NOAA Climate and Global Change Program, Program Announcement

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 970324067-7067-01]

RIN 0648-ZA29

NOAA Climate and Global Change Program, Program Announcement

AGENCY: Office of Global Programs, National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration, 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

longstanding 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 agency contributions to that national

effort.

DATES: Strict deadlines for submission to the FY 1998 process are:

Letters of intent must be received at OGP no later than May 23, 1997.

Full proposals must be received at OGP no later than August 15, 1997.

Applicants who have not received a response to their letter of intent

by July 7, 1997, should contact the program office. The time from

target date to grant award varies with program area. We anticipate that

review of full proposals will occur during late 1997 and funding should

begin during the spring of 1998 for most approved projects. April 1,

1998, should be used as the proposed start date on proposals, unless

otherwise directed by the appropriate Program Officer. Applicants

should be notified of their status within 6 months. All proposals must

be submitted in accordance with the guidelines below. Failure to heed

these guidelines may result in proposals being returned without review.

ADDRESSES: Proposals may be submitted to: Office of Global Programs,

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1100 Wayne Avenue,

Suite 1225, Silver Spring, MD 20910-5603.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Irma duPree at the above address, or

at phone: (301) 427-2089 ext. 17, fax: (301) 427-2073, Internet:

duP[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Funding Availability

NOAA believes that the Climate and Global Change Program will

benefit significantly from a strong partnership with outside

investigators. Current Program plans assume that over 50% of the total

resources provided through this announcement will support extramural

efforts, particularly those involving the broad academic community.

Because of ongoing debates on the Federal budget, it is uncertain how

much money will be available through this announcement. Actual funding

levels will depend upon the final FY 1998 budget appropriations. This

Program Announcement is for projects to be conducted by investigators

both inside and outside of NOAA, primarily over a one, two or three

year period. The funding instrument for extramural 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

collaborative between NOAA or NOAA scientists and a recipient scientist

or technician and/or contemplation by NOAA of detailing Federal

personnel to work on proposal projects. NOAA will make decisions

regarding the use of a cooperative agreement on a case-by-case basis.

Funding for non-U.S. institutions and contractual arrangements for

services and products for delivery to NOAA are not available under this

announcement. Matching share is not required by this program.

Program Authority

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 44720 (b); 33 U.S.C. 883d, 883e; 15 U.S.C.

2904; 15 U.S.C. 2931 et seq.

(CFDA No. 11.431)--Climate and Atmospheric Research

Program Objectives

The long term objective of the Climate and Global Change Program is

to provide reliable predictions of climate change and associated

regional implications on time scales ranging from seasons to a century

or more. NOAA believes that climate variability across these time

scales can be modelled with an acceptable probability of success and

are the most relevant for fundamental social concerns. Predicting the

behavior of the coupled ocean-atmosphere-land surface system will be

NOAA's primary contribution to a successful national effort to deal

with observed or anticipated changes in the global environment. NOAA

has a range of unique facilities and capabilities that can be applied

to Climate and Global Change investigations. Proposals that seek to

exploit these resources in collaborative efforts between NOAA and

extramural investigations are encouraged.

Program Priorities

In FY 1998, NOAA will give priority attention to individual

proposals in the areas listed below. Investigators are asked to specify

clearly which of these areas is being pursued. The names, affiliations

and phone numbers of relevant Climate and Global Change Program

Officers are provided. Funding for some programs may be limited to

ongoing projects or may be used to fund projects proposed in FY 1997

that were unable to be funded due to unusual budgetary circumstances.

Prospective applicants should communicate with Program Officers for

information on priorities within program elements and prospects for

funding. Applicants should send letters of intent and proposals to the

NOAA Office of Global Programs rather than to individual Program

Officers.

Aerosols

The Aerosols Project focuses on research to improve the predictive

understanding of the role of anthropogenic aerosols in climate forcing.

Due to limited funds anticipated in FY 1998, all funding is expected to

be used to maintain support for ongoing research activities.

Unfortunately, therefore, we are unable to seek applications to fund

new starts. For further information contact: Joel M.

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Levy, NOAA/Office of Global Programs, 301-427-2089 ext. 21, Internet:

L[email protected]; or Fred Fehsenfeld, NOAA/Aeronomy Laboratory,

Boulder, CO, 303-497-5819, Internet: [email protected].

Atlantic Climate Change Program (ACCP)

ACCP investigators have greatly contributed to the fascinating

picture of Atlantic climate variability that has come into focus in the

past few years with the North Atlantic Oscillation and the Atlantic

tropical sea surface temperature ``dipole'' playing a central role. We

invite two-year duration proposals which: (1) Address, using models and

theory, the underlying mechanisms of tropical and middle to high-

latitude climate variability in the Atlantic sector on interannual to

decadal time-scales and beyond and (2) seek to document Atlantic

climate variability and climate change from the instrumental and paleo

record and their link to global climate variability. For further

information contact: James F. Todd, NOAA/Office of Global Programs,

301-427-2089 ext. 32, Internet: [email protected], or Lisa Dilling,

NOAA/Office of Global Programs, Silver Spring, MD: 301-427-2089 ext.

16, Internet: [email protected].

Atmospheric Chemistry

The Atmospheric Chemistry Project focuses on global monitoring,

process-oriented laboratory and field studies, and theoretical modeling

to improve the predictive understanding of the atmospheric trace gases

that influence the earth's chemical and radiative balance. FY 1998

grants in Atmospheric Chemistry will focus on studies associated with

the International Global Atmospheric Chemistry (IGAC) project of the

IGBP. Proposals are solicited for the following: (i) (highest priority)

the North Atlantic Regional Study (NARE), with emphasis on process-

oriented field studies, the analysis and interpretation of those

studies, and development of new airborne instrumentation and sampling

methods in support of future studies; (ii) the International Support

Activity: Intercalibration/Intercomparison, with emphasis on the

Nonmethane Hydrocarbon Intercomparison Experiment (NOMHICE). For an

information sheet containing further details, contact: Joel M. Levy,

NOAA/Office of Global Programs, 301-427-2089 ext. 21, Internet:

[email protected]; or Fred C. Fehsenfeld, NOAA/Aeronomy Laboratory,

Boulder, CO, 303-497-5819, Internet: [email protected].

Climate Change Data and Detection

The scientific goals of this element include efforts to: (1)

Provide data and information management support (i.e., data assembly,

processing, inventory, distribution and archiving) for a variety of

national and international programs of primary interest to NOAA's

Climate and Global Change Program, e.g., the CLIVAR (Climate

Variability and Prediction) Program, GEWEX (Global Energy & Water Cycle

Experiment), GOALS (Global Ocean Atmosphere Land System), IGBP

(International Geosphere-Biosphere Program), etc.; (2) provide data and

information management support related to cross cutting science efforts

necessary to assess seasonal, interannual, decadal, and longer climate

variations and changes; (3) document the quantitative character of

observed climate variations and changes; and (4) attribute changes in

the observed climate record to specific climate forcings. Proposals are

sought that are clearly linked to these scientific objectives and that

are under the direction of a scientific principal investigator.

Proposals that are directly linked to major national and international

assessments, such as the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change

(IPCC), are encouraged. Proposals to enhance data system infrastructure

without firm science driven objectives will not be considered. NOAA/

NASA Jointly Sponsored Project: Contingent on the availability of

funding, a limited number of new starts are anticipated within the

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/NOAA co-sponsored

project that supports research in the area of producing Enhanced Data

Sets for Analysis and Applications. Projects should have a central

theme of producing new and/or improved data sets for the next major

scientific or climate impact assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel

on Climate Change (IPCC) planned for the year 2000. We expect that each

project will be able to product data sets that have direct

applicability to unresolved issues in the 1995 IPCC assessments.

Proposals will be favored that clearly make this linkage. NOAA/DOE

Jointly Sponsored Project: Contingent on the availability of funding,

approximately fifteen new starts are anticipated within the Department

of Energy (DOE)/NOAA co-sponsored project that specifically addresses

all aspects of Climate Change Detection and Attribution. Additional

details on the jointly sponsored project are provided on supplementary

fact sheet which can be obtained by calling the Program Managers, or

from Irma duPree at the Office of Global Programs). For further

information contact: Tom Karl, NOAA/NESDIS/National Climatic Data

Center, Asheville, NC, 704-271-4319, Internet: [email protected],

Bill Murray, NOAA/Global Programs, Silver Spring, MD; 301-427-2089 ext.

26, Internet: [email protected], Chris Miller, NOAA/NESDIS, Silver

Spring, MD 20910, 301-713-1264, Internet: [email protected], Martha

Maiden, NASA/Mission to Planet Earth Program Office, Goddard Space

Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 301-286-0012, Internet:

[email protected], or Wanda Ferrell, DOE/Environmental

Sciences Division, Germantown, MD; 301-903-0043, Internet:

[email protected].

Climate Dynamics and Experimental Prediction

The GFDL-University Consortium is an Applied Research Center that

increases the involvement of the university community in studying

atmospheric variability and predictability by critically analyzing

model output generated at the NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics

Laboratory (GFDL). Proposals are invited for collaboration with

scientists at the NOAA/GFDL in the state-of-the-art diagnosis of the

relationships between global sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA)

and the interannual variability of the atmospheric climate over the

past several decades, and between the SSTA in different parts of the

World Ocean. The participants will make extensive use of an evolving

set of atmospheric general circulation model (GCM) experiments to be

conducted at GFDL. Collaborators will participate fully in the design

and implementation of these experiments, as well as in the development

and application of diagnostic tools for analyzing such experiments. In

the past, five consortium participants have shared approximately

$500,000 annually. We anticipate similar levels of support and number

of participants to be funded for a three year period beginning in 1998.

For further information, contact Mark Eakin, NOAA/Global Programs,

Silver Spring, MD; 301-427-2089 ext. 19, Internet: [email protected];

or Isaac Held or Ngar-Cheung Lau, NOAA/Geophysical Fluid Dynamics

Laboratory, Princeton, NJ; 609-452-6512/609-452-6524, Internet:

[email protected] or [email protected].

Climate Observations

This program element addresses ocean, atmosphere, and land surface

climate observations, measurement

[[Page 19550]]

systems and techniques. Within the ocean focus, we are currently

working to develop an interagency program addressing integrated ocean

observations; applications will be solicited under a separate call for

proposals. Within the atmospheric focus, in addition to renewal

proposals, there is a potential for one or two new starts dealing with

atmospheric water vapor. The potential also exists for a very limited

number of projects which advance proven measurement concepts to the

point of self-calibrated use on unmanned air vehicles and package

carrying commercial aircraft. Within the land surface focus, no funding

is expected to be available for new starts. For further information

contact: Rex Fleming, NOAA/OAR, Boulder, CO, 303/497-8165, Internet:

[email protected]; Bill Murray (for atmosphere and land surface

observations), NOAA/Global Programs, Silver Spring, MD; 301/427-2089

ext. 26, Internet: [email protected]; or Mike Johnson (for ocean

observations), NOAA/Global Programs, Silver Spring, MD; 301/427-2089

ext. 62, Internet: [email protected].

Economics and Human Dimensions of Climate Fluctuations

This program element is aimed at understanding how social and

economic systems are currently influenced by fluctuations in short-term

climate (seasons to years), and how human behavior can be (or why it

may not be) affected based on information about variability in the

climate system. We are particularly interested in the extent to which

probabilistic, early-warning climate forecast information can be

incorporated into existing decision-making to affect adjustment and

adaptation. Projects should be comprised of analyses of the following:

how decision processes are sensitive to climate variability; how

decisions could incorporate climate information, particularly

forecasts; the social and economic factors that enhance or impede the

use of climate information; and the consequences of people changing

their decisions based on climate information. Decision processes can be

investigated at the individual, industry, sector or institutional

level, and the climate information should be based on regional climate

influences driven by global climate phenomena (e.g. ENSO events). For

more information and a detailed information sheet, researchers are

strongly encouraged to contact: Caitlin Simpson, 1100 Wayne Avenue,

Suite 1225, Silver Spring, MD 20910; telephone: (301) 427-2089 ext 47;

or email: [email protected].

Education

Contact: Daphne Gemmill, NOAA/Office of Global Programs, Silver

Spring, MD; 301-427-2089 ext. 20, Internet: [email protected].

GCIP (GEWEX Continental-Scale International Project)

In research funded through this component, NOAA will direct its

principal contribution for the GEWEX Continental-scale International

Project to: (1) improving the representation of processes such as cold

season hydrometeorological processes, subgrid scale precipitation

variability, evolving soil moisture fields and their subgrid scale

variability and evolving vegetation covers in coupled land/atmosphere

models; (2) improving the measurement and understanding of heavy

precipitation and runoff regimes in the eastern part of the Mississippi

River Basin and their role in water and energy budgets; (3) improving

the analysis of precipitation over a range of time and space scales;

(4) initiating studies of critical physical processes in the eastern

part of the Mississippi River Basin; and (5) undertaking studies and

model development to make the outputs of climate forecasts and

information more relevant for water resource managers. Emphasis will

also be placed on issues related to the scale integration of

hydrometeorological processes in climate models and on the transfer of

representations of these processes into a climate model either through

a nested model approach or improved land surface schemes. As outlined

in its Major Activities Plan for 1997, 1998 with Outlook for 1999, GCIP

anticipates that researchers will use its comprehensive in-situ, remote

sensing and model output data sets for diagnostic studies and for model

development and validation. A number of GCIP initial data sets have

been prepared to provide data services support during the build-up

period before the five-year enhanced observing period which started on

1 October 1995. The initial data sets are compiled for on-line access

by GCIP investigators to the extent that is technically feasible. They

have also been published on a CD-ROM for wide distribution. GCIP is

interested in proposals that utilize these data sets to address the

scientific problems outlined above. Further information about the GCIP

data sets already compiled as well as the plans and projected schedule

for future datasets can be accessed through the GCIP ``home page'' on

the World Wide Web at the URL address: http://www.ogp.noaa.gov/gcip.

The focus for the GEWEX Continental-scale International Project (GCIP)

is the Mississippi River Basin. A more detailed information sheet will

be provided to those who contact Rick Lawford, NOAA/Office of Global

Programs, Silver Spring, MD; (301) 427-2089 ext. 40, Internet:

[email protected].

Global Ocean-Atmosphere-Land System (GOALS)

The objectives of the GOALS Program are to understand global

climate variability on seasonal-to-interannual time scales, to

determine the extent to which this variability is predictable, to

develop the observational theoretical, and computational means to

predict this variability, and to foster the development of experimental

predictions within the limits of proven feasibility. GOALS is intended

to build upon the El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) research of the

TOGA program (completed in 1994) to extend predictability of seasonal

to interannual fluctuations beyond the tropical Pacific and include the

effects of the other tropical upper oceans, higher latitude upper

oceans, and land surface processes. Proposals for the Pan-American

Climate Studies (PACS) Program, a subprogram within GOALS focusing on

seasonal-to-interannual climate variability over the Americas, will be

solicited under a separate announcement. For an information sheet

outlining high-priority GOALS activities solicited in FY 1998, please

contact Michael Patterson, NOAA/Office of Global Programs, Silver

Spring, MD; 301-427-2089 ext. 12, Internet: P[email protected].

Ocean-Atmosphere Carbon Exchange Study (OACES)

As part of NOAA's contribution to the completion of the NOAA/DOE/

NSF-sponsored Global Ocean CO2 Survey and as a continuing

effort to improve our understanding of the role of the ocean in

sequestering the increasing burden of anthropogenically-derived carbon

dioxide in the atmosphere, proposals are sought for supplemental

measurements on two planned NOAA research cruises in FY 98. The first

cruise along 24 deg. N is the final leg of the Global Ocean

CO2 Survey in the North Atlantic. It is aimed at determining

carbon transport and inventories in the North Atlantic basin and is

scheduled for late winter 1997/1998. The second cruise, scheduled for

early summer of 1998, seeks to improve the parametrization of the

kinetics of CO2

[[Page 19551]]

gas exchange. Limited funds are available for proposals addressing the

measurement of specific chemical variables and physical parameters

including: inorganic carbon system parameters (such as pH and

alkalinity), total organic carbon, stable carbon isotopes, primary

production and physical characterization of the sea surface. For an

information sheet containing further details, please contact: James F.

Tdd, NOAA/Office of Global Programs, Silver Spring, MD: 301-427-2089

ext. 32, Internet: [email protected], or Lisa Dilling, NOAA/Office of

Global Programs, Silver Spring, MD: 301-427-2089 ext. 16, Internet:

[email protected].

Paleoclimatology

The NOAA Paleoclimatology Program will entertain proposals that

support the new joint IGBP PAGES/WCRP CLIVAR Research Initiative that

is being jointly supported by NOAA and the National Science Foundation

(NSF). Proposals should address seasonal- to annually-dated time series

to develop an understanding of the full range of natural environmental

variability over the last 2000 years. Research efforts should focus on

the utilization of seasonally- to annually-dated paleoclimate time

series to develop an understanding of the seasonal to century-scale

variability and predictability of: (1) the ENSO and African/Asian

monsoon systems, (2) the ocean thermohaline system and its relation to

global change, and (3) the hydrologic system at regional to global

scales, as it relates to the above. Investigators from the paleoclimate

and modern climate dynamics communities are encouraged to collaborate

on proposals that focus on understanding the full range of natural

variability and how well this variability can be represented by models.

Proposals should be submitted to the NSF Earth System History

Announcement of Opportunity with an expected due date in January 1998.

Proposals submitted in response to this emphasis will be jointly

reviewed in accordance with established NSF and NOAA procedures for

external merit review and will be supported by the NSF/ESH Program and

the NOAA/Office of Global Programs. For an information sheet or more

information, contact Mark Eakin, NOAA/Global Programs, Silver Spring,

MD; 301-427-2089 ext. 19, Internet: [email protected]; Jonathan

Overpact, NOAA/National Geophysical Data Center, Boulder, CO; 303-497-

6172, Internet: [email protected]; or Herman Zimmerman, NSF ESH/

ATM Program, Arlington, VA; 703-306-1527, Internet: [email protected].

Eligibility

Extramural eligibility is not limited and is encouraged with the

objective of developing a strong partnership with the academic

community. Non-academic proposers are urged to seek collaboration with

academic institutions. Universities, non-profit organizations, for

profit organizations, State and local governments, and Indian Tribes,

are included among entities eligible for funding under this

announcement. While not a prerequisite for funding, applicants are

encouraged to consider conducting their research in one or more of the

National Marine Estuarine Research Reserve System or National Marine

Sanctuary sites. For further information on these field laboratory

sites, contact Dr. Dwight Trueblood, NOAA/NOS, 301-713-3145 ext. 174.

The NOAA Climate and Global Change Program has been approved for

multi-year funding up to a three year duration. Funding for non-U.S.

institutions is not available under this announcement.

Letters of Intent

Letters of Intent (LOI): (1) Letters should be no more than two

pages in length and include the name and institution of principal

investigator(s), a statement of the problem, brief summary of work to

be completed, approximate cost of the project, and program element(s)

to which the proposal should be directed. (2) Evaluation will be by

program management. (3) It is in the best interest of applicants and

their institutions to submit letters of intent; however, it is not a

requirement. (4) Facsimile and electronic mail are acceptable for

letters of intent only. (5) Projects deemed unsuitable during LOI

review will not be encouraged to submit full proposals.

Evaluation Criteria

Consideration for financial assistance will be given to those

proposals which address one of the Program Priorities listed below and

meet the following evaluation criteria:

(1) Scientific Merit (20%): Intrinsic scientific value of the

subject and the study proposed.

(2) Relevance (20%): Importance and relevance to the goal of the

Climate and Global Change Program and to the research areas listed

above.

(3) Methodology (20%): Focused scientific objective and strategy,

including measurement strategies and data management considerations;

project milestones; and final products.

(4) Readiness (20%): Nature of the problem; relevant history and

status of existing work; level of planning, including existence of

supporting documents; strength of proposed scientific and management

team; past performance record of proposers.

(5) Linkages (10%): Connections to existing or planned national and

international programs; partnerships with other agency or NOAA

participants, where appropriate.

(6) Costs (10%): Adequacy of proposed resources; appropriate share

of total available resources; prospects for joint funding;

identification of long-term commitments.

Selection Procedures

All proposals will be evaluated and ranked in accordance with the

assigned weights of the above evaluation criteria by (1) independent

peer mail review, and/or (2) independent peer panel review; both NOAA

and non-NOAA experts in the field may be used in this process. Their

recommendations and evaluations will be considered by the Program

Manager/Officer in final selections. Those ranked by the panel and

program as not recommended for funding will not be given further

consideration and will be notified of non-selection. For the proposals

rated either Excellent, Very Good or Good, the Program Manager will:

(a) ascertain which proposals meet the objectives, fit the criteria

posted, and do not substantially duplicate other projects that are

currently funded by NOAA or are approved for funding by other federal

agencies, hence, awards may not necessarily be made to the highest-

scored proposals, (b) select the proposals to be funded, (c) determine

the total duration of funding for each proposal, and (d) determine the

amount of funds available for each proposal.

Unsatisfactory performance by a recipient under prior Federal

awards may result in an application not being considered for funding.

Proposal Submission

The guidelines for proposal preparation provided below are

mandatory. Failure to heed these guidelines may result in proposals

being returned without review.

(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 not required to submit more than 3 copies of

the

[[Page 19552]]

proposal, however, the normal review process requires 20 copies.

Investigators are encouraged to submit sufficient proposal copies for

the full review process if they wish all reviewers to receive color,

unusually sized (not 8.5 x 11''), or otherwise unusual materials

submitted as part of the proposal. Only three 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 should 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 project area is being addressed. 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 related projects

supported by NOAA and other agencies should be described, including

their relation to the currently proposed work. Reference to each prior

research award should include the title, agency, award number, PIs,

period of award and total award. The section should be a brief summary

and should not exceed two pages total.

(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. A year-by-year summary of

proposed work must be included clearly indicating that each year's

proposed work is severable and can easily be separated into annual

increments of meaningful work. 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 Officer prior to submission. In general,

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: Applicants must submit an a Standard Form 424 (4-92)

``Application for Federal Assistance'', including a detailed budget

using the Standard Form 424a (4-92), ``Budget Information--Non-

Construction Programs''. The form is included in the standard NOAA

application kit. The proposal must include total and annual budgets

corresponding with the descriptions provided in the statement of work.

Additional text to justify expenses should be included as necessary.

(6) 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.

(7) Current and pending support: For each investigator, submit a

list that includes project title, supporting agency with grant number,

investigator months, dollar value and duration. Requested values should

be listed for pending support.

(8) List of suggested reviewers: The cover letter may include a

list of individuals qualified and suggested to review the proposal. It

also may include a list of individuals that applicants would prefer to

not review the proposal. Such lists may be considered at the discretion

of the Program Officer.

(c) Other Requirements

(1) Applicants may obtain a standard NOAA application kit form the

Program Office.

Primary Applicant Certification--All primary applicants must submit

a completed Form CD-511, ``Certification Regarding Debarment,

Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace

Requirements and Lobbying''. Applicants are also hereby notified of the

following:

1. Nonprocurement 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;

2. Drug Free Workplace--Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR part 26,

section 605) are subject to 15 CFR Part 16, Subpart F, ``Governmentwide

Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)'' and the related section

of the certification form prescribed above applies;

3. Anti-Lobbying--Persons (as defined at 15 CFR Part 28, section

105) are subject to the Lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352,

``Limitation 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 applications/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; and

4. 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

(1) Recipients must require applicants/bidders for subgrants,

contracts, subcontracts, or 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 subrecipient should

be submitted to DOC in accordance with the instructions contained in

the award document.

(2) Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all applicable

Federal laws and Federal and Department of Commerce policies,

regulations, and procedures applicable to Federal financial assistance

awards.

(3) Preaward 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 assurance that

may have been received, there is no obligation to the applicant on the

part of Department of Commerce to cover preaward costs.

[[Page 19553]]

(4) This program is subject to the requirements of OMB Circular No.

A-110, ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Other

Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other

Non-Profit Organizations'', and 15 CFR Part 24, ``Uniform

Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to

State and Local Governments'', as applicable. Applications under this

program are not subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental

Review of Federal Programs.''

(5) 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 applicant have been convicted of, or

are presently facing criminal charges such as fraud, theft, perjury, or

other matters which significantly reflect on the applicant's

management, honesty, or financial integrity.

(6) 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.

(7) No award of Federal funds shall be made to an applicant who has

an outstanding delinquent Federal debt until 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 the Department of Commerce

are made.

(8) Buy American-Made Equipment or Products--Applicants are

encouraged that any equipment or products authorized to be purchased

with funding provided under this program must be American-made to the

maximum extent feasible.

(9) 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.

(d) 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.

(e) In accordance with Federal statutes and regulations, no person

on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin or disability

shall be excluded from participation in, denied benefits of, or be

subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving

financial assistance from the NOAA Climate and Global Change Program.

The NOAA Climate and Global Change Program does not have direct TDD

(Telephonic Device for the Deaf) capabilities, but can be reached

through the State of Maryland supplied TDD contact number, 800-735-

2258, between the hours of 8:00 am--4:30 pm.

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 current valid OMB control number. Classification: This

notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes of

Executive Order 12866. The standard forms have been approved by the

Office of Management and Budget pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act

under OMB approval number 0348-0043, 0348-0044, and 0348-0046.

Dated: April 7, 1997.

J. Michael Hall,

Director, Office of Global Programs, National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration.

[FR Doc. 97-10306 Filed 4-21-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-12-M