,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #cbfh ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,november #ai1 #bjba,mrs4 ,blackburn 7for herself and ,mr4 ,wicker7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to authorize the ,secretary of ,transportation to issue a request for proposals for a private-sector entity to develop an operating model for an interoperable gray chassis pool at the rail ramps around ,memphis4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,improving ,memphis' ,supply ,chain ,act4 #b4 ,development of operating model for interoperable gray chassis pool at the rail ramps around memphis 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,commission ,the term ,commission means the ,federal ,maritime ,commission4 7#b7 ,interoperable gray chassis pool ,the term interoperable gray chassis pool means a single enterprise for voluntary chassis provisioning that allows for the use of any container chassis for marine shipping containers not less than #bj feet and not more than #de feet in length at the rail ramps around ,memphis by shippers or motor carriers4 7b7 ,development of plan 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to the availability of appropriations1 not later than #f months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,transportation1 in coordination with the ,commission1 shall develop a plan to issue a request for proposals to develop an operating model for an interoperable gray chassis pool at the rail ramps around ,memphis1 ,tennessee4 7#b7 ,plan details ,in developing the plan under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary of ,transportation1 in coordination with the ,commission1 shall identify a suitable location or locations for the interoperable gray chassis pool and consult with relevant stakeholders1 including the ,international ,port of ,memphis1 ocean carriers1 railroad carriers1 motor carriers1 chassis providers1 shippers1 and the ,surface ,transportation ,board4 7#c7 ,content of plan and availability ,the plan under paragraph 7#a7 shall-- 7,a7 include-- 7i7 objectives and duties of a private-sector contractor to establish the interoperable gray chassis pool2 7ii7 expectations for voluntary participation based on consultations2 and 7iii7 the appropriate approach for seeking and receiving feedback from ,memphis stakeholders regarding the interoperable gray chassis pool2 and 7,b7 be publicly available on a website not later than #g days after the plan is completed4 7c7 ,request for proposals 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to the availability of appropriations1 not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,transportation1 in coordination with the ,commission1 shall issue a request for proposals for a private-sector entity to develop an operating model for an interoperable gray chassis pool consistent with the plan required under subsection 7b74 7#b7 ,content of proposal ,a proposal submitted pursuant to a request under paragraph 7#a7 shall include-- 7,a7 a fee structure that would sustain the interoperable gray chassis pool without a subsidy2 7,b7 specification of performance goals1 including rates of chassis in maintenance and average turn times1 and a plan to achieve the performance goals2 7,c7 expectations for communication and coordination among carriers and local businesses1 including any facilitation by the private-sector entity2 7,d7 expectations for total chassis involved1 whether from voluntary participation of existing providers or addition of chassis by the contractor2 7,e7 identification of real property necessary to implement the interoperable gray chassis pool1 whether from voluntary participants or to be acquired2 and 7,f7 a commitment from the awardee to implement the interoperable gray chassis pool at the rail ramps around ,memphis based on the operating model developed for the proposal within a specified timeframe4 7d7 ,awarding of contract 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to the availability of appropriations1 except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 from the proposals submitted under subsection 7c71 the ,secretary of ,transportation1 with approval from the ,commission1 shall award a contract to a private-sector entity to develop and implement an operating model for an interoperable gray chassis pool at the rail ramps around ,memphis4 7#b7 ,no satisfactory proposal ,if no satisfactory proposal is submitted under subsection 7c71 the ,secretary of ,transportation1 in coordination with the ,commission1 shall submit1 not later than #f months after the date all proposals are submitted1 a report to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure of the ,house of ,representatives with potential alternative options to improve chassis provisioning and supply chain efficiency at the rail ramps around ,memphis4 7e7 ,evaluation ,the ,secretary of ,transportation1 in coordination with the ,commission1 shall-- 7#a7 evaluate the effectiveness of an interoperable gray chassis pool developed under this section not later than #a year after implementation2 and 7#b7 issue a report to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure of the ,house of ,representatives regarding the evaluation1 including best practices and lessons learned1 not later than #b years after implementation4 7f7 ,limitations 7#a7 ,voluntary participation ,participation in the interoperable gray chassis pool developed under this section shall be voluntary4 7#b7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the ,department of ,transportation or the ,commission to purchase or operate tangible property related to the development of the interoperable gray chassis pool under this section4 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 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