Commerce Acquisition Regulation (CAR); Waiver of Bond Requirement for Contracts To Repair, Alter or Construct Certain Research and Survey Vessels for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

We, the Department of Commerce (Commerce), issue an interim final rule to provide procedures for waiving performance and payment bonds required under U.S. law, associated with contracts for the repair, alteration and construction of the National Atmospheric and Oceanographic Administration's (NOAA) fleet of research and survey vessels operated by the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO). The regulations implement the authority provided to the Secretary of Commerce in Section 111 of the ``Department of Commerce Appropriations Act, 2015,'' and comport with language in the Appropriation Committee's report instructing NOAA to promulgate regulations prior to implementing the waiver authority. This final rule amends the CAR by inserting a section and amending a part to add the contract language for the waivers.