FEDERAL AGENCY:

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

AUTHORIZATION:

49 U.S.C. 44720.

The Integrated Flood Observing and Warning System (IFLOWS) is a joint undertaking by the National Weather Service (NWS) and the participating States to improve flood warning capabilities. This is a Federal, State, and county cooperative program. The NWS is responsible for the overall management of the Program. It provides technical support and funds (through cooperative agreements) for initial capital and installation costs for equipment, life-cycle equipment replacement or upgrading in coming years, software development, and centralized forecast and analysis activities. The States assume the responsibility and cost of maintaining and operating all the equipment to support the State/county portion of IFLOWS.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   The Federal Government has a memorandum of agreement with the following States for the cooperative implementation and operations of IFLOWS: New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina. At this time these are the only States for which the NWS has IFLOWS cooperative agreement funds.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Since the basic goal of the IFLOWS program is to effectively reduce loss of life and damage resulting from flooding, benefits accrue to the general public.

Credentials/Documentation:   Proposals will be considered from those States participating with the NWS in the implementation and operation of the IFLOWS Program.

Pre-application Coordination:   None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   Proposals, including a statement of work and budget is submitted to the IFLOWS Program Manager in the Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services. When details of the work and budget are mutually agreed upon, the standard package is formally submitted including forms SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance, SF-424A Budget Information Non- Construction Programs, SF-424B Assurances Non-Construction Programs, statement of work, budget and supporting details, negotiated indirect cost rate sheet, CD-511 Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters, Drug Free Workplace Requirements, and Lobbying. Proposal will be submitted to the NOAA Grants Management Division for review and approval. The Department of Commerce will review all projects before an award is executed by the NOAA Grants Officer. Cooperative activities and funding amounts are determined through an evaluation conducted in coordination with the Director of the Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services, by the IFLOWS Program Manager, and appropriate Regional Directors.

Award Procedure:   Awards are made on the basis of proposal evaluations and technical and administrative reviews.

Deadlines:   None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Approval time is expected to range from 90 to 180 days, which includes processing of the award through the NWS, NOAA, and DOC financial assistance functions.

Appeals:   None.

Renewals:   By negotiations with the Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services. Cooperative activities are normally continuing subject to the availability of funding for subsequent budget periods.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   This program has no matching requirements. Projects are accepted at up to 100 percent Federal share.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Awards are usually for a 12 month period. In some instances, award periods may extend beyond 12 months. The funding is spent in the award's budget period unless an extension is requested by the principal investigator and approved by NOAA Grants Office. Funds are disbursed through the Financial Assistance Disbursement System (FADS).

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Progress and financial reports are required semi- annually. Final reports are due within 90 days of the expiration of the award.

Audits:   In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), recipients that are States, Local Governments, Nonprofit Organizations (to include Hospitals), and Institutions of Higher Learning shall be subject to the audit requirements contained in the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501-7507). Commercial organizations shall be subject to the audit requirements as stipulated in the award document. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal Awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for the year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records:   Financial records and supporting documents and all other records, i.e. property, performance work products, patents, etc. pertinent to the agreement shall be maintained for a period of 3 years from the date of the approved financial report.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   13-1450-0-1-306.

Obligations:   (Cooperative Agreements) FY 01 $438,050; FY 02 est $530,000; and FY 03 est $500,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
$36,000 to $175,000. Average: $90,000.

IFLOWS has been credited with saving numerous lives and millions of dollars of property by giving NWS and local communities the ability to obtain real time rain and stream level data. IFLOWS is directly linked to sixteen National Weather Service Forecast Offices, and three River Forecast Centers. The IFLOWS program funds equipment and technical support in seven States and 182 associated participating counties. Five cooperative agreements were awarded in fiscal year 2001.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

"Integrated Flood Observing and Warning System Management Guide," August 1993 IFLOWS Program Office, Office of Hydrology, National Weather Service.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   IFLOWS Operations Manager, Hydrologic Services Division, National Weather Service Eastern Region - W/ER2, Airport Corporate Center, 630 Johnson Avenue, Bohemia, NY 11716. Telephone: (631) 244-0112.

Headquarters Office:   IFLOWS Program Manager, Hydrologic Services Division, Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services, National Weather Service - W/OS3, 1325 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Telephone: (301) 713-0006.

Web Site Address:   http://www.ofa.noaa.gov/~grants/index.html

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

IFLOWS is in Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, and New York.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Proposals submitted are subject to office and peer review process taking into consideration program requirements, for example, equipment life-cycle replacement requirements, and available funding.