A bill to authorize appropriations for the programs of the Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology, to amend the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act, and for other purposes.
Amends the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to remove the one percent limit on NIST funds the Director of NIST is authorized to expend for awards of research fellowships and other financial assistance to students.
Establishes the Baldrige National Quality Program within NIST to administer the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and to perform research and outreach activities to assist quality and performance improvement efforts. Amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to: (1) increase the number of Malcolm awards; and (2) include not-for-profit organizations as qualifying organizations.
Modifies NIST Act provisions regarding the Advanced Technology Program, including by authorizing: (1) the Secretary to aid U.S. joint research and development (R&D) ventures led by institutions of higher education or other nonprofit research organizations; and (2) the Secretary, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology, and the Director to enter into contracts with experts to analyze the need for or value of joint ventures in specific technical fields.
Authorizes: (1) the Secretary, when entering into procurement contracts or financial assistance agreements to carry out collective R&D initiatives, to limit eligibility to nonprofit organizations; and (2) the Director to retain building use and depreciation surcharge fees for maintenance and repair of NIST facilities.
Repeals provisions requiring the Director to establish a non-energy inventions program.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11579-11580)
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