# Point of Contact - Check for Central Point of Contact

This FGDC conformance check verifies that an organization point of contact is identified in the metadata record.

## Central Point of Contact for the Data

While there are many opportunities within the ISO metadata record to identify contacts, the inclusion of a Point of Contact enables Data.gov and the GeoPlatform to direct users to a single point of inquiry for the data. To facilitate discovery within Data.gov and the GeoPlatform, the Point of Contact should be the person directly responsible for the data publication.

### ISO 19115

*//gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:pointOfContact/gmd:CI_ResponsibleParty/gmd:organisationName/\*[self::gco:CharacterString or self::gmx:Anchor]/text()*


### ISO 19115-3

*//mdb:identificationInfo/mri:MD_DataIdentification/mri:pointOfContact/cit:CI_Responsibility/cit:party/cit:CI_Organisation/cit:name/gco:CharacterString/text()*

The recommended source for agency and bureau names is Appendix C of the [OMB Circular A-11](https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/a11.pdf) ("Preparation, Submission, and Execution of the Budget"). This is a government circular that is revised and reissued periodically. The current version is from 2016. A searchable list of agencies and bureaus (sub-agencies) can be found in the [Federal Register of Agencies](https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies).

### More information

- [FGDC Technical Guidance: Data.gov and The GeoPlatform Metadata Recommendations](https://www.fgdc.gov/technical-guidance/metadata/fgdc-technical-guidance-datagov-geoplatform-ngda.pdf)
- [ESIP ISO Explorer CI_Contact](https://wiki.esipfed.org/CI_Contact)