Improving Memphis' Supply Chain Act
Bill: S.3268 | Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha (R-TN)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Improving Memphis' Supply Chain Act
This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to undertake a process, in coordination with the Federal Maritime Commission, to create a voluntary chassis pool operated by a private sector contractor at the rail ramps near Memphis, TN. (Chassis are special trailers used to transport shipping containers.)
DOT must solicit proposals from contractors to develop a model for operating such a pool. The proposals must address, among other matters, a sustainable fee structure, estimates of the number of chassis needed in the pool, and real property necessary to operate the pool.
If any contractors submit satisfactory proposals, DOT must (1) contract with one of them to operate the pool, and (2) evaluate the effectiveness of the pool within one year of its implementation. In the event there are no satisfactory proposals submitted, DOT must provide Congress with alternative options to improve the availability of chassis at the rail ramps.

To authorize the Secretary of Transportation to issue a request for 
proposals for a private-sector entity to develop an operating model for 
  an interoperable gray chassis pool at the rail ramps around Memphis.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Improving Memphis' Supply Chain 
Act''.

SEC. 2. DEVELOPMENT OF OPERATING MODEL FOR INTEROPERABLE GRAY CHASSIS 
              POOL AT THE RAIL RAMPS AROUND MEMPHIS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
        Maritime Commission.
            (2) Interoperable gray chassis pool.--The term 
        ``interoperable gray chassis pool'' means a single enterprise 
        for voluntary chassis provisioning that allows for the use of 
        any container chassis for marine shipping containers not less 
        than 20 feet and not more than 45 feet in length at the rail 
        ramps around Memphis by shippers or motor carriers.
    (b) Development of Plan.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to the availability of 
        appropriations, not later than 6 months after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in 
        coordination with the Commission, shall develop a plan to issue 
        a request for proposals to develop an operating model for an 
        interoperable gray chassis pool at the rail ramps around 
        Memphis, Tennessee.
            (2) Plan details.--In developing the plan under paragraph 
        (1), the Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with the 
        Commission, shall identify a suitable location or locations for 
        the interoperable gray chassis pool and consult with relevant 
        stakeholders, including the International Port of Memphis, 
        ocean carriers, railroad carriers, motor carriers, chassis 
        providers, shippers, and the Surface Transportation Board.
            (3) Content of plan and availability.--The plan under 
        paragraph (1) shall--
                    (A) include--
                            (i) objectives and duties of a private-
                        sector contractor to establish the 
                        interoperable gray chassis pool;
                            (ii) expectations for voluntary 
                        participation based on consultations; and
                            (iii) the appropriate approach for seeking 
                        and receiving feedback from Memphis 
                        stakeholders regarding the interoperable gray 
                        chassis pool; and
                    (B) be publicly available on a website not later 
                than 7 days after the plan is completed.
    (c) Request for Proposals.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to the availability of 
        appropriations, not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in 
        coordination with the Commission, shall issue a request for 
        proposals for a private-sector entity to develop an operating 
        model for an interoperable gray chassis pool consistent with 
        the plan required under subsection (b).
            (2) Content of proposal.--A proposal submitted pursuant to 
        a request under paragraph (1) shall include--
                    (A) a fee structure that would sustain the 
                interoperable gray chassis pool without a subsidy;
                    (B) specification of performance goals, including 
                rates of chassis in maintenance and average turn times, 
                and a plan to achieve the performance goals;
                    (C) expectations for communication and coordination 
                among carriers and local businesses, including any 
                facilitation by the private-sector entity;
                    (D) expectations for total chassis involved, 
                whether from voluntary participation of existing 
                providers or addition of chassis by the contractor;
                    (E) identification of real property necessary to 
                implement the interoperable gray chassis pool, whether 
                from voluntary participants or to be acquired; and
                    (F) a commitment from the awardee to implement the 
                interoperable gray chassis pool at the rail ramps 
                around Memphis based on the operating model developed 
                for the proposal within a specified timeframe.
    (d) Awarding of Contract.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to the availability of 
        appropriations, except as provided in paragraph (2), from the 
        proposals submitted under subsection (c), the Secretary of 
        Transportation, with approval from the Commission, shall award 
        a contract to a private-sector entity to develop and implement 
        an operating model for an interoperable gray chassis pool at 
        the rail ramps around Memphis.
            (2) No satisfactory proposal.--If no satisfactory proposal 
        is submitted under subsection (c), the Secretary of 
        Transportation, in coordination with the Commission, shall 
        submit, not later than 6 months after the date all proposals 
        are submitted, a report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
        and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives with potential alternative options to improve 
        chassis provisioning and supply chain efficiency at the rail 
        ramps around Memphis.
    (e) Evaluation.--The Secretary of Transportation, in coordination 
with the Commission, shall--
            (1) evaluate the effectiveness of an interoperable gray 
        chassis pool developed under this section not later than 1 year 
        after implementation; and
            (2) issue a report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
        and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives regarding the evaluation, including best 
        practices and lessons learned, not later than 2 years after 
        implementation.
    (f) Limitations.--
            (1) Voluntary participation.--Participation in the 
        interoperable gray chassis pool developed under this section 
        shall be voluntary.
            (2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
        construed to authorize the Department of Transportation or the 
        Commission to purchase or operate tangible property related to 
        the development of the interoperable gray chassis pool under 
        this section.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $500,000.
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