NOAA AWARDS CONTRACT TO ESTABLISH SUPPORT SCIENTIST PROGRAM

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced today that it has awarded a contract to the Science Applications International Corporation of San Diego, Calif., to establish a support scientist services program within the agency’s National Weather Service (NWS). NOAA is an agency of the Commerce Department.

The five-year, $45 million contract will create a system of program support for scientists at NOAA’s Environmental Modeling Center (EMC) in Camp Springs, Md. EMC is part of the National Weather Service.

The new program will enhance meteorological and oceanographic forecast systems that will transform research technology into full-fledged operations for scientific maintenance.

“Putting an ocean model into operations takes several years of development by about 10 scientific programmers,” said Stephen Lord, EMC director. “The contract enables NOAA to accomplish this work and advance our mission to mitigate the loss of life and property through increasingly accurate and timely climate, ocean and weather forecasts.”

NOAA’s National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. National Weather Service operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources.

On the Web:

NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov

NOAA National Weather Service: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/