FGDC Coordination Group Charter Page 1

April 1st, 2016

FGDC COORDINATION GROUP CHARTER

(Approved April 1

st, 2016)

PURPOSE 

This Charter establishes the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Coordination 

Group. The FGDC Coordination Group is charged with the identification, prioritization, 

implementation, coordination, and oversight of strategies and tasks required to support

the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) and coordinate Federal geospatial

programs to that end. The Coordination Group is accountable to, and provides 

recommendations to, the FGDC Steering Committee and its Executive Committee. 

These are the policy-level interagency authorities responsible for providing leadership 

and direction in implementing the NSDI and the development and use of geospatial 

data and information across Federal geospatial programs along with public and private 

sector partners/stakeholders. 

AUTHORITIES

The Coordination Group is chartered by the FGDC Steering Committee, which is 

granted authority through Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-16, 

Executive Order 12906, and the E-Government Act of 2002.

COORDINATION GROUP OBJECTIVES

 Advance inter- and intra-governmental coordination to ensure implementation 

of the NSDI by formalizing and promoting use of standards, geospatial portfolio 
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management practices, and guidance to enhance Federal enterprise management 

of National Geospatial Data Assets (NGDAs). 

 Formulate consensus-based strategies for development and management of the 

A-16 portfolio and other components of the NSDI, recommend corresponding 

policies and actions to the FGDC Steering Committee, and establish 

corresponding priorities and actions for the FGDC Secretariat, FGDC 

Subcommittees and Working Groups, and other FGDC interagency activities in 

tandem with /using input from executive champions and theme managers.

 Recommend establishment of Subcommittees and Working Groups to support 

the development and use of geospatial data and information across Federal 

geospatial programs, in conjunction with public and private sector 

partners/stakeholders. Annually review and recommend Subcommittee and 

Working Group work plans to the FGDC Steering Committee for approval. 

Review progress of Subcommittees and Working Groups regularly at standing 

meetings and prescribe midcourse corrections when necessary.

 Promote the designation and support of executive champions, theme managers, 

national data set managers, and data stewards to implement responsibilities 

outlined in OMB Circular A-16 and associated guidance.

MEMBERSHIP

Coordination Group members and alternates are appointed by each FGDC member 

agency’s Senior Agency Official for Geospatial Information (SAOGI), who serves as the 

agency’s FGDC Steering Committee member. Member agencies are identified in 

Appendix A. A current membership roster will be maintained by the FGDC Secretariat 

and posted at www.fgdc.gov. 

MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES 

Coordination Group members shall advance the development and maintenance of the 

NSDI and coordination of Federal programs through collaboration and consensus by:

 Regularly attending and participating in monthly Coordination Group and other 

NSDI related meetings and presenting their agency perspective.

 Providing input to and regular review of, the Coordination Group’s work plan,

which includes actions, roles, responsibilities, and time lines.
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 Ensuring that FGDC actions and activities are communicated to the SAOGIs and 

other appropriate entities within their respective agencies.

 Working with the SAOGI to identify and utilize other subject matter expertise, 

including non-geospatial expertise as needed, within their agency to address 

FGDC actions.

 Working with the SAOGI and agency management to align the appropriate 

support to develop and sustain the NSDI and NGDA datasets for which they 

have responsibility under OMB Circular A-16.

 Coordinate agency responses to Coordination Group actions.

 Coordinate the staffing of Subcommittees, Working Groups, and ad hoc teams as 

needed.

SUBCOMMITTEES

FGDC Subcommittees advise the CG, the NGDA Theme Leads and associated NGDA 

Dataset Managers. FGDC Subcommittees comprise individuals who represent 

governmental and non-governmental FGDC-recognized stakeholders for specific types 

of geospatial data - typically geospatial data associated with NGDA themes specified by 

OMB Circular A-16. Each Subcommittee focuses on issues that pertain to the completion

and lifecycle management of data sets within its associated NGDA theme. The 

Subcommittees may allow other organizations (e.g., Tribal, Non-Federal, State, County, 

Local, Academia, and Private Sector) to participate in Subcommittee activities. 

Although non-Federal participants may engage in Subcommittee discussions and offer 

information and opinions, their participation is limited to a non-voting role. The 

Subcommittees report to the FGDC Coordination Group on annual basis; however, the 

Coordination Group may request additional reports as needed.

WORKING GROUPS

FGDC Working Groups advise the CG, the NGDA Theme Leads and associated NGDA 

Dataset Managers and comprise individuals who represent governmental and nongovernmental FGDC-recognized stakeholders that have a common interest in 

addressing issues that cross-cut or are pertinent to multiple themes (for example, 

standards and metadata). The Working Group Chair may allow other organizations 

(e.g., Tribal, Non-Federal, State, County, Local, Academia, and Private Sector) to 

participate in Working Group activities. Although non-Federal participants may engage 

in Working Group discussions and offer information and opinions, their participation is 
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limited to a non-voting role. FGDC Working Groups shall report to the Coordination

Group on annual basis; however, the Coordination Group may request additional 

reports as needed.

NGDA THEME LEADS

Per OMB Circular A-16, certain federal agencies have lead responsibilities for 

coordinating national coverage and stewardship of specific spatial data themes. 

NGDA Theme Leads are individuals selected by lead federal agencies who provide 

leadership and coordination at the NGDA Theme level. They work with NGDA Dataset 

managers to develop standards and provide guidance. 

NGDA Theme Leads shall report on NGDA activities to the Coordination Group on an

annual basis, however, the Coordination Group may request additional reports as

needed. They shall coordinate with their associated Subcommittees and NGDA Dataset 

Managers in preparing the report to the CG. They may invite Subcommittee Chairs and 

NGDA Dataset Managers to co-present the report at the CG meeting.

FGDC SECRETARIAT

The Department of the Interior provides administrative, technical, program and policy

support to the Coordination Group through the FGDC Secretariat. The Secretariat’s 

responsibilities in support of the Coordination Group include:

 Providing all logistical support required for scheduling and conducting meetings

 Supporting the development of meeting agendas

 Consolidating and distributing meeting materials and decision documents

 Hosting and maintaining the FGDC website and other collaboration resources

 Communicating FGDC activities to partner agencies and external stakeholders as 

recommended by the Coordination Group

 Briefing the Coordination Group, the Steering Committee, and Executive 

Committee on Secretariat, government and other policy relevant activities (either 

on-going or pending) on a regular and timely basis
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 Facilitating collaboration with other interagency councils, initiatives, Egovernment activities, and external stakeholders as recommended by the 

Coordination Group 

 Providing research and analysis support to the Coordination Group as 

recommended.

CHAIR

The Coordination Group is chaired by the FGDC Executive Director. At the discretion 

of the chair, and with concurrence of the Coordination Group, a co-chair may be 

appointed from within the Coordination Group membership.

MEETINGS AND DECISION MAKING

Regularly scheduled meetings of the FGDC Coordination Group are held monthly, 

generally the second Tuesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. (ET). The Coordination Group 

will review and establish the strategic plan and priorities on an annual basis. The 

Coordination Group may hold additional meetings as needed. Meetings and 

teleconferences will be announced at least a week in advance and conducted in 

accordance with a published agenda. Meetings are normally open to all interested 

parties but may be restricted to Federal participants when necessary. Draft minutes 

documenting action items and responsibilities will be circulated to all members 

following the meeting. The meeting announcement and the final minutes will be coposted within two weeks on the FGDC website (www.fgdc.gov). Members who are 

unable to attend will send designated alternates. 

Decisions may be made at scheduled Coordination Group meetings, during 

teleconferences, and by electronic ballot, as appropriate. The preferred process for 

decision-making is by consensus of the members present. If consensus is not reached, 

the issue may be put to a vote. 

A quorum consists of two-thirds of the voting members. A quorum is not required for 

meetings to take place, but is required for decision-making. A vote may be taken by a 

voice vote; however, any member may request a roll call vote, the results of which shall 

be included in the meeting minutes. Once a quorum is achieved, a simple majority of 

votes determines the outcome. If a quorum is not present, decisions will be tabled until 

the next regular meeting or another method of making decisions will be implemented. 

Options may include decision by electronic ballot. An electronic ballot is valid once a 
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quorum is achieved. Decisions made in absence of a quorum may be revisited by the 

Coordination Group at the first subsequent meeting where a quorum is present.

Votes on standards actions do not require a quorum, but any “no” votes will be 

addressed by the Standards Working Group prior to advancing the standard. Agencies 

that do not provide a response to a standards action vote will be considered to have no 

substantive objections and their vote will be considered as a “yes” vote. 

Matters for Coordination Group decision shall be presented to the membership no later 

than 10 working days prior to the meeting at which they will appear on the agenda. 

Members or their alternates who cannot attend a meeting may in advance provide their 

proxy to either of the Co-Chairs. A proxy received in advance of a meeting will count 

toward the quorum as respects the decisional matter(s) specified in the proxy. 

APPROVAL 

This Charter shall be reviewed every two years and shall remain in effect until amended 

or replaced. Any amendments or revisions to the Charter will be posted on the FGDC 

website (www.fgdc.gov).

Recommended by FGDC Coordination Group Vote on: 01/22/2016

Approved by FGDC Steering Committee Vote on: 04/01/2016
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FGDC Coordination Group Charter DRAFT

Appendix A – Membership

All agencies identified in OMB Memorandum M-06-07, “Designation of a Senior Agency 

Official for Geospatial Information (SAOGI),” and/or in OMB Circular A-16 (Revised August 19, 

2002) shall be members of the Coordination Group. SAOGIs may submit requests to the FGDC 

Chair for sub-agency membership on the Coordination Group. Agencies that are not members 

of the FGDC may also request membership through the FGDC Chair. Upon acceptance, new 

members, including sub-agency members, will have the same responsibilities and privileges as 

other members of the FGDC. However, in some cases, agencies may request to serve as nonvoting members. A current membership roster will be maintained by the FGDC Secretariat and 

posted at www.fgdc.gov. Current member agencies are as follows:

Department of Agriculture 

Department of Commerce 

Department of Defense 

Department of Education 

Department of Energy 

Department of Health and Human Services 

Department of Homeland Security 

Department of Housing and Urban Development 

Department of the Interior 

Department of Justice 

Department of Labor 

Department of State 

Department of Transportation 

Department of Treasury 

Department of Veterans Affairs 

Environmental Protection Agency 

Library of Congress

National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

Social Security Administration 

Agency for International Development 

General Services Administration 

National Archives and Records Administration 

National Science Foundation 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

Office of Personnel Management 

Small Business Administration 

Smithsonian Institution 

Tennessee Valley Authority 

*Federal Communications Commission

*National Capital Planning Commission

(*Non-voting members)