National Defense Technology and Industrial Base Conversion and Assistance Act of 1992

National Defense Technology and Industrial Base Conversion and Assistance Act of 1992 - Title VIII (SIC): Acquisition Policy, Acquisition Management, and Related Matters - Subtitle A: Defense Conversion Policy for the National Defense Technology and Industrial Base - Sets forth provisions concerning the National Defense Technology and Industrial Base (NDTIB). Outlines NDTIB policy objectives and how they relate to defense conversion and civil-military integration objectives. Establishes the National Defense Technology and Industrial Base Council (Council) to provide overall policy guidance and direction to the military departments and defense agencies concerning: (1) the capabilities of the NDTIB to meet U.S. national security objectives; (2) programs for achieving the defense conversion objectives set forth; and (3) changes in acquisition policy that would strengthen the NDTIB. Directs the Council to prepare a comprehensive annual assessment of the NDTIB to achieve its stated objectives. Requires each assessment to include a sector (technology or industry) capability analysis containing specified information with respect to its ability to achieve the stated objectives. Outlines factors concerning foreign dependency on raw materials, systems, equipment, and facilities to be addressed in each assessment. Requires each such assessment to also include: (1) an analysis of the present and projected financial condition of each sector for specified periods; (2) an analysis of the impact of the terminations and significant reductions of major R&D and procurement programs of DOD on the capability of each sector to achieve its objectives; (3) a critical technology analysis that identifies the product and process technologies that are most critical for attaining the technology and industrial base objectives; and (4) an analysis of each sector's viability in light of defense and nondefense expenditures, integration with the commercial marketplace, and production.

Directs the Council to prepare an annual plan for ensuring that the policies and programs of DOD, the Department of Energy (DOE), and other Federal departments and agencies are planned, coordinated, funded, and implemented in a manner which achieves policy objectives. Requires each plan to provide specific guidance, including goals, milestones, and priorities, with respect to: (1) sector viability; (2) manufacturing technology; (3) critical technologies; (4) integrated financing; (5) civil-military integration; (6) defense conversion; (7) technology and industrial base work force; (8) major program acquisition; and (9) acquisition reform. Requires the plan to establish funding priorities for each area of guidance. Directs the Secretary to provide the annual plan to the Secretaries of the military departments and the heads of other affected elements of DOD. Directs the Secretaries of Energy and Commerce to provide such guidance to appropriate officials within their respective departments. Requires an annual report by the Secretary to the Congress on the plan and the NDTIB assessment prepared for that year.

Directs the Council to establish a federally funded R&D center to be known as the National Defense Program for Analysis of the Technology and Industrial Base (NDP). Outlines NDP missions with respect to the NDTIB, including assembling of information, studies and analyses, provision of technical support and assistance, and dissemination of unclassified information gathered.

Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations requiring consideration of the NDTIB in the development and implementation of acqusition plans for each major defense acquisition program. Outlines required contents of such acquisition plans, implementation provisions, and required dates for annual assessments of such plans. Requires the Council to establish the NDC within six months after enactment of this Act.

Sets forth provisions concerning dual-use technologies (technologies having both commercial and military applications). Directs the Secretary to conduct a program providing for the establishment of cooperative arrangements (partnerships) between DOD and certain non-DOD entities (nonprofit research corporations, federal laboratories, institutions of higher education, agencies of State governments, and other entities showing support for such work) in order to encourage and provide for research, development, and application of technologies to attain the NDTIB objectives. Limits partnership duration to five years. Provides 50 percent Federal funding of the partnership for the first year, reduced by ten percent each year of the partnership. Provides for consideration of in-kind contributions by non-Government participants in a partnership when determining the sharing of partnership costs. Requires competitive procedures to be used in the establishment of such partnerships. Outlines partnership selection criteria and authorizes the Director of Defense Research and Engineering to perform the responsibilities of the Secretary under the partnerships. Renames the current critical technology application centers assistance program as the regional technology alliances assistance program. Provides funding for: (1) defense dual-use critical technology partnerships; (2) commercial-military integration partnerships; (3) defense regional technology alliances; and (4) the overseas critrical technology monitoring and assessment financial assistance program.

Directs the Secretary to establish within his Office the Office of Technology Transition to ensure that technology developed for national security purposes is integrated into the private sector of the United States in order to enhance the NDTIB. Provides further duties of the Office and requires the Secretary to report to the defense committees on Office activities. Requires such Office to commence operations within 180 days after enactment of this Act.

Directs the Secretary to establish a National Defense Manufacturing Technology Program to: (1) provide centralized guidance and direction to the military departments and defense agencies on all matters relating to manufacturing technology; (2) direct the development and implementation of DOD goals, plans, projects, activities, and policies that promote the development and application of advanced technologies to manufacturing processes, tools, and equipment; (3) improve the quality and practices of businesses providing goods and services to DOD; (4) promote dual-use manufacturing processes; (5) disseminate to businesses information concerning improved manufacturing concepts; (6) enhance the skills of the manufacturing work force; and (7) ensure appropriate coordination between the manufacturing technology and industrial preparedness programs of DOD and similar programs undertaken by other Federal departments and agencies and the private sector. Requires the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition to perform the duties of the Secretary under the manufacturing technology program. Earmarks specified amounts authorized for R&D under this Act for: (1) defense advanced manufacturing technology partnerships; (2) manufacturing technology extension programs; and (3) defense manufacturing education programs.

Sets forth provisions concerning miscellaneous technology base policies and programs. Directs the Secretary to establish a program to achieve the NDTIB objectives set forth under this Act by providing dual-use enhancement capability support to various nonprofit, public, and private organizations. Outlines services provided under the program. Provides Federal funding of such program of 50 percent in the first year, 40 percent in the second year, and 30 percent in the third and following years. Outlines criteria for the selection of a program to receive such assistance, including the extent to which the program advances and enhances the NDTIB objectives. Directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition to perform the duties of the Secretary under the dual-use assistance extension program. Provides program funding from funds authorized to be appropriated to DOD under this Act. Reorganizes various Federal provisions relating to the NDTIB and repeals inconsistent provisions.

Earmarks specified funds for FY 1993 and thereafter for research and R&D activities under the Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR). Limits the amounts paid to a small business concern by DOD under the SBIR. Directs the Secretary to develop and issue a strategy for effectuating the transition of successful projects under the SBIR from phase II to phase III of the program. Extends through FY 1999 the SBIR within DOD.

Directs the Secretary, during FY 1993, to give priority in the allocation of specified funds, including SBIR funds, to programs, projects, and activities that provide significant assistance for converting the capabilities of businesses that are economically dependent on DOD business to capabilities having both defense and nondefense commercial applications.

Establishes the Advanced Research Projects Agency (Agency) as a defense agency, headed by a Director with assistance from a Deputy Director. Makes the Agency the central R&D organization of DOD, with specified defense R&D duties.

Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations to encourage defense contractors to engage in industrial diversification planning (conversion from Government-oriented industrial practices to practices that are compatible with the commercial marketplace). Authorizes Government-owned and operated industrial facilities to participate as non-DOD participants in defense dual-use critical technology partnerships.