[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 77 (Tuesday, April 22, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19548-19553]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10306]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 970324067-7067-01]
RIN 0648-ZA29


NOAA Climate and Global Change Program, Program Announcement

AGENCY: Office of Global Programs, 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 
longstanding 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 agency contributions to that national 
effort.

DATES: Strict deadlines for submission to the FY 1998 process are: 
Letters of intent must be received at OGP no later than May 23, 1997. 
Full proposals must be received at OGP no later than August 15, 1997. 
Applicants who have not received a response to their letter of intent 
by July 7, 1997, should contact the program office. The time from 
target date to grant award varies with program area. We anticipate that 
review of full proposals will occur during late 1997 and funding should 
begin during the spring of 1998 for most approved projects. April 1, 
1998, 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 6 months. All proposals must 
be submitted in accordance with the guidelines below. Failure to heed 
these guidelines may result in proposals being returned without review.

ADDRESSES: Proposals may be submitted to: Office of Global Programs, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1100 Wayne Avenue, 
Suite 1225, Silver Spring, MD 20910-5603.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Irma duPree at the above address, or 
at phone: (301) 427-2089 ext. 17, fax: (301) 427-2073, Internet: 
duP[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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. 
Because of ongoing debates on the Federal budget, it is uncertain how 
much money will be available through this announcement. Actual funding 
levels will depend upon the final FY 1998 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 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 
collaborative between NOAA or NOAA scientists and a recipient scientist 
or technician and/or contemplation by NOAA of detailing Federal 
personnel to work on proposal projects. NOAA will make decisions 
regarding the use of a cooperative agreement on a case-by-case basis. 
Funding for non-U.S. institutions and contractual arrangements for 
services and products for delivery to NOAA are not available under this 
announcement. Matching share is not required by this program.

Program Authority

    Authority: 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. 11.431)--Climate and Atmospheric Research

Program Objectives

    The long term objective of the Climate and Global Change Program is 
to provide reliable predictions of climate change and 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 modelled 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 investigations are encouraged.

Program Priorities

    In FY 1998, NOAA will give priority attention to individual 
proposals in the areas listed below. Investigators are asked to specify 
clearly which of these areas is being pursued. The names, affiliations 
and phone numbers of relevant Climate and Global Change Program 
Officers are provided. Funding for some programs may be limited to 
ongoing projects or may be used to fund projects proposed in FY 1997 
that were unable to be funded due to unusual budgetary circumstances. 
Prospective applicants should communicate with Program Officers for 
information on priorities within program elements and prospects for 
funding. Applicants should send letters of intent and proposals to the 
NOAA Office of Global Programs rather than to individual Program 
Officers.
Aerosols
    The Aerosols Project focuses on research to improve the predictive 
understanding of the role of anthropogenic aerosols in climate forcing. 
Due to limited funds anticipated in FY 1998, all funding is expected to 
be used to maintain support for ongoing research activities. 
Unfortunately, therefore, we are unable to seek applications to fund 
new starts. For further information contact: Joel M.

[[Page 19549]]

Levy, NOAA/Office of Global Programs, 301-427-2089 ext. 21, Internet: 
L[email protected]; or Fred Fehsenfeld, NOAA/Aeronomy Laboratory, 
Boulder, CO, 303-497-5819, Internet: [email protected].
Atlantic Climate Change Program (ACCP)
    ACCP investigators have greatly contributed to the fascinating 
picture of Atlantic climate variability that has come into focus in the 
past few years with the North Atlantic Oscillation and the Atlantic 
tropical sea surface temperature ``dipole'' playing a central role. We 
invite two-year duration proposals which: (1) Address, using models and 
theory, the underlying mechanisms of tropical and middle to high-
latitude climate variability in the Atlantic sector on interannual to 
decadal time-scales and beyond and (2) seek to document Atlantic 
climate variability and climate change from the instrumental and paleo 
record and their link to global climate variability. For further 
information contact: James F. Todd, NOAA/Office of Global Programs, 
301-427-2089 ext. 32, Internet: [email protected], or Lisa Dilling, 
NOAA/Office of Global Programs, Silver Spring, MD: 301-427-2089 ext. 
16, Internet: [email protected].
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 gases 
that influence the earth's chemical and radiative balance. FY 1998 
grants in Atmospheric Chemistry will focus on studies associated with 
the International Global Atmospheric Chemistry (IGAC) project of the 
IGBP. Proposals are solicited for the following: (i) (highest priority) 
the North Atlantic Regional Study (NARE), with emphasis on process-
oriented field studies, the analysis and interpretation of those 
studies, and development of new airborne instrumentation and sampling 
methods in support of future studies; (ii) the International Support 
Activity: Intercalibration/Intercomparison, with emphasis on the 
Nonmethane Hydrocarbon Intercomparison Experiment (NOMHICE). For an 
information sheet containing further details, contact: Joel M. Levy, 
NOAA/Office of Global Programs, 301-427-2089 ext. 21, Internet: 
[email protected]; or Fred C. Fehsenfeld, NOAA/Aeronomy Laboratory, 
Boulder, CO, 303-497-5819, Internet: [email protected].
Climate Change Data and Detection
    The scientific goals of this element include efforts to: (1) 
Provide data and information management support (i.e., data assembly, 
processing, inventory, distribution and archiving) for 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 Prediction) Program, GEWEX (Global Energy & Water Cycle 
Experiment), GOALS (Global Ocean Atmosphere Land System), IGBP 
(International Geosphere-Biosphere Program), etc.; (2) provide data and 
information management support related to cross cutting science efforts 
necessary to assess seasonal, interannual, decadal, and longer climate 
variations and changes; (3) document the quantitative character of 
observed climate variations and changes; and (4) attribute changes in 
the observed climate record to specific climate forcings. Proposals are 
sought that are clearly linked to these scientific objectives and that 
are under the direction of a scientific principal investigator. 
Proposals that are directly linked to major national and international 
assessments, such as the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change 
(IPCC), are encouraged. Proposals to enhance data system infrastructure 
without firm science driven objectives will not be considered. NOAA/
NASA Jointly Sponsored Project: Contingent on the availability of 
funding, a limited number of new starts are anticipated within the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/NOAA co-sponsored 
project that supports research in the area of producing Enhanced Data 
Sets for Analysis and Applications. Projects should have a central 
theme of producing new and/or improved data sets for the next major 
scientific or climate impact assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel 
on Climate Change (IPCC) planned for the year 2000. We expect that each 
project will be able to product data sets that have direct 
applicability to unresolved issues in the 1995 IPCC assessments. 
Proposals will be favored that clearly make this linkage. NOAA/DOE 
Jointly Sponsored Project: Contingent on the availability of funding, 
approximately fifteen new starts are anticipated within the Department 
of Energy (DOE)/NOAA co-sponsored project that specifically addresses 
all aspects of Climate Change Detection and Attribution. Additional 
details on the jointly sponsored project are provided on supplementary 
fact sheet which can be obtained by calling the Program Managers, or 
from Irma duPree at the Office of Global Programs). For further 
information contact: Tom Karl, NOAA/NESDIS/National Climatic Data 
Center, Asheville, NC, 704-271-4319, Internet: [email protected], 
Bill Murray, NOAA/Global Programs, Silver Spring, MD; 301-427-2089 ext. 
26, Internet: [email protected], Chris Miller, NOAA/NESDIS, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910, 301-713-1264, Internet: [email protected], Martha 
Maiden, NASA/Mission to Planet Earth Program Office, Goddard Space 
Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 301-286-0012, Internet: 
[email protected], or Wanda Ferrell, DOE/Environmental 
Sciences Division, Germantown, MD; 301-903-0043, Internet: 
[email protected].
Climate Dynamics and Experimental Prediction
    The GFDL-University Consortium is an Applied Research Center that 
increases the involvement of the university community in studying 
atmospheric variability and predictability by critically analyzing 
model output generated at the NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics 
Laboratory (GFDL). Proposals are invited for collaboration with 
scientists at the NOAA/GFDL in the state-of-the-art diagnosis of the 
relationships between global sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) 
and the interannual variability of the atmospheric climate over the 
past several decades, and between the SSTA in different parts of the 
World Ocean. The participants will make extensive use of an evolving 
set of atmospheric general circulation model (GCM) experiments to be 
conducted at GFDL. Collaborators will participate fully in the design 
and implementation of these experiments, as well as in the development 
and application of diagnostic tools for analyzing such experiments. In 
the past, five consortium participants have shared approximately 
$500,000 annually. We anticipate similar levels of support and number 
of participants to be funded for a three year period beginning in 1998. 
For further information, contact Mark Eakin, NOAA/Global Programs, 
Silver Spring, MD; 301-427-2089 ext. 19, Internet: [email protected]; 
or Isaac Held or Ngar-Cheung Lau, NOAA/Geophysical Fluid Dynamics 
Laboratory, Princeton, NJ; 609-452-6512/609-452-6524, Internet: 
[email protected] or [email protected].
Climate Observations
    This program element addresses ocean, atmosphere, and land surface 
climate observations, measurement

[[Page 19550]]

systems and techniques. Within the ocean focus, we are currently 
working to develop an interagency program addressing integrated ocean 
observations; applications will be solicited under a separate call for 
proposals. Within the atmospheric focus, in addition to renewal 
proposals, there is a potential for one or two new starts dealing with 
atmospheric water vapor. The potential also exists for a very limited 
number of projects which advance proven measurement concepts to the 
point of self-calibrated use on unmanned air vehicles and package 
carrying commercial aircraft. Within the land surface focus, no funding 
is expected to be available for new starts. For further information 
contact: Rex Fleming, NOAA/OAR, Boulder, CO, 303/497-8165, Internet: 
[email protected]; Bill Murray (for atmosphere and land surface 
observations), NOAA/Global Programs, Silver Spring, MD; 301/427-2089 
ext. 26, Internet: [email protected]; or Mike Johnson (for ocean 
observations), NOAA/Global Programs, Silver Spring, MD; 301/427-2089 
ext. 62, Internet: [email protected].
Economics and Human Dimensions of Climate Fluctuations
    This program element is aimed at understanding how social and 
economic systems are currently influenced by fluctuations in short-term 
climate (seasons to years), and how human behavior can be (or why it 
may not be) affected based on information about variability in the 
climate system. We are particularly interested in the extent to which 
probabilistic, early-warning climate forecast information can be 
incorporated into existing decision-making to affect adjustment and 
adaptation. Projects should be comprised of analyses of the following: 
how decision processes are sensitive to climate variability; how 
decisions could incorporate climate information, particularly 
forecasts; the social and economic factors that enhance or impede the 
use of climate information; and the consequences of people changing 
their decisions based on climate information. Decision processes can be 
investigated at the individual, industry, sector or institutional 
level, and the climate information should be based on regional climate 
influences driven by global climate phenomena (e.g. ENSO events). For 
more information and a detailed information sheet, researchers are 
strongly encouraged to contact: Caitlin Simpson, 1100 Wayne Avenue, 
Suite 1225, Silver Spring, MD 20910; telephone: (301) 427-2089 ext 47; 
or email: [email protected].
Education
    Contact: Daphne Gemmill, NOAA/Office of Global Programs, Silver 
Spring, MD; 301-427-2089 ext. 20, Internet: [email protected].
GCIP (GEWEX Continental-Scale International Project)
    In research funded through this component, NOAA will direct its 
principal contribution for the GEWEX Continental-scale International 
Project to: (1) improving the representation of processes such as cold 
season hydrometeorological processes, subgrid scale precipitation 
variability, evolving soil moisture fields and their subgrid scale 
variability and evolving vegetation covers in coupled land/atmosphere 
models; (2) improving the measurement and understanding of heavy 
precipitation and runoff regimes in the eastern part of the Mississippi 
River Basin and their role in water and energy budgets; (3) improving 
the analysis of precipitation over a range of time and space scales; 
(4) initiating studies of critical physical processes in the eastern 
part of the Mississippi River Basin; and (5) undertaking studies and 
model development to make the outputs of climate forecasts and 
information more relevant for water resource managers. Emphasis will 
also be placed on issues related to the scale integration of 
hydrometeorological processes in climate models and on the transfer of 
representations of these processes into a climate model either through 
a nested model approach or improved land surface schemes. As outlined 
in its Major Activities Plan for 1997, 1998 with Outlook for 1999, GCIP 
anticipates that researchers will use its comprehensive in-situ, remote 
sensing and model output data sets for diagnostic studies and for model 
development and validation. A number of GCIP initial data sets have 
been prepared to provide data services support during the build-up 
period before the five-year enhanced observing period which started on 
1 October 1995. The initial data sets are compiled for on-line access 
by GCIP investigators to the extent that is technically feasible. They 
have also been published on a CD-ROM for wide distribution. GCIP is 
interested in proposals that utilize these data sets to address the 
scientific problems outlined above. Further information about the GCIP 
data sets already compiled as well as the plans and projected schedule 
for future datasets can be accessed through the GCIP ``home page'' on 
the World Wide Web at the URL address: http://www.ogp.noaa.gov/gcip. 
The focus for the GEWEX Continental-scale International Project (GCIP) 
is the Mississippi River Basin. A more detailed information sheet will 
be provided to those who contact Rick Lawford, NOAA/Office of Global 
Programs, Silver Spring, MD; (301) 427-2089 ext. 40, Internet: 
[email protected].
Global Ocean-Atmosphere-Land System (GOALS)
    The objectives of the GOALS Program are to understand global 
climate variability on seasonal-to-interannual time scales, to 
determine the extent to which this variability is predictable, to 
develop the observational theoretical, and computational means to 
predict this variability, and to foster the development of experimental 
predictions within the limits of proven feasibility. GOALS is intended 
to build upon the El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) research of the 
TOGA program (completed in 1994) to extend predictability of seasonal 
to interannual fluctuations beyond the tropical Pacific and include the 
effects of the other tropical upper oceans, higher latitude upper 
oceans, and land surface processes. Proposals for the Pan-American 
Climate Studies (PACS) Program, a subprogram within GOALS focusing on 
seasonal-to-interannual climate variability over the Americas, will be 
solicited under a separate announcement. For an information sheet 
outlining high-priority GOALS activities solicited in FY 1998, please 
contact Michael Patterson, NOAA/Office of Global Programs, Silver 
Spring, MD; 301-427-2089 ext. 12, Internet: P[email protected].
Ocean-Atmosphere Carbon Exchange Study (OACES)
    As part of NOAA's contribution to the completion of the NOAA/DOE/
NSF-sponsored Global Ocean CO2 Survey and as a continuing 
effort to improve our understanding of the role of the ocean in 
sequestering the increasing burden of anthropogenically-derived carbon 
dioxide in the atmosphere, proposals are sought for supplemental 
measurements on two planned NOAA research cruises in FY 98. The first 
cruise along 24 deg. N is the final leg of the Global Ocean 
CO2 Survey in the North Atlantic. It is aimed at determining 
carbon transport and inventories in the North Atlantic basin and is 
scheduled for late winter 1997/1998. The second cruise, scheduled for 
early summer of 1998, seeks to improve the parametrization of the 
kinetics of CO2

[[Page 19551]]

gas exchange. Limited funds are available for proposals addressing the 
measurement of specific chemical variables and physical parameters 
including: inorganic carbon system parameters (such as pH and 
alkalinity), total organic carbon, stable carbon isotopes, primary 
production and physical characterization of the sea surface. For an 
information sheet containing further details, please contact: James F. 
Tdd, NOAA/Office of Global Programs, Silver Spring, MD: 301-427-2089 
ext. 32, Internet: [email protected], or Lisa Dilling, NOAA/Office of 
Global Programs, Silver Spring, MD: 301-427-2089 ext. 16, Internet: 
[email protected].
Paleoclimatology
    The NOAA Paleoclimatology Program will entertain proposals that 
support the new joint IGBP PAGES/WCRP CLIVAR Research Initiative that 
is being jointly supported by NOAA and the National Science Foundation 
(NSF). Proposals should address seasonal- to annually-dated time series 
to develop an understanding of the full range of natural environmental 
variability over the last 2000 years. Research efforts should focus on 
the utilization of seasonally- to annually-dated paleoclimate time 
series to develop an understanding of the seasonal to century-scale 
variability and predictability of: (1) the ENSO and African/Asian 
monsoon systems, (2) the ocean thermohaline system and its relation to 
global change, and (3) the hydrologic system at regional to global 
scales, as it relates to the above. Investigators from the paleoclimate 
and modern climate dynamics communities are encouraged to collaborate 
on proposals that focus on understanding the full range of natural 
variability and how well this variability can be represented by models. 
Proposals should be submitted to the NSF Earth System History 
Announcement of Opportunity with an expected due date in January 1998. 
Proposals submitted in response to this emphasis will be jointly 
reviewed in accordance with established NSF and NOAA procedures for 
external merit review and will be supported by the NSF/ESH Program and 
the NOAA/Office of Global Programs. For an information sheet or more 
information, contact Mark Eakin, NOAA/Global Programs, Silver Spring, 
MD; 301-427-2089 ext. 19, Internet: [email protected]; Jonathan 
Overpact, NOAA/National Geophysical Data Center, Boulder, CO; 303-497-
6172, Internet: [email protected]; or Herman Zimmerman, NSF ESH/
ATM Program, Arlington, VA; 703-306-1527, Internet: [email protected].

Eligibility

    Extramural eligibility is not limited and is encouraged with the 
objective of developing a strong partnership with the academic 
community. Non-academic proposers are urged to seek collaboration with 
academic institutions. Universities, non-profit organizations, for 
profit organizations, State and local governments, and Indian Tribes, 
are included among entities eligible for funding under this 
announcement. While not a prerequisite for funding, applicants are 
encouraged to consider conducting their research in one or more of the 
National Marine Estuarine Research Reserve System or National Marine 
Sanctuary sites. For further information on these field laboratory 
sites, contact Dr. Dwight Trueblood, NOAA/NOS, 301-713-3145 ext. 174.
    The NOAA Climate and Global Change Program has been approved for 
multi-year funding up to a three year duration. Funding for non-U.S. 
institutions is not available under this announcement.

Letters of Intent

    Letters of Intent (LOI): (1) Letters should be no more than two 
pages in length and include the name and institution of principal 
investigator(s), a statement of the problem, brief summary of work to 
be completed, approximate cost of the project, and program element(s) 
to which the proposal should be directed. (2) Evaluation will be by 
program management. (3) It is in the best interest of applicants and 
their institutions to submit letters of intent; however, it is not a 
requirement. (4) Facsimile and electronic mail are acceptable for 
letters of intent only. (5) Projects deemed unsuitable during LOI 
review will not be encouraged to submit full proposals.

Evaluation Criteria

    Consideration for financial assistance will be given to those 
proposals which address one of the Program Priorities listed below and 
meet the following evaluation criteria:
    (1) Scientific Merit (20%): Intrinsic scientific value of the 
subject and the study proposed.
    (2) Relevance (20%): Importance and relevance to the goal of the 
Climate and Global Change Program and to the research areas listed 
above.
    (3) Methodology (20%): Focused scientific objective and strategy, 
including measurement strategies and data management considerations; 
project milestones; and final products.
    (4) Readiness (20%): Nature of the problem; relevant history and 
status of existing work; level of planning, including existence of 
supporting documents; strength of proposed scientific and management 
team; past performance record of proposers.
    (5) Linkages (10%): Connections to existing or planned national and 
international programs; partnerships with other agency or NOAA 
participants, where appropriate.
    (6) Costs (10%): Adequacy of proposed resources; appropriate share 
of total available resources; prospects for joint funding; 
identification of long-term commitments.

Selection Procedures

    All proposals will be evaluated and ranked in accordance with the 
assigned weights of the above evaluation criteria by (1) independent 
peer mail review, and/or (2) independent peer panel review; both NOAA 
and non-NOAA experts in the field may be used in this process. Their 
recommendations and evaluations will be considered by the Program 
Manager/Officer in final selections. Those ranked by the panel and 
program as not recommended for funding will not be given further 
consideration and will be notified of non-selection. For the proposals 
rated either Excellent, Very Good or Good, the Program Manager will: 
(a) ascertain which proposals meet the objectives, fit the criteria 
posted, and do not substantially duplicate other projects that are 
currently funded by NOAA or are approved for funding by other federal 
agencies, hence, awards may not necessarily be made to the highest-
scored proposals, (b) select the proposals to be funded, (c) determine 
the total duration of funding for each proposal, and (d) determine 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.

Proposal Submission

    The guidelines for proposal preparation provided below are 
mandatory. Failure to heed these guidelines may result in proposals 
being returned without review.
(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 not required to submit more than 3 copies of 
the

[[Page 19552]]

proposal, however, the normal review process requires 20 copies. 
Investigators are encouraged to submit sufficient proposal copies for 
the full review process if they wish all reviewers to receive color, 
unusually sized (not 8.5 x 11''), or otherwise unusual materials 
submitted as part of the proposal. Only three 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 should 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 project area is being addressed. 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 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 include 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 goal of the Climate 
and Global Change Program, 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 clearly indicating that each year's 
proposed work is severable and can easily be separated into annual 
increments of meaningful work. 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 Officer prior to submission. In general, 
proposals from 3 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 an 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''. 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 three years with up to five other relevant papers.
    (7) Current and pending support: For each investigator, submit a 
list that includes project title, supporting agency with grant number, 
investigator months, dollar value and duration. Requested values should 
be listed for pending support.
    (8) List of suggested reviewers: The cover letter may include a 
list of individuals qualified and suggested to review the proposal. It 
also may include a list of individuals that applicants would prefer to 
not review the proposal. Such lists may be considered at the discretion 
of the Program Officer.
(c) Other Requirements
    (1) Applicants may obtain a standard NOAA application kit form the 
Program Office.
    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:
    1. 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;
    2. Drug Free Workplace--Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR part 26, 
section 605) are subject to 15 CFR Part 16, Subpart F, ``Governmentwide 
Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)'' and the related section 
of the certification form prescribed above applies;
    3. 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, or the 
single family maximum mortgage limit for affected programs, whichever 
is greater; and
    4. 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.

Lower Tier Certifications

    (1) 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.
    (2) 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.
    (3) 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 preaward costs.

[[Page 19553]]

    (4) This program is subject to the requirements of OMB Circular No. 
A-110, ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Other 
Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other 
Non-Profit Organizations'', and 15 CFR Part 24, ``Uniform 
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to 
State and Local Governments'', as applicable. Applications under this 
program are not subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental 
Review of Federal Programs.''
    (5) 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.
    (6) 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.
    (7) 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.
    (8) Buy American-Made Equipment or Products--Applicants are 
encouraged that any equipment or products authorized to be purchased 
with funding provided under this program must be American-made to the 
maximum extent feasible.
    (9) 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.
    (d) 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.
    (e) 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 contact number, 800-735-
2258, between the hours of 8:00 am--4:30 pm.
    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. Classification: This 
notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes of 
Executive Order 12866. 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.

    Dated: April 7, 1997.
J. Michael Hall,
Director, Office of Global Programs, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 97-10306 Filed 4-21-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-12-M