The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) has formally announced the request for proposals to support the 2011 National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Cooperative Agreements Program (CAP). A total of $800,000 is available to award an estimated 21 innovative, geospatial-related projects that are spread across six categories. Each project will focus on ways to expand the geospatial data infrastructure that is necessary to effectively discover, access, share, manage and use digital geographic data. The application package is now available. (Click here to download.)

Grant categories:

• Category 1: Metadata Trainer and Outreach Assistance
• Category 2: FGDC-endorsed Standards Implementation Training and Outreach
• Category 3: Fifty States Initiative: Strategic and Business Plan Development
• Category 4: Fifty States Initiative: Business Plan Development and Implementation
• Category 5: Return on Investment (ROI) Methodology and Business Case Development for Multi-agency NSDI Projects
• Category 6: FGDC Standards Development Assistance (United States Thoroughfare, Landmark, and Postal Address Data Standard)

The closing date for the 2010 NSDI CAP announcement is Jan. 6, 2011.  The project awards are scheduled to be announced by USGS/FGDC contracts officer in February or March 2011 with obligated work to begin on each project no later than September 30, 2011.

In 2010, NSDI CAP awarded a total of 26 projects, totaling over to $1.1 million.  One of the 2010 categories enables States in the development of financial business cases for collaborative spatial data infrastructure projects to gain a better understanding of the cost and more importantly the benefits of spatial data infrastructure projects. See the full list of the 2010 NSDI CAP projects at:  http://www.fgdc.gov/grants/2010CAP/2010CAPDescriptions.  To apply go to grants.gov and search for CFDA 15.809.

The FGDC, which is hosted by the USGS, sponsors the CAP to promote the technologies, standards, best practices and organizational collaboration vital to data integration, partnerships and collaborations for data investment and speedy delivery of geospatial products to support government and other stakeholders.

The contact for general questions about the NSDI CAP is Gita Urban-Mathieux, NSDI CAP coordinator. E-mail her at [email protected]. For further information on FGDC NSDI CAP, visit www.fgdc.gov.