U.S. helps El Salvador improve vessel safety

   The U.S. Trade and Development Agency awarded a $216,582 grant to El Salvador’s Comisión Ejecutiva Portuaria Autónoma (CEPA) to support a program for vessel traffic improvements at the Port of La Unión.
   CEPA, the Salvadoran government entity responsible for developing and managing the nation’s transportation infrastructure, intends to expand operations at the port under a public-private partnership.
   In specific, USTDA’s grant will help CEPA facilitate the safe passage of ships through the port’s approach channel by assessing vessel traffic management and navigation, dredging and maintenance, and tug boat and pilot boat service.
   USTDA said the grant supports the Obama administration’s Partnership for Growth Initiative in El Salvador, which is “an innovative approach to bilateral cooperation that joins the United States and El Salvador as partners in advancing El Salvador’s economic growth.”
   The opportunity to conduct the USTDA-funded technical assistance will be competed on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) Website. Links to the FBO announcement will be posted on USTDA’s Website. Interested U.S. firms should submit proposals according to the instructions in the FBO announcement. CEPA will select the U.S. contractor to carry out the technical assistance.