3420 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 14 / Friday, January 21, 2000 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[Docket No.: 991215340–9340–01]

RIN 0648–ZA76

Collaborative Science, Technology,

and Applied Research (CSTAR)

Program

AGENCY: National Weather Service

(NWS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Notice and request for

proposals.

SUMMARY: The CSTAR Program

represents an NOAA/NWS effort to

create a cost-effective continuum from

basic and applied research to operations

through 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.

Pursuant to Executive Orders 12876,

12900, and 13021, DOC/NOAA is

strongly committed to broadening the

participation of Historically Black

Colleges and Universities, Hispanic

Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges

and Universities in its educational and

research programs. The DOC/NOAA

vision, mission, and goals are to achieve

full participation by Minority Serving

Institutions (MSI) in order to advance

the development of human potential, to

strengthen the Nation’s capacity to

provide high-quality education, and to

increase opportunities for MSIs to

participate in and benefit from Federal

Financial Assistance programs. DOC/

NOAA encourages all applicants to

include meaningful participation of

MSIs.

This program is designated under

Catalog for Federal Assistance number

11.468, Applied Meteorological

Research.

DATES: Proposals must be received by

the NWS no later than close of business

April 14, 2000. We anticipate review of

full proposals will occur during May

2000, and funding should begin during

later summer 2000 for most approved

projects. August 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 NWS, NOAA; 1325 EastWest Highway, Room 13316; Silver

Spring, Maryland 20910–3283.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sam

Contorno (see ADDRESSES), or by phone

at 301–713–1970 ext. 193, or fax to 301–

713–1520, or on Internet at

samuel.contorno@noaa.gov.

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 five awards will be made depending

on availability of funds. This program

announcement is for projects to be

conducted by university investigators

for a 1-year, 2-year, or 3-year period.

When a proposal 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

is at the discretion of the NWS. It 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 must

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,

National Centers for Environmental

Prediction (NCEP) service 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 or 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. A 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 through

collaborative efforts between the NWS

and academic institutions: Quantitative

precipitation estimation (QPE) and

forecasting (QPF), including

precipitation type and probabilistic

QPF; Flash flood and probabilistic river

prediction; Prediction of seasonal-tointerannual 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; and

Conditions conducive for the rapid

development of wildfires and the

dispersion of smoke and other airquality hazards.

Individual NWS Regions and NCEP

service 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 NCEP service centers

as listed below. It is anticipated one

proposal will be funded addressing one

or more of the science needs/priorities

of both the NWS Southern and Western

Regions. Although there is no guarantee

funding will be available, a proposal

may be considered for funding

separately as an ‘‘at large’’ award if it:

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 14 / Friday, January 21, 2000 / Notices 3421

(1) Addresses Western or Southern

Region science needs/priorities and is

not selected for funding in its respective

category, or

(2) Addresses one or more of the

science needs/priorities from other

NWS Regions or NCEP service centers.

Therefore, universities are also

encouraged to submit proposals

addressing any of the science needs/

priorities from other NWS Regions and

NCEP service centers. Proposals must

clearly specify which primary science

priorities/needs are being addressed.

Although a proposal may address

science needs/priorities from more than

one NWS Region or NCEP service

center, a proposal can be considered

only for funding in a single category

which must be designated by the

Principal Investigators (PI) (i.e.,

Southern Region, Western Region, or at

large).

Since a goal of this call for proposals

is to foster long-term collaborative

interactions between a university and

NWS operational offices/NCEP service

centers, all PIs within this program must

be a full, assistant, or associate college

or university professor with substantial

documented involvement in the

proposal. Proposals should clearly state

the role of each PI in the project.

A proposal must be submitted by at

least two PIs from the same college or

university. Multiple university

proposals are not allowed. Except for

researchers who are associate, assistant,

or full professors at the Naval

Postgraduate School or other federally

funded educational institutions, Federal

Government employees are not allowed

to be listed as PIs, although

collaboration between the academic

community and NOAA within the

project is strongly encouraged. A

proposal must contain at least two

distinct subtasks addressing one or more

of the science needs/priorities listed by

a single NWS Region or NCEP service

center. PIs must clearly address the

science and technology transfer process

contained within the proposal. This

includes their interactions with

operational NWS units, including

weather offices, River Forecast Centers,

NCEP service centers, and regional

offices, with the specific goal of

improving operational services.

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 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 highresolution 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

gary.carter@noaa.gov.

NWS Southern Region Science Needs/

Priorities

The NWS Southern Region science

needs/priorities to be addressed by

proposals are as follows:

Development of improved techniques

for the prediction of freezing and frozen

precipitation events in the NWS

Southern Region including timing, areal

extent, intensity, and amount.

Development of diurnal lightning and

cloud climatologies stratified by

weather regime to better predict the

onset, spatial coverage, and duration of

precipitation, especially under weak

synoptic forcing.

Development of improved techniques

to forecast and monitor heavy-rain

events.

Development of relationships between

land falling tropical cyclones and

associated severe weather, heavy

precipitation, flooding, and flash

flooding throughout the southern

United States.

Development of improved techniques

to observe and forecast winds and

waves in the coastal environment.

Improved understanding of the

unique geomorphic influences on

weather problems such as type, amount,

duration, and intensity of precipitation

and resultant flash flooding associated

with the complex terrain of the southern

Appalachian Mountains, the Mexican

Plateau, and the Gulf Coast.

Development of optimal strategies for

using mesoscale models to accurately

predict the effects of topography and

other surface forcing on local weather.

Development of methodologies to

better predict the development and

duration of stratus, fog, and other

conditions which produce instrument

flight rule conditions in the NWS

Southern Region.

Development of methodologies to use

the Doppler weather surveillance radar

(WSR–88D) and multi-sensor

technology to detect/identify storm

features leading to, and/or associated

with, the development of weak (F0 and

F1) tornadoes characteristic of semitropical environments.

Development of optimal WSR–88D

scan strategies and adaptable parameter

settings for accurately estimating heavy

precipitation amounts.

Development of methodologies to

better predict the type, duration, and

severity of arctic outbreaks that result in

damaging freezes affecting the NWS

Southern Region.

For Further Information Contact: Dan

Smith, NOAA/NWS/Southern Region

Scientific Services Division, 817–978–

2671, or on the Internet at

dan.smith@noaa.gov.

NWS Central Region Science Needs/

Priorities

The NWS Central Region science

needs/priorities to be addressed by

proposals are as follows:

Improve hazardous weather warnings

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 by:

Developing more accurate, regionspecific conceptual models for tornado,

hail, high wind, heavy precipitation,

and elevated nocturnal convection

events.

Developing more accurate, regionspecific diagnostic strategies/

3422 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 14 / Friday, January 21, 2000 / Notices

methodologies to interrogate remotely

sensed data (radar, satellite, etc.) and

numerical weather guidance with

emphasis on weaker and shorter lived

severe thunderstorm and tornado

events.

Improve Central Region winter

weather precipitation forecasts by:

Developing a climatology of winter

precipitation events including, but not

limited to, heavy snow, sleet or freezing

rain stratified by Central Region County

Warning Forecast Areas and relating it

to public products and services.

Linking cloud physics and associated

micro-physical processes, precipitation

efficiency, water vapor distribution, and

transport of winter stratiform and/or

convective clouds to improved

methodologies for estimating or

forecasting winter precipitation

amounts.

Improve the accuracy (probability of

detection) and average forecast lead

time for winter storm warnings by better

understanding the development,

intensification, and sudden acceleration

northeastward of strong mid-west storm

systems following Rocky Mountain leeside cyclogenesis.

Improve aviation forecast products

and services by:

Developing a climatology of ceiling,

visibility, and low-level wind shear for

Central Region county warning forecast

areas.

Developing better methodologies to

forecast the onset and dissipation of fog

and low ceilings for different

geographical locations in the Central

Region.

Improve the utility and utilization of

numerical guidance in the forecast

process by developing more efficient

and effective methodologies to display,

review, and interrogate numerical

model output in an operational

environment.

Improve the quality of weather

services to the public through the

development of new and innovative

forecast methodologies and products.

For Further Information Contact:

Richard Livingston, NOAA/NWS/

Central Region Scientific Services

Division, 816–426–5672 ext. 300, or on

the Internet at

Richard.Livingston@noaa.gov.

NWS Western Region Science Needs/

Priorities

The NWS Western Region science

goals are as follows: Improve

operational precipitation and

hydrological forecasts in complex

terrain across a wide range of western

U.S. meteorological regimes. In the

West, water is a critical and closely

managed resource.

Improve wintertime forecasts of snow

in complex terrain and improve

hydrological modeling of snow melt

processes in complex terrain.

Improve precipitation and flash

flooding forecasts produced from high

based convection with a deep dry sub

cloud layer in the arid inter-mountain

region.

Improve forecast of significant

precipitation events that produce

flooding along the west coast.

Improve forecast of the onset of the

monsoon season and flash flooding in

the desert Southwest.

Improve snow and wind forecast

associated with arctic front intrusion

into complex terrain in the northern

plains.

Improve operational forecasts through

better capturing the effect of complex

terrain and coastal marine environment

over the western United States.

Improve use of observational

networks, such as mesonets.

Improve analysis through better

assimilation systems that produce more

realistic analysis in complex terrain.

Improve numerical model

performance in western complex

terrain.

Conceptual models that better

describe the effect of complex terrain on

weather forecasts.

Develop innovative approaches to

produce and deliver high resolution

hydrometeorological forecasts and

products to meet the evolving user

community needs throughout the

western United States.

Improve fire-weather forecasts and

smoke dispersion in the western United

States.

Improve forecasters ability to produce

forecasts of temperature, humidity, and

winds in complex terrain.

Improve forecast and warnings of

severe weather unique to the western

United States through the better use of

observational systems and conceptual

models.

Improve the performance of coastal

and mountain-top WSR–88D radars on a

variety of NWS Western Region weather

regimes, such as high based intermountain convection and low topped

storms along the west coast.

For Further Information Contact:

Andy Edman, NOAA/NWS/Western

Region Scientific Services Division,

801–524–5131, or on the Internet at

andy.edman@noaa.gov.

NWS Alaska Region Science Needs/

Priorities

The science needs/priorities of the

NWS Alaska Region are as follows:

Improve the accuracy (probability of

detection) and lead time for airborne

volcanic ash detection and tracking by

better understanding source conditions

and early developments of the ash

cloud. Improvements must include

remote sensing techniques.

Innovative approaches to remote

sensing that result in the formulation

and production of high resolution

hydrometeorological forecasts of river

and localized flash flooding produced

by synoptic and mesoscale weather

systems interacting with complex

terrain in south-central Alaska.

Emphasis should be placed on the Kenai

River watershed.

Develop better methodologies to

forecast winds over the marine inland

waters of southeast Alaska.

Methodologies can include numerical

forecasts from mesoscale models.

Determine the geomorphic influences

on type, amount, duration, and intensity

of snow associated with complex terrain

to improve forecasts for the Anchorage,

Alaska, area, where over 50 percent of

the state population resides.

Improve methodologies to forecast fog

in the Alaska coastal communities

located along the coast of the Gulf of

Alaska.

Improve the winter season WSR–88Dbased rain and snow QPEs. All six sites

are influenced by complex topography.

For Further Information Contact: Gary

Hufford, NOAA/NWS/Alaska Region

Environmental and Scientific Services

Division, 907–271–3886, or on the

Internet at gary.hufford@noaa.gov.

NWS Pacific Region Science Needs/

Priorities

The science needs/priorities of the

NWS Pacific Region are as follows:

Optimize the utility of new and

existing observing systems, with

emphasis on satellites and their use in

providing precipitation estimations.

Develop, optimize, and utilize local

high-resolution modeling capabilities

aimed at providing operational real-time

guidance as well as a tool for locally

conducted research.

Conduct Pacific Basin synoptic

climatological studies, with emphasis

on flash-flood and high-wind events.

For Further Information Contact:

Mark Jackson, NOAA/NWS/Pacific

Region Regional Scientist, 808–532–

6413, or on the Internet at

mark.jackson@noaa.gov.

NWS National Centers for

Environmental Prediction Science

Needs/Priorities

NCEP service centers have established

the following science needs/priorities

which may be addressed in proposals:

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 14 / Friday, January 21, 2000 / Notices 3423

Aviation Weather Center

Develop numerical and subjective

techniques to improve the accuracy of

convective forecasts in the 2–6 hour

time scale.

Improve the treatment of drizzle-size

droplets in clouds that lead to aircraft

icing through improved

parameterization and/or explicit micro

physics techniques that are both

economical and support cloud

initialization using existing

observational data sets, including the

Automated Surface Observing System,

radar, and satellite data.

Enhance understanding of the

triggering mechanisms associated with

different families of clear-air turbulence

events, including gravity waves

emanating from convective systems,

gravity waves induced by jet streaks,

cross mountain flow, critical boundarylayer flow regimes, etc.

Climate Prediction Center

Develop dynamically and ensemblebased techniques to improve the

prediction of weekly, monthly, and

seasonal precipitation skill, including

regional climate prediction systems.

Improve global and domestic forecasts

of seasonal climate variability through

better understanding and modeling of

the coupled atmosphere/ocean system

and the effect of variations on that

coupling to ensemble prediction.

Hydrometeorological Prediction Center

(HPC)

Efforts addressing the broad

geographical and seasonal ranges of

problems associated with QPF, from

initiation, duration, movement, to

winter weather type. This includes the

spectrum from drizzle to heavy rain and

from flurries through lake-effect snow to

synoptic-scale snowfall.

Develop new model verification

techniques to enhance current methods

of objectively assessing which models

will perform best. The techniques

should apply for all time ranges used by

HPC, from less than 6 hours to 7 days.

Develop techniques to modify gridded

numerical guidance to produce gridded

forecast products, which are made

horizontally, vertically, and temporally

consistent using sound meteorological

theory.

Marine Prediction Center (MPC)

Develop a robust marine verification

system that utilizes the various

observations from both in-situ and

remote sources. Parameters to be

verified include, but are not limited to:

wind speed and direction; sea-state

(height, period, direction); visibility;

weather; and icing conditions.

Improve forecasting techniques for

warnings and forecasts of hazardous

marine conditions through the use of

additional data sources (especially insitu), as well as improved use of all

marine data sources in numerical

weather prediction and model data

assimilation techniques.

Storm Prediction Center

Develop mesoscale or storm-scale

numerical prediction models, ensemble

approaches, and verification techniques

to improve forecasts of the location,

timing, intensity, and mode of deep

moist convection.

Develop three-dimensional mesoscale

analysis techniques, observing systems,

expert systems or statistical guidance,

robust conceptual models, and scientific

understanding to improve forecasts of

the location, timing, intensity, and

mode of deep moist convection.

Tropical Prediction Center (TPC)

Improve hurricane intensity

forecasting using either empirical or

dynamical forecasting techniques,

especially those that combine

atmospheric/oceanic interactions and

which can be incorporated with existing

TPC intensity guidance.

Improve forecasts for the size of

tropical storms, including verification of

TPC’s (and the Geophysical Fluid

Dynamic Laboratory’s) wind radii

forecasts. A goal of this effort will be the

generation of probabilistic guidance by

MPC and TPC on 34 and 50 kt forecast

wind radii for marine and emergency

management interests.

Development an ‘‘all-platform’’

surface wind display and analysis over

marine areas for use by TPC and MPC

that would cover the larger scale

tropical storm environment and that

would superimpose QuickScat, SSM/I,

ERS, low-level cloud-drift winds, and

conventional observations, including

buoys and ships, etc.

Note: In all instances, projects are

encouraged which not only address the needs

of individual NCEP service centers but also

address aspects of the NCEP/Environmental

Modeling Center’s need for improving data

assimilation and numerical modeling of the

atmosphere, oceans, and Earth’s surface.

For Further Information Contact:

Ralph Petersen, NOAA/NWS/National

Centers for Environmental Prediction,

301–763–8000 ext. 7008, or on the

Internet at ralph. petersen@noaa.gov.

Eligibility

All accredited U.S. colleges and

universities, including federally funded

educational institutions such as the

Naval Postgraduate School, 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): What is the likelihood of the

proposed science activities to improve

operation hydrometeorological services?

Are proposed research activities

transferable to forecast operations in a

reasonable time frame?

(2) Scientific Merit (25 percent): What

is the intrinsic scientific value and

maturity of the subject and the study

proposed as they relate to the specific

science priorities?

(3) Technology Transfer and

Methodology (25 percent): What is the

degree of collaboration with multiple

operational units throughout the

project? What is the level of planning by

research to integrate results into

operations successfully and efficiently?

Were focused scientific objectives and

strategies, including data management

considerations, project milestones, and

timeliness, used?

(4) Capability of researchers (10

percent): Do PIs clearly document past

scientific collaborations with

operational meteorologists? Have past

interactions been successful? Are

researchers likely to maintain effective

and consistent interactions with

operational forecasts throughout the

course of the proposed research

program? Have researchers

demonstrated the ability to conduct

successful research?

(5) Cost Effectiveness (10 percent): Do

researchers demonstrate the ability to

leverage other resources? Is there a high

ratio of operationally useful results

versus proposed costs?

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

3424 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 14 / Friday, January 21, 2000 / Notices

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 Southern Region science

needs and at least one award which

addresses Western 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

Proposals must adhere to the five

provisions under ‘‘Proposals’’ and the

seven requirements under ‘‘Required

Elements’’ by the deadline of April 14,

2000. Failure to follow these restrictions

will result in proposals being returned

to the submitter without review. In

addition, applicants should note those

provisions under ‘‘Other Requirements/

Information’’ that must be complied

with before an award can be made.

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 sufficient proposal copies for

the full review process if they wish all

reviewers to receive color, unusually

sized (not 8.5x11), or otherwise unusual

materials submitted as part of the

proposal. Only an original version of the

federally required forms and two copies

are needed.

(3) Proposals should be no more than

30 pages (numbered) in length,

including budget, investigators vitae,

and all appendices and should be

limited to funding requests for 1- to 3-

year duration. Appended information

should be counted within the 30-page

total. Federally mandated forms are not

included within the page count.

(4) Proposals should be sent to the

NWS (see ADDRESSES).

(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 PIs and the

institutional representative and should

clearly indicate which project area is

being addressed. The PIs 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 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

included 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 priorities

of the NWS Region or NCEP service

center; operational applicability;

scientific merit; proposed technology

transfer; past collaborations with

operational hydrometeorologists; cost

effectiveness of research; 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—NonConstruction 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.

Other Requirements/Information

(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

described 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:

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 14 / Friday, January 21, 2000 / Notices 3425

(a) The delinquent account is paid in

full,

(b) A negotiated repayment schedule

is established and at least one payment

is received, or

(c) 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.

(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

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

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.

Paperwork Reduction Act

This notice contains collection-ofinformation requirements subject to the

Paperwork Reduction Act. 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.

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.

Executive Order 12866

This notice has been determined to be

not significant for purposes of E.O.

12866.

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.

Dated: January 3, 2000.

John E. Jones, Jr.,

Deputy Assistant Administrator for Weather

Services.

[FR Doc. 00–1517 Filed 1–20–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–KE–M

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Patent and Trademark Office

[Docket No. 991027289–9289–01]

RIN 0651–AB09

Revised Interim Utility Examination

Guidelines; Request for Comments;

Correction

AGENCY: Patent and Trademark Office,

Commerce.

ACTION: Notice and request for public

comments; correction.

SUMMARY: The Patent and Trademark

Office (PTO) published a document in

the Federal Register of December 21,

1999, concerning request for comments

on Revised Interim Utility Examination

Guidelines. The word ‘‘interim’’ was

inadvertently omitted from the

document Subject Heading and text. In

addition, an extra period divided the

second sentence of the Summary

caption into fragments. This document

corrects the omissions of ‘‘interim’’ and

removes the extra period.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mark Nagumo by telephone at (703)

305–8666, by facsimile at (703) 305–

9373, by electronic mail at

‘‘mark.nagumo@uspto.gov,’’ or by mail

marked to his attention addressed to the

Commissioner of Patents and

Trademarks, Box 8, Washington, DC

20231; or Linda Therkorn by telephone

at (703) 305–9323, by facsimile at (703)

305–8825, by electronic mail at

‘‘linda.therkorn@uspto.gov,’’ or by mail

marked to her attention addressed to

Box Comments, Assistant Commissioner

of Patents and Trademarks, Washington,

DC 20231.

Correction

In the Federal Register of December

21, 1999, in FR Doc. 99–33054, make

the following corrections:

On page 71440, in the second column,

correct the ‘‘Subject Heading’’ to read:

Revised Interim Utility Examination

Guidelines; Request for Comments

On page 71440, in the third column,

correct the ‘‘Summary’’ caption to read:

SUMMARY: The Patent and Trademark

Office (PTO) requests comments from

any interested member of the public on

the following Revised Interim Utility

Examination Guidelines. The PTO is

publishing a revised version of

guidelines to be used by Office

personnel in their review of patent

applications for compliance with the

utility requirement based on comments

received in response to the Request for

Comments on Interim Guidelines for