[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 16, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27070-27075]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-12347]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 000616180-1115-03]
RIN 0648-ZA91


NOAA Climate and Global Change Program, Program Announcement

AGENCY: Office of Global Programs, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research, 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 
long-standing 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 agencies' contributions to that 
national effort.
    All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements 
below. Failure to heed these guidelines will result in proposals being 
returned without review.

DATES: Unless otherwise noted, strict deadlines for submission to the 
FY 2002 process are: Letters of intent must be received at the Office 
of Global Programs (OGP) no later than July 2, 2001. Applicants who 
have not received a response to their letter of intent within four 
weeks should contact the Program Manager. Full proposals must be 
received at OGP no later than August 27, 2001. The time from receipt of 
proposals to grant award varies by program area. We anticipate that 
review of full proposals will occur during October and November 2001, 
and funding should begin during spring of 2002 for most approved 
projects. Applicants should be notified of their status within six 
months. April 1, 2002, should be used as the proposed start date on 
proposals, unless otherwise directed by the appropriate Program 
Manager.

ADDRESSES: Letters of Intent and Proposals should be submitted to: 
Office of Global Programs; National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration; 1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1210; Silver Spring, MD 20910-
5603

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Irma duPree at the above address, or 
at (301) 427-2089 ext. 107, fax: (301) 427-2222, Internet: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ea8398878bc48e9fba988f8faa84858b8bc48d859c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e188938c80cf8594b1938484a18f8e8080cf868e97">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. 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. 
However, please be advised that actual funding levels will depend upon 
the final FY 2002 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 NOAA 
Climate and Global Change Program has been approved for multi-year 
funding up to a three year duration. 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 collaboration between NOAA or NOAA scientists and a 
recipient scientist or technician and/or contemplation by NOAA of 
detailing Federal personnel to work on proposed projects. NOAA will 
make decisions regarding the use of a cooperative agreement on a case-
by-case basis. Funding for contractual arrangements for services and 
products for delivery to NOAA is not available under this announcement. 
Matching share is not required by this program.

2. Program Authority

    49 U.S.C. 44720(b); 33 U.S.C. 883d; 15 U.S.C. 2904; 15 U.S.C. 2931 
et seq.; (CFDA No. 11.431)--CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH.

3. Program Objectives

    The long-term objective of the Climate and Global Change Program is 
to provide reliable predictions of climate variability and change with 
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 modeled 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 investigators are encouraged.

4. Program Priorities

    In FY 2002, NOAA will give priority attention to individual 
proposals in the Main Program Elements listed below. The names, 
affiliations and phone numbers of relevant Climate and Global Change 
Program Managers are provided. Funding for some programs may be limited 
to ongoing projects or may be used to fund projects proposed in FY 2001 
that were unable to be funded due to budgetary circumstances. 
Prospective investigators are urged to check the Climate & Global 
Change Program web page (http://www.ogp.noaa.gov/) for general program 
information, and more specifically for current funding status and 
priorities prior to submitting letters or proposals. Prospective 
applicants may also communicate with Program Managers for information 
on priorities within program elements and prospects for funding.

[[Page 27071]]

(A) Aerosols

    This program element focuses on field measurements and modeling of 
aerosol properties and distributions, with an emphasis on improving the 
predictive understanding of the role of aerosols in climate forcing. 
Due to budgetary limitations, funding may not be available for new 
grants in FY 2002; prospective investigators are urged to check the 
Climate and Global Change Program web page for current funding status 
and priorities prior to submitting letters or proposals. For further 
information contact: Joel M. Levy, NOAA/Office of Global Programs, 301-
427-2089 ext. 111, Internet: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#caa0a5afa6e4a6afbcb38aa4a5ababe4ada5bc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="73191c161f5d1f16050a331d1c12125d141c05">[email protected]</span></a>.

(B) 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 
species that influence the earth's chemical and radiative balance and 
the variation of the concentration of these trace species regionally 
and seasonally. For an information sheet containing further details and 
current priorities, please contact: Joel M. Levy, NOAA/Office of Global 
Programs, 301-427-2089 ext. 111, Internet: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#711b1e141d5f1d140708311f1e10105f161e07"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="95fffaf0f9bbf9f0e3ecd5fbfaf4f4bbf2fae3">[email protected]</span></a>; or Fred 
C. Fehsenfeld, NOAA/Aeronomy Laboratory, Boulder, CO, 303-497-5819, 
Internet: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5234313412333e7c3c3d33337c353d24"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bfd9dcd9ffded391d1d0dede91d8d0c9">[email protected]</span></a>.

(C) Climate Observation

    The goal of this element is to build and sustain the global climate 
observing system that is needed to satisfy the long-term requirements 
of the operational forecast centers, international research programs, 
and major scientific assessments. The element supports in situ ocean 
and atmospheric components that contribute to global networks for 
understanding the Earth's climate system, the global water cycle, and 
the global carbon cycle, and looks for efficiencies to be gained by 
utilizing common platforms/sites/data infrastructure for several 
objectives. This program element will not accept applications for new 
projects in FY 2002. For more information contact: Michael Johnson, 
NOAA Office of Global Programs, 301-427-2089 ext. 169, Internet: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#02686d6a6c716d6c426d65722c6c6d63632c656d74"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="53393c3b3d203c3d133c34237d3d3c32327d343c25">[email protected]</span></a>.

(D) Climate and Societal Interactions (CSI)

    Research on Vulnerability, Opportunities, and Response Options. 
Variability, change, and surprise results from a wide variety of 
climatological, social, economic and ecological circumstances and 
interactions. The purpose of this program is to increase understanding 
of the impacts of climate variability and change as conditioned by 
ongoing processes of decision-making and socio-economic transformation. 
The suite of efforts is intended to further research-based integration 
between studies of the whole of the climate system, including human 
components, such as health, and evolving informational and educational 
needs of decision-makers in climate sensitive sectors around the world. 
The goal is to provide the basis for more effective application of 
climate information, including climate forecasts, for purposes of 
adaptation. The intent of this program is to encourage overlapping 
research approaches to integrate knowledge for problem solving. The CSI 
is a chapeau for a suite of activities; prospective applicants must 
apply to one of the following program elements:
    Human Dimensions of Global Change Research (HDGCR): The HDGCR 
program is aimed at understanding and analyzing the decision process as 
it relates to information about a dynamic climate system. This year, 
the program is specifically interested in building on lessons learned 
from cases of climate forecast use to reveal how information can be 
best communicated and disseminated to groups otherwise unlikely to 
benefit from climate information. Research would consider how forecast 
use is influenced by perceptions and human judgment, as well as public 
policy, and the most effective means of designing forecast information 
and its delivery to improve its usability. For more information and an 
information sheet on program objectives, contact: Caitlin Simpson, 
NOAA/Office of Global Programs, 301-427-2089 ext. 152, 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ed9e84809d9e8283ad828a9dc383828c8cc38a829b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2d5e44405d5e42436d424a5d0343424c4c034a425b">[email protected]</span></a>; or Claudia Nierenberg, NOAA/Office of Global 
Programs, 301-427-2089 ext. 151, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#77191e120512191512051037181007591918161659101801"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7e10171b0c1b101c1b0c193e11190e5010111f1f50191108">[email protected]</span></a>.
    Health and Climate Variability: A joint interagency announcement is 
anticipated on Climate and Health. (For more information on this future 
announcement contact Juli Trtanj, NOAA/Office of Global Programs, 301-
427-2089 ext. 134, Internet: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0f7b7d7b6e61654f60687f2161606e6e21686079"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c5b1b7b1a4abaf85aaa2b5ebabaaa4a4eba2aab3">[email protected]</span></a>.)
    Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments: This Program Element 
was formerly titled Regional Assessments. NOAA's present program of 
Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments possesses three distinct 
qualities:
    (1) Interdisciplinary, integration and synthesis;
    (2) Bridging the gap between climatic, environmental and societal 
interactions on different temporal and spatial scales; and (3) Decision 
support and services. It requires innovative partnerships among a 
spectrum of interests (Federal, State, local and private) to enable 
regional organizational capacity to develop accurate (i.e., identifying 
risks, uncertainties, and/or indeterminacies), balanced syntheses and 
services on an ongoing basis. As such, the program relies heavily on 
consolidating the results and data from ongoing NOAA-OGP disciplinary 
program elements, already funded in a region, into an integrated 
framework. This program will not accept applications to initiate new 
activities, but will accept renewal applications for ongoing efforts or 
as part of ongoing negotiations. For more information and a detailed 
information sheet, contact: Roger Pulwarty, NOAA/Office of Global 
Programs, 301-427-2089 ext. 103, Internet: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#19696c756e786b6d6059767e693777767878377e766f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c0b0b5acb7a1b2b4b980afa7b0eeaeafa1a1eea7afb6">[email protected]</span></a>.

(E) Climate Change Data and Detection

    The scientific goals of this element include efforts to: (1) 
Provide data and information management support activities needed to 
assure the availability of critical data sets from 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 Predictability) Program, GEWEX (Global Energy & Water 
Cycle Experiment), GCOS (Global Climate Observing System), National and 
International Assessments, the WCRP (World Climate Research Program) 
CLIVAR/PAGES (Past Global Changes) Research Initiative etc.; (2) 
provide data and information management support related to crosscutting 
science efforts necessary to assess seasonal, interannual, decadal, and 
longer climate variations and changes; (3) document and quantitative 
character of observed climate variations and changes; (4) attribute 
changes in the observed climate record to specific climate forcings; 
and (5) establish linkages between the paleoclimatological record and 
the modern instrumental record, with a focus on interannual 
variability, extremes, and spatial completeness for the Northern and 
Southern Hemispheres.
    During FY 2002, the Climate Change Data and Detection program 
element expects to include the following three major interagency 
activities:
    --Enhanced Data Sets: NOAA and the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration (NASA) will co-sponsor a project that supports research 
in the areas of data fusion and enhancement of climate data sets 
through the use of

[[Page 27072]]

space and/or ground based observations. Preference will be given to 
those proposals that use more than one observing system to develop a 
blended data set.
    --Climate Change Detection and Attribution: NOAA and the Department 
of Energy (DOE) will co-sponsor a project that addresses all aspects of 
Climate Change Detection and Attribution.
    --Paleoclimatology: NOAA and the National Science Foundation (NSF) 
will co-sponsor a Paleoclimatology project that will entertain 
proposals that support the joint WCRP CLIVAR/IGBP PAGES Research 
Initiative. This initiative is jointly supported by NOAA and the NSF 
through the Earth System History (ESH) Program at NSF.
    Prospective investigators are urged to check the Climate and Global 
Change web page for current funding status and priorities prior to 
submitting proposals. For further information contact: Bill Murray, 
NOAA, 301-427-2089 ext. 133, Internet: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#aec3dbdcdccfd7eec1c9de80c0c1cfcf80c9c1d8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0b667e79796a724b646c7b2565646a6a256c647d">[email protected]</span></a>; Chris 
Miller, NOAA, 301-427-2089 ext. 143, Internet: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a0cdc9ccccc5d2e0cfc7d08ececfc1c18ec7cfd6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="54393d38383126143b33247a3a3b35357a333b22">[email protected]</span></a>; 
Martha Maiden, NASA, 202/358-1078, Internet: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fe939f979a9b90be968fd0909f8d9fd0999188"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bfd2ded6dbdad1ffd7ce91d1deccde91d8d0c9">[email protected]</span></a>; Rick 
Petty, DOE; 301-903-5548, Internet: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ef9d868c84c19f8a9b9b96af808a9dc18b808ac1888099"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e7958e848cc9978293939ea7888295c9838882c9808891">[email protected]</span></a>; or David 
Verardo, NSF, 703-292-8527, Internet: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e2869487908390868da28c9184cc858d94"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5c382a392e3d2e38331c322f3a723b332a">[email protected]</span></a>.

(F) Climate Dynamics and Experimental Prediction

    This program will not accept applications to initiate centers at 
new institutions, but will accept renewal applications for ongoing 
efforts or as part of ongoing negotiations. Qualified applications for 
this program may be submitted throughout the year. For further 
information contact: Phil Arkin, NOAA/Global Programs, Silver Spring, 
MD; telephone: 301-427-2089 ext. 116, Internet: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ea8b98818384aa858d9ac484858b8bc48d859c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="28495a43414668474f580646474949064f475e">[email protected]</span></a>.

(G) Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR)

    The U.S. CLIVAR program seeks to observe, model and understand 
natural variability on seasonal to decadal time scales and to assess 
the predictability of such climate variability. The ultimate goal of 
NOAA's participation in CLIVAR is to develop skillful predictions of 
climate variability on seasonal-to-interdecadal time scales and 
regional space scales for optimal use in resource planning. The program 
is designed to understand global climate variability; to determine the 
spatial and temporal extent to which this variability is predictable, 
to develop the observational, theoretical, and computational means to 
predict variability; and to make enhanced predictions, where feasible. 
NOAA's research focuses on large-scale recurrent patterns of 
variability that influence climate on the regional scale, particularly 
over the US. Among these patterns are the El Nino-Southern Oscillation 
(ENSO), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), Tropical Atlantic 
Variability (TAV), the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and the 
American monsoon systems. NOAA has structured its CLIVAR program to 
focus on variability and predictability within three regions: the 
Atlantic, the Pacific, and Pan America. For an information sheet 
containing further details and current priorities for research in each 
of these regions, visit the NOAA CLIVAR website at http://www.ogp.noaa.gov/mpe/clivar/index.htm. For further information on 
CLIVAR-Atlantic, please contact James Todd, NOAA/Global Programs, 301/
427-2089 ext. 139, Internet: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0c666d61697f22786368684c62636d6d226b637a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="573d363a32247923383333173938363679303821">[email protected]</span></a>. For the CLIVAR-
Pacific and the Pan American Climate Studies (PACS) efforts, please 
contact, Michael Patterson, NOAA/Global Programs, 301-427-2089 ext. 
102, Internet: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#abc6c2c8c3cacec785dbcadfdfced9d8c4c5ebc5c4caca85ccc4dd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a7cacec4cfc6c2cb89d7c6d3d3c2d5d4c8c9e7c9c8c6c689c0c8d1">[email protected]</span></a>.

(H) Economics and Human Dimensions of Climate Fluctuations

    Please see Climate and Societal Interactions (CSI) above.

(I) GEWEX Americas Prediction Project (GAPP)

    GAPP is jointly supported by NOAA and NASA. Details about GAPP are 
available through the GAPP Science Plan and Implementation Strategy 
available on the OGP Home Page or from the NOAA GAPP Program Manager. 
Initiatives are solicited which have a geographical focus on the 
western USA or the Mississippi River Basin, and address the following 
GAPP priorities:
    (1) Land memory processes and their spatial and temporal 
variability: GAPP seeks to better understand the contributions of 
orography (including features such as the low level jet), soil 
moisture, vegetation and snow and other cold land processes to the 
predictability of the water cycle.
    (2) Model transferability studies, enriched data set production and 
assimilation of remotely-sensed data to support the US contribution to 
the GEWEX Coordinated Enhanced Observing Period.
    (3) Scientific Investigations to examine the application of climate 
forecasts and GAPP products in water resources management.
    It is possible that a joint call with CLIVAR-PACS will be issued to 
deal with GAPP interests in monsoonal systems. Questions regarding this 
call should be addressed to Rick Lawford _(<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1975786e7f766b7d59767e693777767878377e766f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="610d0016070e1305210e06114f0f0e00004f060e17">[email protected]</span></a>) or 
301-427-2089 Ex. 146 or to Michael Jasinski (<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d5b8bfb4a6bcbba6be95b8b4bcb9fbbda4fbbbb4a6b4fbb2baa3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4f22252e3c26213c240f222e262361273e61212e3c2e61282039">[email protected]</span></a>) 
or 202-358-1847.

(J) Global Carbon Cycle (GCC)

    GCC focuses on global observations, process-oriented field studies 
and modeling to improve our ability to predict the fate of 
anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO<INF>2</INF>) and future atmospheric 
CO<INF>2</INF> concentrations. A separate program announcement for GCC 
will be issued later this year. Investigators interested in the GCC 
program area are encouraged to respond to this later announcement. For 
further information, please contact: Lisa Dilling, NOAA/Office of 
Global Programs, 301-427-2089 ext. 106, Internet: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4c2825202025222b0c232b3c6222232d2d622b233a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f89c91949491969fb8979f88d696979999d69f978e">[email protected]</span></a> 
or see the web at: http://www.ogp.noaa.gov/mpe/gcc/index/html.

(K) Paleoclimatology

    Please see Climate Change Data and Detection above.

5. Eligibility

    Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education, other 
nonprofits, commercial organizations, international organizations, 
state, local and Indian tribal governments. Applications from non-
Federal and Federal applicants will be competed against each other. 
Proposals selected for funding from non-Federal applicants will be 
funded through a project grant or cooperative agreement under the terms 
of this notice. Proposals selected for funding from NOAA scientists 
shall be effected by an intra-agency fund transfer. Proposals selected 
for funding from a non-NOAA Federal agency will be funded through an 
inter-agency transfer.

    Please Note: Before non-NOAA Federal applicants may be funded, 
they must demonstrate that they have legal authority to receive 
funds from another Federal agency in excess of their appropriation. 
The only exception to this is ``governmental research facilities'' 
for awards issued under the authority of 49 U.S.C. 44720. Because 
this announcement is not proposing to procure goods or services from 
applicants, the Economy Act (31 U.S.C. 1535) is not an appropriate 
legal basis.

6. Letters of Intent (LOI)

    The purpose of the LOI process is to provide information to 
potential applicants on the relevance of their proposed project to the 
Climate and Global Program and the likelihood of it being funded in 
advance of preparing a

[[Page 27073]]

full proposal. Full proposals will be encouraged only for LOIs deemed 
relevant, therefore, it is in the best interest of the applicants and 
their institutions to submit an LOI; however, it is not a requirement. 
The LOI should provide a concise description of the proposed work and 
its relevance to the targeted program element. the LOI must include the 
components listed below. If these components are not included, the LOI 
risks a delayed response and may not be considered by the program 
reviewers. (A) Investigators must identify the program element that is 
being targeted in the LOI. (B) Investigators must specify a tentative 
project title in the LOI. (C) LOIs must include the name and 
institution of all principal investigator(s), and specify which 
individual is the Lead principal investigator. (D) LOIs should be no 
more than two pages in length and must include a statement of the 
problem, brief summary of work to be completed, methodology to be used, 
and approximate cost of the project. Facsimile and electronic mail are 
acceptable for LOIs (but not for full proposals).
    A panel of program managers will review each LOI to determine 
whether the LOI is responsive to the program goals as advertised in 
this notice. An LOI response (e-mail or letter) will be sent back to 
the investigator encouraging or discouraging a full proposal. The final 
decision to submit a full proposal will be made by the investigator.

7. Evaluation Criteria

    Consideration for financial assistance will be given to those 
proposals that address one of the Program Elements listed and meet the 
following evaluation criteria:
    (A) Scientific Merit: Intrinsic scientific value of the subject and 
the study proposed, including methodology and readiness.
    (B) Relevance: Importance and relevance to the goals of the 
selected Program Element(s). (See Program Objectives above).

8. Selection Procedures

    Proposals, including those submitted by NOAA employees, will be 
evaluated in accordance with the above evaluation criteria by (A) 
independent peer mail review, and/or (B) independent peer panel review, 
and a rating will be calculated based on these evaluations; both NOAA 
and non-NOAA experts in the field may be used in this process. The 
Program Manager will not be a voting member of an independent peer 
panel. The recommendations and evaluations of the panel members will be 
considered by the Program Manager in final selections. Proposals are 
usually awarded in the numerical order they are ranked based on the 
independent peer mail review or the independent peer panel review. 
However, the Program Manager will ascertain which proposals do not 
substantially duplicate other projects that are currently funded by 
NOAA or are approved for funding by other federal agencies, and fall 
within remaining funds available. Unsatisfactory performance by a 
recipient under prior Federal awards may result in an application not 
being considered for funding. As a result of this review, the Program 
Manager may decide to select an award out of order. The Program Manager 
will also determine the total duration of funding and the amount of 
funding for each selected proposal.
    Pursuant to Executive Orders 12876, 12900, and 13021, the 
Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(DOC/NOAA) is strongly committed to broadening the participation of 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Hispanic Serving 
Institutions (HIS), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU) 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 MISs. 
Institutions eligible to be considered MSIs are listed at the following 
Internet website: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OCR/99minin.html.

9. Proposal Submission

    The following forms are required in each application, with original 
signatures on each federal form. Failure to comply will result in 
proposal application being returned.

(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 required to submit 3 copies of the 
proposal, however, the normal review process requires 20 copies. For an 
optimal review, investigators are encouraged to submit sufficient 
proposal copies, especially color or unusually sized (not 8.5"  x  
11"), or otherwise unusual materials submitted as part of the proposal. 
Only three original 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 must 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 program element is being addressed. If more than one investigator 
is listed on the title page, please identify the lead investigator. 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 each prior research project (during the last 3 years) 
relevant to the proposed effort should be summarized in brief 
paragraphs. This section should not exceed two pages. (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 priorities listed above. Benefits of the proposed project to 
the general public and the scientific community should be discussed. 
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 Manager prior to 
submission. Proposals from 3 or more investigator may include a 
statement of work containing up to 15 pages of

[[Page 27074]]

overall project description plus up to 5 additional pages for 
individual project descriptions. (5) Budget Justification: A brief 
description of the expenses listed on the budget and how they address 
the proposed work. Item justifications must include salaries, 
equipment, publications, supplies, tuition, travel, etc. (6) Budget: 
The proposal must include total and annual itemized budgets 
corresponding with the descriptions provided in the statement of work. 
Non-Federal Applicants must submit 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.'' Travel must be itemized to include 
destination, airfare, per diem, lodging and ground travel. The from is 
included in the standard NOAA application kit. (7) 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. (8) Current and pending support: For each 
investigator, submit a list that includes project title, supporting 
agency with grant number, investigator months per year, dollar value 
and duration. Requested values should be listed for pending support.

(C) Other Requirements

    Applicants may obtain a standard NOAA application kit from 
Internet: http://www.ogp.noaa.gov/.

10. 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:

(A) 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;

(B) 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;

(C) 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

(D) 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.

11. Lower Tier Certifications

    (A) 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.
    (B) 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.
    (C) 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 pre-award costs.
    (D) Financial assistance recipients funded by this program are 
subject to the applicable administrative requirements found in 15 CFR 
Part 14, ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and 
Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and other 
Non-Profit and Commercial Organizations, or 15 CFR Part 24, ``Uniform 
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements to State and 
Local Governments'' as applicable. Applications under this program are 
not subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of 
Federal Programs.''
    (E) 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.
    (F) 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.
    (G) 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.
    (H) Buy American-Made Equipment or Products--Applicants are 
encouraged that any equipment or products authorized to be purchased 
with funding provided under this program be American-made to the 
maximum extent feasible.
    (I) 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.
    (J) 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.
    (K) 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

[[Page 27075]]

contact number, 800-735-2258, between the hours of 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

12. Classification

    This notice contains collection-of-information requirements subject 
to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The use of Standard Forms 424, 424A, 
and SF-LLL have been approved by OMB under the respective 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 currently valid 
OMB control number. This notice has been determined to be not 
significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866.

    Dated: May 10, 2001.
Louisa Koch,
Deputy Assistant Administrator.
[FR Doc. 01-12347 Filed 5-15-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-KP-M


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