Funding level: $27,000

Deadline: January 30, 2001

UCGIS is developing a Global Urban Indicators Consortium through a grant provided by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This consortium will initially be composed of the five UCGIS member universities successful in the competition for Global Urban Indicators--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, The University of Iowa, Virginia Commonwealth University, West Virginia University, and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee--and their international partners. The goal of the consortium is to develop training materials using GIS to analyze global urban indicators to support improved urban living in developing nations.

UCGIS solicits proposals from member institutions for a Consortium Center to coordinate the activities of this new consortium.

This call for proposals is expected to result in funding one Consortium Center.

Responsibilities of the Consortium Center

1. Provide oversight, intellectual support and peer review for the UCGIS participating universities.
2. Coordinate research efforts among the universities and interested international organizations.
3. Advise on the development of an Internet site that will maintain and spatially enable urban indicator data collected and analyzed by UCGIS universities, and the United Nations HABITAT program.
4. Work with the UCGIS Board of Directors, the UCGIS Executive Director, and the HUD program manager to identify members of the Global Indicators Consortium Board. The Global Urban Indicators Board of Directors would consist of approximately ten senior officials from federal agencies, elected representatives, academic institutions, private industry, and international organizations. The purpose of the Board is to provide advice and to identify ways to expand the current effort through cooperative efforts with other US and international agencies and private industry.
5. Assist in coordinating, facilitating, and scheduling two meetings of the Global Indicators Board of Directors.
6. Assist in coordinating and participate in two symposia in Washington DC. Grant award winners and invited guests will discuss the current knowledge of global urban indicators and identify the research agenda for the global urban indicator consortium at the symposia.
7. Coordinate and write a final report to be delivered to HUD. The report will include a web site containing: training programs and data sets, analytical strategies used, and conclusions on applicability of analysis strategies.
8. Work with the Global Urban Indictor Consortium Board of Directors and the UCGIS Executive Director to identify future funding sources for continuation of the project.

Qualifications of the Consortium Center team

• Background in global urban indicator analysis.
• Excellent oral and written communications and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently under tight deadlines.
• Internet development experience

Funding amount

Each proposal should include a budget of no more than $27,000 including indirect cost, if any charged. Anticipated performance period is February 6, 2001 through September 30, 2001.

Additional guidelines

• The proposal should start with a cover sheet listing the institution submitting the proposal, and the names and affiliations of the PI and any other relevant team members.
• The main body of the proposal should include a discussion of how the proposers anticipate to address the Responsibilities of the Consortium Center and demonstrate the proposer's experience in managing an activity such as a Consortium Center. This section must not exceed 3 single-spaced pages at 12pt font, including all figures, tables, and charts.
• One additional page is allocated for the budget and the budget explanation.
• To the proposal, attach brief biographical sketches (maximum 2 pages) of the Principal Investigator and other relevant team members, including up to five related publications over the past three years.
• Cover sheet, body, budget, and biosketches must be formated as a single PDF file and submitted electronically.
• Proposals will be evaluated on the basis of the overall quality of the proposal, the feasibility of the workplan addressing the Responsibilities of the Consortium Center, documented experience in managing an activity such as a Consortium Center, documented qualifications of the principal investigator and the Consortium Center team, and interdisciplinary character of the proposed approach.
• In order that UCGIS can plan a timely review process, those who intend to submit a proposal should send a letter of intent by January 22, 2001. Letters of intent are not required, however. Send letters of intent by e-mail to the Chair of the UCGIS Research Projects Committee at max@spatial.maine.edu.
• Proposals are due January 30, 2001 by 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. Submit proposals as a PDF file by e-mail to max@spatial.maine.edu.
• A hard copy letter or form, with the original signatures of the principal investigator and an official authorized to commit the organization in business and financial affairs, must be received by February 5, 2001 at

  Max J. Egenhofer
  Chair UCGIS Research Projects Committee
  Department of Spatial Information Science and Engineering
  University of Maine
  Orono, ME 04469-5711

Questions about the RFP may be directed by e-mail to the Chair of the UCGIS Research Projects Committee, Max Egenhofer (max@spatial.maine.edu).