123STA T . 1 4 31 PUBLIC LA W 111 – 11 —M A R .3 0, 200 9bytheCouncil,a n d en s u r e that re g ional obser v ations are integrated into the S yste m on a sustained basis
- (F)
identi f yga p s in observation coverage or needs for capital improvements of both Federal assets and non - Fed- eral assets; ( G ) sub j ect to the availability of appropriations, estab- lish through one or more participating Federal agencies, in consultation w ith the System advisory committee estab- lished under subsection (d), a competitive matching grant or other programs — (i) to promote intramural and e x tramural research and development of new, innovative, and emerging observation technologies including testing and field trials; and (ii) to facilitate the migration of new, innovative, and emerging scientific and technological advances from research and development to operational deploy- ment; ( H ) periodically review and recommend to the Council, in consultation with the A dministrator, revisions to the System P lan; ( I ) ensure collaboration among Federal agencies partici- pating in the activities of the Committee; and ( J ) perform such additional duties as the Council may delegate . ( 3 ) LEADF EDE R A L A G E NCY .— T he N ational O ceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall function as the lead Federal agency for the implementation and administration of the System, in consultation with the Council, the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee, other Federal agencies that maintain portions of the System, and the regional information coordination entities, and shall— (A) establish an Integrated Ocean Observing Program Office within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration utili z ing to the extent necessary, personnel from member agencies participating on the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee, to oversee daily operations and coordination of the System; ( B ) implement policies, protocols, and standards approved by the Council and delegated by the Interagency Ocean Observing Committee; (C) promulgate program guidelines to certify and integrate non-Federal assets, including regional informa- tion coordination entities, into the System to provide regional coastal and ocean observation data that meet the needs of user groups from the respective regions; ( D ) have the authority to enter into and oversee con- tracts, leases, grants or cooperative agreements with non- Federal assets, including regional information coordination entities, to support the purposes of this subtitle on such terms as the Administrator deems appropriate; ( E ) implement a merit-based, competitive funding process to support non-Federal assets, including the development and maintenance of a networ k of regional information coordination entities, and develop and imple- ment a process for the periodic review and evaluation of Contrac t s.G rants. G uidel ines. Certi f ication. Go v ern m ent or g ani z ation.
