In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

December 10, 2018. 

Resolved, That the bill from the Senate (S. 2511) entitled ‘‘An Act to require the Under Secretary of Commerce for 

Oceans and Atmosphere to carry out a program on coordinating the assessment and acquisition by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of unmanned maritime 

systems, to make available to the public data collected by the 

Administration using such systems, and for other purposes.’’, 

do pass with the following 

AMENDMENT: 

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert: 

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

2 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

3 ‘‘Commercial Engagement Through Ocean Technology Act 

4 of 2018’’ or the ‘‘CENOTE Act of 2018’’. 

5 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

6 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Definitions. 

Sec. 3. Coordination regarding assessment and acquisition by National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration of unmanned maritime systems. 

Sec. 4. Regular assessment of unmanned maritime systems to support National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration missions. 

Sec. 5. Acquisition of unmanned maritime systems. 

Sec. 6. Reports on unmanned maritime systems and usage for mission of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

Sec. 7. Funding and additional authorities. 
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1 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

2 In this Act: 

3 (1) ADMINISTRATION.—The term ‘‘Administra4 tion’’ means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

5 Administration. 

6 (2) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis7 trator’’ means the Under Secretary of Commerce for 

8 Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of the Na9 tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

10 (3) COOPERATIVE ACTIVITIES OF THE ADMINIS11 TRATION.—The terms ‘‘cooperative activities of the 

12 Administration’’ means cooperative activities between 

13 the Administration and an external entity, such as 

14 the Cooperative Institutes, Sea Grant Colleges, Na15 tional Estuarine Research Reserves, the National 

16 Oceanographic Partnership Program established 

17 under chapter 665 of title 10, United States Code, 

18 and regional associations of the Integrated Ocean Ob19 serving System. 

20 (4) DATA SPECIFICATIONS.—The term ‘‘data 

21 specifications’’ shall refer to the type, resolution, peri22 odicity, and quality of data required by an program 

23 of the Administration. 

24 (5) TEST OR TRAINING RANGE.— 

25 (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘test or train26 ing range’’ means an area designated for oper-
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1 ating unmanned maritime systems and other 

2 types of systems for the purpose of— 

3 (i) evaluating the performance of such 

4 systems; or 

5 (ii) training personnel on operating 

6 procedures for such systems. 

7 (B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘test or train8 ing range’’ may include specialized fixed or port9 able instrumentation for the operation of un10 manned maritime systems and other types of 

11 systems. 

12 (6) UNMANNED MARITIME SYSTEMS.— 

13 (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘unmanned 

14 maritime systems’’ means remotely operated or 

15 autonomous vehicles produced by the commercial 

16 sector— 

17 (i) designed to function without an on18 board human presence; and 

19 (ii) that may include associated com20 ponents such as control and communica21 tions, instrumentation, data transmission, 

22 and processing systems. 

23 (B) EXAMPLES.—The term ‘‘unmanned 

24 maritime systems’’ includes the following: 

25 (i) Unmanned undersea vehicles. 
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1 (ii) Unmanned surface vehicles. 

2 (iii) Autonomous underwater vehicles. 

3 (iv) Autonomous surface vehicles. 

4 (C) TREATMENT OF AERIAL VEHICLES.— 

5 The term ‘‘unmanned maritime systems’’ in6 cludes unmanned aerial vehicles and autonomous 

7 aerial vehicles that are used to address maritime 

8 issues to the extent the Administrator determines 

9 it is necessary and appropriate to achieve the 

10 purposes of this Act. 

11 SEC. 3. COORDINATION REGARDING ASSESSMENT AND AC12 QUISITION BY NATIONAL OCEANIC AND AT13 MOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION OF UN14 MANNED MARITIME SYSTEMS. 

15 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator shall direct 

16 the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (in this Act 

17 referred to as ‘‘OAR’’) and the Office of Marine and Avia18 tion Operations (in this Act referred to as ‘‘OMAO’’)— 

19 (1) to coordinate the Administration’s research, 

20 assessment, and acquisition of unmanned maritime 

21 systems; and 

22 (2) to consider the use of unmanned maritime 

23 systems in cooperative activities of the Administra24 tion. 

25 (b) COORDINATION WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION.— 
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1 (1) UNMANNED SYSTEMS EXECUTIVE OVERSIGHT

2 BOARD.—In meeting the requirements described in 

3 subsection (a), the Administrator shall— 

4 (A) utilize the Unmanned Systems Execu5 tive Oversight Board (in this Act referred to as 

6 the ‘‘USEOB’’) as the coordinating mechanism; 

7 and 

8 (B) ensure that OAR and OMAO address 

9 requirements throughout the Administration. 

10 (2) INCLUDED.—In utilizing the USEOB under 

11 paragraph (1), the Administrator shall ensure that 

12 representation on the USEOB is included from the 

13 following: 

14 (A) The Office of Ocean Exploration 

15 (OER). 

16 (B) The program office of the Integrated 

17 Ocean Observing System. 

18 (C) Such other offices of the Administration 

19 as the Administrator determines are actively en20 gaged with unmanned maritime systems. 

21 (c) COORDINATION WITH THE NAVY.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out this Act, the 

23 Administrator shall— 

24 (A) make efforts to coordinate with the Sec25 retary of the Navy to leverage expertise in the de-
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1 velopment and operational transition of un2 manned maritime systems; 

3 (B) align with, utilize, and inform the Dep4 uty Under Secretary of Commerce for Operations 

5 and the Oceanographer of the Navy’s strategic 

6 and operational priorities, particularly for mis7 sions and geography within the Administration’s 

8 purview; 

9 (C) seek to utilize Naval unmanned systems 

10 test or training ranges, such as the Gulf of Mex11 ico Unmanned Systems Test and Training 

12 Range of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanog13 raphy Command, and maximize interagency co14 operation and sharing of best practices; and 

15 (D) to formalize coordination, execute a 

16 memorandum of understanding with the Sec17 retary of the Navy that includes— 

18 (i) incorporating consideration of pri19 orities and requirements of the Administra20 tion into research and development activi21 ties conducted by the Secretary of the Navy; 

22 (ii) consultation intended to encourage 

23 and facilitate efforts by the Administration 

24 to partner with the Navy to procure un25 manned maritime systems and to establish, 
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1 instrument, and operate test or training 

2 ranges and related facilities; 

3 (iii) adopting procedures defined by 

4 the Secretary of the Navy for the Adminis5 tration to access and utilize test or training 

6 ranges or related Naval facilities for pur7 poses identified in paragraph (2)(B); and 

8 (iv) such other topics as the Adminis9 trator considers necessary or advisable, in10 cluding mapping, bathymetry, observations, 

11 and ocean exploration. 

12 (2) LOCATION.—The Administrator shall, if 

13 practicable, carry out the activities authorized by this 

14 Act at a facility where the Navy and the Administra15 tion are co-located, for the following purposes: 

16 (A) Gaining efficiencies through collabora17 tion. 

18 (B) Advancing development of unmanned 

19 maritime systems, including— 

20 (i) systems research and development; 

21 (ii) systems testing; 

22 (iii) systems modifications; and 

23 (iv) systems integration. 

24 (C) Accelerating transition from concept to 

25 manufacturing and acquisition. 
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1 (d) COORDINATION WITH OTHER FEDERAL AGEN2 CIES.—In carrying out this Act, the Administrator and the 

3 Secretary of the Navy may utilize the National Oceano4 graphic Partnership Program, established under chapter 

5 665 of title 10, United States Code, as a mechanism for 

6 providing interagency coordination for the advancement of 

7 unmanned maritime systems. 

8 (e) COORDINATION WITH ACADEMIC SECTOR.—In car9 rying out this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with 

10 the Secretary of the Navy, may coordinate and co-locate 

11 with an academic research institution, or consortium of 

12 academic research institutions, for the following purposes: 

13 (1) Maximizing opportunities for research and 

14 development of unmanned maritime systems. 

15 (2) Providing training in unmanned maritime 

16 systems as part of an accredited certificate or degree 

17 program of education. 

18 (3) Facilitating the commercialization of un19 manned maritime systems through public-private 

20 partnerships that includes academic research institu21 tions, private industry, and public safety agencies. 

22 (4) Arranging access to and use of additional fa23 cilities that support testing and assessment of or 

24 training with respect to unmanned maritime systems 

25 under environmental conditions of interest, increasing 
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1 operational tolerance under such conditions, certi2 fying operational capacity under such conditions, 

3 whether real or simulated, and training operators of 

4 unmanned maritime systems in real or simulated en5 vironments. 

6 (5) Facilitating engagement with other academic 

7 institutions with interest or relevant expertise in un8 manned maritime systems. 

9 (6) Promoting information sharing between the 

10 academic, environmental, and military institutions to 

11 lead to more robust, mission-oriented unmanned mar12 itime systems. 

13 (f) ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.— 

14 Other than as described in subsection (e), the Adminis15 trator, in consultation with the Secretary of the Navy, may, 

16 in carrying out this Act, to the extent practicable, coordi17 nate and consult with the private sector— 

18 (1) to support the commercialization of un19 manned maritime systems; and 

20 (2) to assist with their assessment of commer21 cially available unmanned maritime systems to sup22 port the missions and goals of the Navy, the Adminis23 tration, and cooperative activities of the Administra24 tion. 
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1 SEC. 4. REGULAR ASSESSMENT OF UNMANNED MARITIME 

2 SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT NATIONAL OCEANIC 

3 AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION MIS4 SIONS. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator, acting through 

6 the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric 

7 Research and the Director of the Office of Marine and Avia8 tion Operations and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

9 Administration Commissioned Officer Corps, shall regu10 larly assess publicly and commercially available unmanned 

11 maritime systems for potential use to support missions of 

12 the Administration. 

13 (b) SCIENCE-BASED ASSESSMENTS.—The Adminis14 trator shall carry out subsection (a) through the Assistant 

15 Administrator for all matters relating to assessment of the 

16 suitability, feasibility, and cost-effectiveness of unmanned 

17 maritime systems to meet data specifications required by 

18 programs of the Administration. 

19 (c) ASSESSMENT OF OPERATIONAL UTILITY.—The Ad20 ministrator shall carry out subsection (a) through the Di21 rector for all matters relating to assessment of whether un22 manned maritime systems are operationally reliable, fea23 sible, and cost effective enough to make observations re24 quired by programs of the Administration. 

25 (d) ENGAGEMENT.—The Assistant Administrator and 

26 the Director shall jointly— 
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1 (1) convene and consult the Unmanned Maritime 

2 Systems Ocean Technology Coordinating Committee 

3 established under section 3(b); and 

4 (2) consult with the heads of other offices of the 

5 Administration, the academic sector, and developers 

6 and manufacturers of unmanned maritime systems to 

7 conduct the assessments under subsection (a). 

8 SEC. 5. ACQUISITION OF UNMANNED MARITIME SYSTEMS. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall coordinate 

10 and centralize the acquisition by the Administration of un11 manned maritime systems to meet the prioritized list of 

12 data requirements identified by OAR and OMAO in car13 rying out this Act in their regular assessments and ap14 proved by the USEOB. 

15 (b) MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING.—In order to re16 alize greater savings and efficiency, the Administrator may 

17 develop and execute a memorandum of agreement with the 

18 Secretary of the Navy to— 

19 (1) participate in procurements conducted by the 

20 signatories to the memorandum of understanding; 

21 (2) accept decommissioned unmanned maritime 

22 systems from the Navy; 

23 (3) develop policies and procedures to share un24 manned maritime systems; or 
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1 (4) provide for other means of creating efficiency 

2 and savings in Federal acquisition of unmanned 

3 maritime systems. 

4 (c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act 

5 shall be construed to modify Federal procurement law. 

6 SEC. 6. REPORTS ON UNMANNED MARITIME SYSTEMS AND 

7 USAGE FOR MISSION OF THE NATIONAL OCE8 ANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out this Act, the Ad10 ministrator shall, not later than one year after the date of 

11 the enactment of this Act, and every 4 years thereafter, sub12 mit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on 

13 the usage of unmanned maritime systems for the mission 

14 of the Administration. 

15 (b) CONTENTS.—Each report submitted under sub16 section (a) shall include, for the period covered by the re17 port, the following: 

18 (1) An inventory of current unmanned maritime 

19 systems used by programs of the Administration, a 

20 summary of the data they have returned, and the ben21 efits realized from having such data. 

22 (2) A prioritized list of data requirements of the 

23 Administration that could be met with unmanned 

24 maritime systems, and the commercially available 
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1 unmanned maritime systems with the operational ca2 pabilities to collect such data. 

3 (c) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DE4 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate committees 

5 of Congress’’ means— 

6 (1) the Committee on Appropriations, the Com7 mittee on Armed Services, and the Committee on 

8 Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; 

9 and 

10 (2) the Committee on Appropriations, the Com11 mittee on Armed Services, the Committee on Natural 

12 Resources, and the Committee on Science, Space, and 

13 Technology of the House of Representatives. 

14 SEC. 7. FUNDING AND ADDITIONAL AUTHORITIES. 

15 (a) FUNDING.—The Administrator shall carry out this 

16 Act using existing amounts appropriated or otherwise made 

17 available to the Administration. 

18 (b) ADDITIONAL AUTHORITIES.—In carrying out this 

19 Act, the Administrator may— 

20 (1) enter into contracts, cooperative agreements, 

21 and other transactions with any domestic or foreign 

22 government; 

23 (2) notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, 

24 United States Code, accept donations and voluntary 

25 and uncompensated services; 
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1 (3) accept funds from other Federal departments 

2 and agencies; 

3 (4) utilize the National Oceanographic Partner4 ship Program established under chapter 665 of title 

5 10, United States Code, to accept funds from other 

6 Federal departments and agencies, to accept dona7 tions, and to enter into contracts and award grants; 

8 (5) under an agreement entered into under para9 graph (1), transfer funds appropriated to carry our 

10 this Act to any organization; and 

11 (6) use, with their consent, with or without reim12 bursement, and subject to the availability of appro13 priations, the land, services, equipment, personnel, 

14 and facilities of— 

15 (A) any department, agency, or instrumen16 tality of the United States; 

17 (B) any State or local government or tribal 

18 government; or 

19 (C) any foreign government or inter20 national organization. 

Attest: 

Clerk. 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2511 

AMENDMENT