----------------------------Original message----------------------------
[Posted on behalf of the author.  Please refer all questions to the postal
address or facsimile telephone number listed below.  Sorry, no Internet
address available.]
 
For Release:  October 1, 1993
 
TECHNICAL ANNOUNCEMENT
National Mapping Division                                      Dan Gallagher
U.S. Geological Survey                                          703-648-4123
 
           USGS OFFERS ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT MAP DATA PARTNERSHIPS
 
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering funds and other assistance to
obtain digital line graph (DLG), digital elevation model (DEM), and digital
orthophotoquad (DOQ) data in cooperation with qualified State or local
government agencies, utilities, or private firms that prepare accurate digital
map products to meet their own mapping requirements.  These products are
captured from or registered to USGS primary topographic series maps of the
United States.
 
Applicants are invited to submit proposals under this initiative, which will
be released in October, 1993, as USGS Program Announcement 8039.  Notice for
this announcement appeared in the Commerce Business Daily on August 26, 1993,
and in the Federal Register on September 23, 1993.  Proposal options include
cooperative agreements to prepare new DLG, DEM, and DOQ data to USGS
standards, and agreements for USGS to obtain existing base category map data,
digital elevation data, and digital orthophotos compatible with USGS digital
cartographic data standards and formats.
 
This initiative supports USGS efforts to pursue innovative partnerships in
meeting Federal, State, and other user demands for map data, and to encourage
a broad range of non-Federal map data producers to prepare data to
multipurpose standards.  Developing new sources of data for the USGS National
Mapping Program will help reduce duplicative data collection and will augment
Government efforts to obtain and archive digital map data as part of the
public domain.  All data obtained through this initiative will be distributed
by USGS in nonproprietary formats.
 
This initiative expands an existing mechanism for building cooperative mapping
partnerships, which was first introduced December 18, 1992, as USGS Program
Announcement 7885 for DLG data only.  Under Program Announcement 7885, the
USGS is now entering into cooperative agreements with two State agencies and
one private firm to obtain DLG and DLG-compatible data for archiving in the
National Digital Cartographic Data Base as part of a national spatial data
infrastructure.
 
Prospective applicants should request USGS Program Announcement 8039 from
Nedra Stallone, Office of Procurement and Contracts, U.S. Geological Survey,
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Mail Stop 205A, Reston, VA  22092.  Requests may
also be made by facsimile to 703-648-7901 (confirmation 703-648-7364).
 
                               *****USGS*****
 
 
       Additional Information Included in the Federal Register Notice
 
             Assistance for Preparing Digital Cartographic Data
 
SUMMARY
 
The U.S. Geological survey (USGS) needs to obtain Digital Line Graphs (DLG),
Digital Elevation Models (DEM), and Digital Orthophotoquads (DOQ) captured
from or registered to USGS primary series topographic maps for entry into the
National Digital Cartographic Data Base (NDCDB) as part of the public domain.
The USGS recognizes the public benefit of obtaining DLG, DEM, and DOQ data
prepared by State and local government agencies, public utilities, and private
firms.  The USGS seeks to identify other potential sources of digital map data
for areas now lacking DLG, DEM, or DOQ coverage, and to explore the potential
for obtaining the data through cooperative agreements.  When it is in the
Government's interest, and subject to the availability of appropriated funds,
the USGS will assist qualified organizations in preparing digital map data to
USGS standards for NDCDB archiving and public distribution in non-proprietary
formats. . . .
 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
 
This notice does not solicit commercial contract 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 mapping organizations to support their
own mapping needs, and to determine whether the data can be obtained in DLG,
DEM, DOQ formats (or converted to these formats) through cooperative
agreements.  All data obtained under this initiative will be archived by USGS
as part of the public domain.
 
Acceptable data must meet the general requirements for source, content,
accuracy, and format as detailed in USGS National Mapping Program Technical
Instructions: "Standards for Digital Line Graphs;" "Standards for Digital
Elevation Models;" and "Standards for Digital Orthophotos."
 
The USGS may support technically acceptable proposals by providing any one or
a combination of the following: funds, source materials, public domain
software, data processing/validation, technical assistance, other materials
and services.  Assistance will be offered to the applicant(s) offering the
greatest technical benefits at a fair and reasonable cost relative to the
amount of USGS funds available.  All proposed cooperative agreements must be
determined by the USGS to serve the public interest, and to comply with
applicable public law.