NASA Headquarters, Code YS, Washington, DC 20546 Attn:YS/Dr. Dixon M. Butler

A -- DRAFT COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT NOTICES FOR EARTH SCIENCE INFO. PARTNERS POC Dr. Dixon M. Butler tel: 202/358-0258 Working Prototype Earth Science Information Partner (WP-ESIP) DRAFT Cooperative Agreement Notices. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been formulating plans for shifting the implementation of the production, publishing, and user services elements of EOSDIS to a federation of competitively selected Earth Science Information Partners (ESIPs). As one step in this implementation, two Cooperative Agreement Notices (CANs) are envisioned. One CAN focuses on working prototype environmental information production and management efforts in support of global change research and the adaptation of new and emerging information technologies (Type 2 WP-ESIPs). The second CAN focuses on establishing partnerships which will extend the use of information and data resulting from MTPE to communities of users beyond the global change researchers (Type 3 WP-ESIPs). Selectees under both CANs will be expected to participate in a working prototype environmental information federation. Through these Working Prototype ESIP and Federation efforts, NASA expects to develop a low-risk, tested Federated approach to future EODSDIS implementation, to prepare the community for expanded future competitions that will include the reliable, routine production of products from NASA missions (Type 1 ESIPs), to prove new technologies which can lower the future costs of EOSDIS, and to provide expanded services to users both within and without the global change research community. The following draft CANs will be released on or about June 11, 1996, for open review and comment via the Internet at the Mission to Planet Earth Home Page: ''http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/mtpe/'' under ''MTPE Research Announcements'' or via anonymous ftp at: ''ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/mtpe''. Paper copies will be available for those who do not have access to Internet by calling (202) 358-3552. Comments on the draft WP-ESIP CANs are requested and must be received not later than July 1,1996. Comments may be submitted electronically to ''esip2can@jorge.hq.nasa.gov'' or ''esip3can@jorge.hq.nasa.gov'' or faxed to WP-ESIP Type 2 Draft CAN or WP-ESIP Type 3 Draft CAN at (202) 554-3024. Individuals should refer to the WP-ESIP Draft CANs RTQ site on or after July 15, 1996, for NASA responses to questions and comments of general interest (NOTE that questions and comments will be listed without attribution.) As part of the process of obtaining comments on the CAN for Type 2 WP-ESIPs, a workshop will be held at the Goddard Space Flight Center on June 25 and 26, 1996. This workshop will endeavor to develop consensus comments on the draft CAN based upon experiences to date of those who have already engaged in ESIP-style activities. A more general discussion of the CANs is planned for a conference to be held in late August or early September 1996. While the format for the workshop will be consistent with participation of roughly 50 attendees, the workshop is open and a report of the workshop will be made available. If you wish to attend, please contact Ms. Carol Weber by phone (202) 358-0258, or via email cweber@mtpe.hq.nasa.gov or by FAX (202) 358-3098 no later than June 14, 1996. (0145)

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