The U. S. Geological Survey’s National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) Program (http://www.nbii.gov) 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.

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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 CESU partner to increase the availability and usefulness of biological and natural resources related scientific data and information.

Technical assistance relates to the following research area:BioinformaticsThe purpose is to enhance data sharing and accessibility related to biodiversity.

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.

This effort includes interactions with various federal and state organizations as well as interested research and educational institutions.

All products will be publicly available.

Emphasis will be on delivering quality science-based content on amphibians and reptiles with particular emphasis on emerging threats to amphibians and reptiles.

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 to the development of a national NBII network.