Cooperative Research and Development Agreement: Evaluating Unmanned Surface Vessel Characteristics for Coast Guard Platforms, 30968-30969 [2021-12162]

Download as PDF 30968 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 110 / Thursday, June 10, 2021 / Notices Nag, M, Weisberg, AS, and Moss, B. Zinc-finger antiviral protein (ZAP) is a restriction factor for replication of modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) in human cells. PLoS Pathog. 2020, accepted for publication. Intellectual Property: HHS Reference No. E–076–2019; International Application No. PCT/US20/33788. Licensing Contact: To license this technology, please contact Benjamin Hurley at 240–669–5092 or benjamin.hurley@nih.gov, and reference E–076–2019. Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate or commercialize this invention. For collaboration opportunities, please contact Benjamin Hurley; 240–669– 5092, benjamin.hurley@nih.gov. Dated: June 2, 2021. Surekha Vathyam, Deputy Director, Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Office, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. [FR Doc. 2021–12179 Filed 6–9–21; 8:45 am] DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Coast Guard [Docket No. USCG–2021–0236] Cooperative Research and Development Agreement: Evaluating Unmanned Surface Vessel Characteristics for Coast Guard Platforms Coast Guard, DHS. Notice of intent; request for comments. AGENCY: ACTION: The Coast Guard is announcing its intent to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Sea Machines Robotics. Sea Machines Robotics will work with the USCG Research and Development Center (RDC) to modify the currently existing SM300 system installed on the USCG RDC unmanned surface vessel (USV) to determine what parameters and behaviors would be beneficial for USCG mission sets. Additionally, the agreement will investigate the current state of collision avoidance in autonomous unmanned surface vessels (USVs), to develop a better understanding of how these capabilities should be evaluated/ regulated in the future. The Coast Guard khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:15 Jun 09, 2021 Jkt 253001 Comments must be submitted to the online docket via https:// www.regulations.gov, or reach the Docket Management Facility, on or before July 12, 2021. Synopses of proposals regarding future CRADAs must reach the Coast Guard (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) on or before July 12, 2021. ADDRESSES: Submit comments online at https://www.regulations.gov following website instructions. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice or wish to submit proposals for future CRADAs, contact Derek Meier, Project Official, Surface Branch, U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center, 1 Chelsea Street, New London, CT 06320, telephone 860–271–2600, email RDC-Info@uscg.mil. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DATES: Public Participation and Request for Comments BILLING CODE 4140–01–P SUMMARY: invites other potential non-Federal participants, who have the interest and capability to bring similar contributions to this type of research, to submit proposals for consideration in similar CRADAs. We request public comments on this notice. Although we do not plan to respond to comments in the Federal Register, we will respond directly to commenters and may modify our proposal in light of comments. Comments should be marked with docket number USCG–2021–0236 and should provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation. You should provide personal contact information so that we can contact you if we have questions regarding your comments; but please note that all comments will be posted to the online docket without change and that any personal information you include can be searchable online (see the Federal Register Privacy Act notice regarding our public dockets, 73 FR 3316, Jan. 17, 2008). We also accept anonymous comments. We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https:// www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be submitted using https:// www.regulations.gov, contact the Coast Guard (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Documents mentioned in this notice, and all public comments, are in our online docket at https:// www.regulations.gov and can be viewed by following that website’s instructions. Additionally, if you go to the online docket and sign up for email alerts, you PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 will be notified when comments are posted or a final rule is published. Do not submit detailed proposals for future CRADAs to the Docket Management Facility. Instead, submit them directly to the Coast Guard (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Discussion CRADAs are authorized under 15 U.S.C. 3710(a).1 A CRADA promotes the transfer of technology to the private sector for commercial use, as well as specified research or development efforts that are consistent with the mission of the Federal parties to the CRADA. The Federal party or parties agree with one or more non-Federal parties to share research resources, but the Federal party does not contribute funding. CRADAs are not procurement contracts. Care is taken to ensure that CRADAs are not used to circumvent the contracting process. CRADAs have a specific purpose and should not be confused with procurement contracts, grants, and other type of agreements. Under the proposed CRADA, the R&D Center will collaborate with one nonFederal participant. Together, the R&D Center and the non-Federal participant will evaluate which USV characteristics and parameters would be beneficial to the USCG mission set. Additionally, both partners will evaluate how collision avoidance technology should be validated on these platforms in the future. We anticipate that the Coast Guard’s contributions under the proposed CRADA will include the following: 1. Provide appropriate staff with expertise to accomplish the above mentioned tasks. 2. Draft test plan. 3. Provide all support resources, including travel for Coast Guard staff that support this CRADA. 4. Obtain, transport, and provide all of the parts, tools, and equipment necessary to prepare the platform for Sea Machines Robotics modifications. 5. Provide the 29RDC and qualified crew for the testing. 6. Provide all resources required for the conduct of the testing on the 29RDC. 7. Execute the testing IAW with the agreed upon test plan. We anticipate that the non-Federal participants’ contributions under the proposed CRADA will include the following: 1 The statute confers this authority on the head of each Federal agency. The Secretary of DHS’s authority is delegated to the Coast Guard and other DHS organizational elements by DHS Delegation No. 0160.1, para. II.B.34. E:\FR\FM\10JNN1.SGM 10JNN1 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 110 / Thursday, June 10, 2021 / Notices 1. Provide appropriate staff with expertise to support the above mentioned tasks. 2. Provide all support resources, including travel for Sea Machines Robotics staff who support this CRADA, if required. 3. Provide the technical data package for all equipment, including dimensions, weight, power requirements, and other technical considerations for the additional components to be utilized under this CRADA. 4. Review test plan. 5. Provide any specific training, along with technical support, to those Coast Guard members evaluating the technology proposals submitted for this CRADA. The Coast Guard will provide no funding for reimbursement of proposal development costs. Proposals and any other material submitted in response to this notice will not be returned. Proposals submitted are expected to be unclassified and have not more than five single-sided pages (excluding cover page, DD 1494, JF–12, etc.). The Coast Guard will select proposals at its sole discretion on the basis of: (1) How well they communicate an understanding, of and ability to meet, the proposed CRADA’s goal; and (2) How well they address the following criteria: (a) Technical capability to support the non-Federal party contributions described, and (b) Resources available for supporting the non-Federal party contributions described. Currently, the Coast Guard is considering Sea Machines Robotics for participation in this CRADA. This consideration is based on the fact that Sea Machines has demonstrated its technical ability for autonomous USVs and the USCG RDC currently has one of their systems installed aboard their 29 foot vessel. However, we do not wish to exclude other viable participants from this or future similar CRADAs. This is a technology assessment effort. The goal of the Coast Guard for this CRADA is to determine what USV characteristics/parameters would be recommended for the operational use of a Coast Guard platform of this size, and also to gain a better understanding of how collision avoidance of USVs should be validated and regulated in the future. Special consideration will be given to small business firms/consortia, and preference will be given to business units located in the U.S. This notice is VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:15 Jun 09, 2021 Jkt 253001 issued under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a). Daniel P. Keane, Commanding Officer, U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center. [FR Doc. 2021–12162 Filed 6–9–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–04–P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Federal Emergency Management Agency [Docket ID FEMA–2021–0002; Internal Agency Docket No. FEMA–B–2137] Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: Comments are requested on proposed flood hazard determinations, which may include additions or modifications of any Base Flood Elevation (BFE), base flood depth, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundary or zone designation, or regulatory floodway on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports for the communities listed in the table below. The purpose of this notice is to seek general information and comment regarding the preliminary FIRM, and where applicable, the FIS report that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided to the affected communities. The FIRM and FIS report are the basis of the floodplain management measures that the community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of having in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In addition, the FIRM and FIS report, once effective, will be used by insurance agents and others to calculate appropriate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and the contents of those buildings. DATES: Comments are to be submitted on or before September 8, 2021. ADDRESSES: The Preliminary FIRM, and where applicable, the FIS report for each community are available for inspection at both the online location https://hazards.fema.gov/femaportal/ prelimdownload and the respective Community Map Repository address listed in the tables below. Additionally, the current effective FIRM and FIS SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 30969 report for each community are accessible online through the FEMA Map Service Center at https:// msc.fema.gov for comparison. You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. FEMA–B–2137, to Rick Sacbibit, Chief, Engineering Services Branch, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, FEMA, 400 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20472, (202) 646–7659, or (email) patrick.sacbibit@fema.dhs.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick Sacbibit, Chief, Engineering Services Branch, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, FEMA, 400 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20472, (202) 646–7659, or (email) patrick.sacbibit@fema.dhs.gov; or visit the FEMA Mapping and Insurance eXchange (FMIX) online at https:// www.floodmaps.fema.gov/fhm/fmx_ main.html. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FEMA proposes to make flood hazard determinations for each community listed below, in accordance with section 110 of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, 42 U.S.C. 4104, and 44 CFR 67.4(a). These proposed flood hazard determinations, together with the floodplain management criteria required by 44 CFR 60.3, are the minimum that are required. They should not be construed to mean that the community must change any existing ordinances that are more stringent in their floodplain management requirements. The community may at any time enact stricter requirements of its own or pursuant to policies established by other Federal, State, or regional entities. These flood hazard determinations are used to meet the floodplain management requirements of the NFIP and are used to calculate the appropriate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings built after the FIRM and FIS report become effective. The communities affected by the flood hazard determinations are provided in the tables below. Any request for reconsideration of the revised flood hazard information shown on the Preliminary FIRM and FIS report that satisfies the data requirements outlined in 44 CFR 67.6(b) is considered an appeal. Comments unrelated to the flood hazard determinations also will be considered before the FIRM and FIS report become effective. Use of a Scientific Resolution Panel (SRP) is available to communities in support of the appeal resolution process. SRPs are independent panels of experts in hydrology, hydraulics, and other pertinent sciences established to E:\FR\FM\10JNN1.SGM 10JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 110 (Thursday, June 10, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30968-30969]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12162]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2021-0236]


Cooperative Research and Development Agreement: Evaluating 
Unmanned Surface Vessel Characteristics for Coast Guard Platforms

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is announcing its intent to enter into a 
Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Sea 
Machines Robotics. Sea Machines Robotics will work with the USCG 
Research and Development Center (RDC) to modify the currently existing 
SM300 system installed on the USCG RDC unmanned surface vessel (USV) to 
determine what parameters and behaviors would be beneficial for USCG 
mission sets. Additionally, the agreement will investigate the current 
state of collision avoidance in autonomous unmanned surface vessels 
(USVs), to develop a better understanding of how these capabilities 
should be evaluated/regulated in the future. The Coast Guard invites 
other potential non-Federal participants, who have the interest and 
capability to bring similar contributions to this type of research, to 
submit proposals for consideration in similar CRADAs.

DATES: Comments must be submitted to the online docket via https://www.regulations.gov, or reach the Docket Management Facility, on or 
before July 12, 2021.
    Synopses of proposals regarding future CRADAs must reach the Coast 
Guard (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) on or before July 12, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments online at https://www.regulations.gov 
following website instructions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice 
or wish to submit proposals for future CRADAs, contact Derek Meier, 
Project Official, Surface Branch, U.S. Coast Guard Research and 
Development Center, 1 Chelsea Street, New London, CT 06320, telephone 
860-271-2600, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We request public comments on this notice. Although we do not plan 
to respond to comments in the Federal Register, we will respond 
directly to commenters and may modify our proposal in light of 
comments.
    Comments should be marked with docket number USCG-2021-0236 and 
should provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation. You 
should provide personal contact information so that we can contact you 
if we have questions regarding your comments; but please note that all 
comments will be posted to the online docket without change and that 
any personal information you include can be searchable online (see the 
Federal Register Privacy Act notice regarding our public dockets, 73 FR 
3316, Jan. 17, 2008). We also accept anonymous comments.
    We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be 
submitted using https://www.regulations.gov, contact the Coast Guard 
(see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Documents mentioned in this 
notice, and all public comments, are in our online docket at https://www.regulations.gov and can be viewed by following that website's 
instructions. Additionally, if you go to the online docket and sign up 
for email alerts, you will be notified when comments are posted or a 
final rule is published.
    Do not submit detailed proposals for future CRADAs to the Docket 
Management Facility. Instead, submit them directly to the Coast Guard 
(see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

Discussion

    CRADAs are authorized under 15 U.S.C. 3710(a).\1\ A CRADA promotes 
the transfer of technology to the private sector for commercial use, as 
well as specified research or development efforts that are consistent 
with the mission of the Federal parties to the CRADA. The Federal party 
or parties agree with one or more non-Federal parties to share research 
resources, but the Federal party does not contribute funding.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The statute confers this authority on the head of each 
Federal agency. The Secretary of DHS's authority is delegated to the 
Coast Guard and other DHS organizational elements by DHS Delegation 
No. 0160.1, para. II.B.34.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    CRADAs are not procurement contracts. Care is taken to ensure that 
CRADAs are not used to circumvent the contracting process. CRADAs have 
a specific purpose and should not be confused with procurement 
contracts, grants, and other type of agreements.
    Under the proposed CRADA, the R&D Center will collaborate with one 
non-Federal participant. Together, the R&D Center and the non-Federal 
participant will evaluate which USV characteristics and parameters 
would be beneficial to the USCG mission set. Additionally, both 
partners will evaluate how collision avoidance technology should be 
validated on these platforms in the future. We anticipate that the 
Coast Guard's contributions under the proposed CRADA will include the 
following:
    1. Provide appropriate staff with expertise to accomplish the above 
mentioned tasks.
    2. Draft test plan.
    3. Provide all support resources, including travel for Coast Guard 
staff that support this CRADA.
    4. Obtain, transport, and provide all of the parts, tools, and 
equipment necessary to prepare the platform for Sea Machines Robotics 
modifications.
    5. Provide the 29RDC and qualified crew for the testing.
    6. Provide all resources required for the conduct of the testing on 
the 29RDC.
    7. Execute the testing IAW with the agreed upon test plan.
    We anticipate that the non-Federal participants' contributions 
under the proposed CRADA will include the following:

[[Page 30969]]

    1. Provide appropriate staff with expertise to support the above 
mentioned tasks.
    2. Provide all support resources, including travel for Sea Machines 
Robotics staff who support this CRADA, if required.
    3. Provide the technical data package for all equipment, including 
dimensions, weight, power requirements, and other technical 
considerations for the additional components to be utilized under this 
CRADA.
    4. Review test plan.
    5. Provide any specific training, along with technical support, to 
those Coast Guard members evaluating the technology proposals submitted 
for this CRADA.
    The Coast Guard will provide no funding for reimbursement of 
proposal development costs. Proposals and any other material submitted 
in response to this notice will not be returned. Proposals submitted 
are expected to be unclassified and have not more than five single-
sided pages (excluding cover page, DD 1494, JF-12, etc.). The Coast 
Guard will select proposals at its sole discretion on the basis of:
    (1) How well they communicate an understanding, of and ability to 
meet, the proposed CRADA's goal; and
    (2) How well they address the following criteria:
    (a) Technical capability to support the non-Federal party 
contributions described, and
    (b) Resources available for supporting the non-Federal party 
contributions described.
    Currently, the Coast Guard is considering Sea Machines Robotics for 
participation in this CRADA. This consideration is based on the fact 
that Sea Machines has demonstrated its technical ability for autonomous 
USVs and the USCG RDC currently has one of their systems installed 
aboard their 29 foot vessel. However, we do not wish to exclude other 
viable participants from this or future similar CRADAs.
    This is a technology assessment effort. The goal of the Coast Guard 
for this CRADA is to determine what USV characteristics/parameters 
would be recommended for the operational use of a Coast Guard platform 
of this size, and also to gain a better understanding of how collision 
avoidance of USVs should be validated and regulated in the future. 
Special consideration will be given to small business firms/consortia, 
and preference will be given to business units located in the U.S. This 
notice is issued under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).

Daniel P. Keane,
Commanding Officer, U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center.
[FR Doc. 2021-12162 Filed 6-9-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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