[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 226 (Thursday, November 21, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59240-59241]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29779]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Geological Survey
Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC); Application Notice
Announcing the Opening Date for Transmittal of Applications Under the
FGDC National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Competitive
Cooperative Agreements Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 1997
AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey, Interior.
ACTION: Notice inviting applications for competitive cooperative
agreement awards for fiscal year 1997, with performance to begin in
September 1997.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The purpose of the FGDC National Spatial Data Infrastructure
(NSDI) Competitive Cooperative Agreements Program is to facilitate and
foster partnerships and alliances within and among various public and
private entities to assist in building the NSDI. The NSDI consists of
policies, standards, agreements, and partnerships among a variety of
sectors and disciplines that will promote more cost-effective
production, ready availability, and greater use of high quality
geospatial data. The NSDI Competitive Cooperative Agreements Program is
intended to encourage resource-sharing projects, between and among the
public and private sector through the use of technology, networking,
and enhanced interagency coordination efforts. Proposals must involve
teaming with two or more organizations. Participants are expected to
cost share in the project. Activities initiated under this program will
promote development and maintenance of and access to data sets that are
needed for national, regional, State, and local analyses. Authority for
this program is contained in the Organic Act of March 3, 1879, 43
U.S.C. 31 and Executive Order 12906.
Applications may be submitted by State and local government
agencies, educational institutions, private firms, private foundations,
and Federally acknowledged or state-recognized Native American tribes
or groups.
DATES: The program announcement and application forms are expected to
be available on or about November 29, 1996. Applications must be
received on or before February 29, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Copies of Program Announcement #1434-HQ-97-PA-00022 may be
obtained by writing to Ms. Kathleen Craig, U.S. Geological Survey,
Office of Procurement and Contracts, Mail Stop 205B, 12201 Sunrise
Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia 20192, (703) 648-7357.
[[Page 59241]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Jennifer Fox, FGDC, U.S. Geological Survey, 590 National Center,
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia 20192; telephone number
(703) 648-5514; facsimile (703) 648-5755. Internet ``[email protected]''.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under this FY 1997 program announcement,
proposals are to be directed towards four components of the NSDI. The
first component deals with creation of a distributed clearinghouse for
finding and accessing geospatial data. Efforts considered applicable
include the creation (inventory, evaluate, catalog data, and establish
Internet access) and management of a node within the National
Geospatial Data Clearinghouse that provides users with a means for
finding, accessing, and sharing geospatial data.
The second component involves development and promulgation of the
use of standards in data collection, documentation, transfer, and
search and query. Applicable efforts include stimulating the
development of applicable geospatial data standards by: (1) creating
new standards or adapting existing standards that fall within the realm
of NSDI, and which may or may not be within the scope of current FGDC
Subcommittees and Working Groups, or (2) conducting studies to
determine what standards are needed to effectively share geospatial
data; and, creating new data elements for specific data themes that
complement the FGDC Digital Geospatial Metadata content standards by
supporting documentation of data sets which are not explicitly
geospatial.
The third component focuses on the initial implementation of a
geospatial data framework that provides a base on which to collect,
register, or integrate information accurately. Applicable efforts
include creating and managing a node on the National Geospatial Data
Clearinghouse that provides users with a means for finding, accessing,
and sharing framework-like data; testing and implementing techniques
needed to support framework roles of area integration or data
distribution; conducting a feasibility project for implementing
technical or institutional aspects of the framework; and, identifying,
justifying, and implementing elements of metadata at the ``feature''
level, required to support framework operations.
The fourth component addresses developing and implementing
educational outreach programs to increase awareness and understanding
of the vision and concepts of the NSDI. Applicable efforts involve
developing educational or outreach material or programs that explain
the use of geographic information systems technology for community
development, the benefits of data sharing, the use of networking for
data sharing, and the importance of data documentation to targeted
audiences within the community; conducting programs to increase user
comprehension and adoption of the FGDC Content Standards for Digital
Geospatial Metadata and the Spatial Data Transfer Standard;
establishing, developing, or expanding programs or projects, through
development of training programs, information guides and other
explanatory materials, that increase the contributions of local,
regional, or national data sets to the National Geospatial Data
Clearinghouse; developing programs to integrate the vision and concepts
of the NSDI into formal and informal education at all levels, K through
16; and, activities to strengthen or to help form statewide or regional
geographic information coordination mechanisms.
Dated: November 12, 1996.
Wendy Budd,
Associate Chief, Programs and Finances.
[FR Doc. 96-29779 Filed 11-20-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-31-M