Meteorologic and Hydrologic Modernization Development

To maintain a cooperative university and Federal partnerships to conduct meteorological training, education, professional development, and research and development on issues common to the hydrometeorological community, and to reduce the impact of tsu

Promote the adoption of tsunami resilience, preparedness, warning, and mitigation measures by Federal, State, territorial, tribal, and local governments;

Eligible applicants are accredited Federally recognized institutions of higher learning, consortia of these institutions, agencies of State or local governments including school systems, quasi-public institutions, consultants, and companies involved in using and developing meteorological or hydrologic forecasts or forecast methodology. In addition, the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (NTHMP) funding provides resources to reduce the impact of tsunamis through hazard assessment, warning guidance, and mitigation.

The benefits of the overall program are for reduction in loss of life and damage which the general public can realize from improvement in weather forecasts, watches, and warnings of hazardous weather and resultant flooding. For the improvements from the modernization of the Nation's weather and hydrologic services to be realized, there must be significant involvement of the entire hydrometeorological community. Thus, benefits will accrue to: (1) General public through higher quality weather products and information; (2) State and local agencies responsible for the planning and implementation of emergency services, fire prevention, allocation and control of water resources, and those agencies who project economic conditions based on weather and water resource availability; (3) educational institutions (0-13+) which need to incorporate the information which will result from modernization of the weather services into their curricula; (4) scientists and developers who will be using the new information to enhance the State of the knowledge of the atmosphere and improve present system safety and reliability; and academic institutions which are funded for programs dealing with studies of the atmospheric and hydrologic science. In addition, the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (NTHMP) funding provides resources to reduce the impact of tsunamis through hazard assessment, warning guidance, and mitigation.

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

Awards are for a 12-60 month period, although only one year is funded at a time. Outyears are funded based on availability of funds and adequate progress. Funds are disbursed through the U.S. Treasury Payment System.

No preapplication coordination is required. However, since proposals are frequently required to demonstrate high levels of collaboration with operational NWS components, it is recommended that applicants discuss potential interactions with relevant NWS 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 the Federal Register. 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 program office and are made on the basis of proposal evaluations and technical and administrative reviews.

Approval time for grants is expected to range from 90 to 180 days, which includes processing of the award through the 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. .