106 
(6) in areas such as economics, education, cy-
bersecurity, transportation, and national defense, 
supporting informed decisionmaking in foreign and 
domestic policy. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that in order to achieve its mission ‘‘to promote the 
progress of science; to advance the national health, pros-
perity, and welfare; to secure the national defense’’ the 
Foundation must continue to support unfettered, competi-
tive, merit-reviewed basic research across all fields of 
science and engineering, including the social, behavioral, 
and economic sciences. 
SEC. 303. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION MERIT REVIEW. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) the Foundation’s Intellectual Merit and 
Broader Impacts criteria remain appropriate for 
evaluating grant proposals, as concluded by the 
2011 National Science Board Task Force on Merit 
Review; 
(2) evaluating proposals on the basis of the 
Foundation’s Intellectual Merit and Broader Im-
pacts criteria ensures that— 
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(A) proposals funded by the Foundation 
are of high quality and advance scientific 
knowledge; and 
(B) the Foundation’s overall funding port-
folio addresses societal needs through research 
findings or through related activities; and 
(3) as evidenced by the Foundation’s contribu-
tions to scientific advancement, economic develop-
ment, human health, and national security, its peer 
review and merit review processes have successfully 
identified and funded scientifically and societally rel-
evant research, remain the gold standard for the 
world, and must be preserved. 
(b) CRITERIA.—The Foundation shall maintain the 
Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts criteria as the 
basis for evaluating grant proposals in the merit review 
process. 
SEC. 304. MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT OF LARGE FA-
CILITIES. 
(a) LARGE FACILITIES OFFICE.—The Director shall 
maintain a Large Facilities Office within the Foundation. 
The functions of the Large Facilities Office shall be to 
support the research directorates in the development and 
implementation of major research facilities, including by— 
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(1) serving as the Foundation’s primary re-
source for all policy or process issues related to the 
development and implementation of major research 
facilities; 
(2) serving as a Foundation-wide resource on 
project management, including providing expert as-
sistance on nonscientific and nontechnical aspects of 
project planning, budgeting, implementation, man-
agement, and oversight; and 
(3) coordinating and collaborating with research 
directorates to share best management practices and 
lessons learned from prior projects. 
(b) OVERSIGHT OF LARGE FACILITIES.—The Direc-
tor shall appoint a senior agency official within the Office 
of the Director whose primary responsibility is oversight 
of major research facilities. The duties of this official shall 
include— 
(1) oversight of the development, construction, 
and operation of major research facilities across the 
Foundation; 
(2) in collaboration with the directors of the re-
search directorates and other senior agency officials 
as appropriate, ensuring that the requirements of 
section 14(a) of the National Science Foundation 
Authorization Act of 2002 are satisfied; 
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