NOAA Atlas 14 Volume for Texas | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The NOAA Atlas 14 Volume for Texas funding opportunity (W9126G-16-2-RFP-0750) is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) cooperative agreement competition supporting research and development work that contributes to NOAA Atlas 14, the national precipitation-frequency standard used to estimate how often certain rainfall amounts are likely to occur. The core goal of Atlas 14 is to produce precipitation frequency estimates expressed as annual exceedance probabilities (AEP) and average recurrence intervals (ARI) for rainfall durations spanning very short events (5 minutes) through long-duration storms (up to 60 days), and for return periods ranging from 1 year out to 1,000 years. For Texas, the work relies on historical precipitation records, develops statistically based point estimates, and then spatially interpolates results to a fine grid (about 4 km by 4 km) so engineers and planners can apply consistent rainfall-frequency values statewide. The final Atlas 14 Texas volume is intended to be published as a web-based NOAA product and, like earlier Atlas 14 volumes, would provide data access through NOAA tools (including the Precipitation Frequency Data Server), downloadable gridded datasets in common formats, map products, trend analysis outputs, seasonal distribution charts, probabilistic temporal distribution information, and full technical documentation.

From a practical standpoint, the opportunity is framed around public safety and infrastructure reliability. USACE will use the improved precipitation-frequency information to strengthen hydrologic studies and advance its Flood Risk Management mission, while Texas agencies such as the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) are highlighted as key downstream users who apply these estimates to design and size highways, bridges, culverts, parking lots, and drainage systems. The solicitation also points to broader stormwater applications, including detention basin sizing and outlet structure design, emphasizing that better rainfall-frequency estimates translate into better drainage design, reduced flood risk, and safer travel conditions across the state.

Funding is anticipated to total roughly $400,000 over about three years, with an expected base period of approximately nine months funded at about $218,000, plus up to three option periods (each anticipated at about six months) that may be exercised depending on funding availability and satisfactory performance. The anticipated project start date is May 9, 2016. The instrument is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, meaning the government expects substantial involvement during performance. In this case, NOAA's Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center (HDSC) is expected to provide technical review and also complete a portion of the precipitation-frequency analysis, with work organization shaped by the HDSC Atlas 14 program manager. USACE Fort Worth Districts Water Resources Branch is expected to play a technical role by integrating the resulting precipitation-frequency data into the Corps Water Management System, specifically the MetVue meteorological software, and USACE will conduct quality assurance reviews of quarterly reporting.

The scope described for this particular award is a subset of the larger Atlas 14 Texas effort. The solicitation makes clear that required deliverables for this award include (1) a log documenting corrections to station metadata and (2) a database of quality-controlled 1-day annual maximum precipitation series. Reporting requirements include quarterly progress reports (every three months once work begins), with the expectation that deliverables completed through the end of the base period or last executed option period must be provided even if options are not exercised. A final report is required and must include the station metadata correction log and the quality-controlled 1-day annual maximum series database, with submission coordinated through the Fort Worth District Water Resources Branch Chief in coordination with HDSC leadership.

Eligibility is limited to non-Federal, public or private nonprofit colleges and universities that offer advanced degrees in science and engineering, consortia of nonprofit academic institutions, and nonprofit research institutions. A key restriction is that applications are only accepted from single institutions; multi-institution proposals are explicitly not allowed. No cost sharing or matching funds are required. The opportunity anticipates a single award.

Applications had to be submitted through Grants.gov by 5:00 p.m. CDT on April 22, 2016, with timeliness determined by the electronic timestamp. Proposals were limited to 45 single-spaced pages (with specific exclusions such as federally required forms, table of contents, and letters of support), and the announcement recommends using 12-point Times New Roman or an equivalent. Required components included an authorized title page identifying the PI and institutional representative, an abstract, and a short section (no more than two pages) summarizing results from prior relevant research supported by NOAA or other agencies. The main project description needed to lay out the problem, scientific objectives, methodology, relevance to NOAA science, scientific merit, past NOAA collaboration, cost effectiveness, public and scientific benefits, and a year-by-year work summary. Applicants also had to submit SF-424 and SF-424A forms with a detailed, period-by-period budget and a budget justification, plus abbreviated CVs and current/pending support information for investigators. The notice also states that NEPA questions were not required as part of the application for this program.

Proposals were to be evaluated using four main criteria: (1) importance, relevance, and applicability to USACE and other governmental needs; (2) technical/scientific merit, including whether the approach is sound and milestones, data management, and timelines are clear; (3) overall qualifications of the applicant team and institution, including experience, capacity, and ability to sustain effective collaboration with USACE; and (4) project costs, focused on whether the budget is realistic and efficient for the scope and whether other resources can be leveraged as needed. In terms of weighting, importance/relevance and applicant qualifications are equal and slightly more important than technical/scientific merit, and the combined technical factors are significantly more important than price. After an administrative compliance screen, an independent peer panel review would rank proposals, with NOAA staff potentially serving as reviewers given the collaborative nature of the work. The selecting official generally intended to fund in rank order unless justified by stated selection factors.

Administrative requirements include standard federal assurances and, for awards over $100,000, certification related to lobbying compliance under 32 CFR Part 28 (with SF-LLL disclosure required if non-federal funds are used for lobbying activities connected to the award). Applicants needed the standard federal registrations to use Grants.gov, including a DUNS number (as referenced at the time) and active SAM registration, with the announcement advising applicants to allow at least several days for registration and not to wait until the deadline.

The listed USACE contacts for this opportunity were Grant Specialist Angela Zahid (409-766-3849, angela.zahid@usace.army.mil) and Grants Officer Maria Rodriguez (409-766-6331, maria.e.rodriguez@usace.army.mil).

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