(A) encourage collaboration and commu-
nication among the member qualifying entities 
of the consortium and awardees by conducting 
activities whenever practicable at one central-
ized location; 
(B) develop and publish on the website of 
the Department or Departments of the desig-
nating Secretary proposed plans and programs; 
(C) submit an annual report to the Sec-
retary summarizing the Center’s activities, in-
cluding detailing organizational expenditures 
and describing each project undertaken by the 
Center; and 
(D) monitor project implementation and 
coordination. 
(2) CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.— 
(A) PROCEDURES.—Centers shall establish 
conflict of interest procedures, consistent with 
those of the Department or Departments of the 
designating Secretary, to ensure that employees 
and consortia designees for Center activities 
who are in decisionmaking capacities disclose all 
material conflicts of interest, including finan-
cial, organizational, and personal conflicts of in-
terest. 
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(B) 
DISQUALIFICATION
AND
REVOCA-
TION.—The Secretary may disqualify an appli-
cation or revoke funds distributed to a Center 
if the Secretary discovers a failure to comply 
with conflict of interest procedures established 
under subparagraph (A). 
(e) OVERSIGHT BOARD.—Each Secretary described 
in subsection (a)(1) shall establish and maintain within 
its Department an Oversight Board to oversee the 
progress of Centers. 
(f) PRIORITY CONSIDERATION.—The Secretary shall 
give priority consideration to applications in which 1 or 
more of the institutions comprising the applicant consor-
tium are 1890 Land Grant Institutions (as defined in sec-
tion 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Edu-
cation Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7061)), Predomi-
nantly Black Institutions (as defined in section 318 of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059e)), Tribal 
Colleges or Universities (as defined in section 316(b) of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)), 
or Hispanic Serving Institutions (as defined in section 318 
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059e)). 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section: 
(1) ADVANCED COMPOSITES.—The term ‘‘ad-
vanced composites’’ means polymer matrix composite 
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materials, including synthetic and natural fibers, as 
well as synthetic and bio-based resins, used in struc-
tural, load-bearing applications. These materials 
may be enhanced with nano-additives, and may be 
used in combination with traditional and other ad-
vanced materials. 
(2) CENTER.—The term ‘‘Center’’ means an 
Advanced Composites Development Center estab-
lished in accordance with this section. 
(3) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 101(a) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). 
(4) PRIME APPLICANT.—The term ‘‘prime ap-
plicant’’ means an institution of higher education 
serving as the lead entity applying for a grant under 
this section. 
(5) QUALIFYING
ENTITY.—The term ‘‘quali-
fying entity’’ includes— 
(A) an appropriate State or Federal entity; 
(B) a nonprofit nongovernmental organiza-
tion with expertise in advanced composites tech-
nology research, development, demonstration, or 
commercial application; 
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(C) any other relevant entity the Secretary 
considers appropriate; or 
(D) a United States private company with 
expertise in advanced composites technology re-
search, development, demonstration, or com-
mercial application. 
(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary or Secretaries designating a Center 
under subsection (a)(2). 
(h) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to each of the Secre-
taries described in subsection (a)(1) to carry out this sec-
tion— 
(1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2012; 
(2) $16,000,000 for fiscal year 2013; 
(3) $17,500,000 for fiscal year 2014; 
(4) $19,000,000 for fiscal year 2015; and 
(5) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2016. 
Æ 
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