National Biological Data Center

(a)

In general

The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the United States Geological Survey, shall— (1)establish a national biological data center (in this Act referred to as the center) to collect nonhuman biological data and make such data available for public use; and (2)seek to enter into a contract with a small business for the purpose of managing the center. (b)

Contract Term

The contract under subsection (a) shall have a term of 10 years. (c)

Entity selection

(1)

Competitive procedures

The Secretary shall use competitive procedures (as defined in section 4(5) of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act (41 U.S.C. 403(5))) to enter into the contract under subsection (a). (2)

Qualification requirements

To qualify to participate in the competitive procedures under paragraph (1), a small business shall have— (A)no more than 500 employees; (B)demonstrated expertise in— (i)managing scientific and technical information; (ii)implementing scientific information projects; (iii)presenting scientific data in an objective manner; and (iv)managing interagency collaborations related to scientific and technical information; (C)demonstrated involvement with biodiversity information programs and the National Biological Information Infrastructure of the United States Geological Survey (through partnership or other form of collaboration); and (D)a demonstrated ability and willingness to partner with a research university and a national laboratory with expertise in biodiversity and computational sciences. (d)

Leadership

The head of the center shall be appointed by the Secretary, in consultation with the program director of the National Biological Information Infrastructure. (e)

Duties of the national biological data center

The duties of the center shall be determined by the Secretary and shall include, at a minimum, the following activities: (1)Collect nonhuman biological data from Federal, public, private, and nonprofit entities, including— (A)the National Biological Information Infrastructure; and (B)institutions and organizations that partner with the National Biological Information Infrastructure. (2)Develop partnerships with public and private entities that are nationally recognized for computational capabilities and computer capacity to allow the center to efficiently develop a digital network for the storage and retrieval of data collected under paragraph (1). (3)Develop partnerships with academic and scientific institutions in the United States to increase the quantity of data— (A)collected under paragraph (1); and (B)made available for public use under paragraph (4). (4)Subject to Federal statutes and regulations relating to the disclosure of information collected under paragraph (1), including statutes and regulations related to intellectual property and section 552 of title 5, United States Code, make available for use by Federal, State, and local governments and members of the public any federally funded data collected under paragraph (1). (5)Make the data described in paragraph (4) available— (A)through a single electronic search function; or (B)in any case in which such data is not electronically maintained, at a one location. (6)Organize and manage data collected under paragraph (1) in a manner that— (A)enables efficient and effective use of the data by the public; (B)presents the data in an objective manner; and (C)is consistent with efforts made by the National Biological Information Infrastructure to organize and manage nonhuman biological data for public use. (7)Prepare compilations that combine data from multiple data sets to improve the ease of use of such data sets by Federal, State, and local governments and by members of the public. (8)Conduct public awareness activities that promote the use of the data made available under paragraph (4) for purposes of encouraging— (A)economic development; (B)the development of public policy (including policy relating to land use, economic development, conservation, and preservation); (C)scientific research; and (D)science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. (9)Hold an annual conference on nonhuman biological data collection for experts from Federal, State, and local governments and public and private entities for the purpose of providing advice to the head of the center related to improving the performance of the center. (10)Collect fees from State and local governments and members of the public for the use of— (A)compilations prepared under paragraph (7); and (B)other products produced by the center, except that the center may not collect a fee solely for accessing data collected by the center from another source. (f)

Duties of other entities

(1)

In general

Subject to Federal statutes and regulations relating to the disclosure of information collected under subsection (d)(1), including statutes and regulations related to intellectual property and section 552 of title 5, United States Code, any entity that collects or stores federally funded data on or after the end of the one-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act shall submit or make available such data to the center, in a form and manner described in standards published by the center, unless such data has been submitted to the National Biological Information Infrastructure. (2)

National Biological Information Infrastructure

Subject to Federal statutes and regulations relating to the disclosure of information collected under subsection (d)(1), including statutes and regulations related to intellectual property and section 552 of title 5, United States Code, the National Biological Information Infrastructure shall submit or make available to the center, in a form and manner described in standards published by the center, all federally funded data that it stores or receives. (g)

Availability of fees

Subject to appropriation, fees collected under subsection (d)(10) shall remain available for use by the center for activities under subsection (d). (h)

Reports

(1)

Annual Report to Secretary

Not later than January 1 of each year following the date of enactment of this Act, the head of the center shall submit to the Secretary of the Interior an annual report containing— (A)information on the activities of the center during the preceding fiscal year and the plans of the center for activities in the current fiscal year; and (B)such additional information as the Secretary may require. (2)

Annual Report to Congress

Not later than April 1 of each year following the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to Congress an annual report on— (A)information on the activities of the center during the preceding fiscal year and the plans of the center for activities in the current fiscal year; and (B)the administration of the contract entered into under subsection (a). (i)

Federally funded data defined

For purposes of this Act, the term federally-funded data means nonhuman biological data that is collected, maintained, or stored, in whole or in part, through the use of Federal funds. (j)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $8,000,000 per fiscal year. Amounts appropriated under this subsection shall remain available until expended.