PART: U.S. Government Procurements
SUBPART: Services
CLASSCOD: A--Research and Development
OFFADD: Office of Naval Research, 800 North Quincy Street, Arlington, VA 22217-5660

SUBJECT: A--National Oceanographic Partnership Program
SOL: 02-011
POC: Mr. Brian Glance, ONR Code 252, (703) 696-2596

DESC:

On behalf of the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP), the Office of Naval Research (ONR) solicits research proposals meeting the goal and purpose of the Partnership Program outlined in Title II, subtitle E, of Public Law 104-201.

Up to $16M may be available for this solicitation, subject to appropriation and final approval by the National Ocean Research Leadership Council (NORLC). Team efforts among academia, industry, and government participants are required (at least 2 of the 3). Cost sharing or proposals augmenting ongoing partnership efforts are very strongly encouraged.

Background: The central focus of the Partnership Program is an integrated and sustained ocean observation system achieved by a federation of many elements to support a wide range of users. The following five Topic Areas form the basis of the NOPP Investment Portfolio:

1. Operational/Routine Observations (including pilots, testbeds, etc.),
   
2. Research "Observatories" (long-term experiments and data series, etc.),
   
3. Observational Technique Development (sensors and platforms),
   
4. "Commons" for Ocean Information ("hubs" and "nodes", etc.),
   
5. Outreach/Education.

These investment areas are more fully described at www.nopp.org <NOPPfunds.html> where examples of ongoing NOPP efforts are also listed by these areas. The NOPP website will contain the most recent information. Not all NOPP solicitations will seek proposals in all areas. This announcement seeks only proposals for new projects under Topics A and C and renewal proposals of existing NOPP projects under topic areas C and E.

Topic A. Operational/Routine Observations

A (1) Economic Benefit-Cost Studies of Regional Coastal Ocean Observing Systems Partnership proposals are sought to conduct economic analyses to identify and quantify the expected economic benefits of sustained coastal ocean observing systems in each major US coastal region (including the Great Lakes). Economic benefits should be identified, articulated, and quantified to the extent possible for each major user group to include: a) private sector activities such as energy development and transportation, commercial fishing, and commercial shipping; b) non-market activities such as coastal recreation, boating, and fishing; and c) public sector activities such as search and rescue and environmental protection, e.g. oil spill response. The analysis should be capable of adding up benefits across the sectors to arrive at total systems benefits, which should then be compared with the estimated costs of the system in terms of standard benefit-cost analytic techniques such as net present values, internal rates of return, and cost/benefit ratios.

It is assumed that primarily extant information on user groups, sectors, and costs will be used for these studies, given the time and cost constraints. New information (e.g., surveys) is constructive, but will likely be at a minimum.

A major objective of this topic area is to produce initial estimates of economic benefits and costs that are comparable across regions and sectors using generally accepted tools of economic analysis. For this reason, it is anticipated that NOAA’s Chief Economist, who has organized similar studies, will provide coordination and oversight for the individual regional studies.

NOPP envisions support for up to 8 individual economic studies not to exceed a total of $400,000 over two years; total funding for each selected project will be approximately $50,000.

A (2) Surface Vector Winds (SVW)
There is a maturing research capability to observe and utilize satellite-derived SVW over the oceans using various algorithms and models. NOPP would like to demonstrate potential benefits of having comparable capabilities within the operational ocean and marine weather forecasting communities to improve existing or generate new products. The goal is to help the operational community get ready to use SVW data and products from missions such as QuikSCAT, Wind Sat, SeaWinds/ADEOS-II, ASCAT/METOP, and CMIS/NPOESS. This is to be accomplished via substantive partnering between the research and operational communities, helping ensure that the operational community is aware of the capabilities and limitations of, and has the tools to use, various SVW data and products. The specific objective is to demonstrate the utility of satellite-derived SVW in an operational setting, providing quantitative measures of their impact wherever possible.

A (3) Sea Surface Temperature (SST)
While operational satellite-derived SST products have been produced for over two decades, there have been advances in research capabilities to observe and utilize satellite-derived and in-situ SST. It is now time to design and demonstrate a prototype system to produce on an operational basis both in-situ skin and bulk SST products, for use in conjunction with missions such as AVHRR/POES, TMI/TRMM, AMSR/AQUA and ADEOS-II, and VIIRS/CMIS/NPOESS. The demonstration should collect both skin and bulk SSTs from a limited number of volunteer observing ships, where personnel are available to check instruments while the ships span a broad range of latitudes. With NPOESS requiring skin and bulk SST data and products, a successful demonstration of the prototype system will enable improvements in the calibration of satellite-derived observations of skin SST, and especially in the estimation of heat flux across the sea surface. This demonstration is to be accomplished via substantive partnering between the research and operational communities, helping ensure that the operational community is aware of the capabilities and limitations of, and has the tools to use, various potential improvements to SST data and products. If successfully demonstrated, this prototype system could then be implemented globally on a routine and continuing basis.

Topic A2 and A3 Summary: While some efforts have begun to explore new and improved operational products, NOPP wishes to accelerate development and operational demonstration of data products and operational services using these data sources. Successful proposals must have substantive partnerships involving both research and operational entities. Each project should address the development of new self-consistent data and products and show why they represent improvements to the status quo.

In Topics A2 and A3, approximately $3.0M will be available over three years to support two selected projects; each project will be in the range of $500K per year for three years.

Topic B. Research "Observatories"

No proposals are being solicited in this area at this time.

Topic C. Observational Technique Development
Partnership efforts are sought here to develop and/or demonstrate new ocean observational capabilities to establish the means for continuous, high-resolution measurements of oceanic processes. For this solicitation the emphasis is on further biological and chemical sensor developments for autonomous and unattended moving and fixed observational platforms (e.g., drifters, floats, gliders, AUVs and moorings).

NOPP wishes to continue the technical development of biological and chemical sensors started in the FY99 BAA and their integration on a variety of autonomous devices and observing instruments for long-term (weeks to months) deployments, so that the scientific and operational data returned from the developing ocean observing network can be continuously improved.

Collaborative proposals are sought for development and application of new sampling, analytical, and interpretive techniques to improve the characterization of distributions, mechanisms, and rates of processes involving chemical and biological variables together with physical variables in the ocean. The challenge is to develop rapid analytical techniques and "smart" sampling tools based on real-time measurements. Fundamental progress will require coordinated efforts involving:

• improvements in sampling and measurement strategies on process-relevant time and space scales,
  
• implementation and/or development of new analytical methodologies, and
  
• processing/storage/transmittal that closely link observations to models, sufficiently to develop a predictive capability.

Such efforts should embrace networking and broad accessibility to all derived data in near or real time.

Autonomous and/or long-term and/or distributed approaches that provide new observational capabilities for the ocean community are particularly encouraged.

The emphasis should be placed on one or more of the following:

• novel approaches and concepts for measuring a specific biological and/or chemical parameter coherently in 4-D;
  
• unattended observations which can be extended over time periods from various platforms (e.g., for independent operation Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV's), drifters, gliders, and floats) or on moored platforms, all with real-time telemetry;
  
• providing a significant reduction in instrument power requirements, weight and volume without reducing fidelity or resolution as compared to current state-of-the-art devices; and
  
• developing the next generation of low cost biological and/or chemical instrumentation for use by the ocean research community.

Proposals should clearly specify:

• what capabilities the new technology will provide;
  
• how it improves upon existing technology and sampling methodology;
  
• why it is important and relevant to the needs of the oceanographic community; and
  
• the current status of the technology (whether a prototype has been tested or when one will become available to users as a result of funding provided by NOPP).

New proposals may request up to five years of support for instrument development, testing and validation. Renewal of previous NOPP awards in this topic may request up to two additional years for continued testing and validation.

Approximately $10M is available to support 2 to 5 new projects in the range of $500K to $1M per year for up to 5 years.

Topic D. "Commons" for Ocean Information

No proposals are being solicited for this topic at this time. However, a special solicitation for this topic may be issued later this year.

.Topic E. Outreach/Education
Only renewal proposals are being solicited (see below). No new project proposals are being solicited under this topic area at this time.

Renewals. Topics C and E
Currently funded NOPP partnership efforts under Topic C can seek additional funding for 2-5 renewal projects in the range of $200K to $400K per year each for up to 2 years.

Currently funded NOPP partnership efforts under Topic E can seek additional funding for one year to "wrap-up" existing efforts and/or to begin transition to other efforts, where appropriate. Funding up to $100,000 per year each will be available for 1 year for these purposes.

Review of these efforts will follow the guidelines outlined below, with the additional criterion of accomplishments achieved to date. Proposals must clearly state on their cover sheet that this proposal is a Renewal.

General Instructions and Information
Separate proposals must be submitted for each topic or subtopic area. It is anticipated that all awards to non-governmental participants resulting from this announcement will be grants. Any NORLC member may fund research in response to this solicitatioin.

Messages of Intention to Propose
All potential offerors are requested to send an electronic message of intention to propose to NOPPBAA@onr.navy.mil as soon as possible, but not later than March 12, 2002, to permit the peer review process to be planned in advance. Such messages should list the intended title, probable partners, and Principal Investigator(s) for the project

Proposal Format: The format for proposals can be found at http://www.nopp.org <NOPPBAA01.html>

Cover Page: Each proposal must include a completed Research Proposal Cover Page in the format available on the NOPP Website. This formatted Cover Page must be the first page of each proposal and will not count against page limitations.

Due Date: Proposals for new efforts must be received not later than 4:00 pm EDT, 11 April 2002. Renewal proposals may be submitted up to one year after the date of publication of this announcement; however the availability of funds may be reduced for renewal proposals received after 4:00 pm EDT, 11 April 2002.

Electronic submission, in pdf format only, is required.
Offerors should submit their proposal as a single pdf file. Electronic proposals in other than pdf format will not be accepted. Uncertainties and delays in mail systems and in moving paper copies around for reviews are motivating this new NOPP submission requirement. Questions about this new policy should be directed to NOPPBAA@onr.navy.mil.

Electronic proposals should be submitted either at www.onr.navy.mil/02/baa/ or on a single zip disk or CD-ROM if FTP submission is not desired. Any electronic proposals submitted by U.S. Postal Service or private delivery service should be sent to the address below.:

NOPP BAA/ONR 32
Room 407-8
Office of Naval Research
800 N. Quincy Street
Arlington, VA 22217-5660

Proposals received after the dates and times outlined in this announcement will not be considered.

Annual Reports
All funded NOPP efforts must submit an Annual Report for use in the mandatory annual Spring NOPP Report to Congress. The NOPP Program Office will call for these each winter.

Funding estimates for any ship-time must be specifically included in the proposal, and the budget should include full ship costs and clearly specify the size and type of vessels proposed for use. Ships of opportunity are encouraged. Proposers should include shiptime requests on either the former NSF Form 831 (Shiptime Request Form) or preferably the University / National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) on-line request form available at: http://www.gso.uri.edu/unols/ship/shiptime.html.

No additional request for proposals (RFP), solicitation, or other announcement of this opportunity will be made.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Institutions, as determined by the Secretary of Education to meet requirements of 34 CFR Section 608.2 and 10 U.S.C. Paragraph 2323(a)(1)(C), are particularly encouraged to participate.

Evaluations of the proposals will be performed using the following selection criteria:

1. Relevance of the proposed research to NOPP objectives,
   
2. Overall scientific and technical merits of the proposal,
   
3. Level of support of critical research objectives or operational goals such as data accessibility, education and communication,
   
4. Quality of proposed partnerships including the degree of broad participation within the oceanographic community and demonstration of significant partnering among at least two of the following parties: academia, industry, or government and extent resources are shared among partners,
   
5. NOPP project accomplishments to date (applies to renewal projects only),
   
6. The offeror's capabilities, related experience, and facilities or unique combinations of these that are critical to the proposal objectives,
   
7. The partnership member’s long-term commitment to the proposed objectives,
   
8. The qualifications and experience of the proposed principal investigator and key personnel,
   
9. The degree and quality of proposed cost-sharing.

All proposals will be subject to peer review, which will include non-governmental reviewers. All reviewers will adhere to confidentiality and conflict of interest standards. A synopsis of the NOPP review process can be found at http://www.nopp.org/.

The final distribution of awards will depend on quality of proposals, programmatic balance, NOPP priorities and availability of funds.

Questions regarding contractual matters relating to this BAA should be directed to Brian Glance via mail Office of Naval Research, ONR 252 Brian Glance, Ballston Tower One, 800 N. Qunicy St., Arlington, VA 22217-5660, via telephone at (703)696-2596 or via e-mail to glanceb@onr.navy.mil. Technical questions may be submitted by e-mail to NOPPBAA@ONR.NAVY.MIL <mailto:NOPPBAA@ONR.NAVY.MIL> or by fax to "NOPP BAA" (703) 696-2007 if necessary.

This notices constitutes a BAA as contemplated in FAR 6.102 (d)(2)(i). A formal RFP or other solicitation regarding this announcement will not be issued. Request for the same will be disregarded. ONR will not issue paper copies of this announcement. The Government reserves the right to select or award all, some or none of the proposals received in response to this announcement. All responsible sources may submit a proposal, which shall be considered under these guidelines by the Office of Naval Research.