‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—With respect to the 
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the 
Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the 
Sandia National Laboratories, the term ‘Na-
tional Laboratory’ means only the civilian ac-
tivities of the laboratory. 
‘‘(5) NEUTRON FLUX.—The term ‘neutron flux’ 
means the intensity of neutron radiation measured 
as a rate of flow of neutrons applied over an area. 
‘‘(6) NEUTRON
SOURCE.—The term ‘neutron 
source’ means a research machine that provides neu-
tron irradiation services for— 
‘‘(A) research on materials sciences and 
nuclear physics; and 
‘‘(B) testing of advanced materials, nuclear 
fuels, and other related components for reactor 
systems.’’. 
(b) NUCLEAR ENERGY RESEARCH PROGRAMS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 952 of the Energy 
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16272) is amended— 
(A) by striking subsection (c); and 
(B) by redesignating subsections (d) and 
(e) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively. 
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
641(b)(1) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
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U.S.C. 16021(b)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘section 
942(d)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 952(c)’’. 
(c) ADVANCED FUEL CYCLE INITIATIVE.—Section 
953(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
16273(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘, acting through the 
Director of the Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and 
Technology,’’. 
(d) UNIVERSITY NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ENGINEER-
ING SUPPORT.—Section 954(d)(4) of the Energy Policy 
Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16274(d)(4)) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘as part of a taking into consideration effort that em-
phasizes’’ and inserting ‘‘that emphasize’’. 
(e) DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY CIVILIAN NUCLEAR 
INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES.—Section 955 of the 
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16275) is amend-
ed— 
(1) by striking subsections (c) and (d); and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) VERSATILE NEUTRON SOURCE.— 
‘‘(1) MISSION NEED.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than De-
cember 31, 2017, the Secretary shall determine 
the mission need for a versatile reactor-based 
fast neutron source, which shall operate as a 
national user facility. 
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‘‘(B) CONSULTATIONS REQUIRED.—In car-
rying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall 
consult with the private sector, institutions of 
higher education, the National Laboratories, 
and relevant Federal agencies to ensure that 
the user facility described in subparagraph (A) 
will meet the research needs of the largest prac-
ticable majority of prospective users. 
‘‘(2) ESTABLISHMENT.—As soon as practicable 
after determining the mission need under paragraph 
(1)(A), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a detailed plan for the es-
tablishment of the user facility. 
‘‘(3) FACILITY REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) CAPABILITIES.—The Secretary shall 
ensure that the user facility will provide, at a 
minimum, the following capabilities: 
‘‘(i) Fast neutron spectrum irradia-
tion capability. 
‘‘(ii) Capacity for upgrades to accom-
modate new or expanded research needs. 
‘‘(B) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out 
the plan submitted under paragraph (2), the 
Secretary shall consider the following: 
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‘‘(i) Capabilities that support experi-
mental high-temperature testing. 
‘‘(ii) Providing a source of fast neu-
trons at a neutron flux, higher than that 
at which current research facilities operate, 
sufficient to enable research for an optimal 
base of prospective users. 
‘‘(iii) Maximizing irradiation flexibility 
and irradiation volume to accommodate as 
many concurrent users as possible. 
‘‘(iv) Capabilities for irradiation with 
neutrons of a lower energy spectrum. 
‘‘(v) Multiple loops for fuels and ma-
terials testing in different coolants. 
‘‘(vi) Additional pre-irradiation and 
post-irradiation examination capabilities. 
‘‘(vii) Lifetime operating costs and 
lifecycle costs. 
‘‘(4) DEADLINE
FOR
ESTABLISHMENT.—The 
Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, 
complete construction of, and approve the start of 
operations for, the user facility by not later than De-
cember 31, 2025. 
‘‘(5) REPORTING.—The Secretary shall include 
in the annual budget request of the Department an 
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explanation for any delay in the progress of the De-
partment in completing the user facility by the dead-
line described in paragraph (4). 
‘‘(6) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall le-
verage the best practices for management, construc-
tion, and operation of national user facilities from 
the Office of Science.’’. 
(f) SECURITY
OF NUCLEAR FACILITIES.—Section 
956 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16276) 
is amended by striking ‘‘, acting through the Director of 
the Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology,’’. 
(g) HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTATION AND SUP-
PORTIVE RESEARCH.—Section 957 of the Energy Policy 
Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16277) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘SEC. 957. HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTATION AND SUP-
PORTIVE RESEARCH. 
‘‘(a) MODELING AND SIMULATION.—The Secretary 
shall carry out a program to enhance the capabilities of 
the United States to develop new reactor technologies 
through high-performance computation modeling and sim-
ulation techniques. 
‘‘(b) COORDINATION.—In carrying out the program 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall coordinate with 
relevant Federal agencies as described by the National 
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