Title 14, Coast GuardRelease 119-110

§1158 Authority to Enter Into Transactions Other Than Contracts and Grants to Procure Cost-effective, Advanced Technology for Mission-critical Needs

Title 14 › SUBTITLE I — ESTABLISHMENT, POWERS, DUTIES, AND ADMINISTRATION › CHAPTER 11 — ACQUISITIONS › SUBCHAPTER III — PROCUREMENT › § 1158

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Commandant can make special agreements (not regular contracts, cooperative agreements, or grants) to use, test, or buy affordable advanced technology that helps the Coast Guard do its missions. Those actions must follow Coast Guard rules and meet its operational needs. The Commandant cannot use this authority for tech that fails Coast Guard cybersecurity rules or for tech from companies based in the People’s Republic of China, unless the tech is for counter-UAS testing or for intelligence, electronic warfare, or information warfare testing and analysis. Managers, technical staff, and contracting staff must get training to handle these agreements. The Commandant must also issue any rules needed to run this program. Counter-UAS is defined in section 44801 of title 49.

Full Legal Text

Title 14, §1158

Coast Guard, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In General.—

Subject to subsections (b) and (c), the Commandant may enter into transactions (other than contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants) to operate, test, and acquire cost-effective technology for the purpose of meeting the mission needs of the Coast Guard.

(b)Operation, Testing, and Acquisition.—

Operation, testing, and acquisition of technologies under subsection (a) shall be—

(1)carried out in accordance with Coast Guard policies and guidance; and

(2)consistent with the operational requirements of the Coast Guard.

(c)Limitations.—

The Commandant may not enter into a transaction under subsection (a) with respect to a technology that—

(1)does not comply with the cybersecurity standards of the Coast Guard; or

(2)is sourced from an entity domiciled in the People’s Republic of China, unless the Commandant determines that the prototype or procurement of such a technology is for the purpose of—

(A)counter-UAS or surrogate testing; or

(B)intelligence, electronic warfare, and information warfare, testing, and analysis.

(d)Education and Training.—

The Commandant shall ensure that management, technical, and contracting personnel of the Coast Guard involved in the award or administration of transactions under this section are provided adequate education and training with respect to the authority under this section.

(e)Regulations.—

The Commandant shall prescribe regulations as necessary to carry out this section.

(f)Counter-UAS Defined.—

In this section, the term “counter-UAS” has the meaning given such term in section 44801 of title 49.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

14 U.S.C. § 1158

Title 14, Coast Guard

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110