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

A -- SOURCES SOUGHT FOR DIGITAL EARTH ALPHA VERSIONS POC Mr. Mark Reichardt (703) 648-5742 (contact) This is not a notice of a procurement action. No solicitation will result from this announcement. The USGS, NASA and other Federal departments and agencies are seeking participants in undertaking the development of a series of Digital Earth Alpha Versions to illustrate the vision of the Digital Earth (see www.digitalearth.gov) and implement a subset of that vision as rapidly as possible. Alpha Version demonstrations will employ today's technologies and associated infrastructure to bring earth information and tools into the hands of various user communities. Digital Earth Alpha Versions will focus on specific user communities-journalists, students, museum-goers, and governance organizations-and show how they can exploit geospatial information, technology, partnerships, and the National Spatial Data Infrastructure to significantly improve their decision-making and educational opportunities through greater understanding of the Earth at the global, national, and local levels. Climate and weather will be the overarching theme for the first Alpha Version implementations. Additional details on the Digital Earth Alpha Versions requirements and scenarios are available at <http://www.digitalearth.gov/alpha/>. This initial Digital Earth Alpha Version activity is intended to be collaborative between government, industry, and other non-government organizations. No direct funding has been made available. However, participants in this Alpha Version activity will receive public acknowledgement of their contributions, and will have the opportunity to work closely with the multi-faceted team of government and private sector representatives working to advance the Digital Earth nationally. If you are interested in supporting this initiative, or wish to obtain more information, please visit the website above. The point-of-contact for this project is Mr. Mark Reichardt at (703) 648-5742. Additionally, if you would like to participate in building the Digital Earth Alpha Version, please contact Ms. Ann Carbin at (301) 286-6663 to reserve a seat at the Digital Earth Alpha Version Workshop to be held in the Washington DC area on July 25 & 26, 2000. Additional details on the Workshop will be posted to www.digitalearth.gov in the near future. Posted 05/16/00 (W-SN455470). (0137)

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