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

D -- ARRANGEMENTS AND TECHNOLOGIES BY WHICH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, WOULD DELIVER A FULL RANGE OF DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHIC DATA TO CUSTOMERS VIA THE INTERNET AND ON MEDIA ACCORDING TO THE NEEDS OF THE CUSTOMER. POC David L. Batcheller, Contracting Officer (703) 648-7363 E-MAIL: click here to contact the contracting officer via, dbatchel@usgs.gov. Request for Information. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is conducting market research to determine if systems or services capable of delivering digital line graphs (DLG's), digital elevation models (DEM's), digital raster graphics (DRG's), and digital orthophoto quadrangles (DOQ's) are available commercially. The USGS is interested in considering arrangements and technologies by which other organizations, public or private, would deliver a full range of digital cartographic data to customers via the Internet and on media according to the needs of the customer. These are USGS geospatial data that are currently in the public domain. In order to understand the breadth of opportunities, the USGS is issuing this request for information. (Please limit response to 10 pages.) 1) The USGS is seeking sources to deliver its DLG's, DEM's, DRG's, and DOQ's. These constitute a substantial volume of data, currently over ten terabytes and growing. What storage capacity and capabilities exist within your organization, and how would your organization propose to store and manage these files? 2) The USGS serves a wide range of customers, including its own employees; its partners, both those that partner in the production of data and those who currently retail USGS data and products; other Federal agencies; State and local governments; academia; industry; general public; and foreign customers. With this diversity of customers, it is challenging to provide services that meet their various needs. For example, some government agencies issue purchase orders, many regular customers expect a standing order function so that they can get their data of interest when it comes into the database, shipping costs to foreign customers are wide ranging. How would you suggest organizing services and grouping customers to best serve them? 3) These data are organized into over 450,000 separate files that range in size from approximately one (1) megabyte for DEM's and DLG's to over 150 megabytes for color-infrared DOQ's. Customers must be able to find the data they need and retrieve them. What organizing principle and retrieval mechanism would you use? Explain the benefits of the design by which you propose to organize these data. 4) For customers that want the data delivered via the Internet, what technology would you use to ensure timely responses and quick delivery? What communications connections would you use? 5) Some customers will want these data on media, either because of data volume or for convenience. What media options would you offer and what would the delivery time to the customer be? 6) The USGS prices for these data are very economical; in fact, over the Internet some of the data are downloadable at no charge. This makes the data very affordable for a wide range of customers. What type of a pricing structure would you propose and by what means would you keep the data prices at or below current USGS prices? (http://mapping.usgs.gov/esic/prices/digital_data.html ) 7) Some customers may want data services, such as format conversion,datum or projection changes. Can you provide or do you have plans to provide these types of services or can you give customers easy links to obtain such services? What formats, datum and projections would you include? 8) Are examples of your suggestions available? Do you have a Web site that demonstrates some of your ideas? What relevant customer references can you provide? 9) Given the public domain nature of USGS data and the challenges of doing business on the Internet, what is your organization's interest in these services? Would you like to suggest any terms or conditions that your organization would consider reasonable and necessary for committing to such services for the USGS? This is not an RFP. This announcement is only for the purpose of identifying available sources. No formal solicitation or contract will result from this synopsis for industry information. The Government will not pay for information provided in response to this RFI. Information responding to this request should be received by COB on May 26, 2000. Any questions should be addressed to David L. Batcheller at the address or phone number specified in this announcement or email to dbatchel@usgs.gov Posted 04/26/00 (W-SN448661). (0117)

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