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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE

11.468: Cooperative Institute for Applied Meteorological Studies CIAMS) and Cooperative Institute for Tropical Meteorology (CITM

Objectives: The Cooperative Institute for Applied Meteorological Studies/Cooperative Institute for Tropical Meteorology are joint undertakings by the NWS and the Meteorology Departments of Texas A&M University and Florida State University to work on applied meteorological problems of interest to the weather forecasting and warning mission of the NWS. This is a Federal/cooperative program. The NWS is responsible for the overall identification of tasks needed to be addressed and funds (through cooperative agreements) for faculty and student work towards those goals. Texas A&M University/Florida State University also provide some funding, as well as computer and observational facilities, to help support faculty and students work on projects.

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

11.468 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility: Sole Source programs with Texas A&M University and Florida State University, public, State-supported institutions. Sole source justification enclosed with annual proposal.

Beneficiary Eligibility: Since the basic goals of CIAMS and CITM are to improve the warning and forecasting program of the National Weather Service, the primary benefit of the program is to the general public U.S. citizen.

Credentials/Documentation: The proposal will be considered if applicant shows the academic qualifications and abilities to work on areas of applied meteorological tasks of interest to the NWS.

11.468 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination: Tasks assigned by the project are of direct interest to the NWS programs. An annual preapplication conference is required to address these needs and define tasks. Consultation and assistance is available through the NWS program manager. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure: Proposals, including a statement of work and budget, are submitted to the CIAMS/CITM program manager based upon preapplication coordination discussions. Cooperative activities and funding amounts are determined through an evaluation conducted in coordination with the NWS and the CIAMS/CITM directors. When details of the work and budget are mutually agreed upon, the standard package is formally submitted including forms SF424 (Application for Federal assistance), SF424A Budget Information Nonconstruction Programs), SF424B (Assurances Nonconstruction Programs), statement of work, budget and supporting details, negotiated indirect cost rate sheet, Drug Free Workplace Requirements and Lobbying. Proposals will be submitted through CIAMS/CITM program manager to the NOAA Grants Management Division for review and approval. The Department of Commerce will review all projects before an award is executed by the NOAA Grants Officer.

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

Deadlines: None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: Approval time is expected to be about five months, which includes preapplication discussions and processing the award through NWS, NOAA, and DOC financial assistance functions.

Appeals: None.

Renewals: Awards are normally issued on an annual basis.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals: Texas A&M University and Florida State University are sole source contractors due to their close proximity with NWS Southern Region Headquarters, the National Hurricane Center, and the NWS field offices at Houston and Tallahassee, the offices of the climatologist for their respective states, the CIAMS 10 cm Doppler radar, the CITM supercomputer facilities and state of the art global general circulation numerical model.

Examples of Funded Projects: Evaluation of WSR-88D Doppler weather radar algorithms for estimating heavy rainfalls, damaging winds, and improving streamflow forecasts; relationship between lightning and a real precipitation in mountainous areas; use of tropopause maps to improve weather forecasting; studies of hurricane intensity changes; studies of heavy rainfalls over Puerto Rico and northern Florida; application of ensemble forecasting methods.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance: $120,000 to $150,000; $133,000.

11.468 RELATED PROGRAMS:

None.

11.468 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

The projects awarded through CIAMS/CITM funding have led to a deeper understanding of meteorological factors involved in the NWS warning and forecasting programs, which, in turn, have benefited the U.S. public with more responsive warning and forecast programs. Specifically, regional and local lightning climatologies have been developed and distributed to NWS forecast offices for use in anticipating thunderstorm development; algorithms for detecting damaging winds using the WSR-88D radars have been tested; heavy rainfall climatologies have been developed to support quantitative precipitation forecasting; and techniques for improving the initialization of numerical weather prediction models have been tested. Since this program is sole source, two applicants have applied for this program.

11.468 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency: NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Type of Assistance: Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements).

Obligations: (CIAMS Cooperative Agreements) FY 99 $140,000; FY 00 est $125,000; and FY 01 est $125,000. (CITM Cooperative Agreements) FY 99 $140,000; FY 00 est $125,000; and FY 01 est $125,000. Total FY 99 $280,000; total FY 00 est $250,000; and total FY 01 est $250,000.

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

Authorization: 15 U.S.C. 313, 1525; 49 U.S.C. 1463.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature: None.

11.468 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office: CIAMS/CITM Program Manager, National Weather Service, Southern Region Headquarters, 819 Taylor Street, Room 10A26, Fort Worth, TX 76102. Phone: (817) 978-2671.

Headquarters Office: Same as regional office above.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

11.468 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements: This program has no matching requirements, however, each university normally contributes significant funding to further support the projects.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Awards are for a 12 month period. In some instances, award periods may extend beyond 12 months at which time an extension of funding is requested by the CITM/CAMS Director through NWS program manager for approval by NOAA Grants Office. Funds are disbursed through the NOAA Accounting Services.

Uses and Use Restrictions: The funds are used by CIAMS/CITM to implement programs described in proposals submitted and approved annually by NWS Southern Region Headquarters. The bulk of such funds are used for salary support for faculty and student labor. Specific restrictions and discretionary funds are evaluated on an individual basis with the NWS program manager.

11.468 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports: Final progress and financial reports are due within 90 days of the expiration of the award. Comprehensive reports for individual major projects will be provided to the NWS CIAMS/CITM program manager upon completion.

Audits: Audits will be conducted in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-133, as implemented by 15 CFR Part 29b, for universities and nonprofit organizations.

Records: Financial records and supporting documents and all other records, i.e., property, performance work products, etc., pertinent to the agreement shall be maintained for a period of 3 years from the date of the approved final financial report.