Program Update: Interagency Ocean Observation Committee – August 2011
Filed under: Discovery,IOOC,Ocean Observing,Program Updates,Program Updates - Interagency Ocean Observation Committee
The Interagency Ocean Observation Committee (IOOC) Data Partners Criteria Working Group and Regional Information Coordination Entities (RICE) Working Group are on track to submit their formal recommendations to the committee in September. The IOOC chartered two working groups to meet provision 12304 (c)(2)(E) of the Integrated Coastal Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 to “develop contract certification standards and compliance procedures for all non-Federal assets.” After a full review by the committee, the draft certification standards will undergo a 60-day review period on the Federal Register.
The independent cost estimate is currently in the review process. The IOOC and Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Program Office transmitted initial documentation to the contractor, including the statement of work, a work breakdown structure, ground rules and assumptions, and a cost analysis requirements document. The IOOS Program Office will also develop a federal cost estimate. The two cost estimates will go through a process of reconciliation.
The IOOS Program Office is conducting IOOS Partner Activity Assessments with each participating IOOC agency. The assessments measure an agency’s IOOS contributions in terms of three general capabilities: 1.) observing systems; 2.) research and development; and 3.) education and training. Seven agencies are now engaged in the process.
IOOC members are engaged with National Ocean Policy implementation, including the development of the Strategic Action Plan #9: “Ocean, Coastal, and Great Lakes Observations, Mapping, and Infrastructure.” The draft action plan was submitted to the National Ocean Council, and Interagency Policy Committees are currently conducting the policy and budget review.
Upcoming events
The next full committee meeting will be held on Thursday, October 20, 2011 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the Consortium for Ocean Leadership.
The IOOS Program Office and IOOC are hosting two town halls at the upcoming MTS/IEEE Oceans ’11 Conference September 19-22, 2011 in Kona. The first is entitled “Partnerships to Integrate Ocean Observations to Address Customer Needs,” and will focus on how to successfully build partnerships across organizations regionally. The second is entitled “Emerging Ocean Observing Technologies Forum,” and will examine how to improve marine technology development in both generating new ideas and building systems.
Planning is underway for the next IOOC stakeholder workshop scheduled for February 2, 2012. The workshop will explore how access to data and integrated data products from the coastal marine environment can deliver economic and environmental benefits. An organizing team is meeting every two weeks addressing content and logistics. The event will focus on ocean observing in the Pacific Northwest region. Microsoft Research will be hosting the event at their technology campus in Redmond, Washington.
