H. R. 2272—13 
(C) providing opportunities for archiving lessons in 
a database; and 
(D) providing opportunities for near-term retirees to 
transition out early from their primary assignment in order 
to document their career lessons learned and brief new 
employees prior to their separation from the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration; 
(2) provides incentives for retirees to return and teach 
new employees about their career lessons and experiences; and 
(3) provides for the development of an award to recognize 
and reward outstanding senior employees for their contribu-
tions to knowledge sharing. 
SEC. 2005. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING NASA’S UNDERGRADUATE 
STUDENT RESEARCH PROGRAM. 
It is the sense of Congress that in order to generate interest 
in careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
and to help train the next generation of space and aeronautical 
scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians the 
Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administra-
tion should utilize the existing Undergraduate Student Research 
Program of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
to support basic research projects on subjects of relevance to the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration that— 
(1) are to be carried out primarily by undergraduate stu-
dents; and 
(2) combine undergraduate research with other research 
supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administra-
tion. 
SEC. 2006. USE OF INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION NATIONAL LAB-
ORATORY TO SUPPORT MATH AND SCIENCE EDUCATION 
AND COMPETITIVENESS. 
(a) SENSE
OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that 
the International Space Station National Laboratory offers unique 
opportunities for educational activities and provides a unique 
resource for research and development in science, technology, and 
engineering, which can enhance the global competitiveness of the 
United States. 
(b) DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS.—The Adminis-
trator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall 
develop a detailed plan for implementation of 1 or more education 
projects that utilize the resources offered by the International Space 
Station. In developing any detailed plan according to this para-
graph, the Administrator shall make use of the findings and rec-
ommendations of the International Space Station National Labora-
tory Education Concept Development Task Force. 
(c) DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH PLANS FOR COMPETITIVENESS 
ENHANCEMENT.—The Administrator shall develop a detailed plan 
for identification and support of research to be conducted aboard 
the International Space Station, which offers the potential for 
enhancement of United States competitiveness in science, tech-
nology, and engineering. In developing any detailed plan pursuant 
to this subsection, the Administrator shall consult with agencies 
and entities with which cooperative agreements have been reached 
regarding utilization of International Space Station National Lab-
oratory facilities.
H. R. 2272—14 
TITLE III—NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF 
STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY 
SEC. 3001. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL RESEARCH AND SERVICES.— 
(1) LABORATORY ACTIVITIES.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce for the scientific 
and technical research and services laboratory activities of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology— 
(A) $502,100,000 for fiscal year 2008; 
(B) $541,900,000 for fiscal year 2009; and 
(C) $584,800,000 for fiscal year 2010. 
(2) CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE.—There are author-
ized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce for 
construction and maintenance of facilities of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology— 
(A) $150,900,000 for fiscal year 2008; 
(B) $86,400,000 for fiscal year 2009; and 
(C) $49,700,000 for fiscal year 2010. 
(b) INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY SERVICES.—There are authorized 
to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce for Industrial 
Technology Services activities of the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology— 
(1) $210,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, of which— 
(A) $100,000,000 shall be for the Technology Innovation 
Program under section 28 of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278n), of which 
at least $40,000,000 shall be for new awards; and 
(B) $110,000,000 shall be for the Manufacturing Exten-
sion Partnership program under sections 25 and 26 of 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act 
(15 U.S.C. 278k and 278l), of which not more than 
$1,000,000 shall be for the competitive grant program 
under section 25(f) of such Act; 
(2) $253,500,000 for fiscal year 2009, of which— 
(A) $131,500,000 shall be for the Technology Innovation 
Program under section 28 of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278n), of which 
at least $40,000,000 shall be for new awards; and 
(B) $122,000,000 shall be for the Manufacturing Exten-
sion Partnership Program under sections 25 and 26 of 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act 
(15 U.S.C. 278k and 278l), of which not more than 
$4,000,000 shall be for the competitive grant program 
under section 25(f) of such Act; and 
(3) $272,300,000 for fiscal year 2010, of which— 
(A) $140,500,000 shall be for the Technology Innovation 
Program under section 28 of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278n), of which 
at least $40,000,000 shall be for new awards; and 
(B) $131,800,000 shall be for the Manufacturing Exten-
sion Partnership Program under sections 25 and 26 of 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act 
(15 U.S.C. 278k and 278l), of which not more than 
$4,000,000 shall be for the competitive grant program 
under section 25(f) of such Act.
H. R. 2272—15 
SEC. 3002. AMENDMENTS TO THE STEVENSON-WYDLER TECHNOLOGY 
INNOVATION ACT OF 1980. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology 
Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3704) is amended— 
(1) by striking subsections (a) through (e); 
(2) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (a); 
(3) in subsection (a), as redesignated by paragraph (2)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘The Secretary, acting 
through the Under Secretary, shall establish for fiscal year 
1999’’ and inserting ‘‘Beginning in fiscal year 1999, the 
Secretary shall establish’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘, acting through the Under Secretary,’’ 
each place it appears; 
(C) by redesignating paragraph (6) as subsection (b); 
(D) by striking paragraph (7); and 
(E) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘EXPERI-
MENTAL
PROGRAM
TO
STIMULATE
COMPETITIVE
TECH-
NOLOGY’’ and inserting ‘‘PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT’’; 
(4) in subsection (b), as redesignated by paragraph (3)(C), 
by striking ‘‘this subsection’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (a)’’; 
and 
(5) in the section heading by striking ‘‘COMMERCE AND 
TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION’’ and inserting ‘‘EXPERIMENTAL 
PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE TECHNOLOGY’’. 
(b) CONSTRUCTION.—The amendments made by subsection (a) 
shall not be construed to eliminate the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology or the National Technical Information Service. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE.—Section 5314 of title 
5, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Under Secretary 
of Commerce for Technology.’’. 
(2) NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY.— 
The National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 
U.S.C. 271 et seq.) is amended— 
(A) in section 2 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 272)— 
(i) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘and, if appro-
priate, through other officials,’’; and 
(ii) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘and, if appro-
priate, through other appropriate officials,’’; and 
(B) in section 5 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 274), by striking 
‘‘The Director shall have the general’’ and inserting ‘‘The 
Director shall report directly to the Secretary and shall 
have the general’’. 
(3) DEFINITIONS.—Section 4 of the Stevenson-Wydler Tech-
nology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3703) is amended— 
(A) by striking paragraphs (1) and (3); and 
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (13) as 
paragraphs (1) through (11), respectively. 
(4) FUNCTIONS OF SECRETARY.—Section 11(g)(1) of such Act 
(15 U.S.C. 3710(g)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘through the 
Under Secretary, and’’. 
(5) REPEAL OF AUTHORIZATION.—Section 21(a) of such Act 
(15 U.S.C. 3713(a)) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘sections 5, 11(g), 
and 16’’ and inserting ‘‘sections 11(g) and 16’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘$500,000 is author-
ized only for the purpose of carrying out the requirements
H. R. 2272—16 
of the Japanese technical literature program established 
under section 5(d) of this Act;’’. 
(6) HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING ACT OF 1991.—Section 
208 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 
5528) is amended by striking subsection (c) and redesignating 
subsection (d) as subsection (c). 
(7) 
ASSISTIVE
TECHNOLOGY
ACT
OF
1998.—Section 
6(b)(4)(B)(v) of the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 
3005(b)(4)(B)(v)) is amended by striking ‘‘the Technology 
Administration of the Department of Commerce,’’ and inserting 
‘‘the National Institute of Standards and Technology,’’. 
SEC. 3003. MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP. 
(a) CLARIFICATION OF ELIGIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS IN CONNECTION 
WITH REGIONAL CENTERS RESPONSIBLE
FOR IMPLEMENTING
THE 
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM.—Paragraph (3) of section 25(c) of 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 
278k(c)(3)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(3)(A) Any nonprofit institution, or group thereof, or consortia 
of nonprofit institutions, including entities existing on August 23, 
1988, may submit to the Secretary an application for financial 
support under this subsection, in accordance with the procedures 
established by the Secretary and published in the Federal Register 
under paragraph (2). 
‘‘(B) In order to receive assistance under this section, an 
applicant for financial assistance under subparagraph (A) shall 
provide adequate assurances that non-Federal assets obtained from 
the applicant and the applicant’s partnering organizations will be 
used as a funding source to meet not less than 50 percent of 
the costs incurred for the first 3 years and an increasing share 
for each of the last 3 years. For purposes of the preceding sentence, 
the costs incurred means the costs incurred in connection with 
the activities undertaken to improve the management, productivity, 
and technological performance of small- and medium-sized manufac-
turing companies. 
‘‘(C) In meeting the 50 percent requirement, it is anticipated 
that a Center will enter into agreements with other entities such 
as private industry, universities, and State governments to accom-
plish programmatic objectives and access new and existing resources 
that will further the impact of the Federal investment made on 
behalf of small- and medium-sized manufacturing companies. All 
non-Federal costs, contributed by such entities and determined 
by a Center as programmatically reasonable and allocable under 
MEP program procedures are includable as a portion of the Center’s 
contribution. 
‘‘(D) Each applicant under subparagraph (A) shall also submit 
a proposal for the allocation of the legal rights associated with 
any invention which may result from the proposed Center’s activi-
ties.’’. 
(b) MANUFACTURING CENTER EVALUATION.—Paragraph (5) of 
section 25(c) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(c)(5)) is amended by inserting ‘‘A Center that 
has not received a positive evaluation by the evaluation panel 
shall be notified by the panel of the deficiencies in its performance 
and shall be placed on probation for one year, after which time 
the panel shall reevaluate the Center. If the Center has not
H. R. 2272—17 
addressed the deficiencies identified by the panel, or shown a signifi-
cant improvement in its performance, the Director shall conduct 
a new competition to select an operator for the Center or may 
close the Center.’’ after ‘‘at declining levels.’’. 
(c) FEDERAL SHARE.—Section 25 of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) is amended by 
striking subsection (d) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(d) ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to such sums as may be 
appropriated to the Secretary and Director to operate the Cen-
ters program, the Secretary and Director also may accept funds 
from other Federal departments and agencies and under section 
2(c)(7) from the private sector for the purpose of strengthening 
United States manufacturing. 
‘‘(2) ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(A) FUNDS ACCEPTED FROM OTHER FEDERAL DEPART-
MENTS
OR
AGENCIES.—The Director shall determine 
whether funds accepted from other Federal departments 
or agencies shall be counted in the calculation of the Fed-
eral share of capital and annual operating and maintenance 
costs under subsection (c). 
‘‘(B) FUNDS ACCEPTED FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR.— 
Funds accepted from the private sector under section 
2(c)(7), if allocated to a Center, shall not be considered 
in the calculation of the Federal share under subsection 
(c) of this section.’’. 
(d) MEP ADVISORY BOARD.—Such section 25 is further amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) MEP ADVISORY BOARD.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within the 
Institute a Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory 
Board (in this subsection referred to as the ‘MEP Advisory 
Board’). 
‘‘(2) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The MEP Advisory Board shall con-
sist of 10 members broadly representative of stakeholders, 
to be appointed by the Director. At least 2 members shall 
be employed by or on an advisory board for the Centers, 
and at least 5 other members shall be from United States 
small businesses in the manufacturing sector. No member 
shall be an employee of the Federal Government. 
‘‘(B) TERM.—Except as provided in subparagraph (C) 
or (D), the term of office of each member of the MEP 
Advisory Board shall be 3 years. 
‘‘(C) CLASSES.—The original members of the MEP 
Advisory Board shall be appointed to 3 classes. One class 
of 3 members shall have an initial term of 1 year, one 
class of 3 members shall have an initial term of 2 years, 
and one class of 4 members shall have an initial term 
of 3 years. 
‘‘(D) VACANCIES.—Any member appointed to fill a 
vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for 
which his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed 
for the remainder of such term. 
‘‘(E) SERVING CONSECUTIVE TERMS.—Any person who 
has completed two consecutive full terms of service on 
the MEP Advisory Board shall thereafter be ineligible for
H. R. 2272—18 
appointment during the one-year period following the 
expiration of the second such term. 
‘‘(3) MEETINGS.—The MEP Advisory Board shall meet not 
less than 2 times annually, and provide to the Director— 
‘‘(A) advice on Manufacturing Extension Partnership 
programs, plans, and policies; 
‘‘(B) assessments of the soundness of Manufacturing 
Extension Partnership plans and strategies; and 
‘‘(C) assessments of current performance against Manu-
facturing Extension Partnership program plans. 
‘‘(4) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.—In discharging 
its duties under this subsection, the MEP Advisory Board shall 
function solely in an advisory capacity, in accordance with 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act. 
‘‘(5) REPORT.—The MEP Advisory Board shall transmit an 
annual report to the Secretary for transmittal to Congress 
within 30 days after the submission to Congress of the Presi-
dent’s annual budget request in each year. Such report shall 
address the status of the program established pursuant to 
this section and comment on the relevant sections of the pro-
grammatic planning document and updates thereto transmitted 
to Congress by the Director under subsections (c) and (d) of 
section 23.’’. 
(e) MANUFACTURING EXTENSION CENTER COMPETITIVE GRANT 
PROGRAM.—Such section 25 is further amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(f) COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director shall establish, within 
the Centers program under this section and section 26 of this 
Act, a program of competitive awards among participants 
described in paragraph (2) for the purposes described in para-
graph (3). 
‘‘(2) PARTICIPANTS.—Participants receiving awards under 
this subsection shall be the Centers, or a consortium of such 
Centers. 
‘‘(3) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the program under this 
subsection is to develop projects to solve new or emerging 
manufacturing problems as determined by the Director, in con-
sultation with the Director of the Centers program, the Manu-
facturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board, and small 
and medium-sized manufacturers. One or more themes for the 
competition may be identified, which may vary from year to 
year, depending on the needs of manufacturers and the success 
of previous competitions. These themes shall be related to 
projects associated with manufacturing extension activities, 
including supply chain integration and quality management, 
and including the transfer of technology based on the techno-
logical needs of manufacturers and available technologies from 
institutions of higher education, laboratories, and other tech-
nology producing entities, or extend beyond these traditional 
areas. 
‘‘(4) APPLICATIONS.—Applications for awards under this 
subsection shall be submitted in such manner, at such time, 
and containing such information as the Director shall require, 
in consultation with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership 
Advisory Board.
H. R. 2272—19 
‘‘(5) SELECTION.—Awards under this subsection shall be 
peer reviewed and competitively awarded. The Director shall 
select proposals to receive awards— 
‘‘(A) that utilize innovative or collaborative approaches 
to solving the problem described in the competition; 
‘‘(B) that will improve the competitiveness of industries 
in the region in which the Center or Centers are located; 
and 
‘‘(C) that will contribute to the long-term economic 
stability of that region. 
‘‘(6) PROGRAM CONTRIBUTION.—Recipients of awards under 
this subsection shall not be required to provide a matching 
contribution.’’. 
SEC. 3004. INSTITUTE-WIDE PLANNING REPORT. 
Section 23 of the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology Act (15 U.S.C. 278i) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(c) THREE-YEAR
PROGRAMMATIC
PLANNING
DOCUMENT.— 
Concurrent with the submission to Congress of the President’s 
annual budget request in the first year after the date of enactment 
of this subsection, the Director shall submit to Congress a 3-year 
programmatic planning document for the Institute, including pro-
grams under the Scientific and Technical Research and Services, 
Industrial Technology Services, and Construction of Research Facili-
ties functions. 
‘‘(d) ANNUAL UPDATE ON THREE-YEAR PROGRAMMATIC PLANNING 
DOCUMENT.—Concurrent with the submission to the Congress of 
the President’s annual budget request in each year after the date 
of enactment of this subsection, the Director shall submit to Con-
gress an update to the 3-year programmatic planning document 
submitted under subsection (c), revised to cover the first 3 fiscal 
years after the date of that update.’’. 
SEC. 3005. REPORT BY VISITING COMMITTEE. 
Section 10(h)(1) of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278(h)(1)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘on or before January 31 in each year’’ 
and inserting ‘‘not later than 30 days after the submittal to 
Congress of the President’s annual budget request in each 
year’’; and 
(2) by adding to the end the following: ‘‘Such report also 
shall comment on the programmatic planning document and 
updates thereto submitted to Congress by the Director under 
subsections (c) and (d) of section 23.’’. 
SEC. 3006. MEETINGS OF VISITING COMMITTEE ON ADVANCED TECH-
NOLOGY. 
Section 10(d) of the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology Act (15 U.S.C. 278(d)) is amended by striking ‘‘quarterly’’ 
and inserting ‘‘twice each year’’. 
SEC. 3007. COLLABORATIVE MANUFACTURING RESEARCH PILOT 
GRANTS. 
The National Institute of Standards and Technology Act is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating the first section 32 (15 U.S.C. 271 
note) as section 34 and moving it to the end of the Act; and
H. R. 2272—20 
(2) by inserting before the section moved by paragraph 
(1) the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 
33. 
COLLABORATIVE 
MANUFACTURING 
RESEARCH 
PILOT 
GRANTS. 
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director shall establish a pilot 
program of awards to partnerships among participants 
described in paragraph (2) for the purposes described in para-
graph (3). Awards shall be made on a peer-reviewed, competi-
tive basis. 
‘‘(2) PARTICIPANTS.—Such partnerships shall include at 
least— 
‘‘(A) 1 manufacturing industry partner; and 
‘‘(B) 1 nonindustry partner. 
‘‘(3) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the program under this 
section is to foster cost-shared collaborations among firms, edu-
cational institutions, research institutions, State agencies, and 
nonprofit organizations to encourage the development of innova-
tive, multidisciplinary manufacturing technologies. Partner-
ships receiving awards under this section shall conduct applied 
research to develop new manufacturing processes, techniques, 
or materials that would contribute to improved performance, 
productivity, and competitiveness of United States manufac-
turing, and build lasting alliances among collaborators. 
‘‘(b) PROGRAM CONTRIBUTION.—Awards under this section shall 
provide for not more than one-third of the costs of a partnership. 
Not more than an additional one-third of such costs may be obtained 
directly or indirectly from other Federal sources. 
‘‘(c) APPLICATIONS.—Applications for awards under this section 
shall be submitted in such manner, at such time, and containing 
such information as the Director shall require. Such applications 
shall describe at a minimum— 
‘‘(1) how each partner will participate in developing and 
carrying out the research agenda of the partnership; 
‘‘(2) the research that the grant would fund; and 
‘‘(3) how the research to be funded with the award would 
contribute to improved performance, productivity, and competi-
tiveness of the United States manufacturing industry. 
‘‘(d) SELECTION CRITERIA.—In selecting applications for awards 
under this section, the Director shall consider at a minimum— 
‘‘(1) the degree to which projects will have a broad impact 
on manufacturing; 
‘‘(2) the novelty and scientific and technical merit of the 
proposed projects; and 
‘‘(3) the demonstrated capabilities of the applicants to 
successfully carry out the proposed research. 
‘‘(e) DISTRIBUTION.—In selecting applications under this section 
the Director shall ensure, to the extent practicable, a distribution 
of overall awards among a variety of manufacturing industry sectors 
and a range of firm sizes. 
‘‘(f) DURATION.—In carrying out this section, the Director shall 
run a single pilot competition to solicit and make awards. Each 
award shall be for a 3-year period.’’. 
SEC. 3008. MANUFACTURING FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. 
Section 18 of the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology Act (15 U.S.C. 278g–1) is amended—
H. R. 2272—21 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’ before ‘‘The Director 
is authorized’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(b) MANUFACTURING FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—To promote the development of a 
robust research community working at the leading edge of 
manufacturing sciences, the Director shall establish a program 
to award— 
‘‘(A) postdoctoral research fellowships at the Institute 
for research activities related to manufacturing sciences; 
and 
‘‘(B) 
senior 
research 
fellowships 
to 
established 
researchers in industry or at institutions of higher edu-
cation who wish to pursue studies related to the manufac-
turing sciences at the Institute. 
‘‘(2) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible for an award under this 
subsection, an individual shall submit an application to the 
Director at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Director may require. 
‘‘(3) STIPEND LEVELS.—Under this subsection, the Director 
shall provide stipends for postdoctoral research fellowships at 
a level consistent with the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program, and 
senior research fellowships at levels consistent with support 
for a faculty member in a sabbatical position.’’. 
SEC. 3009. PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMITTENT SERV-
ICES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology may procure the temporary or intermit-
tent services of experts or consultants (or organizations thereof) 
in accordance with section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, 
to assist with urgent or short-term research projects. 
(b) EXTENT OF AUTHORITY.—A procurement under this section 
may not exceed 1 year in duration, and the Director shall procure 
no more than 200 experts and consultants per year. 
(c) SUNSET.—This section shall cease to be effective after Sep-
tember 30, 2010. 
(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
submit to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate a report on whether additional safe-
guards would be needed with respect to the use of authorities 
granted under this section if such authorities were to be made 
permanent. 
SEC. 3010. MALCOLM BALDRIGE AWARDS. 
Section 17(c)(3) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation 
Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3711a(c)(3)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(3) In any year, not more than 18 awards may be made 
under this section to recipients who have not previously received 
an award under this section, and no award shall be made within 
any category described in paragraph (1) if there are no qualifying 
enterprises in that category.’’.