33 U.S. Code § 891c - Design of NOAA vessels

(a) Design requirement

Except for the vessel designs identified under subsection (b), the Secretary, acting through the Assistant Administrator of NOAA for Marine and Aviation Operations, shall—

(1) prepare requirements for each class of vessel to be constructed or converted under the Plan; and

(2) contract competitively from nongovernmental entities with expertise in shipbuilding for vessel design and construction based on the requirements for each class of vessel to be acquired.

(b) Exception

The Secretary, acting through the Assistant Administrator of NOAA for Marine and Aviation Operations, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, as part of the annual update of the Plan required in section 891b of this title, any existing vessel design or design proposals that meet the requirements of the Plan.

(Pub. L. 102–567, title VI, § 605, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4300; Pub. L. 119–60, div. H, title LXXXIV, § 8402(a)(3), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1909.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2025—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 119–60, § 8402(a)(3)(A), substituted “acting through the Assistant Administrator of NOAA for Marine and Aviation Operations” for “working through the Office of the NOAA Corps Operations and the Systems Procurement Office” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 119–60, § 8402(a)(3)(B), substituted “, acting through the Assistant Administrator of NOAA for Marine and Aviation Operations, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives,” for “shall—

“(1) report to Congress identifying any existing vessel design or design proposal that meets the requirements of the Plan within 30 days after October 29, 1992, and shall promptly advise the Congress of any modification of these designs; and

“(2) submit to Congress”,

and struck out “subsequent” before “existing vessel design”.