Notice and Request for Proposals

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 990416102-9102-01]

RIN 0648-ZA64

Notice and Request for Proposals

AGENCY: National Weather Service (NWS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: The Collaborative Science, Technology, and Applied Research

(CSTAR) Program represents an NOAA/NWS effort to create a cost-

effective continuum from basic and applied research to operations

through

[[Page 31189]]

collaborative research between operational forecasters and academic

institutions which have expertise in the environmental sciences. These

activities improve the accuracy of forecasts and warnings of

environmental hazards by applying scientific knowledge and information

from the modernization of the NWS. The NOAA CSTAR Program is a

contributing element of the U.S. Weather Research Program, 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: Proposals must be received by the NWS no later than close of

business, Friday, October 1, 1999. We anticipate review of full

proposals will occur during October 1999 and funding should begin

during early 2000 for most approved projects. January 1, 2000, 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 3 months of the closing date. All

proposals must be submitted in accordance with the guidelines below.

Failure to follow these guidelines will result in proposals being

returned to the submitter.

ADDRESSES: Proposals must be submitted to National Weather Service,

NOAA; 1325 East-West Highway, Room 13316; Silver Spring, Maryland

20910-3283.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sam Contorno at the above address, or

at phone 301-713-1970 ext. 193, or fax to 301-713-1520, or on the

Internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Funding Availability

NOAA/NWS believes its warning and forecast mission will benefit

significantly from a strong partnership with outside investigators.

Current program plans assume the total resources provided through this

announcement will support extramural efforts through the broad academic

community. Because of Federal budget uncertainties, it has not been

determined how much money will be available through this announcement.

Proposals should be prepared assuming an annual budget of no more than

$125,000. It is expected between two and four awards will be made

dependent on the availability of funds. This program announcement is

for projects to be conducted by university investigators not to exceed

a 3-year period. When a proposals for a multi-year award is approved,

funding will initially be provided for only the first year of the

program. If an application is selected for initial funding, the NWS has

no obligation to provide additional funding in connection with that

award in subsequent years. Funding for each subsequent year of a multi-

year proposal will be contingent upon satisfactory progress in relation

to the stated goals of the proposal to address specific science needs

and priorities of the NWS and the availability of funds. Applications

should include a scope of work and a budget for the entire award

period. Each funding period must be discrete and clearly distinguished

from any other funding period. The funding instrument for extramural

awards will be a cooperative agreement since one or more NOAA/NWS

components--forecast offices, Centers, or regional headquarters--will

be substantially involved in implementation of the project. Examples of

substantial involvement may include, but are not limited to, proposals

for collaboration between NOAA scientists and a recipient scientist

and/or contemplation by NOAA of detailing Federal personnel to work on

proposed projects. 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 Objectives

The long term objective of the CSTAR Program is to improve the

overall forecast and warning capabilities of the operational

hydrometeorological community by addressing the following national

science priorities: Quantitative Precipitation Estimation (QPE) and

Forecasting (QPF), including precipitation type and probabilistic QPF

(PQPF); Flash flood and probabilistic river prediction; Prediction of

seasonal-to-interannual and decadal climate variability, and the

impacts of these variabilities on extreme weather events; Prediction of

tropical cyclones near landfall, including track, intensity, and

associated precipitation, and hazardous weather; Prediction of marine

conditions, including fog, winds, coastal ocean, and open ocean waves;

The effect of topography and other surface forcing on local weather

regimes; Locally hazardous weather, especially severe convection,

winter weather, and phenomena that affect aviation; Conditions

conducive for the rapid development of wildfires and the dispersion of

smoke and other air-quality hazards.

Individual NWS Regions and Centers have a subset of these science

priorities due to differences in factors such as topography, weather

regimes, and mission.

Program Priorities

NOAA will give sole attention to individual proposals addressing

the identified science needs/priorities from NWS Regions and the

National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) as listed below.

It is anticipated one proposal will be funded addressing one or more of

the science needs/priorities of both the NWS Eastern and Central

Regions. Universities are also encouraged to submit proposals

addressing any of the science needs/priorities of other NWS Regions and

Centers. However, there is no guarantee funding will be available for

these activities. Principal investigators must clearly describe

collaborative activities and scientific interactions with NWS forecast

offices, River Forecast Centers, National Centers, or regional

headquarters throughout the course of the research proposal. A proposal

must be submitted by multiple principle investigators and contain at

least two distinct subtasks addressing one or more of the science

needs/priorities listed by a single NWS Region or by NCEP.

Investigators are asked to specify clearly which science priorities/

needs are being pursued and to which region or center(s) they belong.

The names, affiliations and phone numbers of relevant NWS regional/

NCEP focal points are provided. Prospective applicants should

communicate with these focal points for information on priorities

within regional science needs. Applicants should send proposals to the

NOAA NWS program office identified earlier rather than to individual

focal points.

NWS Central Region Science Needs/Priorities

The NWS Central Region science needs/priorities which can be

addressed by proposals are as follows:

Improve severe weather warnings by:

(1) Developing more accurate conceptual models for tornado, hail,

and wind events for different geographical locations in Central Region,

including the Central Plains, Northern Plains, Ozark Plateau, mid and

upper Mississippi Valley, lower Ohio Valley, and Great Lakes regions.

(2) Developing more accurate diagnostic strategies/methodologies to

interrogate remote sensing data (radar, satellite, etc.) particularly

for weaker and shorter lived severe thunderstorm and tornado events.

(3) Expanding our understanding of elevated nocturnal convection

for

[[Page 31190]]

different geographical locations in Central Region.

Improve QPFs through a better understanding of:

(1) The climatology of precipitation, including subregional

information stratified by day, season, and amount and time of

occurrence.

(2) Cloud physics and micro-physical processes related to

precipitation efficiency of stratiform and connective clouds.

(3) Water vapor distribution and transport.

(4) The initiation of convective precipitation (tropical, lake/sea

breeze, complex terrain, etc.).

(5) The uniqueness of stratiform precipitation.

(6) The uniqueness of extreme heavy rain events.

(7) Precipitation estimation methods.

(8) Geographic and orographic influences. Improve winter weather

forecasts by better understanding the development, intensification, and

sudden acceleration northeastward of strong mid-west storm systems

following lee side cyclogenesis.

Improve aviation forecasts by better understanding the development

and dissipation of fog and stratus for the different geographical

locations in Central Region. Develop more efficient and effective

methodologies to review numerical model guidance in the forecast

process. Develop innovative methodologies to improve weather services

to the public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Livingston, NOAA/NWS/Central

Region Scientific Services Division, 816-426-5672 ext. 300, or on the

Internet at Richard.L[email protected].

NWS Eastern Region Science Needs/Priorities

NWS Eastern Region has listed the following science needs/

priorities to be addressed by proposals:

Unique geomorphic influences on weather problems such as the type,

amount, duration, and intensity of precipitation associated with the

complex terrain of the Appalachian Mountains; or the formation,

duration, and intensity of severe storms and winter weather phenomena

along the Atlantic Seaboard and the Great Lakes. The relationship of

land-falling tropical storms and hurricanes to severe weather, heavy

precipitation, flooding, and flash flooding throughout the eastern

United States. The development and enhancement of severe storms

throughout the Middle Atlantic and the Piedmont regions due to the

influence of small-scale thermal and moisture boundaries. The

interaction of gravity waves and related phenomena with severe storms

and winter weather systems throughout the East.

The primary factors causing high winds, waves, and flooding near

the Atlantic Coast, Chesapeake Bay, and Great Lakes. Widespread river

and localized flash flooding produced by synoptic and sub-synoptic

scale weather systems interacting with the complex topography and

expanding urbanization of the eastern United States.

Innovative approaches to formulate, produce, display, and deliver

high-resolution hydrometeorological forecasts and products to meet the

evolving needs of the user community throughout the heavily populated

eastern United States.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Carter, NOAA/NWS//Eastern Region

Scientific Services Division, 516-524-5131, or on the Internet at

[email protected].

NWS Western Region Service Needs/Priorities

The science needs/priorities are based on Doppler weather

surveillance radar (WSR-88D) measurements of convective and wintertime

QPEs over complex terrain in the inter-mountain West area of the United

States. In the arid inter-mountain West, water is a critical and

closely managed resource. Complex terrain, the location of many NWS

WSR-88D radars on mountain tops, and unique meteorological/orographic

characteristics of western storms combine to limit the effectiveness of

the current WSR-88D QPE algorithms. Proposals should be targeted at

improving the capability of the WSR-88D to assist operational

forecasters to: Make better summertime convective flash-flood warnings

over inter-mountain West terrain.

Provide improved WSR-88D-based winter season rain and snow QPEs.

These WSR-88D based QPEs are very dependent on complex terrain.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andy Edman, NOAA/NWS/Western Region

Scientific Services Division, 801-524-5131, or on the Internet at

[email protected].

NWS Pacific Region Science Needs/Priorities

The science needs/priorities of the NWS Pacific Region are as

follows:

Optimizing the utility of new observing systems, especially

satellite observations over the Pacific. Conducting observational

synoptic climatological studies. Helping develop and enhance

operational and off-line mesoscale modeling studies and capabilities

aimed at improving Pacific Region model support.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Jackson, NOAA/NWS/Pacific Region

Regional Scientist, 808-532-6413, or on the Internet at

[email protected].

NWS National Centers for Environmental Prediction Science Needs/

Priorities

The individual centers of NCEP have established the following

science needs/priorities which may be addressed in proposals:

Environmental Modeling Center

Atmospheric and ocean data assimilation.

Atmospheric and ocean numerical forecast modeling.

Hydrometerological Prediction Center

Ensemble models for PQPF.

Targeted observations for improvement of medium range forecasting(day

3-7).

Marine Prediction Center

Objective marine verification using all in-situ and remote data

sources.

Improved use of surface marine observations from all sources in data

assimilation.

Climate Prediction Center

Improve monthly and seasonal precipitation skill scores.

Improve coupled model and associated ensemble runs.

Aviation Weather Center

Improve prediction of locally hazardous weather (e.g., sever

convection, winter weather, etc.) that affect aviation.

Improve predictions of icing and turbulence.

Storm Prediction Center

Development of technology to remotely sense the detailed vertical

distribution of moisture in the atmosphere.

Development of a relocatable mesoscale model which has detailed

boundary layer physics for improvement in forecasting hail, wind gusts,

etc.

Tropical Prediction Center

Improve hurricane-intensity and wind-structure forecasts. Continue

improving hurricane track forecasts.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sondra Young, NOAA/NWS/National

Centers for Environmental Prediction, 301-763-8000 ext. 7004, or on the

Internet at [email protected].

[[Page 31191]]

Eligibility

All accredited U.S. colleges and universities are eligible for

funding under this announcement. The restriction is needed because the

results of the collaboration are to be incorporated in academic

processes which ensure academic multidisciplinary peer review as well

as Federal review of scientific validity for use in operations. Funding

for non-U.S. institutions is not available under this announcement.

Evaluation Criteria

The evaluation criteria and weighting of the criteria are as

follows:

(1) Operational Applicability (30 percent): Importance and

applicability of the proposed science activities to operational

hydrometeorology. Are prospects good that the proposed science

priorities can be transferred to weather forecast operations in a

reasonable time frame?

(2) Scientific Merit (30 percent): Intrinsic scientific value of

the subject and the study proposed as they relate to the specific

science priorities.

(3) Experience of principal investigators collaborating and

interacting with operational hydrometeorologists (20 percent):

Principal investigators must clearly document past scientific

collaborations with operational meteorologists.

(4) Cost Effectiveness (10 percent): Ability of researchers to

leverage other resources; high ratio of operationally useful results

versus proposed costs.

(5) Methodology (10 percent): Focused scientific objective and

strategy, including data management considerations, project milestones,

and timeliness; and final products.

Selection Procedures

All proposals will be evaluated and individually ranked in

accordance with the assigned weights of the above evaluation criteria

by an independent peer panel review, three to seven NWS experts

representing NWS Regions and Centers and non-Federal experts may be

used in this process. Their recommendations and evaluations will be

considered, along with the program policy factors discussed below, by

the selecting official who will select the proposals to be funded and

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. Because

the selecting official will take into account program policy factors,

awards may not necessarily be made to the highest scored proposals.

Program Policy Factors

In deciding which applications are to be funded, the Selecting

Official will choose at least one award which addresses the Central

Region science needs and at least one award which addresses the Eastern

Region science needs. Further, the selecting official may take into

account the need to spread awards geographically and among

universities. While a university may submit more than one application,

the selecting official may limit the awards to only one per university.

Finally, the amount of funds available and whether an application

substantially duplicates other projects currently approved for funding

or funded by NOAA or other Federal agencies may be considered by the

Selecting Official.

Proposal Submission

The requirements for proposal preparation are provided below.

Failure to follow these requirements will result in proposals being

returned to the submitter.

Proposals

(1) Proposals submitted to the NOAA NWS CSTAR Program must include

the original and two unbound copies of the proposal.

(2) Investigators are not required to submit more than three copies

of the proposal. Investigators are encouraged to submit official

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 are limited to 30 pages (numbered), including budget,

investigators vitae, and all appendices and should be limited to

funding requests for 1- to 3-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 NWS at the address listed

earlier.

(5) Facsimile transmissions and electronic mail submission of full

proposals will not be accepted.

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, institutions investigators, 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 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 priorities of the

NWS Region or Center, 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. The statement of work, including references but

excluding figures and other visual materials, must not exceed 15 pages

of text. In general, proposals from three 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 a Standard Form 424

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

using the Standard Form 424a, ``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 3 years with up to five other relevant papers.

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

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

investigator months, dollar value, and duration. Requested values

should be listed for pending support.

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Other Requirements

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

NOAA Office of Grants Management. 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:

(2) Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension. Prospective

participants (as defined at 15 CFR 26.105) are subject to 15 CFR part

26, ``Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension,'' and the related

section of the certification form prescribed above applies; to State

and Local Governments, as applicable. Applications under this program

are not subject to E.O. 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal

Programs.''

(3) All non-profit and for-profit applicants are subject to a name

check review process. Name checks are intended to reveal whether 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.

(4) 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.

(5) 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 DOC.

(6) Buy American-Made Equipment or Products. Applicants who are

authorized to purchase equipment or products with funding provided

under this program are encouraged to purchase American-made equipment

and products to the maximum extent feasible.

(7) 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.

(8) Federal Policies and Procedures. Recipients and subrecipients

are subject to all Federal laws and Federal and DOC policies,

regulations, and procedures applicable to Federal financial assistance

awards.

(9) 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.

(10) 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.

(11) 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.

(12) 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.

(13) Lower Tier Certifications. Recipients shall require

applicants/bidders for subgrants, 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 subrecipient should be submitted to

DOC in accordance with the instructions contained in the award

document. If an application is selected for funding, the DOC 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 DOC.

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 NWS. The NOAA NWS does not have a direct

telephonic device for the deaf (TDD capabilities can be reached through

the State of Maryland-supplied TDD contact number, 800-735-2258,

between the hours of 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

This notice contains collection-of-information requirements subject

to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The standard application forms required

to be used have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget

under 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 current valid OMB control number.

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 313; 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.11.468)--

Applied Meteorological Research.

Classification: This notice has been determined to be not

significant for purposes of E.O. 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: June 7, 1999.

John J. Kelly, Jr.,

Assistant Administrator for Weather Services.

[FR Doc. 99-14783 Filed 6-9-99; 8:45 am]

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