 114, fax: 301-427-2082).
(D) Climate Change Data and Detection (CCDD)
The scientific goals of this element include efforts to: (1)
Provide data and information management support to assure the
availability of critical data sets for a variety of international
programs and assessments of primary interest to NOAA's C&GC Program,
e.g., WCRP (World Climate Research Program) and IGBP (International
Geosphere Biosphere Program), GCOS (the Global Climate Observing
System), the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), as well
as national programs and assessments, e.g., Pan-American Climate
Studies (PACS), U.S. CLIVAR (Climate Variability and Predictability)
Program, the U.S. National Climate Assessment, the Tri-lateral North
American Climate Extremes Assessment, etc.; (2) develop, quality
control, and evaluate data sets and quantify time-dependent biases
(homogeneity) for cross-cutting science necessary to improve our
ability to describe, understand, and predict seasonal, interannual,
decadal, and longer-term climate variations and changes; (3) calibrate,
validate, and blend existing data sets from a variety of observing
systems, including space-based, in-situ, and model-data (data set
enrichment); (4) document the quantitative character of observed
climate variations and changes (climate change detection); and (5)
attribute changes in the observed climate record to specific climate
forcings (climate change attribution).
For further information, investigators may contact one of the NOAA
program managers, Chris Miller (Christopher.D.Miller@noaa.gov, 301-427-
2089 ext.143, fax: 301-427-2073) or Bill Murray
(William.L.Murray@noaa.gov, 301-427-2089 ext. 133, fax: 301-427-2073).
Additional information may also be obtained from the DOE contact, Rick
Petty (Rick.Petty.oer.doe.gov, 301-903-5548); or the NSF contact, David
Verardo (dverardo@nsf.gov, 703-292-8527).
(E) Climate Dynamics and Experimental Prediction (CDEP)
Climate Dynamics and Experimental Prediction, through a set of
Applied Research Centers (ARCs), supports NOAA's program for
quantitative assessments and predictions of global climate variability
and its regional implications on time scales of seasonal to centennial.
The ARCs employ dynamical models in diagnostic and predictive mode as
central integrators in a program of research, development and
experimental applications intended to improve the National capability
to predict the Earth's climate system. In FY 2004, this program will
not accept applications for new Centers. For further information,
investigators may contact the NOAA program manager, Anjuli Bamzai
(Anjuli.Bamzai@noaa.gov, 301-427-2089 ext. 113, fax: 301-427-2073).
(F) Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR)
The U.S. CLIVAR program seeks to observe, model and understand
patterns of climate variability on seasonal to decadal time scales and
to assess the predictability of such climate variability. The ultimate
goal of NOAA's participation in CLIVAR is to develop skilful
predictions of climate variability and change on seasonal to multi-
decadal time scales and regional spatial scales for optimal use in
resource planning and policy decision making. The program is designed
to understand global climate variability; to determine the spatial and
temporal extent to which this variability is predictable; to develop
the observational, theoretical, and computational means to predict
variability; and to make enhanced predictions, where feasible. NOAA's
research focuses on large-scale recurrent patterns of variability that
influence climate on the regional scale, particularly over the U.S.
Among these patterns are the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO),
Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), Tropical Atlantic Variability (TAV),
the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and the American monsoon systems.
NOAA's CLIVAR programs focus on improving seasonal to interannual
climate prediction (Pan American Climate Studies program) and assessing
global climate variability and change on seasonal to decadal and
centennial time scales (CLIVAR Atlantic and CLIVAR Pacific programs).
For an information sheet containing further details for research in
each of these regions, visit NOAA's CLIVAR Web site at: http://www.ogp.noaa.gov/mpe/clivar/index.htm
.
For further information on CLIVAR Atlantic, investigators may
contact the NOAA program manager, James Todd (James.Todd@noaa.gov, 301-
427-2089 ext. 139, fax: 301-427-2073). For further information on
CLIVAR Pacific, investigators may contact the NOAA program manager,
Ming Ji (Ming.Ji@noaa.gov, 301-427-2089 ext. 189, fax: 301-427-2073).
For further information on Pan American Climate Studies (PACS),
investigators may contact the NOAA program manager,
[[Page 23700]]
Michael Patterson (Michael.Patterson@noaa.gov, 301-427-2089 ext. 102,
fax: 301-427-2073).
(G) PACS/GAPP North American Warm Season Precipitation
The goal of this joint PACS/GAPP North American Warm Season
Precipitation initiative is to improve understanding and prediction of
warm season precipitation over North America through studies of North
American monsoon system, with emphasis on seasonal to inter-annual time
scales. The initiative's objectives include: (1) Better understanding
and more realistic simulation of the evolution of the North American
monsoon system and its variations; (2) better understanding and more
realistic simulation of the response of the warm season atmospheric
circulation and precipitation patterns to slowly varying boundary
conditions (e.g., SST, soil moisture); (3) better understanding of the
role of the North American monsoon system in the global water cycle and
regional climate variability; (4) improved intraseasonal to interannual
prediction of the North American monsoon system and regional water
resources. More information is available at the PACS and GAPP Web
sites: http://www.ogp.noaa.gov/mpe/clivar/pacs/index.htm and http://www.ogp.noaa.gov/mpe/gapp/gapp/index.htm.
investigators may contact one of the NOAA program managers, Michael
Patterson (michael.patterson@noaa.gov, 301-427-2089 ext. 102, fax: 301-
427-2073) or Jin Huang (jin.huang@noaa.gov, 301-427-2089 ext. 148, fax:
301-427-2073).
(H) GEWEX Americas Prediction Project (GAPP)
GAPP is jointly supported by NOAA and NASA. Initiatives are
solicited which have a geographical focus on the western USA or the
Mississippi River Basin, and address the following GAPP priorities:
1. Land Surface Memory Processes: The anticipated availability of
the regional reanalysis in the autumn of 2003 will provide new
opportunities to study the effects of land processes over the GAPP
study area on seasonal and interannual time scales. Proposals linking
the regional reanalysis products to studies of vegetation, soil
moisture and snow and their roles in the seasonal predictability of
precipitation and streamflow are encouraged. The use of regional
reanalysis and satellite data in regional water and energy budget
studies is also encouraged. Other land memory process studies and
modeling studies in the GAPP region will also be considered,
particularly if they contribute to the understanding of the
predictability of precipitation or new applications of satellite data
in climate research.
2. Orographic Processes: Studies linking the meteorology and
hydrology of the Western Cordillera are encouraged. These studies could
involve process studies or studies on seasonal time scales with high
spatial resolution. Phenomena of significant interest include
precipitation, snow pack formation and melt, and runoff generation. The
contributions of satellite data to resolving mountain processes will
also be considered.
In addition, consideration will be given to studies related to the
role of land in seasonal to interannual predictability, the Coordinated
Enhanced Observing Period (CEOP) and water resources where demonstrable
gaps exist in the current GAPP program.
Details about GAPP are available through the GAPP Science Plan and
on the GAPP Web site at: http://www.ogp.noaa.gov/mpe/gapp/index.htm.
For further information, investigators may contact one of the NOAA
program managers, Rick Lawford (Rick.Lawford@noaa.gov, 301-427-2089
ext. 146, fax: 301-427-2073), or Jin Huang (Jin.Huang@noaa.gov, 301-
427-2089 ext.148, fax: 301-427-2073). Information may also be obtained
from the NASA program contact, Jared Entin (jentin@hq.nasa.gov, 202-
358-1847).
(I) Global Carbon Cycle (GCC)
The U.S. Interagency Carbon Cycle Science Program (CCSP) seeks to
answer two overarching questions: (1) How large and variable are the
dynamic reservoirs and fluxes of carbon within the Earth system, and
how might carbon cycling change and be changed in future years, decades
and centuries?, and (2) What are our options for managing carbon
sources and sinks to achieve an appropriate balance of risk, costs, and
benefits to society? For further information on the interagency
program, please consult the web at: http://www.carboncyclescience.gov.
NOAA's participation in the U.S. program focuses on three main
goals: (1) Quantifying spatial patterns and variability of carbon
sources and sinks at global to regional scales; (2) Documenting the
fate of anthropogenic CO2 in the atmosphere and oceans; and
(3) Improving future climate predictions by incorporating a dynamical
understanding of the carbon cycle into models. To achieve these goals,
the GCC program focuses on oceanic and atmospheric observations,
process-oriented field studies and modeling. Information and current
project abstracts can be found on the web at: http://www.ogp.noaa.gov/mpe/gcc/index/html
.
For further information, investigators may contact the NOAA program
manager, Kathy Tedesco (Kathy.Tedesco@noaa.gov, 301-427-2089 ext. 119,
fax: 301-427-2073).
4. Eligibility
Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education, other
nonprofits, commercial organizations, international organizations,
state, local and Indian tribal governments. Proposals selected for
funding will be funded through a project grant or cooperative agreement
under the terms of this notice.
5. Letters of Intent (LOI)
The purpose of the LOI process is to provide information to
potential applicants on the relevance of their proposed project to the
Climate and Global Change Program and the likelihood of it being funded
in advance of preparing a full proposal. While it is in the best
interest of the applicants and their institutions to submit an LOI, it
is not a requirement; applicants who do not submit an LOI are allowed
to submit a full proposal. Full proposals will be encouraged only for
LOIs deemed relevant.
The LOI should provide a concise description of the proposed work
and its relevance to the targeted program element. The LOI should
include the components listed below. If these components are not
included, the LOI risks a delayed response and may not be considered by
the program reviewers. (A) Identification of the program element that
is being targeted in the LOI. (B) Specification of a tentative project
title in the LOI. (C) Name(s) and institution(s) of all principal
investigator(s), and specification of which individual is the Lead
principal Investigator. LOIs should be no more than two pages in length
and must include a statement of the problem, brief summary of work to
be completed, methodology to be used, and approximate cost of the
project. LOIs are encouraged to be submitted by facsimile or e-mail to
the identified NOAA program element's program manager.
A panel of program managers will review each LOI to determine
whether the LOI is responsive to the program goals as advertised in
this notice. An LOI response (e-mail or letter) will be sent back to
the investigator encouraging or discouraging a full proposal. The final
decision to submit a
[[Page 23701]]
full proposal will be made by the investigator.
6. Evaluation Criteria
Evaluation criteria for proposals are:
(A) Scientific/Technical Merit: Intrinsic scientific value of the
subject and the study proposed. (50%)
(B) Importance/Relevance and Applicability: Importance and
relevance to the goals of the selected Program Element(s). (See Program
Elements descriptions above.) (50%)
7. Selection Procedures
Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the above evaluation
criteria by (A) independent peer mail reviewers, and/or (B) independent
peer panel reviewers consisting of both Federal and non-Federal
experts. Only mail reviewers may be used if only a few applications are
received. If peer panel reviewers evaluate all proposals, only their
ratings may be used to establish the rank order.
The peer mail reviewers and peer panel reviewers rate each proposal
using the above two evaluation criteria. The proposals will be scored
from 1, for poor, to 5, for excellent, on Scientific/Technical Merit
and from 1, for low, to 5, for high, on Importance/Relevance. The
scores from each reviewer for each proposal will be averaged to produce
an average numerical score for the proposal. The average scores for all
proposals result in a numerical rank order.
Occasionally a reviewer may, due to lack of familiarity in a
particular area, choose not to score a particular proposal. The scores
from each peer panel reviewer for each proposal will be averaged to
produce a single numerical score for the proposal. The average scores
for all proposals result in a numerical rank order within each program
element.
If peer mail review and peer panel review are both conducted, the
available peer mail reviews will be provided to the peer review panel
for use in its deliberations prior to providing its ratings.
If only a mail peer review was conducted, the Program Manager will
use the rank numerical order of the mail reviews to determine funding
recommendations. If only a peer panel review or both a peer panel
review and a peer mail review were conducted, the Program Manager will
use the numerical rank order of the peer review panel to determine
funding recommendations.
Normally, the Program Manager will recommend proposals to the
Selecting Official in numerical rank order. Infrequently, the Program
Manager may recommend a proposal out of numerical rank order based upon
one or more of the following selection factors: (1) Duplication with
other projects that are funded or considered for funding by NOAA or
other federal agencies, (2) applicant's prior award performance, (3)
program priorities and policy factors described with each program
element above, (4) balance/distribution of funds across program
elements. The Program Manager will also determine the total duration of
funding and the amount of funding for each selected proposal, which may
be less than proposal and budget requested.
The Program Manager submits his/her recommendations to the
Selecting Official who reviews the recommendations. The Selecting
Official may reject or accept the recommendation for any proposal
selected out of numerical rank order based upon any of the above
selection factors, as well as upon the availability of funding. The
Selecting Official then presents his/her recommendations to the Grants
Management Division.
Unsuccessful applications will be retained for 1 year and then
destroyed.
8. Proposal Submission
The following forms are required in each application, with original
signatures on each federal form. Failure to comply will result in
proposal application being returned.
(A) Full Proposals: (1) Proposals submitted to the NOAA Climate and
Global Change Program must include the original and two unbound copies
of the proposal. (2) Investigators are required to submit 3 copies of
the proposal, however, the normal review process requires 15 copies.
For an optimal review, investigators are encouraged to submit
sufficient proposal copies, especially color or unusually sized (not
8.5''x11''), or otherwise unusual materials submitted as part of the
proposal. Only three original copies of the Federally-required forms
are needed. (3) Proposals must be limited to 30 pages (numbered),
including budget, investigators vitae, and all appendices, and should
be limited to funding requests for one to three year duration. Appended
information may not be used to circumvent the page length limit.
Federally-mandated forms are not included within the page count. (4)
Proposals should be sent to the NOAA Office of Global Programs at the
above address. (5) Facsimile transmissions and electronic mail
submission of full proposals will not be accepted.
(B) Required Elements: All proposals must include the following
elements: (1) Signed title page: The title page should be signed by the
Principal Investigator (PI) and the institutional representative and
should clearly indicate which program element is being addressed. If
more than one investigator is listed on the title page, please identify
the lead investigator. The PI and institutional representative should
be identified by full name, title, organization, telephone number and
address. The total amount of Federal funds being requested should be
listed for each budget period. (2) Abstract: An abstract must be
included and should contain an introduction of the problem, rationale
and a brief summary of work to be completed. The abstract should appear
on a separate page, headed with the proposal title, institution(s),
investigator(s), total proposed cost and budget period. (3) Results
from prior research: The results of each prior research project (during
the last 3 years) relevant to the proposed effort should be summarized
in brief paragraphs. This section should not exceed two pages. (4)
Statement of work: The proposed project must be completely described,
including identification of the problem, scientific objectives,
proposed methodology, relevance to the goal of the Climate and Global
Change Program, and the program priorities listed above. Benefits of
the proposed project to the general public and the scientific community
should be discussed. The statement of work, including references but
excluding figures and other visual materials, must not exceed 15 pages
of text. Investigators wishing to submit group proposals that exceed
the 15 page limit should discuss this possibility with the appropriate
Program Manager prior to submission. Proposals from 3 or more
investigators may include a statement of work containing up to 15 pages
of overall project description plus up to 5 additional pages for
individual project descriptions. (5) Budget Justification: A brief
description of the expenses listed on the budget and how they address
the proposed work. Item justifications must include salaries,
equipment, publications, supplies, tuition, travel, etc. (6) Budget:
The proposal must include total and annual itemized budgets
corresponding with the descriptions provided in the statement of work.
Non-Federal Applicants must submit a Standard Form 424 (7-97)
``Application for Federal Assistance,'' including a detailed budget
using the Standard Form 424a (7-97), ``Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs.'' Travel must be itemized to include
destination, airfare, per diem,
[[Page 23702]]
lodging and ground travel. The form is included in the standard NOAA
application kit. (7) Vitae: Abbreviated curriculum vitae are sought
with each proposal. Reference lists should be limited to all
publications in the last three years with up to five other relevant
papers. (8) Current and pending support: For each investigator, submit
a list that includes project title, supporting agency with grant
number, investigator months per year, dollar value and duration.
Requested values should be listed for pending support.
(C) Other requirements: Applicants may obtain a standard NOAA
application kit from the OGP Web page: http://www.ogp.noaa.gov/grants/appkit.htm
.
9. Lower Tier Certifications
(A) The total dollar amount of the indirect costs proposed in an
application under this program must not exceed the indirect cost rate
negotiated and approved by a 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.
(B) If an application is selected for funding, the Department of
Commerce has no obligation to provide any additional future funding in
connection with the award. Renewal of an award to increase funding or
extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of the
Department of Commerce.
10. Classification
This notice contains collection-of-information requirements subject
to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The use of Standard Forms 424, 424A,
and SF-LLL have been approved by OMB under the respective control
numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044, and 0348-0046. 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, unless that collection of information displays a currently valid
OMB control number. This notice has been determined to be not
significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866.
Applications proposed for funding are subject to the requirements
of Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs''. This Notice has been determined to be ``not significant''
for purposes of Executive Order 12866. It has been determined that this
notice does not contain policies with Federalism implications as that
term is defined in Executive Order 13132. Because notice and comment
are not required under 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other law, for this notice
relating to public property, loans, grants benefits or contracts (5
U.S.C. 553(a)), a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is not required and
has not been prepared for this notice, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq. Pursuant to
Executive Orders 13256, 12900, and 13021, the Department of Commerce,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (DOC/NOAA) is strongly
committed to broadening the participation of Historically Black
Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI),
and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU) in its educational and
research programs. The DOC/NOAA vision, mission, and goals are to
achieve full participation by Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) in
order to advance the development of human potential, to strengthen the
nation's capacity to provide high-quality education, and to increase
opportunities for MSIs to participate in and benefit from Federal
Financial Assistance programs. DOC/NOAA encourages all applicants to
include meaningful participation of MSIs. Institutions eligible to be
considered MSIs are listed at: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OCR/99minin.html
.
The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification of Requirements
for Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register
notice of October 1, 2001 (66 FR 49917), as amended by the Federal
Register notice published on October 30, 2002 (67 FR 66109), is
applicable to this solicitation.
Daniel L. Albritton,
Assistant Administrator (Acting), Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric
Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-10936 Filed 5-2-03; 8:45 am]