National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Institutes

To increase the effectiveness of research and develop innovative approaches to education in the environmental sciences by facilitating cooperation between government, university, and nonprofit research institutions.

Cooperative Institutes are academic and non-profit research institutions that demonstrate the highest level of performance and conduct research that supports NOAA's Mission Goals and Strategic Plan.

Allows NOAA to partner with designated Joint and Cooperative Institutes as designated by the Secretary of Commerce for research, education, training, and outreach activities.

Organizations with interests in support of the NOAA mission to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment and conserve and manage the Earth's systems to meet the nations' economic, social, and environmental needs.

Program authorizes funds to be used for research and development, education and training, advisory services and operational systems as they relate to specific NOAA programs. Specific restrictions, other than those mandated for Cooperative Agreements, are evaluated on an individual program basis. Most Cooperative Institutes (CIs) operate via a financial assistance award and include substantial involvement by Federal partners. In addition, 118 Stat. 71 (2004) authorizes the Secretary to designate (delegated to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmospheres) CIs to use the personnel, services, or facilities of such organizations for research, education, training, and outreach to further NOAA's mission under a cooperative agreement.

Generally, five years with funding approved on individual and group proposal basis throughout the five years in accordance with Department of Commerce approval.

Criteria for proposals is located in the NOFO

An initial administrative review/screening is conducted to determine compliance with requirements/completeness. One Federal technical reviewer will be assigned to each proposal to complete one technical review, to justify the final award recommendation to the Grants Officer who is authorized to obligate the funds.

The NOAA Grants Officer will review financial and grants administration aspects of a proposed award, including conducting an assessment of the risk posed by the applicant in accordance with 2 C.F.R. 200.206. In addition to reviewing repositories of government-wide eligibility, qualifications or financial integrity information, the risk assessment conducted by NOAA may consider items such as the financial stability of an applicant, quality of the applicant's management systems, an applicant's history of performance, previous audit reports and audit findings concerning the applicant and the applicant's ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements imposed on non-Federal entities.

A date range will change depending on the review process. Usually within 180 calendar days from the receipt of a complete and acceptable application but may exceed that timeline.

Initial awards are for five years; renewals may be made for a period of up to five additional years, based upon the availability of funds and the favorable results of an extensive scientific and administrative review, typically occurring in the fourth year of the first five year award.

No formal appeal procedure. If application is unacceptable the reasons are fully stated to the applicant. If the applicant desires to resubmit application, project must be revised in accordance with recommended changes.