Boulder Facility Operations Costs
What is requested?
NOAA requests an increase of $1.0 million (under Program Support/Facilities) to cover the funding shortfall resulting from the occupancy of the David Skaggs Research Center. By providing sufficient funds to meet the requirements negotiated with GSA, this initiative will eliminate the necessity to curtail or terminate programs in each of the 11 tenant organizations.
Why do we need it?
Boulder, Colorado, is home to several government organizations that are part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which is part of the Department of Commerce (DOC). The 372,000 square-foot David Skaggs Research Center houses six of the twelve laboratories located within NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR). The building includes state-of-the-art laboratories and accompanying communications network, one of the Data Centers of the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS), an Administrative Support Center (MASC), and a National Weather Service forecast office. This building became fully occupied in May of 1999. It is managed by GSA in Boulder, which charges NOAA for space, above-standard utilities, maintenance, and security.
Currently, there is no signed tenant occupancy agreement between NOAA and GSA for the David Skaggs Research Center complex. However, NOAA is finalizing an agreement with GSA on charges to be paid on building shell rent, tenant improvements, building operating expenses and other costs. This agreement comes after a long period of negotiation and resolves the terms of occupancy. A tentative agreement was reached on March 30, 2001, with Western Region of GSA Headquarters.
What are the impacts?
Based on pending agreement with GSA, there is a shortfall of $1.0M in operating costs in FY2002. This is consistent with budget estimates provided in earlier years. Without these funds, we will have to absorb shortfall in all NOAA Boulder organizations.
A shortfall of this magnitude would trigger an overall base program reduction of approximately five percent for all the NOAA Boulder organizations, which house key NOAA programs in climate, weather research, and data collection management.