‘‘(3) identify areas where the Commission 
should adapt its administration of this Act in light 
of emerging technologies, technological advances, 
and innovations to benefit the markets under the ju-
risdiction of the Commission; and 
‘‘(4) develop educational and other informa-
tional materials for dissemination and use among 
producers, market-users, and the general public re-
garding— 
‘‘(A) the activities, products, entities, and 
markets regulated under or subject to the re-
quirements of this Act; 
‘‘(B) emerging technologies, technological 
advances, and innovations in commodity or fi-
nancial markets; and 
‘‘(C) applicable requirements of this Act 
and the regulations prescribed under this Act 
with regard to the subjects described in sub-
paragraphs (A) and (B). 
‘‘(b) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may, by 
rule or by order, adopt a research and development 
plan for a program established under subsection (a). 
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‘‘(2) CONDITIONS.—A research and develop-
ment plan adopted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall 
identify— 
‘‘(A) specific areas of interest to the Com-
mission; 
‘‘(B) potential activities the Commission 
will undertake to investigate an area of interest; 
and 
‘‘(C) the means by which the authority de-
scribed in subsection (c) will be used in the ap-
plicable program established under subsection 
(a). 
‘‘(c) OTHER TRANSACTION AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding the Office 
of Federal Procurement Policy Act of 1974 and the 
Competition in Contracting Act, the Commission 
may enter into a transaction (other than a contract) 
for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the pro-
grams and activities under subsection (a). 
‘‘(2) CONDITIONS.—The Commission may enter 
into a transaction under this subsection only if— 
‘‘(A) the transaction is used only in fur-
therance of a research and development plan es-
tablished under subsection (b); 
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‘‘(B) the Commission endeavored to use a 
competitive process, where appropriate, when 
determining the parties to the transaction; and 
‘‘(C) using a contract to do so is either not 
feasible or not appropriate. 
‘‘(3) POLICIES.—The Commission shall estab-
lish and publish written policies setting forth the 
manner and criteria for utilizing the authority pro-
vided by this subsection. 
‘‘(d) ACCEPTANCE OF NON-MONETARY CONTRIBU-
TIONS FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, 
PROJECTS, AND ACTIVITIES.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORIZATION.—The Commission may 
accept and use, on behalf of the United States and 
in accordance with this subsection, any covered non- 
monetary contribution. 
‘‘(2) CONDITIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A covered non-mone-
tary contribution may be accepted pursuant to 
this subsection only if it is in furtherance of a 
research and development plan adopted under 
subsection (b). 
‘‘(B) LIMITATIONS ON SOLICITATION AND 
ACCEPTANCE.—The Commission (including any 
Commissioner, employee, or contractor) may 
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not solicit or accept a covered non-monetary 
contribution if— 
‘‘(i) conditions inconsistent with appli-
cable laws or regulations apply to the cov-
ered non-monetary contribution; 
‘‘(ii) the covered non-monetary con-
tribution is conditioned on, or will require, 
the expenditure of appropriated funds not 
available to the Commission; 
‘‘(iii) using a contract or other trans-
action authority under subsection (c) to ac-
quire the covered non-monetary contribu-
tion is either feasible or appropriate; or 
‘‘(iv) the solicitation or acceptance of 
the covered non-monetary contribution 
would— 
‘‘(I) reflect unfavorably on the 
ability of the Commission to carry out 
its responsibilities or official duties in 
a fair and objective manner, or com-
promise the integrity or the appear-
ance of the integrity of its programs 
or any official involved in its pro-
grams; or 
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‘‘(II) give the endorsement or the 
appearance of the endorsement by the 
Commission or Commission staff of 
the products, services, activities, or 
policies of the person providing the 
covered non-monetary contribution. 
‘‘(C) DURATION.—To the extent applica-
ble, the Commission shall return any covered 
non-monetary contribution accepted pursuant to 
this subsection as soon as practicable after the 
purpose for accepting the covered non-monetary 
contribution has been met. 
‘‘(D) REQUIREMENTS.—The Commission 
shall, by rule or by order, establish and publish 
written requirements setting forth the manner 
and criteria to be used in determining whether 
a covered non-monetary contribution meets the 
conditions of this paragraph. 
‘‘(3) DISCLOSURE.—Within 14 days of agreeing 
to accept a covered non-monetary contribution pur-
suant to this subsection, the Commission shall pro-
vide notice and details of such agreement to the 
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nu-
trition, and Forestry of the Senate. 
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‘‘(4) DEFINITION OF COVERED NON-MONETARY 
CONTRIBUTION.—In this subsection, the term ‘cov-
ered non-monetary contribution’ means a non-mone-
tary contribution of provision of access, use of facili-
ties, personal property, or services that is related 
to— 
‘‘(A) sharing of research, data, or other in-
formation; 
‘‘(B) public presentations; or 
‘‘(C) noncommercially available services or 
systems. 
‘‘(5) SUNSET.—The authority provided in this 
subsection may not be exercised on or after October 
1, 2031. 
‘‘(e) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after 
the end of each fiscal year, the Commission shall submit 
to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 
of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the 
House of Representatives a report on all transactions en-
tered into under subsection (c) and all covered non-mone-
tary contributions accepted under subsection (d) in the fis-
cal year, which shall include the following: 
‘‘(1) A brief description of the subject of each 
such transaction or covered non-monetary contribu-
tion, with an explanation of— 
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