Arctic Research Initiative Announcement of Opportunity for FY2001 Funding
Dear Colleague:
This is an Announcement of Opportunity (AO) and Call for Pre-proposals for
the FY2001 NOAA Arctic Research Initiative. Pre-proposals are being solicited
for one-year or two- year research projects, and must be received at the
NOAA/University of Alaska Cooperative Institute for Arctic Research (CIFAR)
no later than 5:00 p.m. September 5, 2000. This AO can also be found on the
CIFAR web site at http://www.cifar.uaf.edu. Please forward this announcement
to other interested members of the research community.
Thank you.
Gunter Weller Director, CIFAR
Phone: 907-474-7371
gunter [at] gi.alaska.edu
ARCTIC RESEARCH INITIATIVE Announcement of Opportunity for FY2001 Funding
INTRODUCTION
The Arctic Research Office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) and the Cooperative Institute for Arctic Research
(CIFAR) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks announce the availability of
funds in FY2001 for research on: (1) climate variability and change in the
Arctic, and (2) Bering Sea productivity. These funds will be made available
from the Department of Commerce/NOAA through the Arctic Research
Initiative, which started in FY97. Pre-proposals are solicited for one- or
two-year research projects. Funding for the second year is contingent on
funds being available. The Arctic Research Initiative is being coordinated
for NOAA through CIFAR.
ARCTIC SCIENCE PRIORITIES
The current United States Arctic Research Plan (Arctic Research, Vol. 13,
Fall/Winter 1999) calls for an interagency research activity on Arctic
Environmental Change. An interagency/academic group is developing the Study
of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH) to provide overarching scientific
guidance. The focus of SEARCH is on the suite of physical changes that have
been noted in the Arctic over the past two decades and on their impacts on
the physical environment, biology and human society in the arctic region. A
summary of the SEARCH science plan can be found on the CIFAR web site:
http://www.cifar.uaf.edu. SEARCH has been endorsed by the U.S. CLIVAR
Steering Committee and also relates to objectives of the new WCRP activity
called "Climate and Cryosphere" (CLIC).
The U.S. Arctic Research Commission has produced its set of research
priorities for FY2001 that includes a renewed emphasis on the Bering Sea
and a call for increased efforts dealing with climate change in the Arctic.
Under the Arctic Council, the U.S. has taken the lead role in the
preparation of an Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA), to be prepared
by experts from all of the arctic countries and other countries with arctic
interests. More information on ACIA can be found at:
http://www.acia.uaf.edu.
In response to these science priorities, the Arctic Research Office of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Cooperative
Institute for Arctic Research (CIFAR) request proposals addressing the
following high priority research topics:
Category 1: Climate Variability and Change in the Arctic:
NOAA and CIFAR desire to provide support for research that directly
supports SEARCH, the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment, and the Arctic
Research Commission priority on climate change in the Arctic. The following
two specific research areas are the highest priority for FY2001 funding.
Proposals are requested that describe research to provide a long-term
record of the volume transport and flux of freshwater, heat, and nutrients
to and from the Arctic Ocean, and that couple such information with the
analysis of potential impacts of such transports on processes within and/or
outside the Arctic (e.g., marine productivity, thermohaline circulation).
Proposals should relate clearly to the U.S. interagency plan for the Study
of Environmental Arctic Change and to the emerging international program on
Arctic/Sub-Arctic Ocean Fluxes (ASOF). For additional information on ASOF,
contact John Calder at 301-713- 2518, ext 114, or on e-mail at
John.Calder [at] noaa.gov. A description of ASOF can be found on the CIFAR web
site: http://www.cifar.uaf.edu.Proposals are requested that improve understanding of the Arctic
Oscillation (AO), including elucidation of factors that influence
variability of the AO, and that couple new understanding with assessment of
impacts of AO variability on climate in the Arctic and at mid-latitudes.
Proposals may include: field observations in the form of pilot deployments
that have scientific merit in their own right, and that set the stage for
more ambitious and sustained efforts should future circumstances permit;
and/or diagnostic analysis of existing atmospheric and oceanic data.
Proposals should relate clearly to the U.S. interagency plan for the Study
of Environmental Arctic Change.
Category 2: Bering Sea Productivity
The U.S. Arctic Research Commission has identified the Bering Sea as one of
its priority research areas for FY2001. The long-range goal is a
comprehensive predictive model for the Bering Sea ecosystem. The Arctic
Research Initiative has supported research on this topic since 1997. For
FY2001, proposals are requested that focus on an area that includes the
Northern Bering Sea, the Beaufort Sea and the Chukchi Sea – an area less
studied than the Southeast Bering Sea.
Proposals should describe research to understand the role of natural
processes in regulating primary and secondary productivity, and that couple
this understanding with analysis of relative flows of energy through food
webs supporting commercial/subsistence or protected/endangered species on
the one hand, and food webs not supporting these on the other hand. The
emphasis should be on the northern Bering Sea and on the linkages between
the Bering Sea and the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas.
APPENDIX
GENERAL INFORMATION
Approximately $1,000,000 in FY2001 will be available under this
announcement, subject to Congressional appropriations. Proposals may
request support for periods of up to two years, however, continued support
in FY2002 depends both on Administration priorities and Congressional
appropriations. Proposals will be reviewed for scientific merit and for
potential significance. All proposals received will be considered in a
single competition, and thus the distribution of funds among the categories
and topics in the announcement is not predetermined. It is possible that no
award will be made for one or more topics. Proposals that do not directly
address the categories and topics in the announcement will not be reviewed.
ELIGIBILITY
Proposals may be submitted by scientists from any governmental, academic,
or non-profit research organization located or chartered in the United
States of America. Scientists from other organizations may be included as
sub-awardees.
PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS
Responses to this announcement will involve a two-step process:
Pre-proposals and encouraged full proposals.
A pre-proposal shall be submitted by either an individual investigator or
an individual investigator serving as the "lead" investigator for two or
more collaborating investigators. No institutional signatures are required
on pre-proposals.
Invitations for submission of full proposals will be extended to certain
investigators after review of the pre-proposals.
PRE- PROPOSAL FORMAT AND CONTENT
Pre-proposals should concisely describe the proposed research. Each
pre-proposal should indicate the goal, approach, timeline, expected
products, budget, and include a curriculum vita (1 page maximum) for each
principal or co- investigator. Pre-proposals should not exceed 3 pages of
text (not including title page, references, budget, and curriculum vitae).
Investigators are encouraged to seek collaborations with scientists from
the U.S. or other countries, and to seek cost-sharing whenever possible.
Pre-proposals will be evaluated against the research priorities stated in
this announcement, the backdrop of related work planned or under way by
other agencies or other countries, and whether they lend themselves to
forming an integrated program.
FULL PROPOSAL FORMAT
Investigators whose pre-proposals meet the review criteria will be
encouraged by October 6, 2000 to submit full proposals. Proposals should
not exceed 15 pages in text and illustrations (not including cover page,
references, budget page and curriculum vitae). Proposals should be stapled
in the upper left-hand corner, but otherwise be unbound, and have 2.5-cm
margins at the top, bottom and on each side. The type size must be clear
and readily legible, in a standard font size of 10-12 point. The original
signed copy should be clipped together (not stapled) and printed on one
side of each sheet only. An additional 10 copies of the proposal are
required, and may be printed on both sides.
SECTIONS OF THE FULL PROPOSAL
Cover page. The cover page should include a title, the Principal
Investigator's name(s) and affiliation(s), complete address, phone, fax and
e-mail information, the budget summary broken out by year, and the date
submitted. It must be signed by the investigator’s authorized institutional
official.Abstract (on a separate page). This should list the nature of the
proposed work (e.g., hypotheses to be tested, the relationship of the
proposed studies to the research themes, the goals of any proposed
workshops, relationship to the Arctic Council, etc.) and a summary of the
key approach.Project Description. This section should refer to a specific category
and topic in the Announcement, present the problem or opportunity to be
addressed by the project, and state the questions, hypotheses, and project
objectives, clearly relating them to the goals of this competition.
Proposals should summarize the approach that will be used to address the
questions, hypotheses and objectives; describe how the PIs and co-PIs would
contribute to the overall study approach; describe the methods to be used;
and present expected results.Data Plan. The proposal must include a plan on how the data generated by
the proposed research will be made available to other scientists (e.g., web
pages) and deposited in a recognized data archive. It is the responsibility
of the PI to contact the data archive and arrange for submittal of data in
a format accepted by the archive.References cited.
Milestone chart for the project.
Statement of the project responsibilities of each Principal Investigator
and key participant.Budget Pattern your budget after NSF budget form 1030. Budget categories
include the following: salaries & wages, fringe benefits, equipment,
travel, materials and supplies (expendable), publication costs, consultant
services, computer services, sub-awards, tuition, other expenditures, and
indirect costs (facilities & administration). The full cost of logistics
should be included in the budget or shown as a contribution from another
source. Travel to an annual PI meeting in Fairbanks should be included.
Travel expenses need to be broken down by airfare and per diem. Salaries
for Federal Government PIs will not be supported.
Other budget backup: Include as backup justification to the budget a copy
of the Data Collection Form for Reporting on Audit (SF-SAC). An example of
this form is located at http://www.whitehouse.gov/OMB/grants/index.html.
Also include a copy of the negotiated agreement for facilities and
administrative costs and staff benefits.
Biographical sketch This is limited to two pages for each Principal
Investigator and should be focused on information directly relevant to
undertaking the proposed research.Federal assurances, certifications and representations (submit one copy
with original proposal only). SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, and
Form CD-511 Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension and other
Responsibility Matters: Drug-Free Workplace Requirements and Lobbying.
These forms are available at the NOAA web site
http://www.rdc.noaa.gov/~grants/pdf.
Cost Accounting Standards Notices and Certification (48CFR52.230-1). This
Federal Acquisition Regulation may be found at
http://www.arnet.gov/far/loadmain52.html.
- Suggested reviewers A short list of possible peer reviewers with whom
you have no close working or personal relationship (optional).
SUBMISSION AND REVIEW SCHEDULE
Pre-proposals due at CIFAR: September 5, 2000
PIs encouraged to submit full proposals: October 6, 2000
Full proposals due at CIFAR: November 13, 2000
Final decisions announced: January 5, 2001
Funds available: April 1, 2001
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
It is preferred that academic scientists associated with any NOAA Joint or
Cooperative Institute submit their proposals through that Institute, but
this is not a requirement.
Pre-Proposal Submission: One (1) original and two (2) copies must be
received no later than 5:00 p.m., September 5, 2000, at the CIFAR office
(address below).
Full Proposal Submission: One (1) original and ten (10) copies must be
received no later than 5:00 p.m., November 13, 2000, at the CIFAR office
(address below).
Express mail packages should have the following phone number listed on the
envelope: (907) 474-5818.
Address submissions to:
FY2001 CIFAR/NOAA Competition Cooperative Institute for Arctic Research
306 IARC, 930 Koyukuk Drive
PO Box 757740
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7740
ATTN: Dr. Gunter Weller
CONTACT INFORMATION
For further information, contact:
Dr. John A. Calder, Director
Arctic Research Office Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Silver Spring, MD 20910
John.Calder [at] noaa.gov, Phone: 301-713-2518, ext. 114
Dr. Gunter Weller, Director
Cooperative Institute for Arctic Research (CIFAR)
301 International Arctic Research Center
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7740
gunter [at] gi.alaska.edu, Phone: 907-474-7371
NONDISCRIMINATION
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides awards for
research in the sciences. The awardee is wholly responsible for the conduct
of such research and preparation of the results for publication. NOAA,
therefore, does not assume responsibility for such findings or their
interpretation. CIFAR welcomes proposals on behalf of all qualified
scientists and engineers, and strongly encourages women, minorities, and
persons with disabilities to compete fully in any of the research and
research-related programs described in this document. In accordance with
Federal statutes and regulations, and NOAA policies, no person on the
grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin, or disability shall be
excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to
discrimination under any program or activity receiving financial assistance
from NOAA.