GOMO ARP - Enhancing Arctic Data Management and Development of Data-Driven Products and Tools for Climate Resilience under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)

The Alaska and Arctic regions are significantly affected by climate variability and change. This presents the region's community with significant economic, health, safety, and security challenges, and links to the broader United States through impacts on ecosystems, fisheries abundance, national security, and linked economic activities. As part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ocean portfolio within the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), the Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing (GOMO) Program Office's Arctic Research Program (ARP) addresses climate challenges and ocean changes in Alaskan waters and beyond by managing research programs that support high-priority science needs for NOAA's mission. The GOMO ARP Enhancing Arctic Data Management and Development of Data-Driven Products and Tools for Climate Resilience funding opportunity under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), is seeking applications for two competitions in FY24. The goal of Competition 1 is to design, develop, and deliver enhanced data management and data systems to achieve Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) (Wilkinson, et al., 2016 - https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2016.18) data compliance for OAR-supported observation data of Alaska, Alaskan waters, and the Arctic, and will encourage interoperability with other NOAA data services and tools. The goal of Competition 2 is to create data-driven products and tools that leverage prior OAR and ARP research data for better climate resilience. As authorized by the IRA, P.L. 117-169, Sections 40004, this NOFO aligns with the direction to "accelerate advances in research, observation systems, modeling, forecasting, assessments, and dissemination of information to the public." Within this, Competitions 1 and 2 will implement Arctic data management initiatives and data system solutions that will not only facilitate access to data for researchers and the wider community but also enable the utilization of years of OAR- and ARP-supported Arctic research to develop useful and meaningful products for the Arctic community. In Competition 1, GOMO ARP specifically seeks proposals for scoping, planning, designing, and implementing Arctic data management activities and data system solutions towards FAIR data compliance, and in line with NOAA's data governance requirements that will manage OAR-supported data (see "NOAA data strategy: maximizing the value of NOAA data" https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/37529). In Competition 2, we seek proposals for new efforts focused on the development of products, decision-support tools tailored for communities, or activities to enhance models and forecasts for better climate resilience. Projects should foster open science opportunities and equip communities with the knowledge and resources to maintain and evolve these products and tools, ensuring their longevity and utility.

GOMO ARP will provide technical assistance and guidance to successful applicants throughout the process to ensure that the project design aligns with the identified goals and objectives. GOMO ARP also requires applicants and awardees to support the principles of diversity and inclusion when writing their proposals and performing their work; indeed, applicants will be evaluated, in part, on how well principles of diversity and inclusion are addressed. Diversity is defined as a collection of individual attributes that together help organizations achieve objectives. Inclusion is defined as a culture that connects each employee to the organization. Promoting diversity and inclusion improves creativity, productivity, and the vitality of the climate research community in which NOAA OAR engages.