Title: U.S. Department of Agriculture Government Information Locator
     Service
Acronym:  USDA GILS

Originator: 
Department/Agency Name:  Department of Agriculture
Major Organizational Subdivision:  Office of the Secretary
Minor Organizational Subdivision:  Office of the Chief Information Officer

Local Subject Index:
     Local Subject Term: US Federal GILS

Abstract: The USDA GILS provides an ordered and well-structured starting
point to gain an overview of USDA public information resources.  GILS
contains standard descriptions of information resources (metadata), including a
description of the information resource, where it is located and how the user
can gain access.  USDA GILS provides locator pointers to three types of
information:  1) information dissemination products, 2) automated information
systems, and 3) Privacy Act Systems of Records.  

USDA's GILS descriptions are made available to searchers via the World Wide
Web and Z39.50 protocols.  In addition to the search capability, GILS includes
a phone number and e-mail address for users who have comments or questions
about USDA's information or the GILS system.  

Purpose: USDA GILS, part of the federal GILS program, was established to
help the public locate and access information throughout the Department of
Agriculture.

Agency Program: Fulfill legislative mandates for responsible stewardship of
USDA's information resources, including the Farm Bill, the Paperwork
Reduction Act, the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act, the
Computer Security Act, the Information Technology Management Reform Act,
and the Freedom of Information Act including the Electronic Freedom of
Information Act Amendments of 1996.  In addition, it complies with Executive
branch directions such as OMB Bulletin 95-01, OMB Circular A-130, and
Federal Information Processing Standard 192.

Availability:  USDA GILS can be accessed directly via the Internet or through
a hot link from the USDA Home Page.

Distributor:
Distributor Name:  Department of Agriculture
Distributor Organization: Office of the Chief Information Officer
Distributor Street Address: 12th and Independence Avenue SW
Distributor City: Washington
Distributor State: DC
Distributor Zip Code: 20250
Distributor Country: USA
Distributor Network Address: howard.baker@usda.gov
Distributor Hours of service: Server is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per
  week, pending routine downtime for maintenance.
Distributor Telephone: none
Distributor Order Process: Direct access is available at no cost.  No ordering is
  necessary.
Technical Prerequisites: Access to Internet.
Available Linkage: http://www.usda.gov/gils/usdagils.htm


Sources of Data: GILS records are provided by the USDA agency responsible
  for the information resource described.

Access Constraints:  No access constraints.

Use Constraints: No use constraints.

Point of Contact: 
(For further information)
Contact Name:  Department of Agriculture
Contact Organization: Office of the Chief Information Officer
Contact Street Address: 12th and Independence Avenue SW
Contact City: Washington
Contact State: DC
Contact Zip Code: 20250
Contact Hours of Service: 8:00 - 5:00 ET
Contact Telephone: 202-720-8657

Cross-Reference:
(Related sources)
Cross Reference Title: USDA home page
Cross Reference Linkage: http://www.usda.gov

Control Identifier: USDA0000

Record Source:
Department/Agency Name: Department of Agriculture
Major Organizational Subdivision: Office of the Chief Information Officer
Minor Organizational Unit: Information Management Division

Date of Last Modification: 199612