Round 3 of Research to Operations Initiative: NOAA Testbeds

This program announcement is for projects to be conducted for a two-year period with an anticipated start date of September 1, 2018 unless otherwise directed. All public or private sources may submit to this Federal Funding Opportunity; however, partnering with universities is highly encouraged. Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education; other nonprofits; commercial organizations; state, local and Indian tribal governments; and Federal agencies.Applicants for this opportunity must work in partnership with NOAA testbeds and proving grounds (listed under www.testbeds.noaa.gov). NOAA's...

All public or private sources may submit to this Federal Funding Opportunity; however, partnering with universities is highly encouraged. Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education; other nonprofits; commercial organizations; state, local and Indian tribal governments; and Federal agencies. Applicants for this opportunity must work in partnership with NOAA testbeds and proving grounds (listed under www.testbeds.noaa.gov). An eligible organization may submit more than one application (from different principal investigators per II.A).2. Foreign ParticipantsForeign participants and/or individuals may participate to the extent that such participants comply with any necessary Non-Disclosure Agreements, Security Regulations, and any other applicable statutes. Some requirements may cover export-controlled technologies. Research in these areas is limited to “U.S. persons” as defined in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 CFR §1201.1.3. Federally Funded Research & Development Centers (FFRDCs)Federally Funded Research & Development Centers (FFRDCs), including Department of Energy National Laboratories, are not eligible to receive awards as lead investigators under this FFO. However, teaming arrangements between FFRDCs and eligible applicants are allowed to the extent that such an arrangement is permitted under the sponsoring agreement between the Government and the FFRDC.4. LaboratoriesFederal laboratories are eligible to receive awards as lead investigators under this FFO, only for proposals to work in partnership with NOAA testbeds and proving grounds. As with FFRDCs, these organizations may team with responsible sources from academia and industry that are submitting proposals under this FFO.5. University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs)University Affiliated Research Centers are eligible to submit proposals under this FFO unless precluded from doing so by their UARC contracts with the Government.6. TeamingTeams are also encouraged and may submit proposals in any and all areas. However, partners that are ineligible as lead investigators may not exceed 70% of the funded work. Applicants must be willing to cooperate and exchange software, data and other information in an integrated program with other project participants.Federal/external partnerships should send only 1 proposal to grants.gov from the external partner (such as a university or Cooperative Institute) as the lead investigator. Budget proposals should detail the portion of the proposal that will fund the federal partners including staff time and equipment (including salaries). If investigators from multiple partners are listed, then the contributions and budgets for each must be clearly indicated. Government agencies must partner with a NOAA testbed to be eligible. Applications which are exclusively from Federal agencies should be submitted directly to: christopher.hedge@noaa.govCollaborations with PIs at different universities are allowed, but there must be a single application from a lead university with subawards to the participants from other institutions. Other arrangements will not be considered.

Christopher Hedge Federal Program Officer