42 U.S.C. § 6615 — National science and technology strategy

Page 6860 TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE § 6615 COMPREHENSIVE ACCOUNTABILITY STUDY FOR FEDERALLY-FUNDED RESEARCH Pub. L. 105–276, title IV, § 430, Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2512, provided that: ‘‘(a) STUDY.—The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, in consultation with the Direc- tor of the Office of Management and Budget, may enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences for the Academy to conduct a comprehensive study to develop methods for evaluating federally-fund- ed research and development programs. This study shall— ‘‘(1) recommend processes to determine an accept- able level of success for federally-funded research and development programs by— ‘‘(A) describing the research process in the var- ious scientific and engineering disciplines; ‘‘(B) describing in the different sciences what measures and what criteria each community uses to evaluate the success or failure of a program, and on what time scales these measures are considered reliable—both for exploratory long-range work and for short-range goals; and ‘‘(C) recommending how these measures may be adapted for use by the Federal Government to evaluate federally-funded research and development programs; ‘‘(2) assess the extent to which agencies incorporate independent merit-based evaluation into the formula- tion of the strategic plans of funding agencies and if the quantity or quality of this type of input is unsat- isfactory; ‘‘(3) recommend mechanisms for identifying feder- ally-funded research and development programs which are unsuccessful or unproductive; ‘‘(4) evaluate the extent to which independent, merit-based evaluation of federally-funded research and development programs and projects achieves the goal of eliminating unsuccessful or unproductive pro- grams and projects; and ‘‘(5) investigate and report on the validity of using quantitative performance goals for aspects of pro- grams which relate to administrative management of the program and for which such goals would be appro- priate, including aspects related to— ‘‘(A) administrative burden on contractors and re- cipients of financial assistance awards; ‘‘(B) administrative burdens on external partici- pants in independent, merit-based evaluations; ‘‘(C) cost and schedule control for construction projects funded by the program; ‘‘(D) the ratio of overhead costs of the program relative to the amounts expended through the pro- gram for equipment and direct funding of research; and ‘‘(E) the timeliness of program responses to re- quests for funding, participation, or equipment use. ‘‘(b) INDEPENDENT MERIT-BASED EVALUATION DE- FINED.—The term ‘independent merit-based evaluation’ means review of the scientific or technical quality of research or development, conducted by experts who are chosen for their knowledge of scientific and technical fields relevant to the evaluation and who— ‘‘(1) in the case of the review of a program activity, do not derive long-term support from the program ac- tivity; or ‘‘(2) in the case of the review of a project proposal, are not seeking funds in competition with the pro- posal.’’ COMPUTER NETWORK STUDY Pub. L. 99–383, § 10, Aug. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 816, pro- vided that: ‘‘(a) The Office of Science and Technology Policy (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Office’) shall undertake a study of critical problems and current and future op- tions regarding communications networks for research computers, including supercomputers, at universities and Federal research facilities in the United States. The study shall include an analysis of— ‘‘(1) the networking needs of the Nation’s academic and Federal research computer programs, including supercomputer programs, over the period which is fif- teen years after the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 21, 1986], including requirements in terms of volume of data, reliability of transmission, software compatibility, graphics capability, and transmission security; ‘‘(2) the benefits and opportunities that an im- proved computer network would offer for electronic mail, file transfer, and remote access and commu- nications for universities and Federal research facili- ties in the United States; and ‘‘(3) the networking options available for linking academic and other federally supported research computers, including supercomputers, with a par- ticular emphasis on the advantages and disadvan- tages, if any, of fiber optic systems. ‘‘(b) The Office shall submit to the Congress— ‘‘(1) within one year after the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 21, 1986], a report on findings from the study undertaken pursuant to subsection (a) with re- spect to needs and options regarding communications networks for university and Federal research super- computers within the United States; and ‘‘(2) within two years after the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 21, 1986], a report on findings from the study undertaken pursuant to subsection (a) with re- spect to needs and options regarding communications networks for all research computers at universities and Federal research facilities in the United States.’’ Executive Documents TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS Functions vested in Office of Science and Technology Policy and Director thereof pursuant to subsec. (a)(2) of this section and sections 6615 and 6618 of this title transferred to Director of National Science Foundation by section 5A of Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1977, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Em- ployees, effective Feb. 26, 1978, as provided by section 1(a) of Ex. Ord. No. 12039, Feb. 24, 1978, 43 F.R. 8095, set out under section 6601 of this title. ABOLITION OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL SCIENCE, ENGINEER- ING, AND TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY PANEL; TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS The Intergovernmental Science, Engineering, and Technology Advisory Panel, established pursuant to this section, was abolished and its functions trans- ferred to the President by Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1977, § 5A, 42 F.R. 56101, 91 Stat. 1634, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, effective Feb. 26, 1978, as provided by section 1(b) of Ex. Ord. No. 12039, Feb. 24, 1978, 43 F.R. 8095, set out under section 6601 of this title. § 6615. National science and technology strategy (a) In general Not later than December 31 of the year imme- diately after the calendar year in which a review under section 6615b of this title is completed, the Director of the Office of Science and Tech- nology Policy shall, in coordination with the National Science and Technology Council, de- velop and submit to Congress a comprehensive national science and technology strategy of the United States to meet national research and de- velopment objectives for the following 4-year pe- riod (in this section referred to as ‘‘the national science and technology strategy’’). (b) Requirements In developing each national science and tech- nology strategy described in subsection (a), the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall— Page 6861 TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE § 6615b (1) consider— (A) the recommendations and priorities de- veloped by the review under section 6615b of this title; (B) the most recently published interim or final national security strategy report sub- mitted pursuant to section 3043 of title 50; (C) other relevant national plans, reports, and strategies; and (D) the strategic plans of relevant Federal departments and agencies; and (2) include a description of— (A) strategic objectives and research prior- ities necessary to maintain and advance— (i) the leadership of the United States in science and technology, including in the key technology focus areas, including near-term, medium-term, and long-term economic com- petitiveness; and (ii) the leadership of the United States in technologies required to address societal and national challenges, including a transition to a circular economy; (B) programs, policies, and activities that the President recommends across all Federal departments and agencies to achieve the stra- tegic objectives and research priorities de- scribed in subparagraph (A); (C) plans to promote sustainability practices and strategies for increasing jobs in the United States; (D) global trends in science and technology, including potential threats to the leadership of the United States in science and technology and opportunities for international collabora- tion in science and technology; and (E) plans to foster the development of inter- national partnerships to reinforce domestic policy actions, build new markets, engage in collaborative research, and create an inter- national environment that reflects United States values and protects United States in- terests. (c) Consultation The Director of the Office of Science and Tech- nology Policy shall consult as necessary with the Office of Management and Budget and other appropriate elements of the Executive Office of the President to ensure that the recommenda- tions and priorities delineated in the science and technology strategy are incorporated in the de- velopment of annual budget requests. (d) Bi-annual briefing to Congress The Director of the Office of Science and Tech- nology Policy shall provide on a bi-annual basis, after each release of the national science and technology strategy, a briefing to the relevant congressional committees, which may include updates on the following: (1) The status and development of the na- tional science and technology strategy, in- cluding any significant changes. (2) The implementation of the national science and technology strategy. (3) Any other information about the national science and technology strategy, as deter- mined by the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. (e) Publication The Director of the Office of Science and Tech- nology Policy shall, consistent with the protec- tion of national security and other sensitive matters to the maximum extent practicable, make each national science and technology strategy publicly available on an internet website of the Office. Each report may include a classified annex if the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy determines such is appropriate. (f) Termination This section terminates on the date that is ten years after August 9, 2022. (Pub. L. 94–282, title II, § 206, May 11, 1976, 90 Stat. 466; Pub. L. 97–375, title II, § 215(3), Dec. 21, 1982, 96 Stat. 1826; Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title VI, § 10611, Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1634.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS Provisions similar to those in this section were con- tained in section 6618 of this title, Pub. L. 94–282, title II, § 209, May 11, 1976, 90 Stat. 468, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 97–375, title II, § 215(1), Dec. 21, 1982, 96 Stat. 1826. AMENDMENTS 2022—Pub. L. 117–167 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to biennial science and technology report and outlook. 1982—Pub. L. 97–375 substituted provisions requiring the President to submit to Congress in odd numbered years a science and technology report and outlook for provisions which required the Office of Science and Technology Policy to create a five-year science and technology outlook, dealing with current and emerging problems and with opportunities for and constraints on new and existing capabilities, to be revised annually, composed with the consultation of officials of depart- ments and agencies having related programs and re- sponsibilities, and with officials of the Office of Man- agement and Budget and other appropriate elements of the Executive Office of the President. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries TERMINATION OF REPORTING REQUIREMENTS For termination, effective May 15, 2000, of provisions in subsec. (a) of this section relating to submission of biennial report to Congress, see section 3003 of Pub. L. 104–66, as amended, set out as a note under section 1113 of Title 31, Money and Finance, and the 16th item on page 42 of House Document No. 103–7. § 6615b. Quadrennial science and technology re- view (a) Requirements (1) Quadrennial reviews required Not later than December 31, 2023, and every four years thereafter, the Director of the Of- fice of Science and Technology Policy shall complete a review of the science and tech- nology enterprise of the United States (in this section referred to as the ‘‘quadrennial science and technology review’’). (2) Scope The quadrennial science and technology re- view shall be a comprehensive examination of the science and technology strategy of the