212 
(i) to prohibit the obligation of amounts pursuant to a let-
ter of intent under this subsection in the same fiscal year as 
the letter of intent is issued; or 
(ii) to apply to, or replace, Federal assistance intended for 
interoperable communications that is not provided pursuant 
to a commitment under this subsection. 
(e) INTEROPERABLE COMMUNICATIONS PLANS.—An applicant requesting 
funding assistance from the Secretary for interoperable communications for 
emergency response providers shall submit an Interoperable Communica-
tions Plan to the Secretary for approval. A plan shall— 
(1) describe the current state of communications interoperability in 
the applicable jurisdictions among Federal, State, and local emergency 
response providers and other relevant private resources; 
(2) describe the available and planned use of public safety frequency 
spectrum and resources for interoperable communications within the 
jurisdictions; 
(3) describe how the planned use of spectrum and resources for 
interoperable communications is compatible with surrounding capabili-
ties and interoperable communications plans of Federal, State, and 
local governmental entities, military installations, foreign governments, 
critical infrastructure, and other relevant entities; 
(4) include a 5-year plan for the dedication of Federal, State, and 
local government and private resources to achieve a consistent, secure, 
and effective interoperable communications system, including planning, 
system design and engineering, testing and technology development, 
procurement and installation, training, and operations and mainte-
nance; 
(5) describe how the 5-year plan meets or exceeds applicable stand-
ards and grant requirements established by the Secretary; 
(6) include information on the governance structure used to develop 
the plan, including this information about all agencies and organiza-
tions that participated in developing the plan and the scope and time-
frame of the plan; and 
(7) describe the method by which multijurisdictional, multidisci-
plinary input is provided from all regions of the jurisdiction, including 
high-threat urban areas located in the jurisdiction, and the process for 
continuing to incorporate input. 
(f) EXPANDED REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—In addition to the commit-
tees specifically enumerated to receive reports under title XII of the Imple-
menting Recommendations Of The 9/11 Commission Act Of 2007 (Public 
Law 110–53, 121 Stat. 381), any report transmitted under the provisions 
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of title XII shall be transmitted to the appropriate congressional commit-
tees. 
§ 10713. Office for Interoperability and Compatibility 
(a) CLARIFICATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Director of the Office 
for Interoperability and Compatibility shall— 
(1) assist the Secretary in developing and implementing the science 
and technology aspects of the program described in subparagraphs (D), 
(E), (F), and (G) of section 10712(b)(1) of this title; 
(2) in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and other Federal 
departments and agencies with responsibility for standards, support the 
creation of national voluntary consensus standards for interoperable 
emergency communications; 
(3) establish a comprehensive research, development, testing, and 
evaluation program for improving interoperable emergency communica-
tions; 
(4) establish, in coordination with the Director for Emergency Com-
munications, requirements for interoperable emergency communications 
capabilities, which shall be nonproprietary where standards for the ca-
pabilities exist, for all public safety radio and data communications sys-
tems and equipment purchased using homeland security assistance ad-
ministered by the Department, excluding an alert and warning device, 
technology, or system; 
(5) carry out the Department’s responsibilities and authorities relat-
ing to research, development, testing, evaluation, or standards-related 
elements of the SAFECOM Program; 
(6) evaluate and assess new technology in real-world environments 
to achieve interoperable emergency communications capabilities; 
(7) encourage more efficient use of existing resources, including 
equipment, to achieve interoperable emergency communications capa-
bilities; 
(8) test public safety communications systems that are less prone to 
failure, support new nonvoice services, use spectrum more efficiently, 
and cost less than existing systems; 
(9) coordinate with the private sector to develop solutions to improve 
emergency communications capabilities and achieve interoperable emer-
gency communications capabilities; and 
(10) conduct pilot projects, in coordination with the Director for 
Emergency Communications, to test and demonstrate technologies, in-
cluding data and video, that enhance— 
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(A) the ability of emergency response providers and relevant 
government officials to continue to communicate in the event of 
natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters; 
and 
(B) interoperable emergency communications capabilities. 
(b) COORDINATION.—The Director of the Office for Interoperability and 
Compatibility shall coordinate with the Director for Emergency Communica-
tions with respect to the SAFECOM program. 
(c) SUFFICIENCY OF RESOURCES.—The Secretary shall provide the Office 
for Interoperability and Compatibility the resources and staff necessary to 
carry out the responsibilities under this section. 
§ 10714. Emergency communications interoperability re-
search and development 
(a) DEFINITION OF INTEROPERABLE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS.— 
In this section, the term ‘‘interoperable emergency communications’’ has the 
meaning given the term ‘‘interoperable communications’’ under section 
10712(a) of this title. 
(b) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting though the Under Secretary for 
Science and Technology and the Director of the Office for Interoperability 
and Compatibility, shall establish a comprehensive research and development 
program to support and promote— 
(1) the ability of emergency response providers and relevant govern-
ment officials to continue to communicate in the event of natural disas-
ters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters; and 
(2) interoperable emergency communications capabilities among 
emergency response providers and relevant government officials, includ-
ing by— 
(A) supporting research on a competitive basis, including 
through the Directorate of Science and Technology and Homeland 
Security Advanced Research Projects Agency; and 
(B) considering the establishment of a Center of Excellence 
under the Department of Homeland Security Centers of Excel-
lence Program focused on improving emergency response pro-
viders’ communication capabilities. 
(c) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the program established under sub-
section (b) include— 
(1) supporting research, development, testing, and evaluation on 
emergency communication capabilities; 
(2) understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the public safety 
communications systems in use; 
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(3) examining how current and emerging technology can make emer-
gency response providers more effective, and how Federal, State, local, 
and tribal government agencies can use this technology in a coherent 
and cost-effective manner; 
(4) investigating technologies that could lead to long-term advance-
ments in emergency communications capabilities and supporting re-
search on advanced technologies and potential systemic changes to dra-
matically improve emergency communications; and 
(5) evaluating and validating advanced technology concepts, and fa-
cilitating the development and deployment of interoperable emergency 
communication capabilities. 
§ 10715. National Biosurveillance Integration Center 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) BIOLOGICAL AGENT.—The term ‘‘biological agent’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 178 of title 18. 
(2) BIOLOGICAL EVENT OF NATIONAL CONCERN.—The term ‘‘bio-
logical event of national concern’’ means— 
(A) an act of terrorism involving a biological agent or toxin; or 
(B) a naturally occurring outbreak of an infectious disease that 
may result in a national epidemic. 
(3) HOMELAND SECURITY INFORMATION.—The term ‘‘homeland se-
curity information’’ has the meaning given the term in section 11707 
of this title. 
(4) MEMBER
AGENCY.—The term ‘‘Member Agency’’ means any 
Federal department or agency that, at the discretion of the head of 
that department or agency, has entered into a memorandum of under-
standing regarding participation in the National Biosurveillance Inte-
gration Center. 
(5) PRIVACY OFFICER.—The term ‘‘Privacy Officer’’ means the Pri-
vacy Officer appointed under section 10543 of this title. 
(6) TOXIN.—The term ‘‘toxin’’ has the meaning given the term in 
section 178 of title 18. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish, operate, and main-
tain a National Biosurveillance Integration Center (in this section referred 
to as the ‘‘NBIC’’) under an office or directorate of the Department that 
was in existence as of August 3, 2007. The Directing Officer is the head 
of the NBIC. 
(c) PRIMARY MISSION.—The primary mission of the NBIC is to— 
(1) enhance the capability of the Federal Government to— 
(A) rapidly identify, characterize, localize, and track a biological 
event of national concern by integrating and analyzing data relat-
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ing to human health, animal, plant, food, and environmental moni-
toring systems (both national and international); and 
(B) disseminate alerts and other information to Member Agen-
cies and, in coordination with (and where possible through) Mem-
ber Agencies, to agencies of State, local, and tribal governments, 
as appropriate, to enhance the ability of the agencies to respond 
to a biological event of national concern; and 
(2) oversee development and operation of the National Biosurveil-
lance Integration System. 
(d) REQUIREMENTS.—The NBIC shall detect, as early as possible, a bio-
logical event of national concern that presents a risk to the United States 
or the infrastructure or key assets of the United States, including by— 
(1) consolidating data from all relevant surveillance systems main-
tained by Member Agencies to detect biological events of national con-
cern across human, animal, and plant species; 
(2) seeking private sources of surveillance, both foreign and domes-
tic, when the sources would enhance coverage of critical surveillance 
gaps; 
(3) using an information technology system that uses the best avail-
able statistical and other analytical tools to identify and characterize 
biological events of national concern in as close to real-time as is prac-
ticable; 
(4) providing the infrastructure for integration, including informa-
tion technology systems and space, and support for personnel from 
Member Agencies with sufficient expertise to enable analysis and inter-
pretation of data; 
(5) working with Member Agencies to create information technology 
systems that use the minimum amount of patient data necessary and 
consider patient confidentiality and privacy issues at all stages of devel-
opment and apprise the Privacy Officer of these efforts; and 
(6) alerting Member Agencies and, in coordination with (and where 
possible through) Member Agencies, public health agencies of State, 
local, and tribal governments regarding an incident that could develop 
into a biological event of national concern. 
(e) RESPONSIBILITIES OF DIRECTING OFFICER.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Directing Officer of the NBIC shall— 
(A) on an ongoing basis, monitor the availability and appro-
priateness of surveillance systems used by the NBIC and those 
systems that could enhance biological situational awareness or the 
overall performance of the NBIC; 
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(B) on an ongoing basis, review and seek to improve the statis-
tical and other analytical methods used by the NBIC; 
(C) receive and consider other relevant homeland security infor-
mation, as appropriate; and 
(D) provide technical assistance, as appropriate, to all Federal, 
regional, State, local, and tribal government entities and private- 
sector entities that contribute data relevant to the operation of the 
NBIC. 
(2) ASSESSMENTS.—The Directing Officer of the NBIC shall— 
(A) on an ongoing basis, evaluate available data for evidence of 
a biological event of national concern; and 
(B) integrate homeland security information with NBIC data to 
provide overall situational awareness and determine whether a bio-
logical event of national concern has occurred. 
(3) INFORMATION SHARING.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Directing Officer of the NBIC shall— 
(i) establish a method of real-time communication with the 
National Operations Center; 
(ii) in the event that a biological event of national concern 
is detected, notify the Secretary and disseminate results of 
NBIC assessments relating to that biological event of national 
concern to appropriate Federal response entities and, in co-
ordination with relevant Member Agencies, regional, State, 
local, and tribal governmental response entities in a timely 
manner; 
(iii) provide any report on NBIC assessments to Member 
Agencies and, in coordination with relevant Member Agencies, 
an affected regional, State, local, or tribal government, and 
any private-sector entity considered appropriate that may en-
hance the mission of the Member Agencies, governments, or 
entities or the ability of the Nation to respond to biological 
events of national concern; and 
(iv) share NBIC incident or situational awareness reports, 
and other relevant information, consistent with the informa-
tion sharing environment established under section 11708 of 
this title and policies, guidelines, procedures, instructions, or 
standards established under that section. 
(B) CONSULTATION.—The Directing Officer of the NBIC shall 
implement the activities described in subparagraph (A) consistent 
with the policies, guidelines, procedures, instructions, or standards 
established under section 11708 of this title and in consultation 
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with the Director of National Intelligence, the Under Secretary for 
Intelligence and Analysis, and other offices or agencies of the Fed-
eral Government, as appropriate. 
(f) RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBER AGENCIES.—Each Member Agency 
shall— 
(1) use its best efforts to integrate biosurveillance information into 
the NBIC, with the goal of promoting information sharing between 
Federal, State, local, and tribal governments to detect biological events 
of national concern; 
(2) provide timely information to assist the NBIC in maintaining bi-
ological situational awareness for accurate detection and response pur-
poses; 
(3) enable the NBIC to receive and use biosurveillance information 
from Member Agencies to carry out its requirements under subsection 
(c); 
(4) connect the biosurveillance data systems of that Member Agency 
to the NBIC data system under mutually agreed protocols that are 
consistent with subsection (d)(5); 
(5) participate in the formation of strategy and policy for the oper-
ation of the NBIC and its information sharing; 
(6) provide personnel to the NBIC under an interagency personnel 
agreement and consider the qualifications of the personnel necessary to 
provide human, animal, and environmental data analysis and interpre-
tation support to the NBIC; and 
(7) retain responsibility for the surveillance and intelligence systems 
of that department or agency, if applicable. 
(g) ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITIES.— 
(1) HIRING OF EXPERTS.—The Directing Officer of the NBIC shall 
hire individuals with the necessary expertise to develop and operate the 
NBIC. 
(2) DETAIL OF PERSONNEL.—On request of the Directing Officer of 
the NBIC, the head of a Federal department or agency may detail, on 
a reimbursable basis, personnel of the department or agency to the De-
partment to assist the NBIC in carrying out this section. 
(h) NBIC INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.—The Directing Officer of the 
NBIC shall— 
(1) establish an interagency working group to facilitate interagency 
cooperation and to advise the Directing Officer of the NBIC regarding 
recommendations to enhance the biosurveillance capabilities of the De-
partment; and 
(2) invite Member Agencies to serve on that working group. 
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(i) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES.—The au-
thority of the Directing Officer of the NBIC under this section shall not 
affect the authority or responsibility of another department or agency of the 
Federal Government with respect to biosurveillance activities under a pro-
gram administered by that department or agency. 
(j) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section. 
§ 10716. Promoting antiterrorism through international co-
operation program 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means the Director selected 
under subsection (b)(2). 
(2) INTERNATIONAL
COOPERATIVE
ACTIVITY.—The term ‘‘inter-
national cooperative activity’’ includes— 
(A) coordinated research projects, joint research projects, or 
joint ventures; 
(B) joint studies or technical demonstrations; 
(C) coordinated field exercises, scientific seminars, conferences, 
symposia, and workshops; 
(D) training of scientists and engineers; 
(E) visits and exchanges of scientists, engineers, or other appro-
priate personnel; 
(F) exchanges or sharing of scientific and technological informa-
tion; and 
(G) joint use of laboratory facilities and equipment. 
(b) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HOMELAND SECURITY INTERNATIONAL 
COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS OFFICE.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is in the Department the Science and 
Technology Homeland Security International Cooperative Programs Of-
fice. 
(2) DIRECTOR.—A Director is the head of the Office. The Direc-
tor— 
(A) shall be selected, in consultation with the Assistant Sec-
retary for International Affairs, by and shall report to the Under 
Secretary for Science and Technology; and 
(B) may be an officer of the Department serving in another po-
sition. 
(3) RESPONSIBILITIES.— 
(A) DEVELOPMENT OF MECHANISMS.—The Director is respon-
sible for developing, in coordination with the Department of State 
and, as appropriate, the Department of Defense, the Department 
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of Energy, and other Federal agencies, understandings and agree-
ments to allow and to support international cooperative activity in 
support of homeland security. 
(B) PRIORITIES.—The Director is responsible for developing, in 
coordination with the Office of International Affairs and other 
Federal agencies, strategic priorities for international cooperative 
activity for the Department in support of homeland security. 
(C) ACTIVITIES.—The Director shall facilitate the planning, de-
velopment, and implementation of international cooperative activ-
ity to address the strategic priorities developed under subpara-
graph (B) through mechanisms the Under Secretary for Science 
and Technology considers appropriate, including grants, coopera-
tive agreements, or contracts to or with foreign public or private 
entities, governmental organizations, businesses (including small 
businesses and socially and economically disadvantaged small busi-
nesses (as the terms are defined in sections 3 and 8 of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632 and 637), respectively)), federally 
funded research and development centers, and universities. 
(D) IDENTIFICATION OF PARTNERS.—The Director shall facili-
tate the matching of United States entities engaged in homeland 
security research with non-United States entities engaged in home-
land security research so that they may partner in homeland secu-
rity research activities. 
(4) COORDINATION.—The Director shall ensure that the activities 
under this subsection are coordinated with the Office of International 
Affairs and the Department of State and, as appropriate, the Depart-
ment of Defense, the Department of Energy, and other relevant Fed-
eral agencies or interagency bodies. The Director may enter into joint 
activities with other Federal agencies. 
(c) MATCHING FUNDING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.— 
(A) EQUITABILITY.—The Director shall ensure that funding 
and resources expended in international cooperative activity will be 
equitably matched by the foreign partner government or other en-
tity through direct funding, funding of complementary activities, 
or the provision of staff, facilities, material, or equipment. 
(B) GRANT MATCHING AND REPAYMENT.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may require a recipient of 
a grant under this section— 
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