Office of Naval Research, 800 North Quincy Street, Arlington, VA 22217-5660

A -- SECRETARY OF THE NAVY (SECNAV)/CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS (CNO) OCEANOGRAPHIC CHAIRS POC Dr. Steve Ramberg, ONR 321 (703) 696-4358. 96-011 - The Office of Naval Research (ONR) announces a program to recognize distinguished academic ocean scientists through the establishment of four year awards for research ''Chairs'' and ''Scholars''. These awards stem from recognition by the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) and the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) that oceanography is a core Navy competency. Each award will include four years of support for one Research Chair, an associated Scholar, and at least two graduate students as described later. This announcement constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) as contemplated in FAR 6.102(d)(2). Recipients of ''Chair'' awards will be internationally known leaders in their fields with collaborations across many science areas and sponsoring agencies. The recipients of ''Scholar'' awards should be early to mid-career researchers who have the potential to be tomorrow's leaders in the same sense of the ''Chairs''. By supporting the collaborative research of distinguished scientists and students in this way, the Office of Naval Research intends to recognize today's academic leaders in Navy oceanography and encourage development of tomorrow's leaders. In addition to promoting excellent research and education, the program will foster closer relations between the ocean science community and the operating Navy through special liaison activities to be undertaken by the SECNAV/CNO Chair and ONR/(Institution Name) Scholar during their tenure. Proposals will be selected on the basis of the following criteria: (1) Demonstrated experience and status of the Chair nominee, especially with regard to scientific and mentoring achievement as well as breadth of collaborative activities across the scientific community and the various sponsoring agencies. (2) Demonstrated research experience and achievements of the Scholar nominee as reflected in past activities and in potential for growth into activities noted for the Chair. (3) Relevance of research goals to Navy and Marine Corps needs for the scientific and technical areas in which the Chair and Scholar will perform. (4) Adequacy of facilities and other resources available to support the proposed oceanographic research. (5) Curricula, performance, and stature of the institution, especially with regard to quality of graduate students as well as the quality of the oceanographic science faculty. (6) Plans for maintaining and/or developing new Navy laboratory interactions. (7) Names and qualifications of the ONR/(Institution Name) graduate Fellows or plans to make these selections. (8) Commitment(s) by the institution to oceanographic science faculty in general and to the Chair, Scholar, and graduate students in particular. (9) Plans and commitment for a new tenure track faculty position, or equivalent, during the award period. Proposals must be received by 14 June 1996 at the Office of Naval Research, Code 32, ATTN: FY96 Chairs, 800 North Quincy Street, Room 407, Arlington, VA 22217-5660. Letters announcing award decisions will be mailed to the Chair nominee cited in the proposal on or after 15 August 1996. Grants are expected to be in place on or soon after 01 October 1996. Research relevant to the oceanographic science interests of the Office of Naval Research is described in the Ocean, Atmosphere, & Space Department portion of the Science and Technology section of the ONR Home Page accessed on the World Wide Web site, http://www.onr.navy.mil, or may be obtained by mail from the Office of Naval Research, Code 32, ATTN: FY96 Chairs, 800 North Quincy Street, Room 407, Arlington, VA 22217-5660. For awards made as contracts, evaluation of the socio-economic merits of the proposal shall include the extent of commitment in providing meaningful subcontracting opportunities for small business, small disadvantaged business, woman-owned small business concerns, historically black colleges, universities and minority institutions (0102)

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