§16392 Technology Infrastructure Program

Summary

The Secretary must create a Technology Infrastructure Program to help National Laboratories and single-purpose research facilities work better with colleges, businesses, nonprofits, and state, tribal, or local governments. The Program supports projects that build technology clusters and help labs use commercial research, products, and services. A “technology cluster” is a local group of tech companies, schools, or nonprofits that help each other. A “technology-related business concern” is a for-profit company that does scientific or engineering research, creates new technologies, makes products from new technologies, or provides technology services. Each project must be run by a lab director and chosen through a competition. Every project must include at least one business, one institution of higher education, one nonprofit, and one state/local/tribal agency. Costs are shared under section 16352, and non-Federal contributions can include cash, people, services, equipment, or other resources spent after the project starts; certain contractor independent R&D costs that qualify under 31.205–18(e) of title 48 (issued under section 1303(a)(1) of title 41) may count toward the non-Federal share. Participants may use generally accepted accounting rules. No Federal money may fund construction projects or any project lasting more than 5 years. The Secretary funds the Federal share and gives extra money to the managing lab for coordination. The Secretary must report to Congress by July 1, 2008, on whether the Program should continue. The law authorized $10,000,000 each year for fiscal years 2006 through 2008.