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Open Recommendations (5 total)

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy: Actions Needed to Sustain Progress on Facility and Infrastructure Improvements

GAO-24-106875
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3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Maritime Administration The Administrator of the Maritime Administration should ensure that the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy conducts strategic workforce planning to determine the needed resources, capabilities, and any skill gaps in the Office of Facilities and Infrastructure. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Maritime Administration The Administrator of the Maritime Administration should ensure that the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy develops and implements cost estimating policies and procedures for facility and infrastructure projects that align with best practices for cost estimating. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Maritime Administration The Administrator of the Maritime Administration should take steps to ensure that the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy maintains continuous leadership in the Academy's Office of Facilities and Infrastructure. Such steps should include establishing a dedicated leadership and implementation team in the Office of Facilities and Infrastructure and succession planning for leadership positions in that office. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Maritime Administration: Actions Needed to Enhance Cargo Preference Oversight

GAO-22-105160
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2 Open Recommendations
2 Priority
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Maritime Administration
Priority Rec.
The Administrator of MARAD should publicly report, on an annual basis, the cargo preference data it receives to provide information on the total cargo volumes and amounts shipped on U.S.- and foreign-flag vessels for each federal agency. (Recommendation 1)
Open
In response to GAO's two priority recommendations related to cargo preference requirements, Congress enacted legislation that requires DOT to submit an annual report to Congress on federal agencies' administration of cargo preference programs and issue a final rule to implement and enforce cargo preference requirements. However, as of April 2024, DOT has not yet completed both actions. Once these actions are taken, the Maritime Administration will be better positioned to (1) oversee and enforce compliance and (2) provide information to Congress and the public about whether federal agencies are making progress toward meeting their cargo preference requirements. We will continue to follow MARAD's progress in fully implementing this recommendation.
Maritime Administration
Priority Rec.
The Administrator of MARAD should take steps to develop regulations to oversee and enforce compliance with cargo preference requirements. These steps should include evaluating options for overcoming challenges to developing such regulations, such as: (1) using a negotiated rulemaking as a means to address challenges achieving consensus on how to implement cargo preference requirements, and (2) developing and communicating a legislative proposal to address statutory challenges MARAD has identified. (Recommendation 2)
Open
In response to GAO's two priority recommendations related to cargo preference requirements, Congress enacted legislation that requires DOT to submit an annual report to Congress on federal agencies' administration of cargo preference programs and issue a final rule to implement and enforce cargo preference requirements. However, as of April 2024, DOT has not yet completed both actions. Once these actions are taken, the Maritime Administration will be better positioned to (1) oversee and enforce compliance and (2) provide information to Congress and the public about whether federal agencies are making progress toward meeting their cargo preference requirements. We will continue to follow MARAD's progress in fully implementing this recommendation.
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