Cable Security Fleet Program

 

The CSF helps sustain a fleet of cable vessels active, commercially viable, privately-owned cable vessels operating under U.S. registry to meet national security requirements. Participating operators are required to make their ships and commercial submarine cable services available during times of national emergency.

Active 20.824 Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation C - Direct Payments For Specified Use Fiscal Year 2023 Two vessels were funded to maintain a fleet of active, commercially viable, privately owned United States-flag cable vessels to meet national security requirements and to maintain a United States presence in the international submarine cable services market. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 U.S.C. Chapter 532
Public Law -116-92, Dec, 20, 2019
46 U.S.C. 53202 Applicant must be vessel's registered owner one of the following: 1. Vessel owned and operated by United States citizens, known as 50501 Citizens, within the meaning of Section 50501 of Title 46, United States Code; 2.Vessel owned by a U.S. citizen, known as a 50501 Citizen, under 46 U.S.C. 50501 or United States Citizen Trust under 46 U.S.C. 53201(11) and chartered to a United States citizen eligible to document vessels, under Chapter 121 of Title 46, subject to: a. Verifications of the U.S.-citizenship of the board and principal officers of the charterer; and b. Certifications by the charterer that no treaty, statute, or person would influence the vessel's operations in a Start Printed Page 356 manner contrary to the interests of the United States; 3. Vessel owned and operated by an entity that contracts with the Department of Defense to operate vessels for, or charters vessels to, the United States; or 4.Vessel owned by a Documentation Citizen and chartered to a 50501 Citizen. Not applicable. Each vessel must be: 1. 40 years of age or less on the date on which the vessel is enrolled in CSF (unless waived by the Secretary under 46 U.S.C. 53202(e)); 2. Found suitable by DoD for cable servicing work in the interest of national security; 3. Found commercially viable by MARAD for submarine cable services; 4. Classed as a cable vessel by the American Bureau of Shipping or another classification society accepted by the United States Coast Guard (USCG); and 5. Documented by USCG under Chapter 121 of Title 46, United States Code, or have its owners demonstrate their intent to document the vessel under Chapter 121 of Title 46. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applications will be submitted with (one (1) original with two (2) copies) with the following information and materials for ease of review; however, conformity with this applicant guidance, except where explicit in the statute, is voluntary only. MARAD will review and consider all applications it receives and may contact applicants for additional information: 1. Full name of Applicant and address of principal executive office; 2. Notarized affidavit of citizenship status, whether as a 50501 Citizen or Documentation Citizen; 3. Certificate of incorporation; 4. Copy of corporate by-laws or other governing instruments; 5. Description of domestic and international corporate affiliations; 6. Financial data; 7. Vessel's base port where it may be inspected by MARAD or a designated marine surveyor, and a description of the vessel's regular area of operation; 8. Locations and descriptions of any marine depots worldwide where the vessel has access to servicing, spare cables, amplifiers, and other equipment necessary for undersea cable repair; 9. Description of applicant's vessel's regular operations, which may include a listing of submarine cables laid or repaired within the preceding three (3) years, detailing the name of the cable systems laid and repaired, approximate location of repair work, and approximate depths of cable repaired, marine depots used for replenishment of spares, and a listing of marine crew and mission specialist positions (splicers, cable test technicians, cable transmission technicians, and cable engineers), including years of experience. 10. Demise or bareboat charter arrangements, if applicable; 11. Applicant's stated assessment of the vessel's national security value to DoD with respect to cable services; 12. Copies of any Special Security Agreements into which the Applicant has entered with DoD, per 46 U.S.C. 53202(c)(3)(A)(iii). If MARAD deems an applicant and its proposed vessel to be most qualified for the CSF, then MARAD will negotiate and enter into an Operating Agreement with the applicant for one year, subject to the availability of appropriations with payment for participation at the annual rate of $5 million after the availability of funding and execution of agreements as provided by statute and appropriation. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Not applicable. Decisions concerning administration of the Cable Security Fleet will be referred to the Maritime Administrator. Program is based on 1-year contracts renewable each year, subject to funding. Not applicable. operating vessels available for times of national emergencies Not applicable. In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503 Cable Security Fleet program is subject to both internal and external audit. These audits will be made by the Office of the Inspector General (DOT) in accordance with the General Accounting Office guidelines, "Standards for Audit of Government Organizations, Programs, Activities and Functions," and additional OMB guidance. There is an annual reporting requirement for audited financial statements in 46 C.F.R. ? 296.32. Monthly invoices and vouchers. Records must be kept 10-15 years. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. One year contracts, renewable yearly, payable in monthly installments None/Not specified. Rhonda Davis
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W25-318
Washington, DC 20590 USA
Rhonda.Davis@dot.gov
Phone: (202) 366-6379 69-1717-0-0-000 (Direct Payments for Specified Use) FY 22$10,000,000.00; FY 23 est $10,000,000.00; FY 24 est $10,000,000.00; FY 21 - Authorized $5 million per vessel Not applicable. Fiscal Year 2023 Fleet of cable vessels active, commerically viable, and privately owned were sustained in the event of a national emergency.