[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 12 (Thursday, January 19, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3839-3841]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-1423]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[Docket No. 950113015-5015-01]
RIN 0648-ZA12


Global Learning and Observations To Benefit the Environment 
(GLOBE)

agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, COMMERCE 
(DOC).

action: NOTICE, Competitive Solicitation for a GLOBE Joint Project 
Agreement.

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summary: GLOBE is an international environmental education and science 
program involving students in kindergarten through twelfth grade (or 
equivalent) throughout the world. The goals of the GLOBE Program are to 
enhance the environmental awareness of individuals worldwide, to 
increase scientific understanding of the Earth by collecting data for 
use by the international community of environmental scientists and 
others, and to help all students reach higher standards in science and 
mathematics education. The goals will be accomplished through a number 
of activities, including having students making environmental 
observations at or near their schools. The data resulting from these 
observations will be transmitted through the Internet and satellite 
communications for processing. As these data are processed, global 
environmental visualizations will be created based on the students' 
observations and other environmental information and relayed back to 
the students. The data acquired by the students will also be available 
through the Internet to environmental scientists throughout the world 
to support their research.
    These goals will be accomplished in the United States through a 
partnership between the Federal Government and the private sector, and 
internationally through partnerships between the United States and 
other countries.
    This notice solicits proposals for the private sector partner 
(``GLOBE Private Sector Partner'') for the GLOBE Program, which must be 
a non-profit organization, from private sector non-profit organizations 
and from other respondents that are willing to form non-profit 
organizations to enter into a Joint Project Agreement (``JPA'') to 
solicit and manage private resources to assist many schools in the U.S. 
and overseas to participate in the GLOBE Program, and to encourage and 
coordinate private sector participation in the GLOBE Program in other 
ways. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the 
lead agency of the public sector GLOBE Program (``GLOBE Program''), 
which is a U.S. Government interagency activity that plans and 
implements the national and international GLOBE Program, has determined 
that a JPA is the most effective mechanism to engage in a partnership 
with the U.S. Globe Private Sector Partner, since program goals and 
program implementation will be of mutual interest, and the parties to 
the JPA will agree to bear equitable portions of the costs of the 
overall program consistent with their responsibilities.

dates: Proposals for the GLOBE Joint Project Agreement to be selected 
as a result of this solicitation should be received by February 21, 
1995. Proposals received after that date may be considered if a 
qualified respondent has not yet been selected when a proposal is 
received.

ADDRESSES: Proposals must be sent by mail to Thomas N. Pyke, Jr., 
Director, The GLOBE Program, 744 Jackson Place, N.W., Washington, D.C. 
20503 or delivered to Director, The GLOBE Program, The White House, New 
Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street, N.W., Room G-1, Washington, 
D.C. 20006. FACSIMILE COPIES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested respondents should contact 
Thomas N. Pyke, Jr., Director, The GLOBE Program, at (202) 395-7600.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Description of The GLOBE Program and U.S. Government Involvement

    GLOBE is an international environmental education and science 
program involving students in kindergarten through twelfth grade (or 
equivalent) throughout the world, which will enhance the environmental 
awareness of individuals worldwide, increase scientific understanding 
of the Earth by collecting data for use by the international community 
of environmental scientists and others, and help all students reach 
higher standards in science and mathematics education.
    In the United States, the public sector GLOBE program is an 
interagency effort led by NOAA, which is an agency of the U.S. 
Department of Commerce. The other Federal agencies involved are the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National 
Science Foundation (NSF), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 
the Departments of Education and State; and the Council on 
Environmental Quality and the Office of Science and Technology Policy 
at the White House. Over 100 other nations have expressed an interest 
in the GLOBE Program. The first bilateral 

[[Page 3840]]
international GLOBE agreement was signed with the Russian Federation on 
December 16, 1994.
    Working with its international partner nations and with the GLOBE 
Private Sector Partner, the GLOBE Program will encourage participation 
in the program and the use of GLOBE student measurement data by 
providing upon request information on its plans and activities to 
individuals and organizations throughout the world through a wide range 
of publications, press releases, and media events. It will design a 
global information network, develop prototype school computer system 
hardware and software, and specify scientific instruments and develop 
scientific and educational materials for use by teachers and students. 
It will plan and conduct a worldwide training effort for teachers in 
GLOBE schools and will develop and operate a GLOBE central data 
processing and visualization system.
    U.S. Government funding to support the GLOBE Program is contained 
in the budgets of NOAA, NASA, NSF, and EPA. It is anticipated that a 
very significant portion of the resources for the overall GLOBE Program 
will be provided over the long term by non-U.S. Government sources, 
including resources from the private sector and other nations.
    The purpose of soliciting a GLOBE Private Sector Partner, to be 
recognized through this JPA, is to provide a mechanism by which the 
GLOBE Program and the GLOBE Private Sector Partner can collaborate in 
supporting the implementation of GLOBE in schools. A three-year, 
renewable Joint Project Agreement is planned, under which the GLOBE 
Private Sector Partner will be responsible for coordinating and 
encouraging private sector participation in GLOBE.
    The GLOBE Program, through its participating Federal agencies, may 
enter any necessary and appropriate agreements with governmental 
entities other than the U.S. Government and with other authorities 
having responsibility for the schools participating in the GLOBE 
Program as to the acceptable use of equipment and other materials 
provided by the U.S. Government and by the GLOBE Private Sector Partner 
through this JPA in support of the GLOBE Program.
    NOAA initially published a Federal Register notice on August 24, 
1994, soliciting overall interest from non-profit, research or public 
organizations to participate in JPA's supporting the GLOBE Program (59 
FR 43555). On November 23, 1994, NOAA published a second Federal 
Register notice, announcing registration procedures for U.S. schools to 
be designated as GLOBE schools, and soliciting applications for Federal 
assistance in the form of computers and other resources to enable 
schools to become GLOBE schools (59 FR 60351).

II. GLOBE Private Sector Partner Responsibilities

    The GLOBE Private Sector Partner, a non-profit organization, will 
solicit and manage private resources to assist many schools in the U.S. 
and in other countries to participate in the GLOBE Program, and it will 
otherwise encourage and coordinate private sector participation in the 
GLOBE Program. In doing so, it will promote improved scientific 
understanding of the environment and environmental awareness through 
environmental education and other appropriate means.
    The GLOBE Private Sector Partner will solicit, accept and expend 
substantial amounts of private funding and other private resources to 
implement a significant part of the GLOBE Program in such a way as to 
build on, complement, and complete the information systems, scientific 
and educational support, and other capabilities initiated or created 
with funding from the U.S. Government, as quickly as possible, so as to 
meet the goals of the GLOBE Program, as stated above. The GLOBE Private 
Sector Partner will facilitate support of participation of schools in 
the GLOBE Program in such a way as to be inclusive in the opportunity 
for the Nation's and the world's young people to participate in the 
program.
    The GLOBE Private Sector Partner will purchase, or accept as 
donations, computers and other equipment necessary for schools to 
participate in the GLOBE Program, based on prototypes and 
specifications developed by the public sector GLOBE Program. In 
consultation with the public sector GLOBE Program, the GLOBE Private 
Sector Partner will distribute computer hardware, software, and 
scientific instruments to schools to enable them to participate in the 
GLOBE Program. It will support equipment installation, systems support, 
training, and educational support services. The GLOBE Private Sector 
Partner will also support, as needed and to the extent possible, 
terrestrial or satellite-based communications links between schools and 
Internet access points.
    The GLOBE Private Sector Partner will solicit, receive, manage, and 
maintain control over private funding and other private resources 
necessary to participate as a partner with the public sector GLOBE 
Program. In soliciting and accepting donations of resources, the GLOBE 
Private Sector Partner will avoid preferential treatment, the 
appearance of preferential treatment, or endorsement and other 
appearances of impropriety consistent with guidelines developed by the 
Private Sector Partner and approved by the GLOBE Program. NOAA and 
other agencies of the U.S. Government may report, advertise, or 
otherwise publicize the existence, source, and nature of donations to 
the Private Sector Partner. The use by the GLOBE Private Sector Partner 
of the term ``GLOBE'' or any other reference to its association with 
The GLOBE Program in performing all activities through which it carries 
out its responsibilities under the JPA shall be as a result of a 
revocable license to do so granted to the GLOBE Private Sector Partner 
by the U.S. Government through the Joint Project Agreement established 
as a result of this solicitation.
    The Private Sector Partner will seek to involve a broad range of 
other private sector participants, including foundations and for-profit 
business organizations, in collaborative support of the GLOBE Program. 
The Private Sector Partner may work with similar private organizations 
in other nations to accomplish its responsibilities to support the 
worldwide implementation of the GLOBE Program.
    The GLOBE Private Sector Partner is strongly encouraged to 
establish or support the establishment of a highly visible public 
environmental learning center to support the goals of the GLOBE 
Program. It will include appropriate exhibit space that features vivid, 
imaginative displays based on data acquired at GLOBE schools combined 
with real-time and historical satellite imagery and other environmental 
data and information. It is expected that such a center will employ 
advanced virtual reality technology so as to provide an authentic and 
stimulating experience for large numbers of visitors.
    Any private funds or other resources received as charitable 
contributions by the GLOBE Private Sector Partner intended to implement 
its responsibilities under this JPA shall be employed only to support 
activities as permitted under the GLOBE Private Sector Partner's 
charter as a non-profit organization, and must be consistent with GLOBE 
Program goals and priorities.
    The Federal Government will not assume liability for the acts of 
the GLOBE Private Sector Partner or any third persons arising out of 
its involvement with the GLOBE Program 

[[Page 3841]]
or its actions under the JPA, nor will the Federal Government reimburse 
or indemnify the GLOBE Private Sector Partner for its liability due to 
any losses resulting in any way from its actions arising out of its 
involvement in the GLOBE Program or its actions under the JPA.

III. Authority

    NOAA is authorized to enter into Joint Project Agreements in 
accordance with the U.S. Department of Commerce Joint Project 
Authority, 15 U.S.C. 1525, which authorizes the Secretary to engage in 
joint efforts of mutual interest with non-profit, research, or public 
organizations upon an equitable distribution of the costs of the 
project. This Agreement is undertaken by NOAA in accordance with 15 
U.S.C. 1540, which authorizes the Secretary of Commerce, through the 
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, to enter into 
cooperative agreements and other financial agreements to aid and 
promote scientific and educational activities to foster public 
understanding of NOAA or its programs and to solicit private donations 
in support of such activities; 15 U.S.C. 2938, which authorizes NOAA to 
provide global change research findings to other Federal agencies; and, 
49 U.S.C. App. 1463, which authorizes NOAA to engage in activities that 
support weather and other related environmental forecasting.

IV. Eligibility Criteria

    Each respondent must itself be a non-profit private entity or be a 
person or private entity that proposes to form a suitable non-profit 
private entity to become the GLOBE Private Sector Partner. The entity 
proposed to be the GLOBE Private Sector Partner must be chartered and 
organized to operate exclusively for charitable and educational 
purposes and to support and promote increased scientific understanding 
of the environment and education of the people of the world about the 
environment though its active involvement in support of the GLOBE 
Program. Respondents will be required to raise funding and provide 
private support for non-governmental activities related to the GLOBE 
Program.

V. Proposal Submission Guidelines

    The guidelines for proposals provided below are mandatory. Failure 
to adhere to these guidelines may result in proposals being returned 
without review.
    (a) Proposals: (1) Respondents must submit one original and two 
copies of their proposals. (2) Proposals must be limited to 40 single-
space typewritten pages (numbered), including vitae, and all 
appendices. (3) Proposals must be sent or delivered to The GLOBE 
Director at the above address. (4) Facsimile transmissions or 
electronic mail submissions will not be accepted.
    (b) Required Elements: All Proposals must include the following 
elements: (1) A Statement of Eligibility relative to the Eligibility 
Criteria in Section IV above. (2) A Statement of proposed activities 
and how the respondent will organize to carry out these activities, 
specifically addressing all evaluation factors set forth below and the 
GLOBE Private Sector Partner responsibilities as described in Section 
II above.

VI. Evaluation of JPA Proposals

    Proposals will be evaluated based on three selection factors and 
additional credit factor, which are derived from the U.S. GLOBE Private 
Sector Partner responsibilities specified above, and in the context of 
the GLOBE Program goals. These goals are to enhance environmental 
awareness of individuals worldwide, to increase scientific 
understanding of the Earth, and to help all students reach higher 
standards in science and mathematics education. The selection factors 
will be given approximately equal value in the evaluation of proposals.

--The estimated amount of private monetary and in-kind resources that 
would be made available within the first year after the JPA is signed 
by the proposed Private Sector Partner to support the widespread 
implementation of the GLOBE Program, both domestically and 
internationally, including a willingness to commit to specific funding 
goals and schedules. It is expected that the GLOBE Private Sector 
Partner will provide support during the first year for at least 1,000 
GLOBE schools, with a nominal value of such support of $5,000 per 
school, and that support of well over 10,000 schools be planned over 
the long term.
--The ability of the proposed GLOBE Private Sector Partner to promote 
and coordinate the involvement of a broad range of other private sector 
participants, including foundations and for-profit business 
organizations, in collaborative support of the GLOBE Program. The GLOBE 
Private Sector Partner will be expected to raise private funding and 
support to achieve the goal of providing a very significant amount of 
total GLOBE funding from private sector resources over the long term.
--The ability of the Private Sector Partner to facilitate support of 
participation by thousands of schools in the GLOBE Program in a way so 
as to involve diverse groups of schools and to be inclusive in the 
opportunity to participate for the Nation's and the world's young 
people.

    As an additional credit factor, proposals will be given additional 
credit in the evaluation process if they propose that the GLOBE Private 
Sector Partner establish or support the establishment of a highly 
visible public environmental learning center and appropriate exhibit 
space that features vivid, imaginative displays based on data acquired 
at GLOBE schools combined with real-time and historical satellite 
imagery and other environmental data and information. It is expected 
that such a center would utilize advanced virtual reality technology so 
as to provide an authentic and stimulating experience for large numbers 
of visitors.

VII. Selection Procedures

    NOAA will convene an interagency review panel to evaluate the 
proposals received in accordance with the factors stated above, and to 
make recommendations to the GLOBE Director, who is an official of and 
is acting on behalf of NOAA. If there are more than five proposals 
received prior to the final selection being made by the GLOBE Director, 
the panel shall specifically designate no more than five of the 
proposals as those the panel has rated most highly. The review panel's 
recommendations, along with overall program goals and the evaluation 
factors stated above, will be considered by the GLOBE Director in the 
final selection of the GLOBE Private Sector Partner.

VIII. Other Information

    Intergovernmental Review: This action has been determined not to 
require intergovernmental review.
    Classification: This action has been determined to be not 
significant for purposes of E.O. 12866.
    PRA: This action has been determined not to be subject to the 
Paperwork Reduction Act.
Thomas N. Pyke, Jr.,
Director, The GLOBE Program.
[FR Doc. 95-1423 Filed 1-17-95; 12:46 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-12-M