Notice of Funding Opportunity FAQs

WPO is committed to facilitating an efficient, straightforward, and inclusive grants application process. Through surveys, in-person discussions, email, and more, we have collected feedback about the process to incorporate in the development of a new competition schedule. WPO recognizes that the grants process can be difficult, time-intensive, and potentially confusing at times for all parties, including applicants, institutions, reviewers, and grants management teams. The Notice of Funding Opportunity for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20 NOFO) was developed with this in mind.

For more information, visit https://wpo.noaa.gov/nofo or email us as info.WPO@noaa.gov.

FAQs for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20).

What are the competition deadlines this year?

For FY20, the competition dates and deadlines are consistent for each of the three WPO competitions. This is in response to previous issues of confusion among applicants and reviewers about varying due dates for different competitions, especially when deadlines change due to extenuating circumstances. This year, there is one easy-to-remember set of deadlines whether you are participating in one or multiple applications:

LOI Deadline - September 17, 2019
Proposal Deadline - November 20, 2019

Why are the deadlines different this year?

The FY20 NOFO deadlines were selected with a goal of having all applications completed before the holiday season begins. A submission deadline of November 20 allows applicants to focus on end-of-semester tasks, preparation for major professional meetings and conferences, and other obligations. In addition, by selecting projects for funding in April, student support may be prior to making other summer commitments. Due to these considerations, the entire proposal timeline was moved forward to ensure that applicants, reviewers, and program managers have sufficient time and flexibility to effectively complete the grants process.

Since the deadlines are earlier in FY20, do I have less time to apply?

If you are interested in applying, you will need to prepare and make a decision earlier in the year than with other recent WPO competitions. However, after the competitions begin, the amount of time to complete each step is comparable to or greater than in previous competitions.

Can I apply to multiple competitions?

If you are considering multiple proposals, please budget your time accordingly. Applicants are allowed to submit multiple proposals to multiple competitions, but they must be separate projects. Do not submit duplicate applications to different competitions: only the first one received will be eligible for review. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit proposals early, especially if submitting multiple proposals. Be aware that institutional grants services representatives may require additional time to process applications if a large number are submitted from the same institution.

How is the review process different in FY20?

Given that the proposal review period includes the holiday season, it was extended for FY20 to provide ample time for reviewers. However, the review period also spans at least two major professional meetings, and reviewers must be cognizant of their ethical obligations when interacting with applicants.

Is the pre-application Letter of Intent process different?

Pre-application Letters of Intent (LOI) are strongly encouraged for all programs except VORTEX-SE but are not mandatory for any. This year, VORTEX-SE will not be using LOIs. For all other programs, LOI reviews are intended to provide useful feedback to ensure applications are aligned with program objectives.

How can PIs evaluate their products or concepts in a testbed environment?

Although there are no High-Impact Weather Testbed competitions in FY20, applicants are encouraged to evaluate their project output in a NOAA testbed if it is beneficial to their research and development. Applicants are expected to identify and work with the appropriate testbed manager(s) beginning at an early stage to prepare the experiment.

Are Federal employees eligible to apply?

Federal applicants may only serve as a co-PI, co-I, or unfunded collaborator and must partner with an external, non-NOAA institution. No Federal salaries may be requested.

How does the competition schedule affect the ability to hire students?

WPO recognizes that many proposed projects provide opportunities for students. The FY20 schedule allows investigators a chance to hire students during the spring recruitment season rather than waiting until the summer, when many students are already committed.

When will funded projects start?

The start date for funded projects will vary by competition and will be selected at the discretion of the Program Manager.

What happens in the event of a government shutdown?

In the event of a lapse in government appropriations, assume that there is no change to the regularly-scheduled deadlines unless a revised deadline has been announced. Any deadline revisions will be announced promptly and clearly but may not occur until after the shutdown ends.

What should I know as a reviewer?

Reviewer requirements have not changed from previous years. If you are serving as an LOI reviewer, the review period is approximately 12 days. If you are serving as a proposal reviewer, the review period is approximately 8 weeks (late December through mid-February).

What should I know as a Project Manager?

You may want to plan annual tasks based on your unique funding and workload situations earlier than you have in the past. The LOI and proposal deadlines are 2-4 months earlier in the year, depending on the program, than the competitions announced in the FY19 NOFO.

What should I know as an institutional representative?

With all WPO competitions using the same deadline, there is potential for a large number of submissions in a short period of time. Please encourage applicants to complete their submission packages early to avoid backlogs and potential delays near the deadline(s).

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