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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE

11.467: Meteorologic and Hydrologic Modernization Development

Popular Name: Hydrometeorological Development

Objectives: To maintain a cooperative university and Federal partnership to conduct meteorological training, education, professional development, and research and development on hydrometeorological issues common to the hydrometeorological community.

PROGRAM AND AWARD FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.

APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS INFORMATION CONTACTS

RELATED PROGRAMS ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

11.467 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility: Eligible applicants are accredited Federally recognized institutions of higher learning, consortia of these institutions, agencies of State or local governments including school systems, quasi-public institutions, consultants, and companies involved in using and developing meteorological or hydrologic forecasts or forecast methodology.

Beneficiary Eligibility: The benefits of the overall program are for reduction in loss of life and damage which the general public can realize from improvement in weather forecasts, watches, and warnings of hazardous weather and resultant flooding. For the improvements from the modernization of the Nation's weather and hydrologic services to be realized, there must be significant involvement of the entire hydrometeorological community. Thus, benefits will accrue to: (1) General public through higher quality weather products and information; (2) State and local agencies responsible for the planning and implementation of emergency services, fire prevention, allocation and control of water resources, and those agencies who project economic conditions based on weather and water resource availability; (3) educational institutions (0-13+) which need to incorporate the information which will result from modernization of the weather services into their curricula; (4) scientists and developers who will be using the new information to enhance the State of the knowledge of the atmosphere and improve present system safety and reliability; and academic institutions which are funded for programs dealing with studies of the atmospheric and hydrologic science.

Credentials/Documentation: Proposals with statement of work, estimated budget, curriculum vitae, and statements of appropriate and/or necessary accreditation. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular Nos. A-87 for State and local governments, A-21 for educational institutions and A-122 for nonprofit and for-profit organizations.

11.467 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination: Preapplication coordination between the proposer and the Office of Meteorology is recommended. Consultation in the preparation of forms is available from the Office of Meteorology. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure: Proposals, including a statement of work and budget, are submitted to Chief of the Science Division of the Office of Meteorology and reviewed by the Chief of the Science Division. When details of the work and budget are mutually agreed upon, the complete proposal will be prepared and formally submitted. Complete grant or cooperative agreement proposals will include forms SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance, SF-424A, Budget Information Non-Construction Programs, statement of work, budget and supporting details, negotiated indirect cost rate sheet, and CD-511 Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters, Drug Free Workplace Requirements, and Lobbying statements. Cooperative activities and funding amounts are determined through an evaluation conducted in coordination with the Director of the Office of Meteorology, and staff.

Award Procedure: Awards are made on the basis of proposal evaluations as well as technical and administrative reviews.

Deadlines: None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: Approval time for grants is expected to range from 90 to 180 days, which includes processing of the award through the NWS, NOAA, and DOC financial assistance functions.

Appeals: None.

Renewals: By negotiations with the Office of Meteorology. Cooperative agreement activities are normally continuing subject to the availability of funding for subsequent budget periods. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of the Agency.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals: Proposals are subject to office and peer review process taking into consideration scientific merit, application to office research goals, principal investigator's qualifications, cost, and available funding.

Examples of Funded Projects: The COMET, AMS & UVA are the only projects which are presently funded under this program.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance: $15,000 - $4,000,000.

11.467 RELATED PROGRAMS:

None.

11.467 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

The Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education, and Training (COMET) has performed in a manner which has met all expectations. COMET consists of two programs: the Education and Training Program, and the Outreach Program. Experts from the entire academia community have convened in the COMET classroom at which the operational aspects of theoretical meteorology and hydrology have been discussed, leading to the most current education and training. The Outreach Program seeks to make partnerships with Federal operational meteorologists and research scientists. During fiscal year 1999, this program sponsored a total of 14 projects with an average level of funding of about $28,500 per year for collaborative efforts and a total of 13 smaller projects with an average level of funding of $ 5,100. Proposals were treated in the standard peer review process. In addition, 6 fellowship projects, which are undertaken by outstanding graduate and postdoctoral students who submit proposals for applied research at a forecast office or center, were funded under this program. The average level of funding per project was nearly $23,800. COMET produces cost-effective Computer-Based Learning (CBL) modules, has produced four modules within the last year, some of which are available freely on the web at meted.ucar.edu/.

11.467 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency: NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

Type of Assistance: Formula Grants; Project Grants; Direct Payments with Unrestricted Use; Dissemination of Technical Information; Training.

Obligations: (Grants) FY 99 $4,934,897; FY 00 est $4,610,877; and FY 01 est $3,787,731.

Budget Account Number: 13-1450-0-1-306.

Authorization: Weather Service Organic Act, 15 U.S.C. 313, 1525.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature: None.

11.467 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office: None.

Headquarters Office: Director, Office of Meteorology, National Weather Service - W/OM, 1325 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Phone: (301) 713-1970x194, Fax: (301) 713-1520.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

11.467 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements: This program has no specific matching requirements. Projects are accepted at up to 100% Federal share.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Awards are usually for a 12 month period. In some instances, award periods may extend beyond 12 months. The funding is spent in the award's budget period unless an extension is requested by the principal investigator and approved by NOAA Grants Office. The recipient receives the funds through the financial assistance disbursement system (FADS).

Uses and Use Restrictions: Funds can be used to support education, training, research and development on subjects, especially those relating to modernization of the weather services, related to the atmospheric, near surface (first ten meters) oceanographic, and hydrologic conditions. Specific restrictions, other than those mandated for grants, are evaluated on an individual grant or program basis.

11.467 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports: Reports are due in accordance with the terms and conditions of the award. The Department's financial assistance standard terms and conditions generally require that financial and performance reports be submitted quarterly.

Audits: In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), recipients that are States, Local Governments, Non-profit Organizations (to include Hospitals), and Institutions of Higher Learning shall be subject to the audit requirements contained in the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501-7507). Commercial organizations shall be subject to the audit requirements as stipulated in the award document.

Records: All financial and programming records, supporting documents, statistical reports, and other records of grantees or subgrantees are required to be maintained by the terms of the agreement. The grantee must retain records for 3 years from the date when the final expenditure report is submitted.