Notice2024-08143
Cooperative Research and Development Agreement: pLEO Satellite Systems for at Sea Global Coverage Including High Latitudes
Primary source
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Published
April 17, 2024
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard is announcing its intent to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Hughes Network Systems to build a Proof of Concept (POC) to understand the capabilities, benefits, risks, technical limitations, and performance associated with operating a proliferated low earth orbiting (pLEO) satellite system on Coast Guard ships at sea. The pLEO satellite system provides global broadband coverage, to include the extreme northern and southern latitudes, which have traditionally been limited to geostationary satellites. While the Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with Hughes Network Systems, we are soliciting public comment on the possible nature of and participation of other parties in the proposed CRADA. In addition, the Coast Guard also invites other potential non-Federal participants, who have the interest and capability to bring similar contributions to this type of research, to consider submitting proposals for consideration in similar CRADAs.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 75 (Wednesday, April 17, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 17, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27434-27435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08143]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG-2024-0236]
Cooperative Research and Development Agreement: pLEO Satellite
Systems for at Sea Global Coverage Including High Latitudes
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is announcing its intent to enter into a
Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Hughes
Network Systems to build a Proof of Concept (POC) to understand the
capabilities, benefits, risks, technical limitations, and performance
associated with operating a proliferated low earth orbiting (pLEO)
satellite system on Coast Guard ships at sea. The pLEO satellite system
provides global broadband coverage, to include the extreme northern and
southern latitudes, which have traditionally been limited to
geostationary satellites. While the Coast Guard is currently
considering partnering with Hughes Network Systems, we are soliciting
public comment on the possible nature of and participation of other
parties in the proposed CRADA. In addition, the Coast Guard also
invites other potential non-Federal participants, who have the interest
and capability to bring similar contributions to this type of research,
to consider submitting proposals for consideration in similar CRADAs.
DATES: Comments must be submitted to the online docket via <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> on or before May 17, 2024.
Synopses of proposals regarding future CRADAs must reach the Coast
Guard (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) on or before May 17, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments online at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> by
searching the docket number USCG-2024-0236 and following website
instructions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice
or wish to submit proposals for future CRADAs, contact Jon Turban,
P.E., Project Manager, IT and Networks Branch, U.S. Coast Guard
Research and Development Center, 1 Chelsea Street, New London, CT
06320, telephone 860-271-2600, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5e0c1a1d73373038311e2b2d3d3970333732"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8bd9cfc8a6e2e5ede4cbfef8e8eca5e6e2e7">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Participation and Request for Comments
We request public comments on this notice. Although we do not plan
to respond to comments in the Federal Register, we will respond
directly to commenters and may modify our proposal in response to
received comments.
Comments should be marked with docket number USCG-2024-0236 and
should provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation. You
should provide personal contact information so that we can contact you
if we have questions regarding your comments; please note that all
comments will be posted to the online docket without change and that
any personal information you include can be searchable online (see
DHS's eRulemaking System of Records notice, 85 FR 14226, March 11,
2020). We also accept anonymous comments.
We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking
Portal at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. If your material cannot be
submitted using <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>, contact the Coast Guard
(see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Documents mentioned in this
notice and all public comments are in our online docket at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> and can be viewed by following the website's
instructions.
Discussion
CRADAs are authorized under 15 U.S.C. 3710a.\1\ A CRADA promotes
the transfer of technology to the private sector for commercial use, as
well as specified research or development efforts that are consistent
with the mission of the Federal parties to the CRADA. The Federal party
or parties agree with one or more non-Federal parties to share research
resources, but the Federal party does not contribute funding.
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\1\ The statute confers this authority on the head of each
Federal agency. The Secretary of DHS's authority is delegated to the
Coast Guard and other DHS organizational elements by DHS Delegation
No. 0160.1, para. II.B.34.
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CRADAs are not procurement contracts. Care is taken to ensure that
CRADAs are not used to circumvent the contracting process. CRADAs have
a specific purpose and should not be confused with procurement
contracts, grants, and other type of agreements.
Under the proposed CRADA, the U.S. Coast Guard Research and
Development Center (R&D Center) will collaborate with one non-Federal
participant. Together, the R&D Center and the non-Federal participant
will build a POC to
[[Page 27435]]
understand the capabilities, benefits, risks, technical limitations,
and performance of operating a pLEO satellite system on Coast Guard
ships at sea. The pLEO satellite system provides global broadband
coverage, to include the extreme northern and southern latitudes, which
have traditionally been limited to geostationary satellites.
We anticipate that the Coast Guard's contributions under the
proposed CRADA will include the following:
(1) Provide staff with the expertise to support the tasks.
(2) Provide resources and travel for the Coast Guard staff that
support this CRADA.
(3) Write a test plan in collaboration with the non-Federal
participant.
(4) Obtain approvals for installation.
(5) Obtain authorization to connect to the network.
(6) Ship the necessary parts, tools, and equipment to the Coast
Guard Cutter.
(7) Coordinate logistics with the Coast Guard Cutter for the
installation of equipment onboard the ship.
(8) Coordinate operation of equipment with the Coast Guard Cutter
while the ship is underway.
(9) Provide resources required to conduct underway testing on the
Coast Guard Cutter
(10) Execute agreed upon test plan.
(11) Write a report in collaboration with the non-Federal
participant.
We anticipate that the non-Federal participants' contributions
under the proposed CRADA will include the following:
(1) Provide staff with the expertise to support the tasks.
(2) Provide resources and travel for own staff in support of this
CRADA.
(3) Write a test plan in collaboration with the R&D Center.
(4) Provide non-Federal participants' shipboard equipment and
airtime for the equipment.
(5) Provide the technical data for all equipment, including
dimensions, weight, power requirements, and other technical
considerations for non-Federal participants' components to be utilized
under this CRADA.
(6) Assist with the installation of equipment on the Coast Guard
Cutter
(7) Provide technical support.
(8) Provide any specific training to those Coast Guard members
evaluating the technology.
(9) Provide mutually agreed upon resources required to conduct the
underway testing on the Coast Guard Cutter.
(10) Write a report in collaboration with the R&D Center.
The Coast Guard reserves the right to select for CRADA participants
all, some, or no proposals submitted for this CRADA. The Coast Guard
will provide no funding for reimbursement of proposal development
costs. Proposals and any other material submitted in response to this
notice will not be returned. Proposals submitted are expected to be
unclassified and have not more than five single-sided pages (excluding
cover page, DD 1494, JF-12, etc.). The Coast Guard will select
proposals at its sole discretion based on:
(1) How well they communicate an understanding of, and ability to
meet, the proposed CRADA's goals; and
(2) How well they address the following criteria:
(a) Technical capability to support the non-Federal party
contributions described, and
(b) Resources available for supporting the non-Federal party
contributions described.
Currently, the Coast Guard is considering Hughes Network Systems
for participation in this CRADA. This consideration is because Hughes
Network Systems operates a pLEO satellite system that provides at-sea
global coverage including coverage of the extreme latitudes. However,
we do not wish to exclude other viable participants from this or future
similar CRADAs.
This is a technology assessment effort. The goal for this CRADA is
to work with an industry partner to explore alternate methods and
applications for pLEO/MEO satellite communications in the maritime
environment at the most extreme northern and southern latitudes. This
could include:
--robust global underway network connectivity for its' ships
--a positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) source in a GPS denied
environment.
--a maritime distress communication system.
--network connectivity to unmanned mobile platforms.
--tactical network connectivity for use by Coast Guard boarding teams.
--multi-orbit satellite systems.
Special consideration will be given to small business firms or
consortia, and preference will be given to business units located in
the U.S. This notice is issued under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).
Dated: April 12, 2024.
Bert Macesker,
Executive Director, U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center.
[FR Doc. 2024-08143 Filed 4-16-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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