113 S1973 IS: America Implementing New National Opportunities To Vigorously Accelerate Technology, Energy, and Science Act
U.S. Senate
2014-01-29
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents(a)This Act may be cited as the
America Implementing New National Opportunities To Vigorously Accelerate Technology, Energy, and Science Act
or the America INNOVATES Act
.(b)The table of contents of this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.Sec. 2. Definitions.Sec. 3. Savings clause.TITLE I—Innovation management at Department of EnergySec. 101. Under Secretary for Science and Energy.Sec. 102. National Laboratories operations and performance management.Sec. 103. Sense of Senate on an integrated strategy for National Laboratories in the 21st century.TITLE II—Cross-sector partnerships and grant competitivenessSec. 201. Agreements for Commercializing Technology pilot program.Sec. 202. Public-private partnerships for commercialization.Sec. 203. Inclusion of early-stage technology demonstration in authorized technology transfer activities.Sec. 204. Information and resources for startups and small businesses.Sec. 205. Funding competitiveness for institutions of higher education and other nonprofit institutions.TITLE III—Assessment of impactSec. 301. Report by Government Accountability Office.2.In this Act:(1)The term Department means the Department of Energy.(2)The term National Laboratory has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).(3)The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy.3.Nothing in this Act or an amendment made by this Act abrogates or otherwise affects the primary responsibilities of any National Laboratory to the Department.<enum>I</enum><header>Innovation management at Department of Energy</header><section id="id9af1473343954745ba12d1953064f9c7"><enum>101.</enum><header>Under Secretary for Science and Energy</header><subsection id="id11a1dd6165ee44aa9a9bd38cf5116d93"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 202(b) of the Department of Energy Organization Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/7132">42 U.S.C. 7132(b)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id3a74d0bb76c641af9a2c9743393224c8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>Under Secretary for Science</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>Under Secretary for Science and Energy</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id404846d0b2564a3bb860f13224938475"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (4)—</text><subparagraph id="idc28d82a6e85140359d5a3247d3541f4b"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subparagraph (F), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idccab257957414ce3a45bd82e1b1c0af0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subparagraph (G), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2a402ea1b1a846fcb338f3fa79ac5d2d"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by inserting after subparagraph (G) the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id25126027b2024ebab0a5c636ea022c9f" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="idfb09efc8d1e548f3abf3508178cea0c4"><enum>(H)</enum><text>establish appropriate linkages between offices under the jurisdiction of the Under Secretary; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4f16e207ebf74ede911af7fc8f7280de"><enum>(I)</enum><text>perform such functions and duties as the Secretary shall prescribe, consistent with this section.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>. </after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id99db9ffb0d654220a118f3ecc2924f4b"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendments</header><paragraph id="id89a3df41b58a44f584f9db284897a574"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Section 3164(b)(1) of the Department of Energy Science Education Enhancement Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/7381a">42 U.S.C. 7381a(b)(1)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>Under Secretary for Science</quote> and inserting <quote>Under Secretary for Science and Energy</quote>.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="iddb4f23f11c904faeb0c05fa0e0653629"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Section 641(h)(2) of the United States Energy Storage Competitiveness Act of 2007 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/17231">42 U.S.C. 17231(h)(2)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>Under Secretary for Science</quote> and inserting <quote>Under Secretary for Science and Energy</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id0298535e47944b92b6cfbdeef0dfd592"><enum>102.</enum><header>National Laboratories operations and performance management</header><subsection id="ide596e854a88540dc93198b0942074832"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall ensure that the following duties and responsibilities are carried out through one or more appropriate statutory or administrative entities:</text><paragraph id="ida025c9c7efc64061880f9a7ad957e58f"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Evaluation, coordination, and promotion of transfer of National Laboratory research and development results to the market in collaboration with the Technology Transfer Coordinator.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8fdc3a8868474f84aef915ff19a3c80a"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Submission to the Secretary of reports describing recommendations for best practices for the National Laboratories including, with respect to management and operations procedures, conflict of interest regulations, engagement with the private sector, and technology transfer methodologies.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id77eadb16e8ad4fbb9a5156861b9b497c"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Implementation of other duties, as the Secretary determines appropriate, to improve the operations and performance of the National Laboratories.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idb3f14a4d4d52454ea56bcc4d3b957be4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Reporting</header><text>The Secretary, in consultation with the appropriate committees of Congress, shall provide an annual update on progress made in carrying out subsection (a), including the improvement of National Laboratory operations and performance and strategic departmental and National Laboratory coordination.</text></subsection></section><section id="idc8534fdbdb374075a5536a9cdaa16572"><enum>103.</enum><header>Sense of Senate on an integrated strategy for National Laboratories in the 21st century</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of the Senate that—</text><paragraph id="id593EA2613E4C436A935B333EBC9BB04E"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the establishment of the independent Commission to Review the Effectiveness of the National Energy Laboratories under section 319 of title III of division D of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, is an important step towards developing a coordinated strategy for the National Laboratories in the 21st century; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idFC42EECBA8C447268DA8A1B0046144EA"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Congress looks forward to—</text><subparagraph id="id10F11ABEB9EE4A5596872BF821905A44"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">receiving the findings and conclusions of the Commission; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1C5BAEC9985B437DA36F02AD194B04B9"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">engaging with the Administration—</text><clause id="id9D2459D79F214EBBB721F06C3B50B762"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in strengthening the mission of the National Laboratories; and</text></clause><clause id="id8D05C437A72542D38E583B879142494C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to reform and modernize the operations and management of the National Laboratories.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></section><enum>II</enum><header>Cross-sector partnerships and grant competitiveness</header><section id="ida5236e8ad7e440eeb4020f653d3892c3"><enum>201.</enum><header>Agreements for Commercializing Technology pilot program</header><subsection id="idc27ba76206354fc8a8a2b986f2df999d"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall carry out the Agreements for Commercializing Technology pilot program of the Department, as announced by the Secretary on December 8, 2011, in accordance with this section.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="idad21912e1cdc462fbb5721d7e7f21f41"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Terms</header><text>Each agreement entered into pursuant to the pilot program referred to in subsection (a) shall provide to the contractor of the applicable National Laboratory, to the maximum extent determined to be appropriate by the Secretary, increased authority to negotiate contract terms, such as intellectual property rights, indemnification, payment structures, performance guarantees, and multiparty collaborations.</text></subsection><subsection id="idca37ad23ac444305977895812e44ead5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Eligibility</header><paragraph id="idD380FAB7039D4F62AE13BD63636E376D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law (including regulations), any National Laboratory may enter into an agreement pursuant to the pilot program referred to in subsection (a).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idcfe514465d2146fb916848902c356c1c"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Agreements with non-Federal entities</header><text>To carry out paragraph (1) and subject to paragraph (3), the Secretary shall permit the directors of the National Laboratories to execute agreements with non-Federal entities, including non-Federal entities already receiving Federal funding that will be used to support activities under agreements executed pursuant to paragraph (1).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id52888EFD096044BAB40B0611B3A60510"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Restriction</header><text>The requirements of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/35/18">chapter 18</external-xref> of title 35, United States Code
(commonly known as the <quote>Bayh-Dole Act</quote>) shall apply if—</text><subparagraph id="idE4FB44C5B6334B8390DE715273FD9ABA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the agreement is a funding agreement (as that term is defined in section 201 of that title); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2bb3418a0fe64be19f37c3dc857e7f7c"><enum>(B)</enum><text>at least 1 of the parties to the funding agreement is eligible to receive rights under that chapter.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id74df60cccc2a45c0b5f9bf4b8782f3a8"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Submission to Secretary</header><text>Each affected director of a National Laboratory shall submit to the Secretary, with respect to each agreement entered into under this section—</text><paragraph id="id45f7f7d6c15c45f6a007fab44aff4aa8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a summary of information relating to the relevant project;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8d1b5a4af2134771ae65eb9d60b2ae0f"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the total estimated costs of the project;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id587154dbd12742f9aa4b2a8380b6d9a6"><enum>(3)</enum><text>estimated commencement and completion dates of the project; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf96dede487b3473e920ef769ca1f2528"><enum>(4)</enum><text>other documentation determined to be appropriate by the Secretary.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id52bdba3bf1444d76b11ad909aebc3997"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Certification</header><text>The Secretary shall require the contractor of the affected National Laboratory to certify that each activity carried out under a project for which an agreement is entered into under this section—</text><paragraph id="id33621dba585449189691c412bc2b0aa4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>is not in direct competition with the private sector; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idce39f4db21d04c8bab408f3ad8ce3892"><enum>(2)</enum><text>does not present, or minimizes, any apparent conflict of interest, and avoids or neutralizes any actual conflict of interest, as a result of the agreement under this section.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id2ff65dd1f07f441aadfa44c20a8ff526"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Extension</header><text>The pilot program referred to in subsection (a) shall be extended for a term of 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection><subsection id="id4dd447708cdc40b0a24310c08aa2b929"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 60 days after the date described in subsection (f), the Secretary, in coordination with directors of the National Laboratories, shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that—</text><paragraph id="id80cf3ad9b1f04bf0a4fd141c736401a9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>assesses the overall effectiveness of the pilot program referred to in subsection (a);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id04b59b65548941d3aa260981d659d94a"><enum>(2)</enum><text>identifies opportunities to improve the effectiveness of the pilot program;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc14abe0a713240a8aa7ff6e4b9527426"><enum>(3)</enum><text>assesses the potential for program activities to interfere with the responsibilities of the National Laboratories to the Department; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id551e6ebe5162444b9fc472436315b828"><enum>(4)</enum><text>provides a recommendation regarding the future of the pilot program.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id03b400ed99ed4524a3e69bf5c40a796e"><enum>202.</enum><header>Public-private partnerships for commercialization</header><subsection id="id943c22ddec3446e2a60d7bbb788401a4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to subsections (b) and (c), the Secretary shall delegate to directors of the National Laboratories signature authority with respect to any agreement described in subsection (b) the total cost of which (including the National Laboratory contributions and project recipient cost share) is less than $1,000,000.</text></subsection><subsection id="id59ccd63359024f54b975eb3486ddd90f"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Agreements</header><text>Subsection (a) applies to—</text><paragraph id="id88d3da2ec11b48f3b321bd7a323f29c0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a cooperative research and development agreement;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd6f50fa2fe174e75ba4d91bffa16ec1a"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a non-Federal work-for-others agreement; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfbdf15fe5e4c4df6b8901bacf52548b1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>any other agreement determined to be appropriate by the Secretary, in collaboration with the directors of the National Laboratories.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id996c91667b92422086d3f2927301b1a8"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Administration</header><paragraph commented="no" id="id912425af2614403e8520791c731d33e1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Accountability</header><text>The director of the affected National Laboratory and the affected contractor shall carry out an agreement under this section in accordance with applicable policies of the Department, including by ensuring that the agreement does not compromise any national security, economic, or environmental interest of the United States.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idc3109368f0884afbbbf175a33e5f38e0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Certification</header><text>The director of the affected National Laboratory and the affected contractor shall certify that each activity carried out under a project for which an agreement is entered into under this section does not present, or minimizes, any apparent conflict of interest, and avoids or neutralizes any actual conflict of interest, as a result of the agreement under this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id61baec9aae9e4a9392ae15910d56d89d"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Availability of records</header><text>On entering an agreement under this section, the director of a National Laboratory shall submit to the Secretary for monitoring and review all records of the National Laboratory relating to the agreement.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2aebe78e1b8642f98ceec6373040ff27"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Rates</header><text>The director of a National Laboratory may charge higher rates for services performed under a partnership agreement entered into pursuant to this section, regardless of the full cost of recovery.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id22B6656DE13D48F9B42FEC158087E458"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Conforming amendment</header><text>Section 12 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/3710a">15 U.S.C. 3710a</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idA17F502DFC764A00B077852C5BE8C59D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a)—</text><subparagraph id="id53430CD071B644EFABBE608AE19A0F13"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and indenting the subparagraphs appropriately;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idBA3FC674FDBE41EA8210584725F77014"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>Each Federal agency</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id474BDC80FDEA44468D4BFC89F0B33F12" style="OLC"><paragraph id="id823A2CA1F83742428988D87D0DA171C8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), each Federal agency</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8EBBD2E179DF4F0A89423E543EB219B2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id198F8D7AF5034AD19CE1BBEB6A426E8B" style="OLC"><paragraph id="id30B9542BA67E47308EFBC045B67E9C2A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exception</header><text>Notwithstanding paragraph (1), in accordance with section 202(a) of the <short-title>America INNOVATES Act</short-title>, approval by the Secretary of Energy shall not be required for any technology transfer agreement proposed to be entered into by a National Laboratory of the Department of Energy, the total cost of which (including the National Laboratory contributions and project recipient cost share) is less than $1,000,000.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2502D32396FE461FAD367FB7FA7285FB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (b), by striking <quote>subsection (a)(1)</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>subsection (a)(1)(A)</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id2a75f9cc6e414e37b1576a4fba621e3d"><enum>203.</enum><header>Inclusion of early-stage technology demonstration in authorized technology transfer activities</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1001 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/16391">42 U.S.C. 16391</external-xref>) is amended by—</text><paragraph id="idF81D7D86FEE248AA851FC6D17AE5B20A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idAEF156707AC241A8BA6E04BAC42F07DB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>inserting after subsection (f) the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id896117E11DDE441B8E8E8CE533AE1D81" style="OLC"><subsection id="idEB064ECFAC26486F964229477CA068C8"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Early-Stage technology demonstration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall permit the directors of the National Laboratories to use funds allocated for technology transfer within the Department to carry out early-stage and pre-commercial technology demonstration activities to remove technology barriers that limit private sector interest and demonstrate potential commercial applications of any research and technologies arising from National Laboratory activities intended to meet the Federal Government’s research needs.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="id04c88bf3750541b8b27bdd74c61c6798"><enum>204.</enum><header>Information and resources for startups and small businesses</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 9 of the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/638">15 U.S.C. 638</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc32aa83a245d43198caa4ce9d24078db" style="OLC"><subsection id="iddf9eab258c93462a9a306d467c82e4bf"><enum>(tt)</enum><header>Information</header><text>In carrying out the SBIR and STTR programs of the Department of Energy, the Secretary of Energy shall provide to small business concerns seeking funding under the programs information concerning resources that are available to small business concerns at National Laboratories and federally funded research and development centers.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="id662c9577104544369f2bf20de33c6d6b"><enum>205.</enum><header>Funding competitiveness for institutions of higher education and other nonprofit institutions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 988(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/16352">42 U.S.C. 16352(b)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id5b4e2c76441345bfb754e07ecd9a3278"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3)</quote> and inserting <quote>Except as provided in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4)</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id908666caac3c4019837a3afa80436bd6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6fae72e9b9f9409a8d610951d24c3461" style="OLC"><paragraph id="id3040578de2d641eb9855aab23359336a"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Exemption for institutions of higher education and other nonprofit institutions</header><subparagraph id="id8de7329c8adf4748b03fa98a4c3d5487"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a research or development activity performed by an institution of higher education or nonprofit institution (as defined in section 4 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/3703">15 U.S.C. 3703</external-xref>)).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5e3f8b022c00412c91c05bc9c21a5462"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Termination date</header><text>The exemption under subparagraph (A) shall apply during the 6-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this paragraph.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><enum>III</enum><header>Assessment of impact</header><section id="id210f938fb0544fe4afec41b23ee49d9c"><enum>301.</enum><header>Report by Government Accountability Office</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report describing the results of the projects developed under sections 201, 202, and 203, including information regarding—</text><paragraph id="idcdc20cabd1b8415f8a4b8f62de986303"><enum>(1)</enum><text>partnerships initiated as a result of those projects and the potential linkages presented by those partnerships with respect to national priorities and other taxpayer-funded research; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0f78370df4584c7a8c6422ad10ae2907"><enum>(2)</enum><text>whether the activities carried out under those projects result in—</text><subparagraph id="id416A0CA0390244FBB4E159CC283C6891"><enum>(A)</enum><text>fiscal savings;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB8E1821574F9492FBD4183DA48E41A0D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>expansion of National Laboratory capabilities;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id21ADA5821E37481990C88314090DE126"><enum>(C)</enum><text>increased efficiency of technology transfers; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idEDA3BDE2F7384754811E2931C197B505"><enum>(D)</enum><text>an increase in general efficiency of the National Laboratory system.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></section>