FEDERAL AGENCY:

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

AUTHORIZATION:

Weather Service Organic Act, 15 U.S.C. 313, 1525.

To maintain a cooperative university/Federal partnership to conduct joint research and development on pressing surface water hydrology issues common to National, regional, local operational offices, private consulting hydrologists, and academics.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Eligible applicants are Federally recognized institutions of higher learning, agencies of State or local governments, quasi-public institutions such as water supply or power companies, hydrologic consultants and companies involved in using and developing hydrologic forecasts (either for reducing flood damages or for water management decisions).

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Since the benefits of the overall program are for a reduction in loss of life and damage resulting from flooding and drought, and improved utilization of water supply and water dependent industries, benefits accrue from these projects to: (1) Federal agencies responsible to forecast, assess, manage, disperse, project economic conditions based on projections of water supply for agriculture and industry, and control water resources; (2) interstate commissions to control and allocate surface waters; (3) State agencies responsible for allocating and controlling water resources and for making projections for the use of water for industry and agriculture and for planning and developing infrastructure within the State that is impacted by rivers and lakes; (4) local agencies dependent on water for economic planning, emergency preparedness, and public water supply; (5) all businesses and industries depending all or in part upon surface water supplies or adequate water in lakes for recreation, in rivers to generate power, or in production or dispersion of products or who must take action in order to ameliorate damage during flood situations, (6) wildlife interests at all levels that are dependent upon water management for managing the environment; (7) homeowners or farmers who must plan for proper responses to flooding or inadequate water supply; and (8) academic institutions which are funded for programs dealing with the studies of hydrologic science.

Credentials/Documentation:   Proposals with statement of work, estimated budget, and curriculum vitae. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular Nos. A-87 for State and local governments, A-21 for educational institutions and A-122 for nonprofit and for-profit organizations.

Pre-application Coordination:   This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   Proposals, including a statement of work and budget are submitted to a technical monitor in the Hydrology Laboratory and reviewed by the Chief and his staff. 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, and CD-511 Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug Free Workplace Requirements, and Lobbying.

Award Procedure:   Awards are made on the basis of proposal evaluations and technical and administrative reviews. Proposal will be submitted to the NOAA Grants Management Division for review and approval. Cooperative activities and funding amounts are determined through an evaluation conducted in coordination with the Director of the Office of Hydrologic Development by the Chief of the Hydrology Laboratory, and the technical experts of the Laboratory.

Deadlines:   Application deadlines are established by notices appearing on OHD/HL website.

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 and NOAA financial assistance functions.

Appeals:   None.

Renewals:   By negotiations with the Office of Hydrologic Development. Cooperative activities are normally continuing subject to the availability of funding for subsequent budget periods. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the sole discretion of the Department.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   This program has no matching requirements. NOAA may fund up to 100 percent of project costs.

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. Since many cooperative projects with universities depend upon student labor there are times when unfunded extensions are required. The recipient receives funding under the award through the Financial Assistance Disbursement System (FADS).

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Reports are due in accordance with the terms and conditions of the award. The Department's Financial Assistance Standard Terms and Conditions generally require that financial and performance reports be submitted quarterly.

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:   Records will be retained in accordance with provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110 for institutions of higher education, other nonprofit organizations, and commercial organizations and in accordance with 15 CFR Part 24 for State and local governments.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

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

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $200,187; FY 02 est $220,000; and FY 03 est $300,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   $5,000 to $100,000. Average: $25,000.

This program has developed an improved method for automatic calibration of hydrologic models to river basins, made definite progress in the development of distributed rainfall/runoff models, developed a means for developing improved flash flood models.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

None.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   None.

Headquarters Office:   Chief, Hydrology Laboratory, National Weather Service - W/OHD-1, 1325 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Telephone: (301) 713-0640.

Web Site Address:   http://www.noaa.gov

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

(1) Project to further automate the calibration of hydrologic models; (2) development of procedure to enhance flash flood guidance; (3) development and testing of distributed rainfall/runoff models using radar-derived rainfall data; (4) demonstration project to show practical benefits from extended streamflow predictions in a probabilistic framework; and (5) investigations of flash flood models in arid climates.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Proposals are subject to office and peer review process taking into consideration scientific merit, application to office research goals, principal investigator's qualifications, cost, and available funding.