----------------------------Original message----------------------------
[FGDC invites project summaries as phase I of the 1997 Framework
Demonstration Projects Program. See below for Federal Register
Notice to be published December 1996]
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
U.S. Geological Survey
Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC): Notice Establishing the
Closing Date for Submission of the Project Summary under the FGDC
Framework Demonstration Projects Program (FDPP).
AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior
ACTION: Notice inviting organizations to submit project summaries for
competitive cooperative agreements for fiscal year 1997.
SUMMARY: This is a notice of phase one of a two phase approach in
connection with the Framework Demonstration Projects Program (FDPP). On
behalf of the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC), the U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS) plans to issue a program announcement to
request proposals for the FDPP later this fiscal year. Organizations
interested in the program have asked for the ability to provide project
summaries to the FGDC for comment in advance of the program
announcement. Therefore, the first phase of this two phase approach
invites organizations interested in the program to provide a project
summary to the FGDC for comment. Participation in phase one is
voluntary. Organizations who submit a project summary in phase one are
not obligated to apply for the program announcement. Organizations who
do not submit a summary for phase one are eligible to request the
program announcement in phase two. The FGDC will provide comments to
the organization describing how a project can be strengthened. The FGDC
will use insights gained from the review of summaries to guide the
development of the FDPP request for proposals announcement.
DATES: The project summary is due January 17, 1997, at 3:00 p.m. EST.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the FGDC report "Development of a National Digital
Geospatial Data Framework" may be obtained by writing to Tammy Fanning,
U.S. Geological Survey, Office of Acquisition and Federal Assistance,
Mail Stop 205B, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192, or by
sending a request by facsimile to (703) 648-7901.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Fanning, U.S.
Geological Survey, Office of Acquisition and Federal Assistance, Mail
Stop 205B, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia 20192; voice
telephone number (703) 648-7363; facsimile telephone number
(703) 648-7901.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the FDPP is to facilitate and
provide resources for the development and implementation of the
framework for the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). The
framework concept, outlined in the report "Development of a National
Digital Geospatial Data Framework" (April 1995), proposes a means by
which the geospatial data community can work together to produce and
maintain commonly needed themes of data for national, regional, state,
and local analyses. Included in this report is the definition of a
basic information content, and the technical, institutional, and
business contexts by which a distributed, collaborative data collection
and maintenance effort for the nation would operate.
Project Summary Narrative: Project summaries will be reviewed by the
factors set forth below (see items 1-5). The project summary should
address each of the following factors in the sequence as they are
listed.
(1.) Relevance to the NSDI Framework: Describe the degree to which the
project contributes to the development of the NSDI framework concept,
its potential application to other institutions, and the extent to which
the proposed project may stimulate growth of similar efforts. Describe
the relationship of the proposed effort to related and similar ongoing
projects. Narrative should not include reiterations of text from
FGDC/NSDI fact sheets and other committee publications.
(2.) Information Content: Identify which of the framework themes
(geodetic control, digital orthoimagery, elevation and bathymetry data,
transportation, hydrography, governmental units, cadastral) will be
addressed in the proposed project. Summary should describe the
geographic area to be addressed, and the scale and resolution of data.
(3.) Technical/Operational Context: Briefly summarize the key unique
technical and operational activities to be implemented in the proposed
project that address the framework goals of : integration of high-
resolution, locally-produced data; providing geospatial data at varying
resolutions for any given location; enabling users to integrate new
framework data into their data holdings without endangering their
existing investments in spatial data and attribute information; and
vertically integrating data between themes, and horizontally within
themes.
(4.) Business Context: Describe the approach proposed to ensure that the
project will result in framework data that are widely used and useful.
Project summary should describe the approach to: avoiding restrictive
practices that would inhibit use of the framework; providing
information about the data limitations, optimal uses, and liability;
providing data in public, non-proprietary format(s); conforming to
approved standards ; and containing data that are certified to ensure
that they meet the minimal standard for all framework criteria.
(5.) Institutional Organization Process: Identify the participating
organization and briefly describe each organizations tasks and
responsibilities.
Background Material: The FGDC report "Development of a National
Geospatial Data Framework" will be helpful in developing project
summaries. It may be obtained by writing to Ms Tammy Fanning at the
address above. Requests may also be made by facsimile to (703) 648-7901.
Confirmation by telephone at (703) 648-7372 is recommended. No
telephone request for this report will be accepted. An electronic version
of the report and additional background information about the framework is
available through the World Wide Web at:
http://www.fgdc.gov/Fram/index.html.
Unsuitable Project Summaries: Project summaries will not be considered
for projects on topics not being sought under this program. Data
collection is not considered an appropriate activity for funding under
this program. Project summaries focused on metadata and clearinghouse
development will not be considered (the FGDC encourages these activities
to seek support through the NSDI Competitive Cooperative Agreements
Program (1434-HQ-97-PA-00022)). Additionally, project summaries will
not be considered for the following: from Federal agencies or Federally
Funded Research and Development Centers where the agency or center is
identified as the lead on the proposed project, from and work in foreign
countries, from projects in which there is a real or the appearance of a
conflict of interest, and from projects solely involving the direct
procurement of a product or service.
Project Summary Preparation Instructions: Organizations wishing to
participate in the first phase should submit an unbound, signed original
and one copy of the project summary. The project summary shall not
exceed 3 single-spaced pages (including any figures or tables), and the
type size shall not be smaller than 12 pitch/10 point type. Pages shall
be numbered. Please note, that regardless of how many pages are
submitted, only the first 3 pages of the Project Summary will be
reviewed.
Project Summary Delivery Instructions: Project summaries must be
received on or before January 17, 1997, at 3:00 p.m. EST. Project
summaries delivered by mail should be sent to Ms. Tammy Fanning, U.S.
Geological Survey, Office of Acquisition and Federal Assistance, MS
205B, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192. Project summaries
delivered by hand, during the work week, should be taken to the USGS,
Office of Acquisition and Federal Assistance, Room 6A331, Attention:
Ms. Tammy Fanning, MS 205B, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston,
Virginia, office business hours are 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Project
summaries received after 3:00 p.m. EST on January 17, 1997 will be
returned to the applicant.
Planned Terms and Conditions for the FDPP to be issued later this fiscal
year: At the completion of phase two, the USGS intends to award
cooperative agreements with funds totaling $260,000 during fiscal year
1997. Funds requested for a project shall not exceed $65,000. One year
project periods are anticipated. This estimate does not bind the USGS
to a specified number of awards. Each project must be collaborative and
involve two or more organizations.
Please Note: The project summaries submitted in response to this notice
for phase one will not be used to make award selections, and will not be
provided to the selection panels. No special consideration in the phase
two FDPP selection process will be given to applications provided by
organizations that submitted a program summary in response to phase one.
The USGS anticipates that it will announce phase two in late winter. The
Government does not intend to award a cooperative agreement on the basis
of this notice or to otherwise pay for the information solicited as a
direct cost. The subsequent program announcement to be released in
phase two will be synopsized in both the Commerce Business Daily and the
Federal Register prior to release.
Dated: 15 November 1996
(Signed)
Richard E. Witmer
Acting Chief, National Mapping Division
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