[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 142 (Monday, July 26, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40352-40354]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18920]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 980608149-8149-01]
RIN 0648-ZA44


Use of Satellite Data for Studying Local and Regional Phenomena

AGENCY: National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information 
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability of Federal assistance.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Research and Applications announces the 
availability of Federal assistance for fiscal year 2000 to expand the 
use of satellite data for the study of scientific phenomena in local 
and regional areas. This announcement provides detailed guidelines for 
the technical program, evaluation criteria, and selection procedures. 
The standard NOAA Grant Application can be obtained from the Office of 
Research and Applications (301-763-8127). Each funded project will 
establish a grant.

DATES: Proposals will be accepted through 5:00 p.m. EST on November 15, 
1999. Final selection will occur approximately December 31, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Office of Research and Applications; NOAA/NESDIS; 5200 Auth 
Road; Rm 701; Camp Springs, MD 20746-4304.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. James Purdom, 301-763-8127 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: Statutory authority for this program is provided 
under 49 U.S.C. 44720, 33 U.S.C. 833a, 833d, 833e.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)

    This program is listed in the CFDA under Number 11.440.
    Program Description. NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, 
and Information Service (NESDIS) Office of Research and Applications 
(ORA) is establishing a program which will provide free real-time 
satellite data to academic institutions for their use in studying local 
and regional phenomena. The emphasis of the program is to expand the 
use of satellite data within the academic community. In order to do so, 
ORA will: (1) Provide free access to satellite data for use in ongoing 
projects; (2) provide data and funds for the purchase of basic 
equipment required for analysis as part of an existing program or 
teaching laboratory; and (3) provide data to support students for 
research purposes.
    The purpose of these guidelines is to identify eligibility 
criteria, roles and responsibilities, milestones, and selected criteria 
associated with the award. Each funded project will establish a 1-year 
grant between ORA and the grantee. Most projects will be funded from $0 
plus free data to $22,000 for equipment and personnel plus free data. 
No cost sharing is required.

Background

    ORA provides overall guidance and direction to the research and 
application activities of NESDIS. ORA provides expert service to other 
NESDIS offices relating to sensor development, instrument problems, or 
systems hardware components. It coordinates with NESDIS, other 
appropriate NOAA units, and U.S. Government agencies in the 
implementation and evaluation of operational and research satellite 
data and products that result from research activities. It coordinates 
research activities of mutual interest with the academic community, 
NASA laboratories, and with foreign laboratories, particularly those in 
satellite operating countries. ORA provides advice to the Assistant 
Administrator concerning interfaces among centers and offices of NESDIS 
and among the major NOAA elements in relation to broad scale scientific 
projects. It produces and provides specific programmatic studies and 
statistics as needed. ORA provides support and coordination on NOAA's 
activities in the Strategic Plan and the U.S. Global Change Research 
Program.

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Roles and Responsibilities

    ORA: ORA will have primary responsibility for the following 
activities: Provide satellite data needed for the project. (The 
original data are the property of ORA and cannot be used for purposes 
other than stated in the proposals, i.e., the data cannot be sold or 
used for commercial purposes, with the exception of use in academic 
text.) Provide technical guidance for image processing and analysis. 
Monitor progress and evaluate progress reports.
    Grantee: The grantee shall have primary responsibility for the 
following activities associated with the project:
    Organize and manage grant activities.
    Identify Principal Investigator that will take the lead for all 
technical aspects of the grant and be responsible for using satellite 
data as a key tool in the activity.
    Submit a progress report every 4 months and a final report at the 
end of the 1-year project period.
    Submit scientific findings for this activity.

Project Proposals

    All project proposals should include the following sections for a 
total of 6-8 pages maximum. Multi-year proposals will be accepted; 
however, future funding will be dependent upon satisfactory performance 
and the availability of funds. The annual awards must have scopes of 
work that are clearly severable that can be easily separated into 
annual increments of meaningful work which represent solid 
accomplishments if prospective funding is not made available to the 
Applicant.
    Goals and Objectives--identify broad project goals and quantifiable 
objectives.
    Background/Introduction--state the problem and summary of existing 
federal/state/local efforts.
    Audience--identify explicitly the audience and describe specifics 
of how the project will contribute to improve the use of satellite data 
with the primary target audience.
    Project Description/Methodology--describe the specifics of the 
activity (3 pages maximum), with a complete and explicit description of 
the project area.
    Expected Results--list desired outcomes in terms of products or 
services.
    Project Budget--provide a detailed budget breakdown by category and 
provide a brief narrative budget justification.

Selection Process

    Applicants will submit project proposals to the Office of Research 
and Applications by the published due date. A project selection panel 
will be convened to review and recommend selection using the criteria 
published in these guidelines. Each proposal will be reviewed by three 
internal reviewers. This selection panel will present its 
recommendations to the Director, ORA, for final selection. In addition 
to the rankings assigned by the panel, the Director may consider 
program policy factors such as geographic location and balance of 
technical areas in making his final decision.

Selection Criteria (With Weights)

NOAA Relevance

    Will the activity foster broader knowledge concerning the use of 
satellite data in meteorological and/or oceanographic research at your 
institution? (40 points)

Technical Merit

    Is the proposed activity scientifically sound and relevant. (60 
points)

Selection Schedule

    Proposals due--November 15, 1999.
    Final Selection--Approximately December 31, 1999.
    Grant start date--Approximately March 1, 2000.

    Note: All deadlines are for receipt by 5:00 p.m. EST on the 
dates identified. All applicants are required to submit one original 
and two copies of a completed and signed NOAA Grants Application 
Package. The application package may be obtained by calling (301) 
763-8127 or accessed on-line from the NOAA Grants Home Page at 
http://www.rdc.noaa.gov/grants/index/html.

Project Reporting/Evaluation Requirements

    The Grantee will be asked to provide progress reports every 4 
months and a final report.

Funding Availability

    There is no guarantee that sufficient funds will be available to 
make awards for all approved projects. Publication of this notice does 
not obligate NOAA to award any specific grant or cooperative agreement 
or to obligate all or any part of the available funds. NOAA expects 
that approximately $100,000 will be available in FY 2000 for this 
program.

Cost Sharing

    None.

Eligibility Criteria

    The emphasis of this program is to foster new uses of satellite 
data within the academic community. Any state university, college, 
institute or laboratory, any public or private nonprofit institution or 
consortium may apply. Ongoing activities that use this program solely 
as a source of free data with no other costs encumbered are encouraged 
to do so.

Indirect Costs

    The total dollar amount of the indirect costs proposed in an 
application under this program must not exceed the current indirect 
cost rate negotiated and approved by the Applicant's 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.

Federal Policies and Procedures

    Recipients and sub-recipients are subject to all Federal laws and 
Federal and DOC policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to 
Federal assistance awards.

Name Check Review

    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 recipient have been convicted of, or 
are presently facing, criminal charges such as fraud, theft, perjury, 
or other matters that significantly reflect on the recipient's 
management, honesty, or financial integrity.

Past Performance

    Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal awards may result in 
an application not being considered for funding.

Pre-Award 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 or written assurance that may have been 
received, there is no obligation on the part of DOC to cover pre-award 
costs.

No Obligation for Future Funding

    If the application is selected for funding, DOC has no obligation 
to provide any additional future funding in connection with that award. 
Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of 
performance is at the total discretion of DOC.

Delinquent Federal Debts

    No award of Federal funds shall be made to an applicant who has an 
outstanding delinquent Federal debt under either:
    (i) The delinquent account is paid in full,

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    (ii) A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least 
one payment is received, or
    (iii) Other arrangements satisfactory to DOC are made.

Primary Applicant Certifications

    All organizations or individuals preparing grant applications must 
submit a completed Form CD-511 ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, 
Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters: Drug-Free Workplace 
Requirements and Lobbying,'' and explanations are hereby provided.

Non-Procurement 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.

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.

Anti-Lobbying

    Persons (as defined at 15 CFR part 28, Section 105) are subject to 
the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352, ``Limitations 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 application/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.

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

    Recipients shall require applicants/bidders for sub-grants, 
contracts, subcontracts, or other 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 sub-
recipient should be submitted to DOC in accordance with the 
instructions contained in the award document.

False Statements

    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.

Intergovernmental Review

    Applications under this program are subject to Executive Order 
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''

Buy American-Made Equipment or Products

    Applicants are hereby notified that they will be encouraged, to the 
greatest extent practicable, to purchase American-made equipment and 
products with funding provided under this program in accordance with 
Congressional intent.

Classification

    This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of Executive Order 12866.
    Prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required 
by the Administrative Procedure Act of any other law for this notice 
concerning grants, cooperative agreements, benefits, and contracts. 
Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required for 
purposes of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. 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 (PRA) unless that collection of information displays a currently 
valid OMB control number. This Notice involves a collection of 
information requirement subject to PRA which has been approved under 
OMB Control Number 0348-0046.

    Dated: July 16, 1999.
Gregory W. Withee,
Assistant Administrator for Satellite and Information Services.
[FR Doc. 99-18920 Filed 7-23-99; 8:45 am]
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