PUBLIC LAW 105-384—NOV. 13, 1998 112 STAT. 3455 (4) ensure comprehensive geographic coverage of hydrographic services, in cooperation with other appropriate Federal agencies; (5) maintain a national database of hydrographic data, in cooperation with other appropriate Federal agencies; (6) provide hydrographic services in uniform, easily accessible formats; (7) participate in the development of, and implement for the United States in cooperation with other appropriate Federal agencies, international standards for hydrographic data and hydrographic services; and (8) to the greatest extent practicable and cost-effective, fulfill the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (6) through contracts or other agreements with private sector entities. (b) AUTHORITIES. —To fulfill the data gathering and dissemination duties of the Administration under the Act of 1947, and subject to the availability of appropriations, the Administrator— (1) may procure, lease, evaluate, test, develop, and operate vessels, equipment, and technologies necessary to ensure safe navigation and maintain operational expertise in hydrographic data acquisition and hydrographic services; (2) may enter into contracts and other agreements with qualified entities, consistent with subsection (a)(8), for the acquisition of hydrographic data and the provision of hydrographic services; (3) shall award contracts for the acquisition of hydrographic Contracts. data in accordance with title IX of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 541 et seq.); and (4) may design and install where appropriate Physical Oceanographic Real-Time Systems to enhance navigation safety and efficiency. SEC. 304. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM. 33 USC 892b. (a) DEFINITION.— For purposes of this section, the term "hydrographic product" means any publicly or commercially available product produced by a non-Federal entity that includes or displays hydrographic data. (b) PROGRAM.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator may— (A) develop and implement a quality assurance program that is equally available to all applicants, under which the Administrator may certify hydrographic products that satisfy the standards promulgated by the Administrator under section 303(a)(3); (B) authorize the use of the emblem or any trademark of the Administration on a hydrographic product certified under subparagraph (A); and (C) charge a fee for such certification and use. (2) LIMITATION ON FEE AMOUNT.— Any fee under paragraph (1)(C) shall not exceed the costs of conducting the quality assurance testing, evaluation, or studies necessary to determine whether the hydrographic product satisfies the standards adopted under section 303(a)(3), including the cost of administering such a program.
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