may dedicate additional full-time or part-time staff 
to the Coordinating Office, as appropriate, to sus-
tain ongoing activities, facilitate special studies, and 
provide additional support. 
(c) REPORT ON FORENSIC SCIENCE.— 
(1) STUDY.—The Director of the National 
Science Foundation, in consultation with the Direc-
tor of the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology, the Attorney General, and the Director of 
the Coordinating Office shall contract with the Na-
tional Research Council or a similar external, inde-
pendent scientific entity to conduct a study and de-
velop a report that— 
(A) assesses progress made in addressing 
issues identified in the National Research 
Council’s report entitled ‘‘Strengthening Foren-
sic Science in the United States: A Path For-
ward’’, issued in February, 2009; 
(B) assesses the role of Federal agencies in 
contributing to such progress; 
(C) identifies the most critical challenges 
in forensic science that require further research 
to— 
(i) strengthen the scientific foundation 
of existing forensic science disciplines; and 
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(ii) support the development of emerg-
ing forensic science disciplines; 
(D) makes recommendations regarding re-
search that will help address the challenges 
identified under subparagraph (C), including 
recommendations to identify mechanisms to ac-
complish that research; 
(E) takes into account previous studies 
and reports; and 
(F) takes into account the expertise and 
needs of Federal, State, local, and tribal foren-
sic science practitioners, law enforcement, the 
legal community, victim advocate organizations, 
and organizations that defend the wrongfully 
convicted. 
(2) SUBMITTAL.—The entity contracted under 
paragraph (1) shall submit the report under that 
paragraph to the Director of the National Science 
Foundation, the Director of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, the Attorney General, 
and Congress. 
(d) UNIFIED FEDERAL RESEARCH STRATEGY.—The 
Coordinating Office shall coordinate with relevant Federal 
agencies for— 
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(1) the development of a unified Federal re-
search strategy that— 
(A) specifies and prioritizes the short-term 
and long-term research necessary to enhance 
the establishment, validity, and reliability of the 
forensic science disciplines, including specific 
milestones and objectives as appropriate; 
(B) describes the role of each Federal 
agency in supporting the specific areas of re-
search identified in subparagraph (A); and 
(C) describes common metrics and other 
evaluation criteria that will be used to assess 
progress toward achieving the priorities, mile-
stones, and objectives identified under subpara-
graph (A), consistent with the agency’s mission; 
and 
(2) the development of any necessary programs, 
policies, and budgets to support the implementation 
of the research strategy developed under paragraph 
(1), including mechanisms for joint-agency review of 
research proposals, for interagency cofunding of re-
search activities, and for information sharing across 
agencies. 
(e) CONSULTATION.—In developing and imple-
menting the unified Federal research strategy, the Direc-
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tor of the Coordinating Office shall consult with forensic 
science practitioners, as appropriate, to ensure that the 
unified Federal research strategy takes into account prac-
tical applications and implementations of the research 
identified under subsection (d)(1)(A). 
(f) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Coordinating Office shall 
submit an annual report to Congress, not later than 90 
days after the submission of the President’s annual budget 
request, that includes— 
(1) the budget for the National Forensic 
Science Research Initiative for each agency that par-
ticipates in the program; and 
(2) a description of progress made toward 
achieving the priorities, milestones, and objectives 
identified in the unified Federal research strategy 
for the previous fiscal year. 
SEC. 5. IMPLEMENTATION OF FORENSIC SCIENCE RE-
SEARCH RECOMMENDATIONS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Federal agencies partici-
pating in the National Forensic Science Research Initia-
tive, including the National Science Foundation, the Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology, and the De-
partment of Justice, in partnership with the Director of 
the Coordinating Office, shall improve the foundation and 
practice of forensic science in the United States by— 
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(1) conducting or supporting research con-
sistent with the unified Federal research strategy 
developed under section 4(d); 
(2) building relationships between forensic 
science practitioners and members of the research 
community; 
(3) encouraging and promoting the education 
and training of a diverse group of people to be lead-
ers in the interdisciplinary field of forensic science; 
and 
(4) broadly disseminating the results of the re-
search conducted or supported under paragraph (1). 
(b) MERIT REVIEW.—All external forensic science re-
search grants awarded by Federal agencies under this sec-
tion shall be subject to a competitive, merit-review process, 
by individuals qualified to evaluate the scientific merit of 
the proposed research activity, including review of— 
(1) the ability of each proposed research activ-
ity to advance knowledge and understanding relevant 
to the forensic sciences and to benefit society or ad-
vance desired societal outcomes; 
(2) the potential for the research activity to ex-
plore creative, original, or transformative concepts; 
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