OpportunityTitle: Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Southern Applachian Mountains CESU
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: This financial assistance opportunity is being issued under a Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU) Program. CESU&#146;s are partnerships that provide research, technical assistance, and education. Eligible recipients must be a participating partner of the Southern Appalachian Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program.
Description: The U.S. Geological Survey&#146;s National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) Program wishes to enter into an agreement with a CESU partner for technical assistance to increase science delivery and technology transfer about biological and natural resources data and information. The purpose is to further data development in a variety of thematic and geographic areas at varying scales using innovative biological informatics tools. The NBII is a collaborative effort among federal, state, local, agencies, non-governmental organizations, universities, and private sector groups to provide an integrated gateway to biological data and information. NBII is used by land managers, researchers, decision makers, educators, and the general public for many purposes that include land-use decisions, scientific research, policymaking, and general information needs of its users.The NBII provides the nation with a mechanism for accessing the vast amount of existing disparate biological and natural resources data, information products, and analytical tools that support and enhance science-based decision-making. Using enterprise portal technology, the NBII helps provide an integrating framework for making these data and information accessible. In 2001, the NBII program was authorized to establish a series of regional and thematic Nodes throughout the country with the objective of providing data and information relevant to those areas available that support efforts of federal, non federal, university, non-profit, and citizens of each Node.The NBII is looking for collaborative opportunities with a University to increase the availability and usefulness of biological and natural resources related scientific data and information by developing or enhancing them through visualization products, tools, models, web based applications, and/or semantic systems. Technical assistance relates to the following research areas:BioinformaticsThe purpose is to enhance data sharing and accessibility related to biodiversity issues in the southeast region including the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. This function will employ a variety of approaches to interact with educators, researchers, policy/decision-makers to document critical information needs and identify, inventory and improve access to key data/information products. The effort includes interactions with various federal and state organizations as well as interested research and educational institutions. The products will be publicly available. In FY2009, emphasis will be on working closely with regional science initiatives related to climate change and aquatic resources.Technology InfrastructureThe purpose is to provide the technical capabilities and support for Node projects that require web hosting, data/database hosting, or enterprise applications. This function also provides for planning and coordination between the Node partners and the NBII Infrastructure Node for the technical implementations of Node projects. Key support activities include maintaining security with emphasis on timely, proactive implementation of preventive measures and damage control/containment, plus recovery/restoration and compliance with NBII standards and frameworks such as the NBII Geospatial Interoperability Framework. Overall, the USGS and CESU participants will collaborate to develop and deliver biological data and information, tools, models, products, and web based systems, and in ensuring the information reaches professionals in federal and state agencies, educators, and ultimately the public. The CESU partnership will supplement and enhance work already underway by various geographic and thematic Nodes and their projects to contribute in the development of a national NBII network.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: Contract Specialist
GrantorContactText: FAITH GRAVES &lt;br/&gt;Contract Specialist &lt;br/&gt;Phone 703-648-7356