15 CFR § 997.24 - Gaps identification.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t15/s997.24"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "15 CFR § 997.24 - Gaps identification."
title_number: 15
title_name: "Commerce and Foreign Trade"
section_number: "997.24"
section_name: "Gaps identification."
chapter_name: "NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE"
subchapter_number: "G"
subchapter_name: "REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATION BY NOAA OF NON-FEDERAL ASSETS INTO THE INTEGRATED COASTAL AND OCEAN OBSERVATION SYSTEM"
part_number: "997"
part_name: "REGIONAL COASTAL OBSERVING SYSTEM"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "33 U.S.C. 3602-3603."
regulatory_source: "79 FR 32460, June 5, 2014, as amended at 87 FR 16634, Mar. 24, 2022, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "997"
---


# 997.24 Gaps identification.

(a) To become certified, an RCOS must identify gaps in observation coverage needs for capital improvements of Federal assets and non-Federal assets of the System, or other recommendations to assist in the development of annual and long-terms plans and transmit such information to the Interagency Ocean Observing Committee via the Program Office.

(b) The application shall:

(1) Document that the RCOS's asset inventory contains up-to-date information. This could be demonstrated by a database or portal accessible for public viewing and capable of producing a regional summary of observing capacity;

(2) Provide a regional Build-out Plan that identifies the regional priorities for products and services, based on its understanding of regional needs, and a description of the integrated system (observations, modeling, data management, product development, outreach, and R&D). The RCOS shall review and update the Build-out Plan at least once every five years; and

(3) Document the priority regional gaps in observation coverage needs, as determined by an analysis of the RICE asset inventory and Build-out Plan. The RCOS shall review and update the analysis of priority regional gaps in observation coverage needs at least once every five years.