[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 166 (Friday, August 25, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51799-51803]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21703]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 000616180-0180-01]
RIN: 0648-ZA91


NOAA Climate and Global Change Program, Program Announcement

AGENCY: Office of Global Programs, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research, 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: Unless otherwise noted, strict deadlines for submission to the 
FY 2001 process are: Letters of intent must be received at the Office 
of Global Programs (OGP) no later than September 24, 2000. Applicants 
who have not received a response to their letter of intent within four 
weeks should contact the Program Manager. Full proposals must be 
received at OGP no later than November 30, 2000. The time from receipt 
of proposals to grant award varies by program area. We anticipate that 
review of full proposals will occur during January 2001 through March 
2001, and funding should begin during late spring of 2001 for most 
approved projects. Applicants should be notified of their status within 
six months. May 1, 2001, should be used as the proposed start date on 
proposals, unless otherwise directed by the appropriate Program 
Manager. 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: Letters of Intent and Proposals should be submitted to: 
Office of Global Programs; National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration; 1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1210; Silver Spring, MD 20910-
5603.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Irma duPree at the above address, or 
at (301) 427-2089 ext. 107, fax: (301) 427-2222, Internet: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. 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. 
However, please be advised that actual funding levels will depend upon 
the final FY 2001 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 NOAA 
Climate and Global Change Program has been approved for multi-year 
funding up to a three year duration. 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 collaboration between NOAA or NOAA scientists and 
recipient scientist or technician and/or contemplation by NOAA of 
detailing Federal personnel to work on proposed projects. NOAA will 
make decisions regarding the use of a cooperative agreement on a case-
by-case basis. Funding for contractual arrangements for services and 
products for delivery to NOAA is not available under this announcement. 
Matching share is not required by this program.

2. Program Authority

    49 U.S.C. 44720(b); 33 U.S.C. 883d; 15 U.S.C. 2904; 15 U.S.C. 2931 
et seq.; (CFDA No. 11.431)--Climate and Atmospheric Research.

3. Program Objectives

    The long term objective of the Climate and Global Change Program is 
to provide reliable predictions of climate variability and change with 
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 modeled 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 investigators are encouraged.

4. Program Priorities

    In FY 2001, NOAA will give priority attention to individual 
proposals in the Main Program Elements listed below. The names, 
affiliations and phone numbers of relevant Climate and Global Change 
Program Managers are provided. Funding for some programs may be limited 
to ongoing projects or may be used to fund projects proposed in FY 2000 
that were unable to be funded due to budgetary circumstances. 
Prospective applicants should communicate with Program Managers for 
information on priorities within program elements and prospects for 
funding.
    (A) Aerosols: This program element focuses on field measurements 
and modeling of aerosol properties and distributions, with an emphasis 
on improving the predictive understanding of the role of aerosols in 
climate forcing. Due to budgetary limitations, funding may not be 
available for new grants in FY 2001; prospective investigators are 
urged to check the Climate & Global Change Program web page for current

[[Page 51800]]

funding status and priorities prior to submitting letters or proposals. 
For further information please contact Joel M. Levy, NOAA/Office of 
Global Programs, 301-427-2089 ext. 111, Internet: [email protected].
    (B) 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 species that influence the 
earth's chemical and radiative balance and the variation of the 
concentration of these trace species regionally and seasonally. For an 
information sheet containing further details and current priorities, 
please contact: Joel M. Levy, NOAA/Office of Global Programs, 301-427-
2089 ext. 111, Internet: [email protected]; or Fred C. Fehsenfeld, 
NOAA/Aeronomy Laboratory, Boulder, CO, 303-497-5819, Internet: 
[email protected].
    (C) Climate and Societal Interactions (CSI): Research on 
Vulnerability, Opportunities, and Response Options. Variability, 
change, and surprise results from a wide variety of climatological, 
social, economic and ecological circumstances and interactions. The 
purpose of this program is to increase understanding of the impacts of 
climate variability and change as conditioned by ongoing processes of 
decision-making and socio-economic transformation. The suite of efforts 
is intended to further research-based integration between studies of 
the whole of the climate system, including human components, such as 
health, and evolving informational and educational needs of decision-
makers in climate sensitive sectors around the world. The goal is to 
provide the basis for more effective application of climate 
information, including climate forecasts, for purposes of adaptation. 
The intent of this program is to encourage overlapping research 
approaches to integrate knowledge for problem solving. The CSI is a 
chapeau for a suite of activities; prospective applicants must apply to 
one of the following program elements:
    Human Dimensions of Global Change Research (HDGCR): The Human 
Dimensions of Global Change Research program is aimed at understanding 
how social and economic systems are currently influenced by 
fluctuations in climate, and how human behavior can be (or why it may 
not be) affected based on information about variability in the climate 
system. Because of expected budget constraints, this program will not 
accept new applications for projects; only renewal and continuation 
applications will be considered. For more information and an 
information sheet on general program objectives, contact: Caitlin 
Simpson, NOAA/Office of Global Programs, 301-427-2089 ext. 152, 
Internet: [email protected].
    A joint interagency announcement is anticipated on Climate and 
Health. (For more information on this future announcement contact Juli 
Trtanj, NOAA/Office of Global Programs, 301-427-2089 ext. 134, 
Internet: [email protected].)
    Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments: This Program Element 
was formerly titled Regional Assessments. NOAA's present program of 
Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments possesses three distinct 
qualities: (1) Interdisciplinarity, integration and synthesis; (2) 
Bridging the gap between climatic, environmental and societal 
interactions on different temporal and spatial scales; and (3) Decision 
support and services. It requires innovative partnerships among a 
spectrum of interests (Federal, State, local and private) to enable 
regional organizational capacity to develop accurate (i.e., identifying 
risks, uncertainties, and/or indeterminacies), balanced syntheses and 
services on an ongoing basis. As such, the program relies heavily on 
consolidating the results and data from ongoing NOAA-OGP disciplinary 
program elements, already funded in a region, into an integrated 
framework. This program will not accept applications to initiate new 
activities, but will accept renewal applications for ongoing efforts or 
as part of ongoing negotiations. For more information and a detailed 
information sheet, contact: Roger Pulwarty, NOAA/Office of Global 
Programs, 301-427-2089 ext. 103, Internet: [email protected].
    (D) Climate Change Data and Detection: The scientific goals of this 
element include efforts to: (1) Provide data and information management 
support activities needed to assure the availability of critical data 
sets from 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 Predictability) Program, GEWEX (Global Energy 
& Water Cycle Experiment), GCOS (Global Climate Observing System), 
National and International Assessments, 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.
    NOAA/NASA Jointly Sponsored Project: A number of new starts are 
anticipated within the NOAA/National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration (NASA) co-sponsored project that supports research in 
the areas of data fusion and enhancement of climate data sets through 
the use of space and/or ground based observations. Preference will be 
given to those proposals that use more than one observing system to 
develop a blended data set.
    ``NOAA/DOE Jointly Sponsored Project: The NOAAA/Department of 
Energy (DOE) co-sponsored project addresses all aspects of Climate 
Change Detection and Attribution. One- and two-year proposals are 
specifically encouraged.''
    Additional details on the jointly sponsored projects are provided 
on the supplementary fact sheet included in the Program Announcement 
mailing (additional copies of the supplementary fact sheet can be 
obtained from Irma duPree at the Office of Global Programs). For 
further information contact: Bill Murray, NOAA/Global Programs, 301-
427-2089 ext. 133, Internet: [email protected]; Chris Miller, NOAA/Global 
Programs, 301-427-2089 ext. 143, Internet: [email protected]; Martha 
Maiden, NASA/Headquarters, 202/358-1078, Internet: [email protected]; 
or Rick Petty, DOE/Environmental Sciences Division, Germantown, MD; 
301-903-5548, Internet: [email protected].
    (E) Climate Dynamics and Experimental Prediction: Climate Dynamics 
and Experimental Prediction--This program will not accept applications 
to initiate centers at new institutions, but will accept renewal 
applications for ongoing efforts or as part of ongoing negotiations. 
Qualified applications for this program may be submitted throughout the 
year. For further information, contact Phil Arkin, NOAA/Global 
Programs, Silver spring, MD; telephone: 301-427-2089 ext. 116, 
Internet: [email protected].
    (F) Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR): CLIVAR focuses 
on the role of the coupled ocean and atmosphere within the overall 
climate system, with emphasis on variability, especially within the 
oceans, on seasonal to centennial time scales. CLIVAR intends to 
explore predictability and how to improve predictions of climate 
variability and climate change using existing, reanalyzed, and new 
global observations, enhanced coupled ocean-atmosphere-land-ice models 
and paleoclimate records. A separate

[[Page 51801]]

program announcement for CLIVAR will be issued later this year inviting 
proposals for CLIVAR Atlantic, CLIVAR Pacific (formerly GOALS), and 
CLIVAR PACS. Investigators interested in these program areas are 
encouraged to respond to this later announcement. For further 
information on the Atlantic, please contact James Todd, NOAA/Global 
Programs, 301/427-2089 ext. 139, Internet: [email protected]. For the 
Pacific and PACS efforts, please contact, Michael Patterson, NOAA/
Global Programs, 301-427-2089 ext. 102, Internet: 
[email protected].
    (G) Economics and Human Dimensions of Climate Fluctuations: Please 
see Climate and Societal Interactions (CSI) above.
    (H) GEWEX Continental-Scale International Project (GCIP) is 
transitioning into GAPP (GEWEX America Prediction Project) during this 
fiscal year. Details about GAPP are available in a GAPP prospectus and 
draft Science Plan and Implementation Strategy that are available from 
the GAPP program manager. Initiatives are solicited that will 
facilitate the implementation of this new program. In addition to 
continuing its focus on the Mississippi River Basin, GAPP is also 
interested in initiatives in the semi-arid southwestern US and on the 
pacific coast. In particular, new initiatives are solicited in the 
following areas:
    (1) land memory processes: GAPP is interested in determining the 
contributions of the following processes to predictability at seasonal 
time scales: soil moisture, orography (including its interaction with 
the Great Plains low level jet), vegetation and snow cover. It is 
anticipated that these issues will be addressed through a combination 
of modeling and diagnostic studies.
    (2) model transferability studies and enriched data collection 
activities that support the US contribution to the Coordinated Enhanced 
Observing Period (CEOP). The target basins for transferability studies 
include other Continental Scale Experiment areas as well as the 
Saskatchewan and Rio del Plata River Basins. CEOP-related studies that 
facilitate the enhanced use of remote sensing data for land surface 
modeling and precipitation are also welcome.
    (3) scientific investigations aimed at overcoming limitations to 
the use of climate forecasts in the management of water resources 
(e.g., issues such as downscaling, probabilistic forecasts, etc.)
    Projects approved in this call will be funded by both NOAA and 
NASA. It is anticipated that either in FY2001 or FY2002 another joint 
PACS/GAPP call dealing with the monsoonal aspects of GAPP will be 
issued. For more details regarding GAPP, please see the draft Science 
Plan at http://www.ogp.noaa.gov/mpe/gcip/index.htm. Questions regarding 
this call should be directed to Rick Lawford at [email protected] or 
(301)-427-2089 Ext. 146.
    (I) Global Carbon Cycle (GCC): GCC focuses on global observations, 
process-oriented field studies and modeling to improve our ability to 
predict the fate of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2), and 
future atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Due to budgetary 
limitations, funding is not expected to be available for new 
applications in FY 2001; however, prospective investigators should 
check the Global Carbon Cycle web page (see below) for current funding 
priorities. For an information sheet containing further details and the 
current priorities, please contact Lisa Dilling, NOAA/Office of Global 
Programs, 301-427-2089 ext. 106, Internet: [email protected] or see 
the web at: http://www.ogp.noaa.gov/mpe/gcc/index.html
    (J) Global Ocean--Atmosphere--Land System (GOALS): Please see 
Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR) above.
    (K)--Pan-American Climate Studies (PACS): Please see Climate 
Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR) above.
    (L) Ocean-Atmosphere Carbon Exchange Study (OACES): Please see 
Global Carbon Cycle (GCC) above.
    (M) Paleoclimatology: The NOAA Paleoclimatology Program will 
entertain proposals that support the joint WCRP CLIVAR/IGBP PAGES 
Research Initiative. This initiative is jointly support by NOAA and the 
National Science Foundation (NSF) through the Earth System History 
(ESH) Program at NSF. All proposals must be submitted to the NSF/ESH 
Program by February 14 each year. For more information, please contact 
Mark Eakin, NOAA/National Geophysical Data Center, Boulder, CO; 303-
497-6172, Internet: [email protected]; Ken Mooney, NOAA/Global 
Programs, Silver Spring, MD; 301-427-2089 ext. 104, Internet: 
[email protected]; Richard Poore, NSF Ocean Sciences Division (OCE) 
Program, Arlington, VA; 703-306-1586, Internet: [email protected], or 
Steve Colman, NSF Atmospheric Sciences Division (ATM) Program, 
Arlington, VA; 703-306-1527, Internet: [email protected]. Please visit 
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/paleo/extramural.html for more information on 
the program or http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2000/nsf0011/nsf0011.html for 
the ESH announcement.

5. Eligibility

    Extramural eligibility is not limited and is encouraged with the 
objective of developing a strong partnership with the academic 
community. Universities, nonprofit organizations, for-profit 
organizations, State and local governments, and Indian Tribes, are 
included among entities eligible for funding under this announcement.
    Since non-NOAA Federal agencies will be funded through an 
interagency transfer, a non-NOAA Federal applicant should state in the 
application what legal basis exists for them to receive funds in excess 
of its appropriation from another Federal agency.

6. Letters of Intent (LOI)

    The purpose of the LOI process is to provide information to 
potential applicants on the relevance of their proposed project to the 
Climate and Global Program in advance of preparing a full proposal. 
Full proposals will be encouraged only for LOIs deemed relevant by 
Program Management, therefore, it is in the best interest of the 
applicants and their institutions to submit an LOI; however, it is not 
a requirement. The LOI should provide a concise description of the 
proposed work and its relevance to the targeted program element. The 
LOI must include the components listed below. If these components are 
not included, the LOI risks a delayed response and may not be 
considered by the program manager. (A) Investigators must identify the 
program element that is being targeted in the LOI. (B) Investigators 
must specify a tentative project title in the LOI. (C) LOIs must 
include the name and institution of all principal investigator(s), and 
specify which individual is the Lead principal investigator. (D) LOIs 
should be no more than two pages in length and must include a statement 
of the problem, brief summary of work to be completed, methodology to 
be used, and approximate cost of the project. Facsimile and electronic 
mail are acceptable for LOIs only.

7. Evaluation Criteria

    Consideration for financial assistance will be given to those 
proposals that address one of the Program Elements listed and meet the 
following evaluation criteria:
    (A) Scientific Merit: Intrinsic scientific value of the subject and 
the study proposed, including methodology and readiness.
    (B) Relevance: Importance and relevance to the goals of the 
selected Program Element(s). (See Program Objectives above)

[[Page 51802]]

8. Selection Procedures

    Proposals, including those submitted by NOAA employees, will be 
evaluated in accordance with the above evaluation criteria by (A) 
independent peer mail review, and/or (B) independent peer panel review, 
and a rating will be calculated based on these evaluations; both NOAA 
and non-NOAA experts in the field may be used in this process. The 
Program Manager will not be a voting member of an independent peer 
panel. The recommendations and evaluations of the panel members will be 
considered by the Program Manager in final selections. Proposals are 
usually awarded in the numerical order they are ranked based on the 
independent peer mail review or the independent peer panel review. 
However, the Program Manager will ascertain which proposals do not 
substantially duplicate other projects that are currently funded by 
NOAA or are approved for funding by other federal agencies, and fall 
within remaining funds available. Unsatisfactory performance by a 
recipient under prior Federal awards may result in an application not 
being considered for funding. As a result of this review, the Program 
Manager may decide to select an award out of order. The Program Manager 
will also determine the total duration of funding and the amount of 
funding for each selected proposal. Pursuant to Executive Orders 12876, 
12900, and 13021, the Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (DOC/NOAA) is strongly committed to 
broadening the participation of Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities (HBCU), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HIS), and Tribal 
Colleges and Universities (TCU) in its educational and research 
programs. The DOC/NOAA vision, mission, and goals are to achieve full 
participation by Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) in order to 
advance the development of human potential, to strengthen the nation's 
capacity to provide high-quality education, and to increase 
opportunities for MSIs to participate in and benefit from Federal 
Financial Assistance programs. DOC/NOAA encourages all applicants to 
include meaningful participation of MSIs. Institutions eligible to be 
considered MSIs are listed at the following Internet website: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OCR/99minin.html.

9. Proposal Submission

    The following forms are required in each application, with original 
signatures on each federal form. Failure to comply will result in 
proposal application being returned.
    (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 required to submit 3 copies of 
the proposal, however, the normal review process requires 20 copies. 
For an optimal review, investigators are encouraged to submit 
sufficient proposal copies, especially color or unusually sized (not 
8.5"  x  11"), or otherwise unusual materials submitted as part of the 
proposal. Only three original 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 must 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 program element is being addressed. If 
more than one investigator is listed on the title page, please identify 
the lead investigator. 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 each prior research project (during 
the last 3 years) relevant to the proposed effort should be summarized 
in brief paragraphs. This section should not exceed two pages. (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. 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 Manager prior to submission. 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 Justification: A brief 
description of the expenses listed on the budget and how they address 
the proposed work. Item justifications must include salaries, 
equipment, publications, supplies, tuition, travel, etc. (6) Budget: 
The proposal must include total and annual itemized budgets 
corresponding with the descriptions provided in the statement of work. 
Non-Federal Applicants must submit 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.'' Travel must be itemized to include 
destination, airfare, per diem, lodging and ground travel. The form is 
included in the standard NOAA application kit. (7) 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. (8) Current and pending support: For each 
investigator, submit a list that includes project title, supporting 
agency with grant number, investigator months per year, dollar value 
and duration. Requested values should be listed for pending support.
    (C) Other requirements: Applicants may obtain a standard NOAA 
application kit from Internet:http://www.ogp.noaa.gov/.

10. 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:
    (A) 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;

[[Page 51803]]

    (B) Drug Free Workplace: Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR part 26, 
section 605) are subject to 15 CFR Part 26, Subpart F, ``Governmentwide 
Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)'' and the related section 
of the certification from prescribed above applies;
    (C) 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
    (D) 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.

11. Lower Tier Certifications

    (A) 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.
    (B) 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.
    (C) 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 pre-award costs.
    (D) Financial assistance recipients funded by this program are 
subject to the applicable administrative requirements found in 15 CFR 
Part 15, ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and 
Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and other 
Non-Profit and Commercial Organizations,'' or CFR Part 24, ``Uniform 
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements to State and 
Local Governments,'' as applicable. Applications under this program are 
not subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of 
Federal Programs.''
    (E) 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.
    (F) 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.
    (G) 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.
    (H) Buy American-Made Equipment or Products--Applicants are 
encouraged that any equipment or products authorized to be purchased 
with funding provided under this program be American-made to the 
maximum extent feasible.
    (I) 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.
    (J) 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.
    (K) 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 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
    (L) 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.

12. Classification

    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. This notice has been 
determined to be not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866.

Louisa Koch,
Deputy Assistant Administrator.
[FR Doc. 00-21703 Filed 8-24-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-M