----------------------------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.