Private sector opportunities in National Ocean Service hydrographic surveying

NOAA´s National Ocean Service (NOS) has a successful history of obtaining commercial assistance to support its nautical charting program. In recent years, this activity has increased dramatically, particularly in the use of contracts to acquire hydrographic survey data. The increased involvement of the private sector has resulted from a heightened awareness of inadequate surveys in U.S. waters and a corresponding downsizing of the Federal government. In the mid-1990s, 43000 square miles were identified as being in critical need of updated depth information. At the same time, five NOAA-owned survey vessels were being deactivated. Congress acknowledged the need to address the critical area survey backlog and began providing increases in funding, all of which was earmarked for surveying and ship services from the private sector. As a result, funding for contract hydrographic surveys increased from only 2% of the total amount appropriated for the NOS survey program in FY 97 to more than 50% in FY 99. This paper describes NOS´ on-going, multi-year initiatives to further increase the use of private sector firms in acquiring hydrographic survey data and to establish and sustain a quality contractor base. At the same time, NOS will retain an in-house surveying capability to maintain its ability to assure the quality of hydrographic survey data and to continue to support contractors through technology transfer and training