150 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In discharging its du-
ties under this subsection, the MEP Advisory 
Board shall function solely in an advisory ca-
pacity, in accordance with the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act. 
‘‘(B) EXCEPTION.—Section 14 of the Fed-
eral Advisory Committee Act shall not apply to 
the MEP Advisory Board. 
‘‘(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 President’s annual 
budget request in each year. Such report shall ad-
dress the status of the program established pursuant 
to this section and comment on the relevant sections 
of the programmatic planning document and updates 
thereto transmitted to Congress by the Director 
under subsections (c) and (d) of section 23. 
‘‘(g) COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director shall es-
tablish, within the Hollings Manufacturing Exten-
sion Partnership, a program of competitive awards 
among participants described in paragraph (2) for 
the purposes described in paragraph (3). 
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‘‘(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 add capabilities to the 
Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, in-
cluding the development of projects to solve new or 
emerging manufacturing problems as determined by 
the Director, in consultation with the Director of the 
Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the 
MEP Advisory Board, and small- and medium-sized 
manufacturers. 
‘‘(4) THEMES.—One or more themes for the 
competition may be identified, which may vary from 
year to year, depending on the needs of manufactur-
ers and the success of previous competitions. These 
themes may include— 
‘‘(A) supply chain integration and quality 
management; 
‘‘(B) the creation of partnerships to en-
courage the development of a workforce with 
the skills necessary to meet the needs of a re-
gion, including the creation of apprenticeship 
opportunities and the adoption of universally 
recognized credential programs, as appropriate; 
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‘‘(C) energy efficiency, including efficient 
building 
technologies 
and 
environmentally 
friendly materials, products, and processes; 
‘‘(D) enhancing the competitiveness of 
small- and medium-sized manufacturers in the 
global marketplace; 
‘‘(E) the transfer of technology based on 
the technological needs of manufacturers and 
available technologies from institutions of high-
er education, laboratories, and other technology 
producing entities; and 
‘‘(F) areas that extend beyond traditional 
areas of manufacturing extension activities, in-
cluding projects related to construction industry 
modernization. 
‘‘(5) REIMBURSEMENT.—Centers may be reim-
bursed for costs incurred under the program under 
this subsection. 
‘‘(6) APPLICATIONS.—Applications for awards 
under this subsection shall be submitted in such 
manner, at such time, and containing such informa-
tion as the Director shall require, in consultation 
with the MEP Advisory Board. 
‘‘(7) SELECTION.—Awards under this sub-
section shall be peer reviewed and competitively 
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awarded. The Director shall endeavor to have broad 
geographic diversity among selected proposals. The 
Director shall select proposals to receive awards that 
will— 
‘‘(A) utilize innovative or collaborative ap-
proaches to solving the problem described in the 
competition; 
‘‘(B) improve the competitiveness of indus-
tries in the region in which the Center or Cen-
ters are located; and 
‘‘(C) contribute to the long-term economic 
stability of that region, including the creation of 
jobs or training employees. 
‘‘(8) PROGRAM CONTRIBUTION.—Recipients of 
awards under this subsection shall not be required 
to provide a matching contribution. 
‘‘(9) DURATION.—Awards under this subsection 
shall last no longer than 5 years. 
‘‘(h) INNOVATIVE SERVICES INITIATIVE.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director, in co-
ordination with the Advanced Manufacturing Office 
of the Department of Energy, shall establish, within 
the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, 
an innovative services initiative to assist small- and 
medium-sized manufacturers in— 
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