[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 4, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 305-306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21]


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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) Partnership Funding 
Programs for Fiscal Year (FY) 2000

AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey, Interior.

ACTION: Notice inviting applications for the NSDI Cooperative 
Agreements Program (CAP) awards for Fiscal Year 2000, with performance 
to begin in August 2000.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of the FGDC National Spatial Data Infrastructure 
(NSDI) Partnership Funding Programs is to facilitate and foster 
partnerships, alliances and technology within and among various public 
and private entities to assist in building the NSDI. The NSDI consists 
of technologies, policies, organizations and people necessary to 
promote cost-effective production, ready availability, and greater 
utilization of high quality geospatial data among a variety of sectors, 
disciplines and communities.
    The FY 2000 NSDI Cooperative Agreements Program funds projects in 
three categories of activities. The first category (``Don't Duck 
Metadata'') promotes metadata collection, metadata publication (via a 
clearinghouse access of geographic data linked to the Internet), and 
activities that support the transition from the FGDC Content Standard 
for Digital Geospatial Metadata to the ISO Metadata Standard 19115 
(under development). The second category (``Framework Community 
Implementations'') promotes addressing of community issues and 
decision-making utilizing basic geographic data (NSDI Framework). The 
third category (``Web Mapping Testbeds'') category funds projects that 
test the OpenGIS Consortium's Web Mapping Testbed specifications.
    Applications may be submitted by Federal agencies, State and local 
government agencies, educational institutions, private firms, non-
profit foundations, and Federally acknowledged or state-recognized 
Native American tribes or groups. Applications from Federal agencies 
will not be competed against applications from other sources. Authority 
for this program is contained in the Organic Act of March 3, 1879, 43 
U.S.C. 31 and Executive Order 12906.


[[Page 306]]


DATES: The program announcements and application forms for the FY 2000 
NSDI Cooperative Agreements Program are expected to be available on or 
about January 15, 2000. Applications must be received on or before 
March 15, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Copies of Program Announcement #00HQPA0004 for the NSDI 
Cooperative Agreements Program, may be obtained by writing to Ms. 
Amanda Goodwin, U.S. Geological Survey, Office of Acquisition and 
Federal Assistance, Mail Stop 205B, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, 
VA 20192; (703) 648-7372, fax (703) 648-7901. Requests must be in 
writing; verbal requests will not be honored. Also, copies of each 
Program Announcement will be available through the Internet at 
<www.usgs.gov/contracts/index.html> and <www.fgdc.gov>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For the NSDI Cooperative Agreements 
Program contact Ms. Kathleen Craig, U.S. Geological Survey, Office of 
Acquisition and Federal Assistance, Mail Stop 205B, 12201 Sunrise 
Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192; (703) 648-7357, fax (703) 648-7901.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the NSDI Cooperative Agreements 
Program individual proposals should be directed towards only one of the 
three categories per application. A total of $1,000,000 is available 
for award.

2000 CAP Categories

Category 1: ``Don't Duck Metadata''

    The project objectives for this category are the documentation of 
geospatial data through metada creation and serving that documentation 
on the Internet through a NSDI clearing house. Under this category 
funds are provided for: (a) Organizations needing assistance in 
metadata creation and clearinghouse development; and (b) those 
organizations that can provide training assistance or state/regional 
consolidated assistance efforts.

Category 2: ``Framework Community Implementations''

    This funding category advances the capacity of communities to 
create and use basic geospatial data. Framework data are defined as 
geodetic control, cadastral, digital orthoimagery, elevation, 
bathymetry, transportation, hydrography, and governmental units. 
Projects funded under this category will demonstrate collaborative GIS 
approaches and decision-support in solving community issues utilizing 
basic ``framework'' data using or refining existing FGDC Framework 
standards. Projects will establish a collaborative process that 
provides different kinds of organizations and disciplines the ability 
to integrate and share framework data. Applicants must demonstrate 
partnership with at least one other organization and are expected to 
make a 100% in-kind award match. As part of category 2 submissions, 
joint Canadian/U.S. partnership projects are invited.

Category 3: ``Web Mapping Testbeds''

    Projects funded under this category are expected to result in the 
technical ability for users to discover and view map data from multiple 
map servers through the National Geospatial Data Clearinghouse. These 
projects will use the OpenGIS Consortium's pending open specifications 
for web mapping and the result of these pilot projects will aid in 
refining future versions of those standards. Projects must build on 
existing web mapping and Clearinghouse installations and expertise 
within a geographic area, and must include two or more participating 
organizations with a requirement to visualize each organization's data 
in an operational Internet environment.

    Dated: December 28, 1999.
John A. Kelmelis,
Acting Chief, National Mapping Division.
[FR Doc. 00-21 Filed 1-3-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-Y7-M