Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110
§13503 Supporting Research and Technical Analysis
Title 42 › CHAPTER 134 — ENERGY POLICY › SUBCHAPTER X — ENERGY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH › § 13503
Summary
Supports and runs basic energy science research and builds and runs special research centers that universities, industry, and labs can use. It lets foreign researchers use those centers if there is a fair exchange or it helps the country. It authorizes building the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne. Any change to user fees in effect on October 1, 1991, needs 90 days’ notice to Congress. The Department must speed up designing the Advanced Neutron Source at Oak Ridge and send Congress a design and construction schedule within 90 days after October 24, 1992. The Department generally must not force cost sharing for R&D except for existing cooperative agreements, user facility fees, or specific projects that mainly benefit an industry (then cost sharing rules in section 13542 apply). The Department must help upgrade university research reactors and report within 1 year after October 24, 1992, with a 5-year upgrade plan, and must create a way to evaluate its science and math education programs. Runs an EPSCoR program to help states and territories that get little federal R&D money. EPSCoR’s goals are to grow researchers, improve college research and education, and raise future competitive funding. Grants support applied energy, environmental, and basic science work, partnerships with National Laboratories, scholarships and fellowships, early-career grants, equipment and instrumentation (costing $500,000 to $20,000,000), and research clusters. Undergraduate scholarships are 1 year (renewable); graduate fellowships up to 5 years. Early-career and capacity grants are up to 5 years and may be renewed for another 5. EPSCoR grants do not require cost sharing. The Department must submit an EPSCoR implementation plan within 270 days after January 1, 2021, update it within 270 days after August 9, 2022, and have an external assessment done within 5 years (report due within 6 years after January 1, 2021). Annual reports must show expenditures and awards. Authorized funding for EPSCoR is $50,000,000 for FY2023, $50,000,000 for FY2024, $75,000,000 for FY2025, $100,000,000 for FY2026, and $100,000,000 for FY2027, plus $25,000,000 each year for FY2023–2027 for equipment grants. The Department must support technology transfer at National Labs and report within 1 year after October 24, 1992, on funding and ways to speed cooperative agreements. It must also plan facility repairs, safety work, and new construction at multiprogram labs and report to Congress within 1 year after October 24, 1992. Finally, $966,804,000 was authorized for FY1993, and necessary sums for FY1994, for supporting research and technical analysis.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §13503
The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Basic energy sciences
(1)Program direction
The Secretary shall continue to support a vigorous program of basic energy sciences to provide basic research support for the development of energy technologies. Such program shall focus on the efficient production and use of energy, and the expansion of our knowledge of materials, chemistry, geology, and other related areas of advancing technology development.
(2)User facilities
(A)As part of the program referred to in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall carry out planning, construction, and operation of user facilities to provide special scientific and research capabilities, including technical expertise and support as appropriate, to serve the research needs of our Nation’s universities, industry, private laboratories, Federal laboratories, and others. Research institutions or individuals from other nations shall be accommodated at such user facilities in cases where reciprocal accommodations are provided to United States research institutions and individuals or where the Secretary considers such accommodation to be in the national interest.
(B)The construction of the Advanced Photon Source at the Argonne National Laboratory is hereby authorized.
(C)The Secretary shall not change the user fee practice in effect as of October 1, 1991, with respect to user facilities unless the Secretary notifies Congress 90 days before the effective date of any change.
(D)The Secretary shall expedite the design for construction of the Advanced Neutron Source at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, in order to provide critical research capabilities in support of our national research initiatives for advanced materials and biotechnology, as well as a broad range of research. Such action shall be consistent with the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee’s Technical Evaluation of accelerator and reactor neutron source technologies. Within 90 days after October 24, 1992, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a plan for such design, including a schedule for construction.
(3)Cost sharing
The Secretary shall not require cost sharing for research and development pursuant to this subsection, except—
(A)as otherwise provided for in cooperative research and development agreements or other agreements entered into under existing law;
(B)for fees for user facilities, as determined by the Secretary; or
(C)in the case of specific projects, where the Secretary determines that the benefits of such research and development accrue to a specific industry or group of industries, in which case cost sharing under section 13542 of this title shall apply.
(b)University and science education
(1)University research reactors
The Secretary shall support programs for improvements and upgrading of university research reactors and associated instrumentation and equipment. Within 1 year after October 24, 1992, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report on the condition and status of university research reactors, which includes a 5-year plan for upgrading and improving such facilities, instrumentation capabilities, and related equipment.
(2)Method to evaluate effectiveness of education programs
The Secretary shall develop a method to evaluate the effectiveness of science and mathematics education programs provided by the Department of Energy and its laboratories, including specific evaluation criteria.
(3)Established program to stimulate competitive research
(A)Definitions
In this paragraph: (i) Eligible jurisdiction
(ii)EPSCoR (iii) National Laboratory
The term “EPSCoR” means the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research operated under subparagraph (B).
(iv)State
The term “State” means—
(I)a State;
(II)the District of Columbia;
(III)the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
(IV)Guam; and
(V)the United States Virgin Islands.
(B)Program operation
The Secretary shall operate an Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.
(C)Objectives
The objectives of EPSCoR shall be—
(i)to increase the number of researchers in eligible jurisdictions, especially at institutions of higher education, capable of performing nationally competitive science and engineering research in support of the mission of the Department of Energy in the areas of applied energy research, environmental management, and basic science;
(ii)to improve science and engineering research and education programs at institutions of higher education in eligible jurisdictions and enhance the capabilities of eligible jurisdictions to develop, plan, and execute research that is competitive, including through investing in research equipment and instrumentation; and
(iii)to increase the probability of long-term growth of competitive funding to eligible jurisdictions.
(D)Eligible jurisdictions
(i)In general
The Secretary may establish criteria for determining whether a State is eligible for a grant under this paragraph.
(ii)Requirement
Except as provided in clause (iii), in establishing criteria under clause (i), the Secretary shall ensure that a State is eligible for a grant under this paragraph if the State, as determined by the Secretary, is a State that—
(I)historically has received relatively little Federal research and development funding; and
(II)has demonstrated a commitment—
(aa)to develop the research bases in the State; and
(bb)to improve science and engineering research and education programs at institutions of higher education in the State.
(iii)Eligibility under NSF EPSCoR
At the election of the Secretary, or if the Secretary declines to establish criteria under clause (i), the Secretary may continue to use the eligibility criteria in use on January 1, 2021, or any successor criteria.
(E)Grants
(i)In general
EPSCoR shall make grants to eligible jurisdictions to carry out and support applied energy research and research in all areas of environmental management and basic science sponsored by the Department of Energy, including—
(I)energy efficiency, fossil energy, renewable energy, nuclear energy, and other applied energy research;
(II)electricity delivery research;
(III)cybersecurity, energy security, and emergency response;
(IV)environmental management; and
(V)scientific research, including—
(aa)advanced scientific computing research;
(bb)basic energy sciences;
(cc)biological and environmental research;
(dd)fusion energy sciences;
(ee)high energy physics;
(ff)nuclear physics;
(gg)isotope research, development, and production;
(hh)accelerator research, development, and production; and
(ii)other areas of research funded by the Office of Science, as determined by the Secretary.
(ii)Activities
EPSCoR shall make grants under this subparagraph for activities consistent with the objectives described in subparagraph (C) in the areas of applied energy research, environmental management, and basic science described in clause (i), including—
(I)to support research that is carried out in partnership with the National Laboratories;
(II)to provide for undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships, and traineeships;
(III)to support research by early career faculty and staff;
(IV)to improve research capabilities through annual research implementation grants;
(V)to develop research clusters for particular areas of expertise; and
(VI)to diversify the future workforce.
(iii)No cost sharing
EPSCoR shall not impose any cost-sharing requirement with respect to a grant made under this subparagraph, but may require letters of commitment from National Laboratories.
(F)Research capability enhancement
(i)Scholarships and fellowships
(I)In general
Pursuant to subparagraph (E)(ii), the Secretary shall award grants to institutions of higher education in eligible jurisdictions for those institutions of higher education to provide scholarships and fellowships.
(II)Grant
A scholarship or fellowship awarded by an institution of higher education in an eligible jurisdiction using a grant provided under subclause (I)—
(aa)in the case of an undergraduate scholarship—
(AA)shall be for a period of 1 year; and
(BB)may be competitively renewable on an annual basis; and
(bb)in the case of a graduate level fellowship, shall be for a period of not more than 5 years.
(ii)Early career capacity development
(I)In general
Pursuant to subparagraph (E)(ii), the Secretary shall award grants to early career faculty and staff at institutions of higher education in eligible jurisdictions—
(aa)to support investigator-initiated research, including associated research equipment and instrumentation;
(bb)to support activities associated with identifying and responding to funding opportunities;
(cc)to secure technical assistance for the pursuit of funding opportunities; and
(dd)to develop and enhance collaboration among National Laboratories, Department of Energy programs, the private sector, and other relevant entities.
(II)Grants
A grant awarded under subclause (I) shall be—
(aa)for a period of not more than 5 years; and
(bb)competitively renewable for an additional 5-year period.
(iii)Research capacity development
(I)In general
Pursuant to subparagraph (E)(ii), the Secretary shall award competitive grants to institutions of higher education in eligible jurisdictions for research capacity development and implementation, including—
(aa)developing expertise in key technology areas, including associated equipment and instrumentation;
(bb)developing and acquiring novel, state-of-the-art instruments and equipment that range in cost from $500,000 to $20,000,000;
(cc)enhancing collaboration with National Laboratories, the Department of Energy, and the private sector through faculty or staff placement programs; and
(dd)supporting formal partnership programs with institutions of higher education and National Laboratories.
(II)Grants
A grant awarded under subclause (I) shall be—
(aa)for a period of not more than 5 years; and
(bb)renewable for an additional 5-year period.
(III)Equipment and instrumentation
To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure that research equipment and instrumentation developed or acquired pursuant to a grant awarded under subclause (I) may sustain continued operation and be maintained without the need for additional or subsequent funding under this section.
(G)Program implementation
(i)In general
Not later than 270 days after January 1, 2021, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Energy and Natural Resources and Appropriations of the Senate and the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Appropriations of the House of Representatives a plan describing how the Secretary shall implement EPSCoR.
(ii)Contents of plan
The plan described in clause (i) shall include a description of— (I)
(II)efforts to conduct outreach to inform eligible jurisdictions and faculty of changes to, and opportunities under, EPSCoR;
(III)how EPSCoR plans to increase engagement with eligible jurisdictions, faculty, and State committees, including by holding regular workshops, to increase participation in EPSCoR; and
(IV)any other issues relating to EPSCoR that the Secretary determines appropriate.
(iii)Update
Not later than 270 days after August 9, 2022, the Secretary shall—
(I)update the plan submitted under clause (i); and
(II)submit the updated plan to the committees described in that clause.
(H)Program evaluation
(i)In general
Not later than 5 years after January 1, 2021, the Secretary shall contract with a federally funded research and development center, the National Academy of Sciences, or a similar organization to carry out an assessment of the effectiveness of EPSCoR, including an assessment of— (I)
(II)the impact of research supported by EPSCoR on the mission of the Department of Energy; and
(III)any other issues relating to EPSCoR that the Secretary determines appropriate.
(ii)Limitation
The organization with which the Secretary contracts under clause (i) shall not be a National Laboratory.
(iii)Report
Not later than 6 years after January 1, 2021, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space and Technology and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report describing the results of the assessment carried out under clause (i), including recommendations for improvements that would enable the Secretary to achieve the objectives described in subparagraph (C).
(iv)Annual report
At the end of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report that includes—
(I)the total amount of expenditures made by the Department to carry out EPSCoR in each eligible jurisdiction for each of the 3 most recent fiscal years for which such information is available;
(II)(aa)the number of EPSCoR awards made to institutions of higher education located in eligible jurisdictions; and
(bb)the amount and type of each award;
(III)the number of awards that are not EPSCoR awards made by the Secretary to institutions of higher education located in eligible jurisdictions;
(IV)(aa)the number of representatives of institutions of higher education in eligible jurisdictions serving on each Office of Science advisory committee; and
(bb)for each such advisory committee, the percentage of committee membership that those individuals constitute; and
(V)the number of individuals from institutions of higher education in eligible jurisdictions serving on peer review committees.
(I)Funding
(i)Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out EPSCoR, to remain available until expended—
(I)$50,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
(II)$50,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
(III)$75,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
(IV)$100,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and
(V)$100,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.
(ii)Grants to consortia
In the case of an EPSCoR grant awarded to a consortium that contains institutions of higher education that are not located in eligible jurisdictions, the Secretary may count—
(I)the full amount of funds expended to provide the grant towards meeting the funding requirement in clause (iii) if the lead entity of the consortium is an institution of higher education located in an eligible jurisdiction; and
(II)only the funds provided to institutions of higher education located in eligible jurisdictions towards meeting the funding requirement in clause (iii) if the lead entity of the consortium is an institution of higher education that is not located in an eligible jurisdiction.
(iii)Additional funds for eligible jurisdictions
In addition to funds authorized to be appropriated under clause (i), the Secretary, to the maximum extent practicable while maintaining the competitive, merit-based award processes of the Office of Science, shall ensure that, of the research and development funds of the Office of Science that are awarded by the Secretary each year to institutions of higher education, not less than 10 percent is awarded to institutions of higher education in eligible jurisdictions pursuant to the evaluation and selection criteria in section 605.10 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).
(iv)Additional funds for equipment and instrumentation
In addition to funds authorized to be appropriated under clause (i), there is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to award grants under subparagraph (F)(iii)(I) for the purpose described in item (bb) of that subparagraph $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027, to remain available until expended.
(v)Accounting
To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure that each program within the Department of Energy that endorses an EPSCoR grant awardee shall contribute funding to the award to acknowledge the research benefits to the mission of that program.
(c)Technology transfer
The Secretary shall support technology transfer activities conducted by the National Laboratories. Within 1 year after October 24, 1992, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report on the adequacy of funding for such activities, along with a proposal recommending ways to reduce the length of time required to consummate cooperative research and development agreements.
(d)Facilities support for multiprogram energy laboratories
(1)Facility policy
The Secretary shall develop and implement a least cost strategy for correcting facility problems, closing unneeded facilities, making facility modifications, and building new facilities at multiprogram energy laboratories.
(2)Facility plan
Within 1 year after October 24, 1992, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Congress a comprehensive plan for conducting future facility maintenance, making repairs, modifications, and new additions, and constructing new facilities at multiprogram energy laboratories. Such plan shall provide for facilities work in accordance with the following priorities, listed in descending order of priority:
(A)Providing for the safety and health of employees, visitors, and the general public with regard to correcting existing structural, mechanical, electrical, and environmental deficiencies.
(B)Providing for the repair and rehabilitation of existing facilities to keep them in use and prevent deterioration.
(C)Providing engineering design and construction services for those facilities which require modification or additions in order to meet the needs of new or expanded programs.
Such plan shall include plans for new facilities and facility modifications which will be required to meet the Department of Energy’s changing missions of the twenty-first century, including schedules and estimates for implementation, and including a section outlining long-term funding requirements consistent with anticipated budgets and annual authorization of appropriations. Such plan shall address the coordination of modernization and consolidation of facilities in order to meet changing mission requirements, and shall provide for annual reports to Congress on accomplishments, conformance to schedules, commitments, and expenditures.
(e)Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for Supporting Research and Technical Analysis, including Basic Energy Sciences, Energy Research Analysis, University and Science Education, Technology Transfer, Advisory and Oversight Program Direction, and Facilities Support for Multiprogram Energy Laboratories, $966,804,000 for fiscal year 1993 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 1994.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2022—Subsec. (b)(1), (2). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10113(g), inserted headings. Subsec. (b)(3)(E). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10113(a)(1), struck out “in areas of applied energy research, environmental management, and basic science” after “Grants” in heading. Subsec. (b)(3)(E)(i)(I). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10113(a)(2)(A), inserted “nuclear energy,” before “and”. Subsec. (b)(3)(E)(i)(V). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10113(a)(2)(B), added subcl. (V) and struck out former subcl. (V) which read as follows: “basic science research.” Subsec. (b)(3)(E)(ii)(II). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10113(a)(3)(A), substituted “undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships, and” for “graduate”. Subsec. (b)(3)(E)(ii)(III). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10113(a)(3)(B), substituted “and staff;” for “; and”. Subsec. (b)(3)(E)(ii)(IV). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10113(a)(3)(C), substituted “annual” for “biennial” and semicolon for period at end. Subsec. (b)(3)(E)(ii)(V), (VI). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10113(a)(3)(D), added subcls. (V) and (VI). Subsec. (b)(3)(F). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10113(b), added subpar. (F) and struck out former subpar. (F). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “EPSCoR may carry out such activities as may be necessary to meet the objectives described in subparagraph (C) in the areas of applied energy research, environmental management, and basic science described in subparagraph (E)(i).” Subsec. (b)(3)(G)(iii). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10113(c), added cl. (iii). Subsec. (b)(3)(H)(iv). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10113(d), added cl. (iv). Subsec. (b)(3)(I). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10113(e), added subpar. (I). 2021—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 116–283 added par. (3) identical to the par. (3) appearing in the amendment by Pub. L. 116–260. See 2020 Amendment note below. 2020—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 116–260 added par. (3) and struck out former par. (3) which related to the operation of an Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). 1998—Subsec. (b)(3)(A)(i). Pub. L. 105–245 substituted “Office of Science” for “Office of Energy Research”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 13503
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110