Capacity-building program for developing universities

(a)

In general

The Director of the National Science Foundation shall establish a program to make awards, on a competitive basis, to eligible institutions described in subsection (b) to support the mission of the Foundation and to build institutional research capacity at eligible institutions.(b)

Eligible institution

(1)

In general

To be eligible to receive an award under this section, an institution—(A)shall be—(i)a historically Black college or university;(ii)a Tribal College or University;(iii)a minority-serving institution; or(iv)an institution of higher education with an established STEM capacity building program focused on traditionally underrepresented populations in STEM, including Native Hawaiians, Alaska Natives, and Indians; and(B)shall have not more than $50,000,000 in annual federally-financed research and development expenditures for science and engineering as reported through the National Science Foundation Higher Education Research and Development Survey.(2)

Partnerships

An eligible institution receiving a grant under this section may carry out the activities of the grant through a partnership with other entities, including community colleges and other eligible institutions.(c)

Proposals

To receive an award under this section, an eligible institution shall submit an application to the Director at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director may require, including a plan that describes how the eligible institution will establish or expand research office capacity and how such award would be used to—(1)conduct an assessment of capacity-building and research infrastructure needs of an eligible institution;(2)enhance institutional resources to provide administrative research development support to faculty at an eligible institution;(3)bolster the institutional research competitiveness of an eligible institution to support grants awarded by the Foundation;(4)support the acquisition of instrumentation necessary to build research capacity at an eligible institution in research areas directly associated with the Foundation;(5)increase capability of an eligible institution to move technology into the marketplace;(6)increase engagement with industry to execute research through the SBIR and STTR programs (as defined in section 9(e) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(e)) and direct contracts at an eligible institution;(7)provide student engagement and research training opportunities at the undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels at an eligible institution;(8)further faculty development initiatives and strengthen institutional research training infrastructure, capacity, and competitiveness of an eligible institution; or(9)address plans and prospects for long-term sustainability of institutional enhancements at an eligible institution resulting from the award including, if applicable, how the award may be leveraged by an eligible institution to build a broader base of support.(d)

Awards

Awards made under this section shall be for periods of 3 years, and may be extended for periods of not more than 5 years.(e)

Definitions

In this section:(1)

Historically Black college or university

The term historically Black college or university has the meaning given the term part B institution in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).(2)

Minority-serving institution

The term minority-serving institution or MSI means—(A)a Hispanic-serving institution as defined in section 502 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a);(B)an Alaska Native-serving Institution or a Native Hawaiian-serving institution as such terms are defined in section 317 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059d); and(C)a Predominantly Black institution, an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution, or a Native American-serving nontribal institution as such terms are defined in section 371 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(c)).(3)

Tribal College or University

The term Tribal College or University has the meaning given such term in section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c).(f)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Director of the National Science Foundation $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026 to carry out the activities in this Act.