Cooperative Research and Development Fund Authorization Act of 2017

To make funds available to the Department of Energy National Laboratories for the Federal share of cooperative research and development agreements that support maturing Laboratory technology and transferring it to the private sector, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Cooperative Research and Development Fund Authorization Act of 2017 2. Cooperative research and development fund (a) In general The Secretary of Energy shall make funds available to Department of Energy National Laboratories for the Federal share of cooperative research and development agreements that support maturing laboratory technology and transferring it to the private sector. (b) Apportionment (1) In general The Secretary of Energy shall determine the apportionment of such funds to each Department of Energy National Laboratory and shall ensure that special consideration is given to small business firms and consortia involving small business firms in the selection process for which cooperative research and development agreements will receive such funds. (2) Definition In this section, the term small business firm 15 U.S.C. 3703 (c) Performance evaluation metrics The Secretary of Energy shall ensure that the performance evaluation metrics of each National Laboratory operating contractor provide incentives for, and measure the effectiveness of, the contractor’s cooperative research and development agreement program at maturing laboratory technology and transferring it to the private sector. (d) Reporting (1) Requirement The Secretary of Energy shall annually transmit to Congress a report that describes how funds were expended under this section, including a description of— (A) the types and sizes of non-Federal entities that participated in cooperative research and development agreements receiving funds under this section; and (B) the economic benefits resulting from cooperative research and development agreements that received funds under this section in previous years. (2) Consolidation of reports Reports required under this subsection may be consolidated with other related reports required from the Secretary. (e) Savings provision Nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude or limit the use of funding provided under other authority of law for entering into or increasing the Federal share of cooperative research and development agreements, either in combination with funding provided under this section or separately. (f) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2018 through 2022.

Summary: Cooperative Research and Development Fund Authorization Act of 2017 This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to make funds available to DOE national laboratories for the federal cost share of cooperative research and development agreements that support the maturing of laboratory technology and the transferring of it to the private sector. DOE shall: (1) determine the apportionment of such funds to each DOE national laboratory, (2) ensure that special consideration is given to small business firms and consortia involving such firms in the selection of which agreements will receive such funds, and (3) ensure that certain performance evaluation metrics are used.