The National Science Board has authorized the National Science Foundation to negotiate a new cooperative agreement with the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) to continue to manage and operate its flagship weather and climate center, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). UCAR has managed the center since its inception in 1960. This is the first time that the five-year cooperative agreement with NSF was opened to competition. The agreement, not to exceed $694 million, will take effect on October 1, the beginning of the 2009 fiscal year, and run until September 30, 2013. It can be renewed for an additional five years without a recompetition, pending satisfactory reviews. “We’re very pleased to be able to continue our longstanding relationship with NSF in managing NCAR on behalf of the university community,” says UCAR president Richard Anthes. “We have proposed some exciting and innovative ideas for research, new computing and observing facilities, and university involvement in the coming five years and we’re looking forward to implementing our plans.”