1 Geospatial Line of Business Update FGDC Coordination Group April 14, 2009
2 Geospatial LOB Purpose: The Geospatial LoB helps to improve the efficiency of government by making geospatial data more accessible, reliable, and less expensive to acquire through enhanced data-sharing and more effective management of investments. Primary project issues revolve around sufficient staffing of activities, right staffing of activities and OMB approval/acceptance process.
3 Technical Architecture Working Group Goals Finalize and Publish FEA Geospatial Profile, Version 2.0 Investigate and document operational demands and requirements of geospatial Web services as “Best Practices” for federal operators or contractors Engage other LoB activities in the definition, operation, or acquisition of common geospatial services to assure adherence to the FEA Geospatial Profile and reference model guidance Outcomes Successfully delivered and published Geospatial Profile Assist other LoB activities in applying FEA Status Currently updating profile and coordinating with OMB on new definitions affecting use of profiles and segment architecture
4 Lifecycle Working Group Goals Improve government though consistent management of A-16 portfolios by: Establishing common lifecycle terminology Establishing an efficient and effective process to manage A-16 inventory Improve A-16 Data Theme Lead reporting through revised A-16 Appendices Outcomes Successfully delivered A-16 Supplemental Guidance including primary objectives Endorsed by 100% of Steering Committee, December 2008 Status Delayed at OMB for final approval or acceptance Needs implementation guidance and on-going review process Very active WG but still needs new staff energy to meet goals.
5 Common Services Working Group Goals Maximize resource utilization and reduce time necessary to accomplish agency mission Level the playing field for individual agencies by developing model federal agreements that all agencies can leverage to reduce acquisition level of effort and enhance negotiating power Provide smaller agencies an “equal opportunity” for obtaining geospatial products and services more easily and economically procured by larger agencies Promote use of existing federal agency tools, services, and data that could benefit other agencies Ensure that the federal community has a common portfolio of geospatial tools and services Build a common federal geospatial technology, data and services architecture through a federal portfolio
6 Common Services WG continued Outcomes Successfully surveyed partner agencies to set requirements Developed Geo-SmartBuy Request for Proposal Status Pending TEB to convene, proposals due April 30 Develop & collect materials for ‘rollout kit website’ Planning survey for tools (such as GPS devices) or geospatial services (such as hosting services) Need new staff on team to renew energy around mission activities.
7 Geo-enable Working Group Goals Increase use of geospatial solutions among Federal business managers Increase Federal managers’ comprehension of geospatial solutions and concepts Increase acceptability of geospatial-oriented cooperation among Federal managers Outcomes Successfully developed Communications Plan Supported CAP Grants evaluation & selection process Developed and provided communication tools and booth at ESRI Federal Conference. Status Currently identifying use case opportunities to aid partner agencies with best practices, metadata and business cases useful in their capital planning or other geo-enabling strategies.
8 Grants & Contracts Working Group Goals The common grants and contracts language would require contractors and grantees who create geospatial information to: Characterize that data using FGDC-approved metadata Share that metadata with the FGDC Ensure that any data needs that they have cannot be satisfied without the expenditure of federal funds through the use of data that is already available Make data accessible to other users through appropriate clearinghouses such as, the Geospatial One Stop portal ( Outcomes Develop high-level guidance as directed by OMB for grants, cooperative agreements and contracts, delivered, fall, Work with Grants Policy Committee to establish government-wide grants policy in 2CFR. Submitted draft to GPC in January 2009 Status Working with Pre-Award Subcommittee to satisfy 2CFR requirements, awaiting approval of grants clauses to create FAR document for submission to FAR Secretariat. Need senior policy writers to supplement Pre-Award Subcommittee and development of FAR document to cause swifter adoption. Only 2 Grants & Contracts WG members had requisite skills.
9 Questions?