Use of Satellite Data for Studying Local and Regional Phenomena

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.

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 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,

(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