83 FR 17560 - Cooperative Research and Development Agreement: Safe Parameters for Ice Operations

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 77 (April 20, 2018)

Page Range		17560-17561
FR Document		2018-08311

The Coast Guard is announcing its intent to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with W.L. GORE and Associates Inc. (GORE) to conduct insulation value testing for the Coast Guard's Maritime Cold Weather Suit System (MCWSS) in the air instead of the water, which the system was designed for. While the Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with GORE, we are soliciting public comment on the possible nature of and participation of other parties in the proposed CRADA. In addition, the Coast Guard also invites other potential non-Federal participants, who have the interest and capability to bring similar contributions to this type of research, to consider submitting proposals for consideration in similar CRADAs.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 77 (Friday, April 20, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 77 (Friday, April 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17560-17561]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08311]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2018-0185]


Cooperative Research and Development Agreement: Safe Parameters 
for Ice Operations

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is announcing its intent to enter into a 
Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with W.L. GORE 
and Associates Inc. (GORE) to conduct insulation value testing for the 
Coast Guard's Maritime Cold Weather Suit System (MCWSS) in the air 
instead of the water, which the system was designed for. While the 
Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with GORE, we are 
soliciting public comment on the possible nature of and participation 
of other parties in the proposed CRADA. In addition, the Coast Guard 
also invites other potential non-Federal participants, who have the 
interest and capability to bring similar contributions to this type of 
research, to consider submitting proposals for consideration in similar 
CRADAs.

DATES: Comments must be submitted to the online docket via http://www.regulations.gov on or before May 21, 2018.
    Synopses of proposals regarding future CRADAs must reach the Coast 
Guard (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) on or before May 21, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments online at http://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 LT Ryan Huebner, 
Project Official, Surface Branch, U.S. Coast Guard Research and 
Development Center, 1 Chelsea Street, New London, CT 06320, telephone 
860-271-2815, 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-2018-0185 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 http://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be 
submitted using http://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 http://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.
    If desired, submit detailed proposals for future CRADAs 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.
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    \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.
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    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 conduct thermo conductive tests on the Coast Guard's 
MWCSS in various environmental scenarios to determine the system's 
insulation properties to be used to create safe parameters for 
personnel wearing the MWCSS during Ice Rescue missions.
    We anticipate that the Coast Guard's contributions under the 
proposed CRADA will include the following:
    (1) Provide appropriate staff with pertinent expertise to take the 
lead in accomplishing the required tasks;
    (2) Provide information regarding the ensemble items and parameters 
needed for creating the test plan;
    (3) Provide all support resources, including travel, for Coast 
Guard staff that supports this CRADA;
    (4) Obtain, transport and provide all of the ensemble items to be 
used during the testing;
    (5) Provide personnel support to non-Federal participant to assist 
with setting up and execute testing in accordance with the agreed upon 
test plan;
    (6) Work with non-Federal participant to develop a Final Report, 
which will document the methodologies, findings, conclusions, and 
recommendations of this CRADA work.
    We anticipate that the non-Federal participants' contributions 
under the proposed CRADA will include the following:
    (1) Provide appropriate staff with pertinent expertise to support 
the above mentioned tasks;
    (2) Provide all necessary facility resources needed to conduct 
insulation value testing;
    (3) Provide technical approach for the test plan;
    (4) Lead the testing runs of the Coast Guard's MWCSS in accordance 
with the agreed upon test plan;
    (5) Provide test data upon completion of testing.
    The Coast Guard reserves the right to select for CRADA participants 
all, some,

[[Page 17561]]

or no 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 GORE for participation in 
this CRADA. This consideration is based on the fact that GORE has 
demonstrated its technical ability and availability of appropriate 
facilities to effectively determine insulation properties of clothing. 
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 the insulation properties of the Coast 
Guard's MWCSS in the air instead of the water which the system was 
designed for. 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).

    Dated: April 10, 2018.
G.C. Rothrock,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Commanding Officer, U.S. Coast Guard 
Research and Development Center.
[FR Doc. 2018-08311 Filed 4-19-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 77 / Friday, April 20, 2018 / Notices 17561

or no proposals submitted for this SUMMARY: The Generalized System of dhs.gov. For operational questions
CRADA. The Coast Guard will provide Preferences (GSP) is a renewable regarding: Formal/Informal Entries and
no funding for reimbursement of preferential trade program that allows Baggage Declarations: Randy Mitchell,
proposal development costs. Proposals the eligible products of designated 202–863–6532; Mail Entries: Robert
and any other material submitted in beneficiary developing countries to Woods, 202–344–1236; Non-ABI
response to this notice will not be enter the United States free of duty. The Informal Entries: Contact the
returned. Proposals submitted are GSP program expired on December 31, appropriate Center of Excellence and
expected to be unclassified and have not 2017, but has been renewed through Expertise. Questions from filers
more than five single-sided pages December 31, 2020, effective April 22, regarding ABI transmissions should be
(excluding cover page, DD 1494, JF–12, 2018, with retroactive effect between directed to their assigned ABI client
etc.). The Coast Guard will select January 1, 2018, through April 21, 2018, representative.
proposals at its sole discretion on the by a provision in the Consolidated
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
basis of: Appropriations Act, 2018.
(1) How well they communicate an This document provides notice to Background
understanding, of and ability to meet, importers that U.S. Customs and Border Section 501 of the Trade Act of 1974,
the proposed CRADA’s goal; and Protection (CBP) will again accept as amended (19 U.S.C. 2461), authorizes
(2) How well they address the claims for GSP duty-free treatment for
following criteria: the President to establish a Generalized
merchandise entered, or withdrawn System of Preferences (GSP) to provide
(a) Technical capability to support the from warehouse, for consumption and
non-Federal party contributions duty-free treatment for eligible articles
that CBP will process refunds on duties imported directly from designated
described, and paid, without interest, on GSP-eligible
(b) Resources available for supporting beneficiary countries for specific time
merchandise that was entered during periods. Pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 2465, as
the non-Federal party contributions the period that the GSP program was
described. amended by section 201(a) of Pub. L.
lapsed. Formal and informal entries that 114–27, 129 Stat. 371, duty-free
Currently, the Coast Guard is were filed electronically via the
considering GORE for participation in treatment under the GSP program
Automated Broker Interface (ABI) using expired on December 31, 2017.
this CRADA. This consideration is Special Program Indicator (SPI) Code
based on the fact that GORE has On March 23, 2018, President Donald
‘‘A’’ as a prefix to the tariff number will J. Trump signed the Consolidated
demonstrated its technical ability and
be automatically processed by CBP and Appropriations Act, 2018 (Pub. Law
availability of appropriate facilities to
no further action by the filer is required 115–141, 132 Stat. 348) (the Act).
effectively determine insulation
to initiate the refund process. Non-ABI Section 501 of Title V of the Act
properties of clothing. However, we do
filers, and ABI filers that did not pertains to the extension of duty-free
not wish to exclude other viable
include SPI Code ‘‘A’’ on the entry, treatment and the retroactive
participants from this or future similar
must timely submit a duty refund application for certain liquidations and
CRADAs.
This is a technology assessment effort. request to CBP. CBP will continue reliquidations under the GSP. Section
The goal of the Coast Guard for this conducting verifications to ensure that 501(b)(1) provides that GSP duty-free
CRADA is to determine the insulation GSP benefits are available to eligible treatment will be applied to eligible
properties of the Coast Guard’s MWCSS entries only. articles from designated beneficiary
in the air instead of the water which the DATES: As of April 22, 2018, the filing countries that are entered, or withdrawn
system was designed for. Special of GSP-eligible entry summaries may be from warehouse, for consumption on or
consideration will be given to small resumed without the payment of after April 22, 2018 through December
business firms/consortia, and preference estimated duties, and CBP will initiate 31, 2020. Section 501(b)(2) provides that
will be given to business units located the automatic liquidation or for entries made on or after January 1,
in the U.S. This notice is issued under reliquidation of formal and informal 2018 through April 21, 2018 (30th day
the authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a). entries of GSP-eligible merchandise that after the date of enactment of the Act),
was entered on or after January 1, 2018, to which duty-free treatment would
Dated: April 10, 2018.
through April 21, 2018, and filed via have applied if GSP had been in effect
G.C. Rothrock, ABI with SPI Code ‘‘A’’ notated on the during that time period (‘‘covered
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Commanding entry. Requests for refunds of GSP
Officer, U.S. Coast Guard Research and entries’’), any duty paid with respect to
duties paid on eligible non-ABI entries, such entry will be refunded provided
Development Center.
or eligible ABI entries filed without SPI that a request for liquidation or
[FR Doc. 2018–08311 Filed 4–19–18; 8:45 am]
Code ‘‘A,’’ must be filed with CBP no reliquidation of that entry, containing
BILLING CODE 9110–04–P later than September 19, 2018. sufficient information to enable U.S.
ADDRESSES: Instructions for submitting a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND request to CBP to liquidate or locate the entry or to reconstruct the
SECURITY reliquidate entries of GSP-eligible entry if it cannot be located, is filed
merchandise that was entered on or with CBP no later than September 19,
U.S. Customs and Border Protection after January 1, 2018, through April 21, 2018 (180 days after enactment of the
2018 but without the SPI Code ‘‘A’’ are Act). Section 501(b)(2)(C) provides that
Renewal of the Generalized System of located at http://www.cbp.gov/trade/ any amounts owed by the United States
Preferences (GSP) and Retroactive priority-issues/trade-agreements/ pursuant to section 501(b)(2)(A) will be
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

Application for Certain Liquidations special-trade-legislation/generalized- paid without interest.
and Reliquidations Under the GSP system-preferences. Field locations will not issue GSP
AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: refunds except as instructed to do so by
Protection, Department of Homeland General questions concerning this CBP Headquarters. The processing of
Security. notice should be directed to Seth Mazze, retroactive GSP duty refunds will be
Office of Trade, Trade Agreements administered by CBP according to the
ACTION: General notice.
Branch, 202–863–6567 or at fta@ terms set forth below.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:44 Apr 19, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\20APN1.SGM 20APN1

Document Created: 2018-04-20 00:03:27
Document Modified: 2018-04-20 00:03:27

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of intent; request for comments.
Dates		Comments must be submitted to the online docket via http:// www.regulations.gov on or before May 21, 2018.
Contact		If you have questions on this notice or wish to submit proposals for future CRADAs, contact LT Ryan Huebner, Project Official, Surface Branch, U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center, 1 Chelsea Street, New London, CT 06320, telephone 860-271-2815, email [email protected]
FR Citation		83 FR 17560

83 FR 17560 - Cooperative Research and Development Agreement: Safe Parameters for Ice Operations

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITYCoast Guard

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 77 (April 20, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard