National Weather Service Office of Science and Technology Integration Modeling Program

The Office of Science and Technology Integration (OSTI) Modeling Program Team is responsible for supporting a variety of National Weather Service (NWS) modeling and research initiatives to improve weather forecasts. This is accomplished by funding re

The Office of Science and Technology Integration (OSTI) Modeling Program Team is responsible for supporting a variety of National Weather Service (NWS) modeling and research initiatives to improve weather forecasts. This includes efforts to improve guidance for hurricane track, intensity, and storm surge forecasts; develop an end-to-end air quality forecast capability; advance research to extend forecast skill beyond 8-10 days; and implement a weather-scale, fully-coupled numerical weather prediction system.

Eligible applicants are U.S. institutions of higher education; U.S.-based commercial organizations; state, local and Indian tribal governments in the U.S.; and other U.S. non-profit organizations.

The funds are used by recipients for collaborative research described in proposals submitted and selected in response to calls for proposals from the NOAA program office. The program office may support non-competitive awards in specific instances or by direction from legislative language or unsolicited projects that are individually qualified.

Awards are for a 12-36 month period, although only one year may be funded at a time. Out-years are funded based on availability of funds and adequate progress. Funds are disbursed through the U.S. Treasury Payment System. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum

Since proposals must demonstrate high levels of collaboration with operational NWS components, it is recommended that applicants discuss potential interactions with relevant NWS operational personnel prior to submission. Consultation and assistance is available through the NWS program manager. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Selection criteria are announced within solicitations published in Grants.gov. Examples of criteria used in past solicitations included operational applicability, scientific merit, technology transfer and methodology, capability of researchers, and cost effectiveness.

Awards are selected by the Selecting Official and are made on the basis of proposal evaluations and technical and administrative reviews.

Approval time is expected to be about four to six months, which includes processing the award through NWS, NOAA, and DOC financial assistance functions.

Grants and cooperative agreements are approved on an annual basis, but may be continued beyond the first segment, subject to approved time frame and scope of work, satisfactory progress, and availability of funds. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the sole discretion of the Department of Commerce.