(E) modernizing the Nation’s research in-
frastructure and establishing and maintaining 
cooperative international relationships with pre-
mier research institutions. 
(2) To increase overall workforce skills by— 
(A) improving the quality of STEM edu-
cation and tools provided both inside and out-
side of the classroom, including in kindergarten 
through grade 12; and 
(B) expanding STEM training opportuni-
ties at institutions of higher education. 
(3) To strengthen innovation by expanding the 
focus of competitiveness and innovation at the re-
gional and local level. 
SEC. 104. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) BOARD.—The term ‘‘Board’’ means the Na-
tional Science Board. 
(2) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the Foundation. 
(3) FOUNDATION.—The term ‘‘Foundation’’ 
means the National Science Foundation established 
under section 2 of the National Science Foundation 
Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861).
(4) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 101(a) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). 
(5) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means one of 
the several States, the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, 
Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or 
possession of the United States. 
(6) 
UNITED
STATES.—The 
term 
‘‘United 
States’’ means the several States, the District of Co-
lumbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Vir-
gin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Common-
wealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any 
other territory or possession of the United States. 
SEC. 105. ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) sustained, predictable Federal funding is es-
sential to United States leadership in science and 
technology; 
(2) building understanding of and confidence in 
investments in basic research are essential to public 
support for sustained, predictable Federal funding; 
and
(3) the Foundation should commit itself fully to 
transparency and accountability and to clear, con-
sistent public communication regarding the national 
interest for each Foundation-awarded grant and co-
operative agreement. 
SEC. 106. GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY IN FEDERAL FUND-
ING FOR RESEARCH. 
(a) STANDARD FOR AWARD OF GRANTS.—The Foun-
dation shall award Federal funding for basic research and 
education in the sciences through a new research grant 
or cooperative agreement only if an affirmative determina-
tion is made by the Foundation under subsection (b) and 
written justification relating thereto is published under 
subsection (c). 
(b) DETERMINATION.—A determination referred to 
in subsection (a) is a justification by the responsible Foun-
dation official as to how the research grant or cooperative 
agreement promotes the progress of science in the United 
States, consistent with the Foundation mission as estab-
lished in the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 
U.S.C. 1861 et seq.), and further— 
(1) is worthy of Federal funding; and 
(2) is in the national interest, as indicated by 
having the potential to achieve—
(A) increased economic competitiveness in 
the United States; 
(B) advancement of the health and welfare 
of the American public; 
(C) development of an American STEM 
workforce that is globally competitive; 
(D) increased public scientific literacy and 
public engagement with science and technology 
in the United States; 
(E) increased partnerships between aca-
demia and industry in the United States; 
(F) support for the national defense of the 
United States; or 
(G) promotion of the progress of science in 
the United States. 
(c) WRITTEN
JUSTIFICATION.—Public announce-
ment of each award of Federal funding described in sub-
section (a) shall include a written justification from the 
responsible Foundation official as to how a grant or coop-
erative agreement meets the requirements of subsection 
(b). 
(d) IMPLEMENTATION.—A determination under sub-
section (b) shall be made after a research grant or cooper-
ative agreement proposal has satisfied the Foundation’s 
reviews for Merit and Broader Impacts. Nothing in this
section shall be construed as altering the Foundation’s in-
tellectual merit or broader impacts criteria for evaluating 
grant applications. 
SEC. 107. OBLIGATION OF MAJOR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT 
AND FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION FUNDS. 
No funds may be obligated for a fiscal year for a con-
struction project for the Foundation that has not com-
menced before the date of enactment of this Act until 30 
days after the report required with respect to each such 
fiscal year under section 14(a)(2) of the National Science 
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n– 
4(a)(2)) is transmitted to the Congress. 
SEC. 108. MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT OF LARGE FA-
CILITIES. 
(a) LARGE FACILITIES OFFICE.—The Director shall 
maintain a Large Facilities Office within the Office of the 
Director. The functions of the Large Facilities Office shall 
be to support the research directorates in the development, 
implementation, and assessment of major multi-user re-
search facilities, including by— 
(1) serving as the Foundation’s primary re-
source for all policy or process issues related to the 
development and implementation of major multi-user 
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; 
(3) coordinating and collaborating with research 
directorates to share best management practices and 
lessons learned from prior projects; and 
(4) assessing projects during preconstruction 
and construction phases for cost and schedule risk. 
(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 multi-user research facilities. The duties of this 
official shall include— 
(1) oversight of the development, construction, 
and operation of major multi-user 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;
nologies to the needs of particular industrial 
sectors. 
‘‘(B) The quality of service to be provided. 
‘‘(C) Geographical diversity and extent of 
service area. 
‘‘(D) The percentage of funding and 
amount of in-kind commitment from other 
sources. 
‘‘(5) EVALUATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each Center that re-
ceives financial assistance under this section 
shall be evaluated during its third year of oper-
ation by an evaluation panel appointed by the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(B) COMPOSITION.—Each such evalua-
tion panel shall be composed of private experts, 
none of whom shall be connected with the in-
volved Center, and Federal officials. 
‘‘(C) CHAIR.—An official of the Institute 
shall chair the panel. 
‘‘(D) 
PERFORMANCE
MEASUREMENT.— 
Each evaluation panel shall measure the in-
volved Center’s performance against the objec-
tives specified in this section.
135 
‘‘(5) critical assessments of any ongoing pro-
grams that have experienced sub-par performance or 
cost over-runs of 10 percent or more over 1 or more 
years; 
‘‘(6) activities that may be more effectively left 
to the States, industry, nongovernmental organiza-
tions, institutions of higher education, or other 
stakeholders; and 
‘‘(7) detailed proposals for innovation hubs, in-
stitutes, and research centers prior to establishment 
or renewal by the Department, including— 
‘‘(A) certification that all hubs, institutes, 
and research centers will advance the mission of 
the Department, and prioritize research, devel-
opment, and demonstration; 
‘‘(B) certification that the establishment or 
renewal of hubs, institutes, or research centers 
will not diminish funds available for basic re-
search and development within the Office of 
Science; and 
‘‘(C) certification that all hubs, institutes, 
and research centers established or renewed 
within the Office of Science are consistent with 
the mission of the Office of Science as described