[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]


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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.

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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