106 STAT. 4300 PUBLIC LAW 102-567—OCT. 29, 1992 (3) Tlan" means the NOAA Fleet Replacement and Modernization Plan described in section 604. (4) "Secretary" means the Secretiury of Commerce. (5) 'TJNOLS) means University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System. 33 USC 891a. SEC. 608. FLEET REPLACEMENT AND MODERNIZATION PROGRAM. The Secretary is authorized to implement, subject to the requirements of tnis Act, a 15-year program to replace and modernize the NOAA fleet. 33 USC 891b. SEC. 604. FLEET REPLACEMENT AND MODERNIZATION PLAN. (a) IN GENERAL.—To carry out the program authorized in section 603, the Secretcuy shall develop and submit to Congress a replacement and modernization Plan for the NOAA fleet covering the years authorized under section 610. (b) TIMING.—The Plan required in subsection (a) shall be submitted to Congress within 30 days of the date of enactment of this Act, and updated on an annual basis. (c) PLAN ELEMENTS.—The Plan required in subsection (a) shall include the following— (1) the number of vessels proposed to be modernized or replaced, the schedule for their modernization or replacement, and anticipated funding requirements; (2) the number of vessels proposed to be constructed, leased, or chartered; (3) the number of vessels, or days at sea, that can be obtained by using the vessels of the UNOLS; (4) the number of vessels that will be made available to NOAA by the Secretary of the Navy, or any other federal official, and the terms and conditions for their availability; (5) the proposed acquisition of modern scientific instrumentation for the NOAA fleet, including acoustic systems, data transmission positioning and communication systems, physical, chemical, and meteorological oceanographic systems, and data acquisition and processing systems; and (6) the appropriate role of the NOAA Corps in operating and maintaining uie NOAA fleet. (d) CONTRACTING LIMITATION. —The Secretary may not enter into any contract for the construction, lease, or service life extension of a vessel of the NOAA fleet before the date of the submission to Congress of the Plan required in subsection (a). 33 USC 891c. SEC. 605. DESIGN OF NOAA VESSELS. (a) DESIGN REQUIREMENT.— Except for the vessel designs identi- ^ fled under subsection (b), the Secret£ury, working through the Office of the NOAA Corps Operations and the Systems Procurement Office, 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. Reports. (b) ExCEPnON. —The Secretary shall— (1) report to Congress identifying any existing vessel design or design proposal mat meets the requirements of the Plan within 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act and
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