HR 2413 RFS 
(2) evaluate and compare observing system de-
sign options; and 
(3) assess the relative capabilities and costs of 
various observing systems and combinations of ob-
serving systems in providing data necessary to pro-
tect life and property. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—OSSEs— 
(1) shall be conducted prior to the acquisition 
of major Government-owned or Government-leased 
operational observing systems, including polar-orbit-
ing and geostationary satellite systems, with a 
lifecycle cost of more than $500,000,000; and 
(2) shall be conducted prior to the purchase of 
any major new commercially provided data with a 
lifecycle cost of more than $500,000,000. 
(d) PRIORITY OSSES.—Not later than June 30, 2014, 
the Assistant Administrator for OAR shall complete 
OSSEs to assess the value of data from both Global Posi-
tioning System radio occultation and a geostationary 
hyperspectral sounder global constellation. 
(e) RESULTS.—Upon completion of all OSSEs, re-
sults shall be publicly released and accompanied by an as-
sessment of related private and public sector weather data 
sourcing options, including their availability, affordability, 
and cost effectiveness. Such assessments shall be devel-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:44 Apr 02, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2413.RFS
H2413
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 2413 RFS 
oped in accordance with section 50503 of title 51, United 
States Code. 
SEC. 9. COMPUTING RESOURCES PRIORITIZATION REPORT. 
Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and annually thereafter, the NOAA Chief In-
formation Officer, in coordination with the Assistant Ad-
ministrator for OAR and the Assistant Administrator for 
NWS, shall produce and make publicly available a report 
that explains how NOAA intends to— 
(1) aggressively pursue the newest, fastest, and 
most cost effective high performance computing 
technologies in support of its weather prediction mis-
sion; 
(2) ensure a balance between the research re-
quirements to develop the next generation of re-
gional and global models and its highly reliable oper-
ational models; 
(3) take advantage of advanced development 
concepts to, as appropriate, make its next generation 
weather prediction models available in beta-test 
mode to its operational forecasters, the American 
weather industry, and its partners in academic and 
government research; 
(4) identify opportunities to reallocate existing 
advanced computing resources from lower priority 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:44 Apr 02, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2413.RFS
H2413
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 2413 RFS 
uses to improve advanced research and operational 
weather prediction; and 
(5) harness new computing power in OAR and 
NWS for immediate improvement in forecasting and 
experimentation. 
SEC. 10. COMMERCIAL WEATHER DATA. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Section 60161 of title 51, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: ‘‘This prohibition shall not extend to— 
‘‘(1) the purchase of weather data through con-
tracts with commercial providers; or 
‘‘(2) the placement of weather satellite instru-
ments on cohosted government or private payloads.’’. 
(b) STRATEGY.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Commerce, in consultation with the Under 
Secretary, shall transmit to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a strategy 
to enable the procurement of quality commercial 
weather data. The strategy shall assess the range of 
commercial opportunities, including public-private 
partnerships, for obtaining both surface-based and 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:44 Apr 02, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2413.RFS
H2413
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 2413 RFS 
space-based weather observations. The strategy shall 
include the expected cost effectiveness of these op-
portunities as well as provide a plan for procuring 
data, including an expected implementation 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 
continue to have access to information crit-
ical to their work; and 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:44 Apr 02, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2413.RFS
H2413
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 2413 RFS 
(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. 
SEC. 11. WEATHER RESEARCH AND INNOVATION ADVISORY 
COMMITTEE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Under Secretary shall es-
tablish a Federal Advisory Committee 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; 
(3) identify opportunities to improve commu-
nications between weather forecasters, emergency 
management personnel, and the public; and 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:44 Apr 02, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2413.RFS
H2413
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS