# Presentation: 707925

## Hot Topic:  Research in NOAA

- NOAA Leadership Summit
- August 24, 2004

## Science and Research Definitions

- NOAA is a science based organization that conducts research
- Science: systematic _knowledge_ of the physical or material world
- Research: systematic _inquiry_ into a subject in order to discover or revise facts, theories, etc.

**Notes:**
NOAA is a mission agency 
All NOAA research is applied research 
Ocean Exploration was the only "basic" research, and it has now been categorized as applied research 

## FY 03 Actual NOAA Budget ($3.4B)

**Notes:**
            FY03 Actual R&D   FY03 Actual Other NOAA     Total
NOS               61,491                    427,107                          488,598 
NMFS             147,159                  709,303                          856,462
OAR               324,125                  58,639                             382,764
NWS               19,160                   735,714                            754,874
NESDIS           26,320                  757,951                            784,271
OMAO             127,433                 54,027                              181,460

Total                705,688                 2,742,741                         3,448,429

                         20%                       80%

The numbers above represent NOAA expenditures in the line agencies. Excluded from the total is $98 million in corporate and other expenditures.

## FY 03 NOAA R&D by Line Office ($705.7M)

**Notes:**
           FY03 Actual R&D	
NOS   $61,491
NMFS   $147,159
OAR   $324,125
NWS   $19,160
NESDIS   $26,320
OMAO   $127,433

Total    $705,688

## FY 03 Line Office R&D

- NOS 13%

- NMFS 17%

- OAR 85%

- NWS 3%

- NESDIS 3%

- As Percent of each Line Office’s Total Budget

**Total $61.5 million**

**Total $26.3 million**

**Total $19.2 million**

**Total $147.2 million**

**Total $324.1 million**

**Total $127.4 million**

- NMAO 70%

**Notes:**
Source: NOAA Headquarters NSF submission. 

## FY 03 Line Office R&D

- Commerce & Transportation 1%

- Climate 45%

- Ecosystems 21%

- Weather & Water 8%

- Organizational Excellence 72%

- As Percent of each Line Office’s Total Budget

**Total $2.7 million**

**Total $151.8 million**

**Total $98.9 million**

**Total $152.2 million**

**Total $300 million**

- FY 03 Goal R&D

**Notes:**
R&D expenditures
Commerce & Transportation – $2.7 million
Climate - $152.2 million
Ecosystems - $300 million
Weather & Water - $98.9 million
Organizational Excellence - $151.8 million

## FY 03 NOAA-Wide R&D Internal and External R&D ($705.7M)

**Notes:**
Dollars in thousands
Intramural Research: $552,865 (78%)
Extramural Research: $152,823 (22%)
Total: $705,688
*************************************
Definitions from NSF Survey of Federal Funds for Research & Development Glossary of Terms: 

Extramural performers - Organizations outside the Federal sector that perform R&D with Federal funds under contract, grant, or cooperative agreement. Only those costs associated with actual R&D performance are reported, but these costs would include costs of materials and supplies to carry out R&D activities. Note, however, that the costs of off-the-shelf supplies and equipment procured from extramural suppliers that are required to support intramural research and development should be considered as part of the costs of intramural performance, and not as part of the costs of extramural performance. 

Intramural performers - Intramural performers are the agencies of the Federal Government. Their work is carried on directly by agency personnel. Obligations reported under this category are for activities performed or to be performed by the reporting agency itself, or represent funds that the agency transfers to another Federal agency for performance of work as long as the ultimate performer is that agency or any Federal agency. If the ultimate performer is not a Federal agency, the funds so transferred are reported by the transferring agency under the appropriate extramural performer category (universities and colleges, other nonprofit institutions, or industrial firms).  NOTE: Intramural activities cover not only the actual intramural R&D performance, but also the costs associated with the planning and administration of both intramural and extramural programs by Federal personnel. Intramural activities also include the costs of supplies and equipment, essentially of an "off-the-shelf" nature, that are procured for use in intramural R&D. For example, the purchase from an extramural source of an operational launch vehicle (i.e., one that has gone beyond the development or prototype stage) that is used for intramural performance of R&D is reported as a part of the cost of intramural R&D.

## Definitions for Research in NOAA

- Basic Research
- Gain fuller understanding of the fundamental aspects of phenomena _without specific applications_
- Applied Research
- Gain understanding necessary for determining the means by which a _specific need_ may be met

**Notes:**
NOAA is a mission agency 
All NOAA research is applied research 
Ocean Exploration was the only "basic" research, and it has now been categorized as applied research 

## Definitions for Research in NOAA

- Development
- Systematic _use_ of the knowledge gained from research, directed toward the production of useful materials, systems, or methods, including the development of prototypes

## FY 03 NOAA-Wide R&D ($705.7M)

**Notes:**
Per the Vice Admiral’s directions NOAA no longer claims any Basic Research on any R&D reports

## NOAA Research Review

- Science Advisory Board Review completed August 6, 2004
- Goals:
- To improve management of research in NOAA
- Respond to criticism of research in NOAA
- Eleven Recommendations

## 1. Develop a 20-Year Research Vision& 5-Year Research Plan

- NOAA Research Council is leading an effort in drafting a NOAA-wide Research Plan and Vision to support NOAA’s mission goals and its updated Strategic Plan for FY 2005-2010
- Timeline:
- Public Comments Due
- Publish Research Plan and Vision

- 9/20/04
- 11/11/04

## 2. Establish an Associate Administrator for Research & a Research Board

- Associate Administrator would have responsibility for, and authority over, research in NOAA
- Research Board, chaired by the Associate Administrator would consist of NOAA leadership (AAs?)
- Research Council (LO chief scientists) would support Research Board
- Response under discussion

## 3. Transition NOAA Research to Operations andProvide Information Services

- Develop a formal process for transferring research to operations
- Response under discussion

## 4. Develop Criteria for Determining Where Research is Located & Apply It

- There is no clear rationale for where research is located by line office within NOAA
- Develop criteria for determining where research is located within NOAA. When? How? Who?
- An external Task Team will evaluate ecosystems research in NMFS, NOS and OAR. When? How? Who?

## 5. Promote Extramural Research in NOAA

- Develop guidance to ensure proper engagement with the extramural research community in both planning and executing programs. Work with program managers to implement this guidance.
- Standardize/expedite grants process
- Research Council will track extramural research funding

## 6. Develop Process for Creating Cooperative Institutes

- Research Council will develop guidelines that will address the NOAA-wide method for competitively awarding and operating Cooperative Institutes
- Complete draft policy and send out for public comment prior to being formally adopted

## 7. Ensure reimbursable work enhances NOAA’s ability to meet its mission

- Reimbursable funds can augment or distract from NOAA’s ability to pursue its mission
- To reduce levels of reimbursable funds requires reduction of workforce or increase in base funds
- Response under discussion

## 8. Strengthen management of Research 

- OAR proposes to create an Office of Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes to provide vision, integration, and day-to-day oversight of labs
- OAR proposes to create an Office of Program Development and Evaluation to build and evaluate an integrated research program spanning both intramural and extramural activities
- OAR proposes to create a Communications Office

## 9. Consolidate OAR Boulder Laboratories 

- The Boulder research laboratories will be consolidated. When? How?

## 10. Conduct a core capability analysis of Air Resources Laboratory 

- ARL is the most geographically dispersed and highly leveraged lab in NOAA
- A core capability analysis of ARL will be conducted to assess whether ARL’s research is appropriately focused on NOAA’s mission

## 11. Continue Oversight 

- Request that Science Advisory Board appoint an external team to review progress in implementing the Review Team report