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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 1862n-4. Major research equipment and facilities construction plan
(a) Prioritization of proposed major research equipment and
facilities construction
(1) Development of priorities
(A) The Director shall -
(i) develop a list indicating by number the relative priority
for funding under the major research equipment and facilities
construction account that the Director assigns to each project
the Board has approved for inclusion in a future budget
request; and
(ii) submit the list described in clause (i) to the Board for
approval.
(B) The Director shall update the list prepared under
subparagraph (A) each time the Board approves a new project that
would receive funding under the major research equipment and
facilities construction account, as necessary to prepare reports
under paragraph (2), and, from time to time, submit any updated
list to the Board for approval.
(2) Annual report
Not later than 90 days after December 19, 2002, and not later
than each June 15 thereafter, the Director shall transmit to the
Committee on Science of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate,
and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of
the Senate a report containing -
(A) the most recent Board-approved priority list developed
under paragraph (1)(A);
(B) a description of the criteria used to develop such list;
and
(C) a description of the major factors for each project that
determined the ranking of such project on the list, based on
the application of the criteria described pursuant to
subparagraph (B).
(3) Criteria
The criteria described pursuant to paragraph (2)(B) shall
include, at a minimum -
(A) scientific merit;
(B) broad societal need and probable impact;
(C) consideration of the results of formal prioritization
efforts by the scientific community;
(D) readiness of plans for construction and operation;
(E) the applicant's management and administrative capacity of
large research facilities;
(F) international and interagency commitments; and
(G) the order in which projects were approved by the Board
for inclusion in a future budget request.
(b) Omitted
(c) Project management
No national research facility project funded under the major
research equipment and facilities construction account shall be
managed by an individual whose appointment to the Foundation is
temporary.
(d) Board approval of major research equipment and facilities
projects
(1) In general
The Board shall explicitly approve any project to be funded out
of the major research equipment and facilities construction
account before any funds may be obligated from such account for
such project.
(2) Report
Not later than September 15 of each fiscal year, the Board
shall report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, and the Committee on Science
of the House of Representatives on the conditions of any
delegation of authority under section 1863 of this title that
relates to funds appropriated for any project in the major
research equipment and facilities construction account.
(e) National Academy of Sciences study on major research equipment
and facilities construction
(1) Study
Not later than 3 months after December 19, 2002, the Director
shall enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of
Sciences to perform a study on setting priorities for a diverse
array of disciplinary and interdisciplinary Foundation-sponsored
large research facility projects.
(2) Transmittal to Congress
Not later than 15 months after December 19, 2002, the Director
shall transmit to the Committee on Science and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate, the study conducted by the National
Academy of Sciences together with the Foundation's reaction to
the study authorized under paragraph (1).
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