[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 41 (Thursday, March 2, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11642-11643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-5079]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

32 CFR Part 209


University Research Initiative Support Program (URISP)

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DoD.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This proposed rule is to comply with section 802 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 (Pub. L. 103-
160), which requires the Department of Defense to establish URISP, and 
prescribe a regulation for carrying out the program. URISP is required 
to be a competitive university research program for research and 
development that is relevant to the requirements of the Department of 
Defense, that is set aside for Colleges and Universities that have 
received less than $2 million dollars from the Department of Defense 
over the two previous fiscal years. URISP is oriented toward assisting 
institutions build university research infrastructure in the fields of 
science, engineering, and mathematics, so they may become more 
competitive.

DATES: Written comments on this proposed rule must be received by May 
1, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Forward comments to the Office of Director of Defense 
Research and Engineering, Pentagon--3E1045, Washington, DC 20301-3080.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Art McGregor (703) 614-0205.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review''

    It has been determined that 32 CFR part 209 is not a significant 
regulation action. The rule does not:
    (1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or 
adversely affect in a material way the economy; a sector of the 
economy; productivity; competition; jobs; the environment; public 
health or safety; State, local, or tribal governments or communities;
    (2) Create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an 
action taken or planned by another Agency; (3) Materially alter the 
budgetary impact of entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs, 
or rights and obligations of recipients thereof; or (4) Raise novel 
legal or policy issues arising out of legal mandates, the President's 
priorities, or the principles set forth in this Executive Order.

Public Law 96-354, ``Regulatory Flexibility Act'' (5 U.S.C. 601)

    It has been certified that this rule is not subject to the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601) because it would not, if 
promulgated, have a significant economic impact on a substantial number 
of small entities. The proposed rule does not place any economic 
burdens on small entities. The primary effect on grantees administering 
this rule will be a reduction in administrative cost and other burdens 
resulting from the simplification and clarification of certain policies 
and the elimination of policy differences among the Federal Agencies 
promulgating this proposed rule.

Public Law 96-511, ``Paperwork Reduction Act'' (44 U.S.C. Chapter 44)

    It has been certified that 32 CFR part 209 does not impose any 
reporting or record keeping requirements under the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

List of Subjects in 32 CFR Part 209

    Education, Grants, Institutions, and Universities.

    Accordingly, title 32, chapter I, subchapter M is proposed to be 
amended to add part 209 to read as follows:

PART 209--UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INITIATIVE SUPPORT PROGRAM (URISP)

Sec.
209.1  Purpose.
209.2  Applicability.
209.3  Definitions.
209.4  Policy.
209.5  Responsibilities.

    Authority: Sec. 802 of Pub. L. 103-160 (see 10 U.S.C. 2358 note)


Sec. 209.1  Purpose.

    This part establishes policy and assigns responsibilities under 
section 802 of Public Law 103-160 (see 10 U.S.C. 2358 note).


Sec. 209.2  Applicability.

    This part applies to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the 
Military Departments, and Defense Agencies responsible for the majority 
of the university basic research grants in the Department of Defense.


Sec. 209.3  Definitions.

    (a) American Association of State Colleges and Universities 
(AASCU). Institutions that are members of AASCU during the period that 
peers are selected.
    (b) Eligible Institutions. Institutions that may compete for URISP 
funding are those that have received a total of less than $2 million in 
obligations from the Department of Defense, over the two previous 
fiscal years (FYs). A list of ineligible institutions will be attached 
as an appendix to the URISP announcement, and institutions not on the 
list are eligible to participate.
    (c) Institutions. Institutions of Higher Education that have 
accredited, degree-granting programs in science, engineering or 
mathematics.
    (d) Merit-based selection process. A university-based review using 
peers who are members of the faculty or staff of an institution of 
higher education that is a member of NASULGC or AASCU (section 802 of 
Pub. L. 103-160).
    (e) National Association of State Universities and Land Grant 
Colleges (NASULGC). Institutions that are members of NASULGC during the 
period that peers are selected.
    (f) Research Offices. The research office under the Military 
Services and Defense Agencies that are responsible for the majority of 
the university basic research grants in the Department of Defense. 
These are:
    (1) Advanced Research Projects Agency.
    (2) Air Force Office of Scientific Research.
    (3) Army Research Office.
    (4) Ballistic Missile Defense Organization.
    (5) Office of Naval Research.


Sec. 209.4  Policy.

    It is DoD policy that:
    (a) The purpose of URISP is to help build the infrastructure in the 
fields of science, engineering, and mathematics [[Page 11643]] that are 
important to the Department of Defense, through the use of competitive, 
multi-year grants to support the conduct of research and development 
relevant to requirements of the Department of Defense, at institutions 
that have received less than $2.0 million from the Department of 
Defense over the 2 previous FYs (section 802 of Pub. L. 103-160).
    (b) All URISP funds shall be obligated using a merit-based 
selection process. The university peer reviewers shall be from the 
faculty and staff of institutions that are members of NASULGC and ASSCU 
(section 802 of Pub. L. 103-160).
    (c) Institutions eligible to participate in URISP will be 
determined using DoD obligation data for the two previous FYs.


Sec. 209.5  Responsibilities.

    (a) The Director of Defense Research and Engineering, under the 
Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology, shall ensure 
that only eligible institutions are allowed to participate in URISP. 
The Director of Defense Research and Engineering shall oversee the 
approval of any selected scientific topical areas to be included in the 
URISP announcement, and the allocation of funds among the research 
offices. The URISP shall be reviewed annually and modified as 
appropriate to ensure that defense requirements are being met.
    (b) The Secretaries of the Military Departments, and the Directors 
of the Defense Agencies responsible for the majority of the university 
basic research grants, under OSD Principal Staff Assistants, shall 
ensure that:
    (1) All proposals chosen for URISP funding shall have been selected 
through a merit-based selection process using university peer reviewers 
selected only from the faculty and staff of institutions that are 
members of the NASULGC and AASCU (section 802 of Pub. L. 103-160).
    (2) Each project funded under URISP is reviewed annually to 
determine if defense requirements are being met.

    Dated: February 24, 1995.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 95-5079 Filed 3-1-95; 8:45 am]
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