carry out a program of cash prizes only in conformity with 
this section. 
(b) TOPICS.—In identifying topics for prize competi-
tions under this section, the Director shall— 
(1) consult widely both within and outside the 
Federal Government; 
(2) give priority to high-risk, high-reward re-
search challenges and to problems whose solution 
could improve the economic competitiveness of the 
United States; and 
(3) give consideration to the extent to which the 
topics have the potential to raise public awareness 
about federally sponsored research. 
(c) TYPES OF CONTESTS.—The Director shall con-
sider all categories of innovation inducement prizes, in-
cluding— 
(1) contests in which the award is to the first 
team or individual who accomplishes a stated objec-
tive; and 
(2) contests in which the winner is the team or 
individual who comes closest to achieving an objec-
tive within a specified time. 
(d) ADVERTISING AND ANNOUNCEMENT.— 
(1) ADVERTISING AND SOLICITATION OF COM-
PETITORS.—The Director shall widely advertise 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
03:17 Apr 22, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5094.IH
H5094
jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS
prize competitions to encourage broad participation, 
including by individuals, institutions of higher edu-
cation, nonprofit organizations, and businesses. 
(2) ANNOUNCEMENT THROUGH FEDERAL REG-
ISTER NOTICE.—The Director shall announce each 
prize competition by publishing a notice in the Fed-
eral Register. This notice shall include the subject of 
the competition, the duration of the competition, the 
eligibility requirements for participation in the com-
petition, the process for participants to register for 
the competition, the amount of the prize, and the 
criteria for awarding the prize, including the method 
by which the prize winner or winners will be se-
lected. 
(3) TIME TO ANNOUNCEMENT.—The Director 
shall announce a prize competition within 18 months 
after receipt of appropriated funds. 
(e) FUNDING.— 
(1) FUNDING SOURCES.—Prizes under this Act 
shall consist of Federal appropriated funds and any 
funds raised pursuant to donations authorized under 
section 11(f) of the National Science Foundation 
Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1870(f)) for specific prize 
competitions. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
03:17 Apr 22, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5094.IH
H5094
jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS
(2) ANNOUNCEMENT OF PRIZES.—The Director 
may not issue a notice as required by subsection 
(d)(2) until all of the funds needed to pay out the 
announced amount of the prize have been appro-
priated or committed in writing by another entity 
pursuant to paragraph (1). 
(f) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to win a prize under 
this section, an individual or entity— 
(1) shall have complied with all of the require-
ments under this section; 
(2) in the case of a private entity, shall be in-
corporated in and maintain a primary place of busi-
ness in the United States, and in the case of an in-
dividual, whether participating singly or in a group, 
shall be a United States citizen or national, or an 
alien lawfully admitted to the United States for per-
manent residence; and 
(3) shall not be a Federal entity, a Federal em-
ployee acting within the scope of his or her employ-
ment, or a person employed at a Federal laboratory 
acting within the scope of his or her employment. 
(g) AWARDS.— 
(1) NUMBER OF COMPETITIONS.—The Director 
may announce up to 5 prize competitions through 
the end of fiscal year 2013. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
03:17 Apr 22, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5094.IH
H5094
jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS
(2) SIZE OF AWARD.—The Director may deter-
mine the amount of each prize award based on the 
prize topic, but no award shall be less than 
$1,000,000 or greater than $3,000,000. 
(3) SELECTING WINNERS.—The Director may 
convene an expert panel to select a winner of a prize 
competition. If the panel is unable to select a win-
ner, the Director shall determine the winner of the 
prize. 
(4) PUBLIC
OUTREACH.—The Director shall 
publicly award prizes utilizing the Foundation’s ex-
isting public affairs and public outreach resources. 
(h) ADMINISTERING THE COMPETITION.—The Direc-
tor may enter into an agreement with a private, nonprofit 
entity to administer the prize competition, subject to the 
provisions of this section. 
(i) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.—The Federal Gov-
ernment shall not, by virtue of offering or awarding a 
prize under this section, be entitled to any intellectual 
property rights derived as a consequence of, or in direct 
relation to, the participation by a registered participant 
in a competition authorized by this section. This sub-
section shall not be construed to prevent the Federal Gov-
ernment from negotiating a license for the use of intellec-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
03:17 Apr 22, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5094.IH
H5094
jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS