Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NOS NGS 2013 2003505
Apply for NOAA NOS NGS 2013 2003505
- The Department of Commerce in the environment science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Geospatial Modeling Grant" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.400 Geodetic Surveys and Services (Geodesy and Applications of the National Geodetic Reference System).
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 24, 2013 and posted on May 21, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 25, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Institutions of higher education, state, local and Indian tribal governments. Federal agencies or institutions and foreign governments may not be the primary recipient of awards under this announcement, but are encouraged to partner with eligible applicants when appropriate.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Geospatial Modeling Grant is a NOAA funding opportunity (Department of Commerce) designed to build out regional geospatial modeling capabilities by carrying out NOAA's National Height Modernization Program (NHMP). Through grants and/or cooperative agreements, NOAA seeks partners in the United States who can strengthen the foundation of the National Geodetic Reference System and translate that improved geodetic framework into practical regional models, tools, and public-facing data products. The overall intent is to improve how elevation, positioning, and related geospatial information are collected, managed, and used, especially for coastal and hazard-prone areas where accurate heights and vertical reference information directly affect infrastructure planning, flood mapping, emergency response, and long-term resilience.
The competition is specifically focused on the Gulf Coast states, reflecting NOAA's Height Modernization Plan and related congressional appropriations. Projects are expected to deliver clear public benefits aligned with five major priority areas. First, NOAA is looking for proposals that enhance the underlying infrastructure of geodetic control, including improvements to control networks and integration of key datasets such as coastal remote sensing, terrestrial gravity measurements, and other physical measurements needed for accurate positioning and height determination. Second, the program emphasizes developing models, tools, and guidelines that help users access geodetic control and properly manipulate and analyze geodetic data, which can include workflows, standards, software tools, and practical documentation that makes technically complex geodetic resources usable by working professionals. Third, proposals should support education, capacity building, and technology transfer so that regional organizations can sustain and expand geospatial and geodetic capabilities over time. Fourth, NOAA highlights coordination through partnerships, encouraging applicants to work closely with local users and stakeholders such as state and local governments, universities, and public-sector entities, along with other regional partners, to ensure the work matches real operational needs and is adopted in practice. Fifth, the program stresses open and effective data sharing: environmental data and information collected or produced under NOAA awards should be made visible, accessible, and independently understandable to general users, provided free of charge or at minimal cost and delivered in a timely manner, unless restricted by law, policy, regulation, or security requirements.
In terms of strategic alignment, this opportunity primarily supports NOAA's mission support goal of Resilient Coastal Communities and Economies, which is consistent with the Gulf Coast emphasis and the practical importance of accurate elevation and geospatial modeling for coastal risk management. The work is also commonly expected to contribute to NOAA's broader mission goals, including Climate Adaptation and Mitigation, a Weather Ready Nation, and Healthy Oceans. At the enterprise level, the solicitation notes it also advances NOAA goals related to Science and Technology and Engagement, reflecting an expectation that funded projects will combine technical rigor with stakeholder-facing implementation, outreach, and usability.
The grant is a discretionary program using a grant funding instrument (with cooperative agreements also contemplated). NOAA anticipated making 2 awards under this announcement, with individual award amounts ranging from $750,000 (floor) up to $2,000,000 (ceiling). There is no cost sharing or matching requirement. The funding is associated with CFDA 11.400, Geodetic Surveys and Services (Geodesy and Applications of the National Geodetic Reference System). Eligible primary applicants include institutions of higher education and state, local, and Indian tribal governments. Federal agencies and institutions and foreign governments cannot serve as the primary recipient, but NOAA encourages them to participate as partners when it makes sense for the project. Key dates listed for the original cycle show it was posted May 21, 2013, created June 24, 2013, with a closing date in late June 2013 and an archive date of July 25, 2013, indicating this was a time-limited competition for that period rather than an open-ended solicitation.
For administrative support or access issues related to the full announcement, the listed program contact was Sonita Tiwari at NOAA NOS (National Ocean Service), in Silver Spring, Maryland, with phone and fax details provided in the notice.
Geospatial Modeling Grant (NOAA) - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Geospatial Modeling Grant?
The Geospatial Modeling Grant is a NOAA (Department of Commerce) funding opportunity intended to build out regional geospatial modeling capabilities by carrying out NOAA's National Height Modernization Program (NHMP). It supports work that strengthens the foundation of the National Geodetic Reference System and turns improved geodetic infrastructure into practical regional models, tools, and public-facing data products.
Which NOAA program is this grant tied to?
This opportunity is designed to advance NOAA's National Height Modernization Program (NHMP) and is associated with CFDA 11.400, Geodetic Surveys and Services (Geodesy and Applications of the National Geodetic Reference System).
What is the main purpose of the program?
The overall intent is to improve how elevation, positioning, and related geospatial information are collected, managed, and used. The program emphasizes real-world usefulness, especially in coastal and hazard-prone areas where accurate heights and vertical reference information affect infrastructure planning, flood mapping, emergency response, and long-term resilience.
What geographic area is the competition focused on?
The competition is specifically focused on the Gulf Coast states, reflecting NOAA's Height Modernization Plan and related congressional appropriations.
What kinds of public benefits is NOAA looking for?
Projects are expected to deliver clear public benefits connected to improved elevation and positioning information, with particular relevance for coastal and hazard-prone regions. Examples of use cases named in the notice include infrastructure planning, flood mapping, emergency response, and long-term resilience.
What are the major priority areas for proposed projects?
The solicitation describes five major priority areas:
- Enhancing the underlying infrastructure of geodetic control (including improvements to control networks and integration of key datasets such as coastal remote sensing, terrestrial gravity measurements, and other physical measurements needed for accurate positioning and height determination).
- Developing models, tools, and guidelines to help users access geodetic control and properly manipulate and analyze geodetic data (including workflows, standards, software tools, and practical documentation).
- Supporting education, capacity building, and technology transfer so regional organizations can sustain and expand capabilities over time.
- Coordinating through partnerships with local users and stakeholders (such as state and local governments, universities, and public-sector entities) and other regional partners to ensure operational relevance and adoption.
- Ensuring open and effective data sharing so environmental data and information produced under NOAA awards are visible, accessible, independently understandable, and provided free of charge or at minimal cost in a timely manner, unless restricted by law, policy, regulation, or security requirements.
Is the program only about data collection?
No. While improving geodetic control networks and integrating physical measurement datasets are highlighted, NOAA also emphasizes turning that improved framework into practical regional models, tools, guidelines, documentation, and public-facing data products, plus education and technology transfer so the work can be sustained and used in practice.
What kinds of datasets or measurements are mentioned as relevant?
The notice specifically mentions integrating key datasets such as coastal remote sensing, terrestrial gravity measurements, and other physical measurements needed for accurate positioning and height determination.
What does NOAA mean by improving "geodetic control"?
Based on the notice, improving geodetic control includes enhancements to control networks and the integration of supporting measurement datasets needed for accurate positioning and height determination, as part of strengthening the foundation of the National Geodetic Reference System.
What types of deliverables does NOAA expect?
Expected outputs include practical regional models, tools, and public-facing data products, as well as workflows, standards, software tools, and documentation that helps professionals access and use geodetic control and analyze geodetic data.
How important are partnerships and coordination?
Partnerships are explicitly encouraged. NOAA highlights coordination through partnerships and encourages applicants to work closely with local users and stakeholders (including state and local governments, universities, and public-sector entities) and other regional partners so the work reflects operational needs and is adopted in practice.
What are NOAA's expectations for data sharing and public access?
The program stresses open and effective data sharing. Environmental data and information collected or produced under NOAA awards should be visible, accessible, independently understandable to general users, provided free of charge or at minimal cost, and delivered in a timely manner, unless restricted by law, policy, regulation, or security requirements.
Are there situations where data might not be shared openly?
Yes. The notice allows exceptions when data sharing is restricted by law, policy, regulation, or security requirements.
How does this opportunity align with NOAA's strategic goals?
The opportunity primarily supports NOAA's mission support goal of Resilient Coastal Communities and Economies. The solicitation also notes that funded work is commonly expected to contribute to broader NOAA mission goals such as Climate Adaptation and Mitigation, a Weather Ready Nation, and Healthy Oceans, and to advance enterprise-level goals related to Science and Technology and Engagement.
What type of funding instrument is used?
This is described as a discretionary program using a grant funding instrument, with cooperative agreements also contemplated.
How many awards did NOAA anticipate making?
NOAA anticipated making 2 awards under this announcement.
What is the expected award size?
Individual award amounts were anticipated to range from $750,000 (floor) to $2,000,000 (ceiling).
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The notice states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Who is eligible to apply as the primary applicant?
Eligible primary applicants include institutions of higher education and state, local, and Indian tribal governments.
Can federal agencies apply as the primary recipient?
No. Federal agencies and institutions cannot serve as the primary recipient, according to the notice.
Can foreign governments apply as the primary recipient?
No. The notice states foreign governments cannot serve as the primary recipient.
Can ineligible entities still participate in some way?
Yes. While federal agencies, federal institutions, and foreign governments cannot be the primary recipient, NOAA encourages them to participate as partners when it makes sense for the project.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The funding is associated with CFDA 11.400, Geodetic Surveys and Services (Geodesy and Applications of the National Geodetic Reference System).
Was this an open, ongoing solicitation?
No. The dates provided indicate it was a time-limited competition for that period. The notice lists it as posted May 21, 2013, created June 24, 2013, with a closing date in late June 2013 and an archive date of July 25, 2013.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The notice lists the opportunity as posted May 21, 2013, created June 24, 2013, with a closing date in late June 2013, and an archive date of July 25, 2013.
Who was the program contact listed in the notice?
The listed program contact for administrative support or access issues related to the full announcement was Sonita Tiwari at NOAA NOS (National Ocean Service), located in Silver Spring, Maryland. Phone and fax details were included in the notice.
What kinds of issues was the listed contact intended to help with?
The notice describes the contact as being for administrative support or access issues related to the full announcement.
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