U.S. Geological Survey, 205B 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192

T -- ENHANCE GEOSPATIAL DATA ACCESSIBILITY SOL 99HQPA0004 DUE 121898 POC Karen Staubs (Contact) 703-648-7372 Program Announcement to obtain Digital Line Graphs (DLG), Digital Elevation Models (DEM), and Digital Orthophotoquads (DOQ) and other similar data files captured from or registered to USGS primary series topographic maps for entry into public-domain digital geospatial data bases as part of the public domain. This program announcement will result in the award of cooperative agreements. This is a renaming and reannouncement of Program Announcement 8080. Program Announcement 8080 will now be renumbered to Program Announcement 99HQPA0004 and is hereby renamed "Innovative Partnerships for the Acquisition, Preparation, and/or Maintenance of Digital Geospatial Data for the Public Domain." This announcement will be available on/about October 30, 1998, and remain continuously open until July 31, 2000. It is suggested that applicants use the current Program Annoucement 8080 as a guide in preparing proposals until the new announcement is released. Program announcement number, name, emphasis and application date are the significant changes to the current announcement, but the format and necessary documentation for proposal submission has not been altered with these updates. The fiscal year 1999 application due date is December 18, 1998. Subsequent due dates will be published in the CBD. Applications received after December 18, 1998, will be considered late. Late applications will not be reviewed or considered for award until after a future published due date. Applications no longer need be accompanied by a Standard Form 424A. HOWEVER, THE BASIC COST INFORMATION INDICATED ON THE 424A IS STILL REQUIRED. Acceptable data will relate to the requirements for content, accuracy, and format as detailed in USGS National Mapping Program Technical Instructions: Standards for Digital Line Graphs; Standards for Digital Elevation Models; Standards for Digital Orthophotos; and Technical Instructions for the National Hydrography Dataset. This announcement does not solicit contractor support for specific USGS digital mapping requirements, nor does it encourage speculative ventures by any potential cooperator. The intent is to identify accurate primary digital map data being prepared by non-Federal organizations in areas of the United States now lacking DLG, DEM, or DOQ coverage, and to obtain technically acceptable data for the public domain through cooperative agreements. When it is in the Government's interest, and subject to the availability of appropriated funds, the USGS assists qualified organizations in preparing digital map data to USGS standards, and evaluates existing cartographic data compatible with USGS technical standards. Data obtained under this initiative will be archived and distributed as part of the public domain. When evaluating new proposals and modifications to existing partnerships under this Innovative Partnership (IP) program, the NMD considers the relative overlap between the proposal's interest and existing requirements and obligations in the Division. Proposals which support the development of a National Digital Geospatial Data Framework, including strategies for data maintenance, are of keen interest to the NMD. Also, proposals which support the National Mapping Divisions' program objectives and strategic plan are considered valuable and worthwhile to the advancement of the National Mapping Program (NMP). . It is anticipated that a maximum of $4,000,000 will be designated to support cooperative agreements during fiscal year 1999, subject to the continued availability of appropriated funds. Through the NMP, the NMD provides geographic, cartographic, and remotely sensed information, maps, and technical assistance, and it conducts related research in response to national needs. The role of the USGS, NMD is to acquire, produce, manage, and disseminate geospatial data; cultivate partnerships with other governmental organizations, academia, and the private sector for those activities; provide leadership in establishing national geospatial data polices and standards; and conduct a geographic research and development program focused on interpretation and application of geospatial data. NMD is obligated to the following specific goals and will consider these goals when evaluating proposals solicited under program announcement 99HQPA0004: 1. The development of the National Digital Geospatial Data Framework and provides national leadership for orthimagery, elevation, and hydrography framework categories. 2. The completion and maintenance a suite of national data sets responsive to customer priorities and requirements. Dates for selected components of this suite of national data sets are: by 1999, quad based digital elevation model (DEM) data for the United States will be complete. by 2002, a system of policies, partnerships, and processes will be in place to maintain the quality and currentness of the National Hydrography Data Set. by 2004, digital ortho-imagery for the United States will be complete. The following is the priority of NMD data products/themes for consideration under this announcement: Digital Orthophoto Quadrangles (DOQs) a. new coverage b. update coverage Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) a. Replacement DEMs: Level 1 to Level 2 conversions b. significant changes in topography Vector geospatial data: a. National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) b. Digital Line Graph data Hydrography and data related towards NHD/framework Transportation data Hypsography and data related towards DEMs Requests for Program Announcement 99HQPA0004 must be in writing, and may be made by facsimile to (703) 648-7901 (telephone confirmation is recommended). In addition, the digital portion of the Program Announcement can be downloaded via internet http://www.usgs.gov/contracts/. Posted 10/22/98 (W-SN264365). (0295)

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