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

A -- FEDERAL GEOGRAPHIC DATA COMMITTEE (FGDC) NATIONAL SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE (NSDI) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS PROGRAM SOL 99HQPA0005 DUE 030299 POC Kathleen Craig (CO) 703-648-7357, Karen Staubs (Contact) 703-648-7372 This is a U.S. Geological Survey announcement of a competitive cooperative agreements program under the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 15-809 entitled, "National Spatial Data Infrastructure Competitive Cooperative Agreements Program." The FGDC invites proposals to facilitate and foster partnerships and alliances within and among various public and private entities to assist in building the NSDI. The NSDI is the term used to describe the linked technologies, spatial data, standards, public policies, people, and institutions that are needed to put current and accurate geographic data into the hands of citizens and decision makers. Under the 1999 NSDI Cooperative Agreements Program, proposals are to be directed towards two types of effort. The first is the creation of descriptions (metadata) of framework' digital geospatial data sets and serving those descriptions for search and retrieval through the distributed, electronically connected network of public Internet-based clearinghouses. The second type of effort is providing clearinghouse/metadata technical assistance to organizations to enable the documentation and serving of metadata for framework' data. The geographic data themes known as framework' data are transportation, hydrography, elevation, digital orthoimagery, government boundaries, geodetic control, and cadastral information. Applications may be submitted by Federal agencies, State and local government agencies, educational institutions, private firms, private foundations, non-profit organizations, and Federally acknowledged or state-recognized Native American tribes or groups. The Program Announcement application forms for the NSDI Cooperative Agreements Program is expected to be available on or about February 1, 1999. Applications must be received on or before March 2, 1999. Copies of Program Announcement No. 99HQPA0005 for the NSDI Cooperative Agreements Program may be obtained through the Internet at <www.usgs.gov/contracts/index.html>. Copies of the Program Announcement may also be obtained by writing to: Ms. Karen Staubs, U.S. Geological Survey, Office of Acquisition and Federal Assistance, Mail Stop 205B, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 205B, Reston, Virginia 20192, (703) 648-7372, FAX (703) 648-7901. Requests for a paper copy must be in writing. Facsimile requests will be accepted. Telephonic requests will not be honored. Posted 01/27/99 (W-SN291796). (0027)

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