partnerships, for obtaining surface-based, aviation- 
based, and space-based weather observations. The 
strategy shall include the expected cost effectiveness 
of these opportunities as well as provide a plan for 
procuring data, including an expected implementa-
tion timeline, from these nongovernmental sources, 
as appropriate. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The strategy shall in-
clude— 
(A) an analysis of financial or other bene-
fits to, and risks associated with, acquiring 
commercial weather data or services, including 
through multiyear acquisition approaches; 
(B) an identification of methods to address 
planning, programming, budgeting, and execu-
tion challenges to such approaches, including— 
(i) how standards will be set to ensure 
that data is reliable and effective; 
(ii) how data may be acquired through 
commercial experimental or innovative 
techniques and then evaluated for integra-
tion into operational use; 
(iii) how to guarantee public access to 
all forecast-critical data to ensure that the 
American weather industry and the public 
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continue to have access to information crit-
ical to their work; and 
(iv) in accordance with section 50503 
of title 51, United States Code, methods to 
address potential termination liability or 
cancellation costs associated with weather 
data or service contracts; and 
(C) an identification of any changes needed 
in the requirements development and approval 
processes of the Department of Commerce to 
facilitate effective and efficient implementation 
of such strategy. 
(3) AUTHORITY FOR AGREEMENTS.—The As-
sistant Administrator for NESDIS may enter into 
multiyear agreements necessary to carry out the 
strategy developed under this subsection. 
(c) PILOT PROGRAM.— 
(1) CRITERIA.—Not later than December 31, 
2015, NOAA shall publish data standards and speci-
fications for space-based commercial weather data. 
(2) PILOT CONTRACT.— 
(A) CONTRACT.—Not later than October 
1, 2016, NOAA shall, through an open competi-
tion, enter into at least one pilot contract with 
a private sector entity capable of providing data 
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that meet the standards and specifications set 
by NOAA to provide commercial weather data 
in a manner that allows NOAA to calibrate and 
evaluate the data. 
(B) ASSESSMENT
OF
DATA
VIABILITY.— 
Not later than October 1, 2019, NOAA shall 
transmit to Congress the results of a deter-
mination of the extent to which data provided 
under the contract entered into under subpara-
graph (A) meet the criteria published under 
paragraph (1). 
(3) OBTAINING FUTURE DATA.—NOAA shall, 
to the extent feasible, obtain commercial weather 
data from private sector providers. 
(4) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated out of funds 
made available for procurement, acquisition, and 
construction at NESDIS, $9,000,000 for carrying 
out this subsection. 
SEC. 11. ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION SERVICES WORK-
ING GROUP. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The NOAA Science Advisory 
Board shall continue to maintain a standing working 
group named the Environmental Information Services 
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Working Group (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Work-
ing Group’’) to— 
(1) provide advice for prioritizing weather re-
search initiatives at NOAA to produce real improve-
ment in weather forecasting; 
(2) provide advice on existing or emerging tech-
nologies or techniques that can be found in private 
industry or the research community that could be in-
corporated into forecasting at NWS to improve fore-
casting skill; 
(3) identify opportunities to improve commu-
nications between weather forecasters, emergency 
management personnel, and the public; and to im-
prove communications and partnerships among 
NOAA and the private and academic sectors; and 
(4) address such other matters as the Science 
Advisory Board requests of the Working Group. 
(b) COMPOSITION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Working Group shall be 
composed of leading experts and innovators from all 
relevant fields of science and engineering including 
atmospheric chemistry, atmospheric physics, meteor-
ology, hydrology, social science, risk communica-
tions, electrical engineering, and computer sciences. 
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In carrying out this section, the Working Group may 
organize into subpanels. 
(2) NUMBER.—The Working Group shall be 
composed of no fewer than 15 members. Nominees 
for the Working Group may be forwarded by the 
Working Group for approval by the Science Advisory 
Board. Members of the Working Group may choose 
a chair (or co-chairs) from among their number with 
approval by the Science Advisory Board. 
(c) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Working Group shall 
transmit annually to the Science Advisory Board for sub-
mission to the Under Secretary a report on progress made 
by NOAA in adopting the Working Group’s recommenda-
tions. The Science Advisory Board shall transmit this re-
port to the Under Secretary. Within 30 days of receipt 
of such report, the Under Secretary shall transmit it to 
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
SEC. 12. INTERAGENCY WEATHER RESEARCH AND INNOVA-
TION COORDINATION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy shall establish an Inter- 
agency Committee for Advancing Weather Services to im-
prove coordination of relevant weather research and fore-
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