Comptroller General report on Coast Guard acquisition and deployment of unmanned systems

(a) In general Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the Senate the first of multiple reports of the use and acquisition of the Coast Guard of unmanned systems, with subsequent reports submitted after the first report. (b) Elements The reports required by subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) An inventory of the current unmanned systems of the Coast Guard, including the missions and assets on which such systems are deployed. (2) Cost, schedule, and performance status of the unmanned system acquisition programs of the Coast Guard. (3) The extent to which the Coast Guard has assessed how the use of such systems support the primary duties of the Coast Guard pursuant to section 102 of title 14, United States Code. (4) An evaluation of the acquisition strategy of the Coast Guard for unmanned systems, including the extent to which the Coast Guard has evaluated the benefits and costs of acquiring— (A) commercially available systems; and (B) autonomous capabilities. (5) An evaluation of the progress of the Coast Guard in establishing an unmanned systems capabilities office responsible for the acquisition and development of unmanned system technologies, and the effectiveness of such office, including the ability to— (A) support the acquisition, development, leasing, and deployment of unmanned systems technologies, including autonomous capabilities; (B) execute a service-wide coordination strategy to synchronize and integrate efforts across the Coast Guard; (C) pursue expanded research, development, experimentation, testing, and evaluation opportunities and funding to expand and accelerate identification and transition of unmanned system technologies; and (D) execute cross-agency collaboration to engage with the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and other relevant agencies to identify common requirements and opportunities to partner in acquiring, contracting, and sustaining unmanned system capabilities. (6) Recommendations to improve the ability of the Coast Guard to evaluate, acquire, and deploy unmanned systems technologies. (c) Consultation In developing the report required under subsection (a), the Comptroller General may consult with— (1) the maritime and aviation industries; (2) Federal Government agencies familiar with the use and deployment of unmanned systems; and (3) any relevant— (A) federally funded research institutions; (B) nongovernmental organizations; and (C) manufactures of unmanned systems.