SECOORA Annual MeetingJune 2007

Josie Quintrell, Executive Director

11 Regional AssociationsAll at various stages of maturity

PacIOOS CaRA

The 11 Regions came together to formNational Federation of Regional Associations

(NFRA)

• Founded in February, 2005

• A non-profit association dedicated to:– Representing the needs of the 11 Regional

Association to IOOS partners and others– Developing “one voice” for the regional

perspective– Education through communication of lessons

learned, success stories

The Critical Issue: Funding

• FY07 -- “The Valley of Death”– CR ~ $15-16 m for Regions ($11.5m for IOOS BAA;

$4.5m for PG and $2 m for NOAA BAA)

• FY 08 -- $11.5 in President’s Budget – IOOS Coalition asking for $50m for competitive funds

for region– 2 BAAs for 08 (PG and RCOOS) –

• Announce in June/July 07• Proposal due ~ Nov 07• Awards expected ~ April 08

• FY10 ~ Transition to contracts

Legislation

• S 950 and HR 2337 (Energy Policy and Reform Act of 2007)

• House marked up bill last week – IOOS was the only none controversial section

• Senate expected to mark up the bill by end of June

• Legislation key for 1) RA liability 2) Program Office 3) Certification 4) Federal participation on RAs and 5) Transferring funds between federal agencies

Comparison of IOOS Bills

S 950 HR 2337

Oversight NORLC NORLC

IWG Not required Yes

IPO Yes In NOAA

NOAA Lead Yes Yes

Regions RAs and RCOOS RICEs

Adv Panel No Yes

Liability Yes Yes

Fed Participation on RA

Yes Yes

Interagency Fin. Yes Yes

Authorization amount Up to $150,000 No

Comparison, con’t.

S 950 HR 2337IPO develop standards

NOAA certifies through rule making

To be certified: RA must meet standards and:•Have organizational structure•Have an business and strategic operations plans

•Work with gov. programs at all

levels

IPO develop standards

NOAA can certify or establish through contract the RICEs

RICEs are responsible for:•Gathering data•Identifying gaps• Must have an organizational structure• Must comply with financial req• Work well with gov and non-gov entities

What are “Regional Information Coordination Entities”?

• “an organization that is certified or established by the lead Federal agency and coordinating State, Federal, local and private interests at a regional level with the responsibility of engaging the private and public sectors in designing, operating, and improving regional coastal and ocean observing system in order to ensure the provision of data and information that meet needs of user groups from the respective regions”

• Such term includes Regional Association as described by the System Plan”

Future Activities

• Continue to be voice for regions with NOAA and Ocean US– Funding amounts– Competitive process– Certification issues– Conceptual designs– DMAC

• Annual Meeting: Oct 23-25, 2007

Summary• Regions are demonstrating the power of

ocean observing for meeting user needs

• Funding is critical -- regions must act together to support IOOS and in particular, the regional aspect of IOOS.