2020 US Code
Title 42 - The Public Health and Welfare
Chapter 134 - Energy Policy
Subchapter X - Energy and Economic Growth
Sec. 13503 - Supporting research and technical analysis

(A) as otherwise provided for in cooperative research and development agreements or other agreements entered into under existing law;

(B) for fees for user facilities, as determined by the Secretary; or

(C) in the case of specific projects, where the Secretary determines that the benefits of such research and development accrue to a specific industry or group of industries, in which case cost sharing under section 13542 of this title shall apply.

(i) Eligible jurisdiction.—The term "eligible jurisdiction" means a State that is determined to be eligible for a grant under this paragraph in accordance with subparagraph (D).

(ii) EPSCoR.—The term "EPSCoR" means the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research operated under subparagraph (B).

(iii) National laboratory.—The term "National Laboratory" has the meaning given the term in section 15801 of this title.

(iv) State.—The term "State" means—

(i) to increase the number of researchers in eligible jurisdictions, especially at institutions of higher education, capable of performing nationally competitive science and engineering research in support of the mission of the Department of Energy in the areas of applied energy research, environmental management, and basic science;

(ii) to improve science and engineering research and education programs at institutions of higher education in eligible jurisdictions and enhance the capabilities of eligible jurisdictions to develop, plan, and execute research that is competitive, including through investing in research equipment and instrumentation; and

(iii) to increase the probability of long-term growth of competitive funding to eligible jurisdictions.

(i) In general.—The Secretary may establish criteria for determining whether a State is eligible for a grant under this paragraph.

(ii) Requirement.—Except as provided in clause (iii), in establishing criteria under clause (i), the Secretary shall ensure that a State is eligible for a grant under this paragraph if the State, as determined by the Secretary, is a State that—

(iii) Eligibility under nsf epscor.—At the election of the Secretary, or if the Secretary declines to establish criteria under clause (i), the Secretary may continue to use the eligibility criteria in use on January 1, 2021, or any successor criteria.

(i) In general.—EPSCoR shall make grants to eligible jurisdictions to carry out and support applied energy research and research in all areas of environmental management and basic science sponsored by the Department of Energy, including—

(ii) Activities.—EPSCoR shall make grants under this subparagraph for activities consistent with the objectives described in subparagraph (C) in the areas of applied energy research, environmental management, and basic science described in clause (i), including—

(iii) No cost sharing.—EPSCoR shall not impose any cost-sharing requirement with respect to a grant made under this subparagraph, but may require letters of commitment from National Laboratories.

(i) In general.—Not later than 270 days after January 1, 2021, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Energy and Natural Resources and Appropriations of the Senate and the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Appropriations of the House of Representatives a plan describing how the Secretary shall implement EPSCoR.

(ii) Contents of plan.—The plan described in clause (i) shall include a description of—

(i) In general.—Not later than 5 years after January 1, 2021, the Secretary shall contract with a federally funded research and development center, the National Academy of Sciences, or a similar organization to carry out an assessment of the effectiveness of EPSCoR, including an assessment of—

(ii) Limitation.—The organization with which the Secretary contracts under clause (i) shall not be a National Laboratory.

(iii) Report.—Not later than 6 years after January 1, 2021, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space and Technology and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report describing the results of the assessment carried out under clause (i), including recommendations for improvements that would enable the Secretary to achieve the objectives described in subparagraph (C).

(A) Providing for the safety and health of employees, visitors, and the general public with regard to correcting existing structural, mechanical, electrical, and environmental deficiencies.

(B) Providing for the repair and rehabilitation of existing facilities to keep them in use and prevent deterioration.

(C) Providing engineering design and construction services for those facilities which require modification or additions in order to meet the needs of new or expanded programs.