‘‘(V) create a transparent process 
through which the Secretary clearly, 
consistently, and publicly documents 
decisions to approve or disapprove an 
application submitted under this sec-
tion and the reasons for such deci-
sions.’’. 
SEC. 4. TARGETED ASSISTANCE GRANTS. 
Section 
1204(c)(2) 
of 
such 
Act 
(20 
U.S.C. 
6364(c)(2)) is amended— 
(1) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘peer re-
view panel’’ and inserting ‘‘Committee’’; and 
(2) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘panel’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Committee’’. 
SEC. 5. EXTERNAL EVALUATION. 
Section 1205 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 6365) is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) LIMITATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall ensure 
that the independent organization described in sub-
section (a) does not hold a contract or subcontract 
to implement any aspect of the program under this 
subpart. 
‘‘(2) SUBCONTRACTORS.—The contract entered 
into under subsection (a) shall prohibit the inde-
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pendent organization conducting the evaluation from 
subcontracting with any entity that holds a contract 
or subcontract for any aspect of the implementation 
of this subpart.’’. 
SEC. 6. NATIONAL ACTIVITIES. 
Section 1206 of that Act (20 U.S.C. 6366) is amend-
ed— 
(1) by inserting before ‘‘From funds’’ the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(a) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND EVALUATION.—’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) CONTRACTS FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may enter 
into contracts with independent entities to perform 
the activities described in subsection (a)(1). 
‘‘(2) CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary en-
ters into such contracts, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(i) ensure that such contracts re-
quire the contracted entity to screen for 
conflicts of interest when hiring individuals 
to carry out the responsibilities under the 
contract; 
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‘‘(ii) ensure that such contracts re-
quire the contracted entity to include the 
requirement in clause (i) in any sub-
contracts such entity enters into to fulfill 
the responsibilities described in paragraph 
(1). 
‘‘(B) SCREENING
PROCESS.—The screen-
ing process described in subparagraph (A) 
shall— 
‘‘(i) include, at a minimum, a review 
of each individual performing duties under 
the contract or subcontract for connections 
to any State’s program under this subpart, 
potential financial interests in, or other 
connection to, products that might be pur-
chased by a State educational agency or 
local educational agency in the course of 
such agency’s implementation of the pro-
gram under this subpart, and connections 
to teaching methodologies that might re-
quire the use of specific products; and 
‘‘(ii) be designed to prevent, to the ex-
tent possible, bias or the appearance there-
of in the performance of the responsibil-
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ities outlined in the contract or sub-
contract. 
‘‘(3) INFORMATION
DISSEMINATION.—If the 
Secretary enters into such contracts, and if a con-
tracted entity enters into such subcontracts, those 
contracts and subcontracts shall require the tech-
nical assistance providers to clearly separate tech-
nical assistance provided under such contract or sub-
contract from information provided, or activities en-
gaged in, as part of the normal operations of the 
contractor or subcontractor. Efforts to comply with 
this paragraph may include, but are not limited to, 
the creation of separate web pages for the purpose 
of fulfilling a contract or subcontract entered into 
under this subsection.’’. 
SEC. 7. PROHIBITION ON FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. 
Subpart 1 of part B of title I of that Act is amended 
by adding after section 1208 (20 U.S.C. 6368) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SEC. 1209. PROHIBITION ON FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this subpart shall be 
construed to alter or lessen the prohibition contained in 
section 9527(b) of this Act or section 103(b) of the De-
partment of Education Organization Act (20 U.S.C. 
3403(b)). 
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‘‘(b) GUIDANCE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall develop 
guidance for Department employees responsible for 
the implementation of this subpart that will assist 
those employees in complying with the prohibitions 
included in subsection (a). 
‘‘(2) CONSULTATION.—Such guidance shall em-
phasize the importance of consultation with the Of-
fice of General Counsel of the Department on issues 
related to such prohibitions. 
‘‘(3) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—Such guidance 
shall stress that any information disseminated, or 
technical assistance provided, related to this subpart, 
shall represent multiple perspectives and not in any 
way endorse or appear to endorse any particular 
product or service that might be purchased by a 
State educational agency or local educational agency 
in the course of such agency’s implementation of the 
program under this subpart.’’. 
Æ 
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