§18961 National Supply Chain Database

Summary

Creates a voluntary National Supply Chain Database run by the Director, if money is available. Its goal is to help the Federal Government and industry spot and reduce disruptions by showing U.S. manufacturers’ abilities. The Director must build the system through the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (see section 278k of title 15) by linking information from the Centers in each State or territory. The Director must consider the study and recommendations under section 9413 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283), including steps to protect the Database from attacks. The Database can include basic company details, an overview of capabilities, accreditations, products, and even proprietary information. It may use NAICS codes for Sector 31-33 (Manufacturing), Sector 54 (Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services), and Sector 48-49 (Transportation and Warehousing). The data may come from State Center databases, past or current Center clients, or voluntary submissions from other U.S. companies. The Database must be multi-level: Level 1 is public basic info; Level 2 gives deeper nonproprietary details to contributors; Level 3 holds proprietary material. Nonpublic data in the Database is exempt from public disclosure under section 552(b)(3) of title 5. Access to a contributor’s nonpublic content is limited to the contributor, the Institute and Center staff who sign nondisclosure agreements, and other Federal agencies. Voluntarily submitted supply-chain information with the express statement described in section 10253(k) is protected from disclosure and from use in civil enforcement without the submitter’s written consent. No company is required to share data, and the Director may not create new rules for manufacturers based on Database data that were not in effect the day before August 9, 2022.