SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘America Competes Reauthorization Act of 2014’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—OSTP; GOVERNMENTWIDE SCIENCE 
Subtitle A—General Provisions 
Sec. 101. National Science and Technology Council amendments. 
Sec. 102. Review of Federal regulations and reporting requirements. 
Sec. 103. Amendments to prize competitions. 
Sec. 104. Coordination of international science and technology partnerships. 
Subtitle B—Reauthorization of the National Nanotechnology Initiative 
Sec. 111. Short title. 
Sec. 112. National Nanotechnology Program amendments. 
Sec. 113. Societal dimensions of nanotechnology. 
Sec. 114. Nanotechnology education. 
Sec. 115. Technology transfer. 
Sec. 116. Signature initiatives in areas of national importance. 
Sec. 117. Nanomanufacturing research. 
Sec. 118. Definitions. 
TITLE II—STEM EDUCATION AND DIVERSITY 
Subtitle A—STEM Education and Workforce 
Sec. 201. Sense of Congress. 
Sec. 202. Coordination of Federal STEM education. 
Sec. 203. Grand challenges in education research. 
Sec. 204. Establishment of the Advanced Research Project Agency-Education. 
Sec. 205. Community college and industry partnerships STEM pilot grant pro-
gram. 
Sec. 206. National Research Council report on STEAM education. 
Sec. 207. Engaging Federal scientists and engineers in STEM education. 
Subtitle B—Broadening Participation in STEM 
Sec. 211. Short title. 
Sec. 212. Purpose. 
Sec. 213. Federal science agency policies for caregivers. 
Sec. 214. Collection and reporting of data on Federal research grants. 
Sec. 215. Policies for review of Federal research grants. 
Sec. 216. Collection of data on demographics of faculty. 
Sec. 217. Cultural and institutional barriers to expanding the academic and 
Federal STEM workforce. 
Sec. 218. Research and dissemination at the National Science Foundation. 
Sec. 219. Report to Congress. 
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Sec. 220. National Science Foundation support for increasing diversity among 
STEM faculty at institutions of higher education. 
Sec. 221. National Science Foundation support for broadening participation in 
undergraduate STEM education. 
Sec. 222. Definitions. 
TITLE III—NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 
Subtitle A—General Provisions 
Sec. 301. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 302. Sense of Congress on support for all fields of science and engineering. 
Sec. 303. Management and oversight of large facilities. 
Sec. 304. Data management plans. 
Sec. 305. Support for potentially transformative research. 
Sec. 306. Strengthening institutional research partnerships. 
Sec. 307. Innovation Corps. 
Sec. 308. Definitions. 
Subtitle B—STEM Education 
Sec. 321. National Science Board report on consolidation of STEM education 
activities at the Foundation. 
Sec. 322. Models for graduate student support. 
Sec. 323. Undergraduate STEM education reform. 
Sec. 324. Advanced manufacturing education. 
Sec. 325. STEM education partnerships. 
Sec. 326. Noyce scholarship program amendments. 
Sec. 327. Informal STEM education. 
Sec. 328. Research and development to support improved K–12 learning. 
TITLE IV—NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND 
TECHNOLOGY 
Sec. 401. Short title. 
Sec. 402. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 403. Advanced manufacturing technology consortia. 
Sec. 404. Network for manufacturing innovation. 
Sec. 405. Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership. 
Sec. 406. Bioscience measurement science and standards. 
Sec. 407. National Academy of Sciences review. 
Sec. 408. Improving NIST collaboration with other agencies. 
Sec. 409. Miscellaneous provisions. 
TITLE V—INNOVATION 
Sec. 501. Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. 
Sec. 502. Federal loan guarantees for innovative technologies in manufacturing. 
Sec. 503. Regional Innovation Program. 
Sec. 504. Innovation voucher pilot program. 
Sec. 505. Federal Acceleration of State Technology Commercialization Pilot 
Program. 
Sec. 506. National Academies report on university incubators and accelerators. 
TITLE VI—DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 
Subtitle A—Office of Science 
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Sec. 601. Short title. 
Sec. 602. Definitions. 
Sec. 603. Mission of the Office of Science. 
Sec. 604. Basic energy sciences program. 
Sec. 605. Biological and environmental research. 
Sec. 606. Advanced scientific computing research program. 
Sec. 607. Fusion energy research. 
Sec. 608. High energy physics program. 
Sec. 609. Nuclear physics program. 
Sec. 610. Science laboratories infrastructure program. 
Sec. 611. Authorization of appropriations. 
Subtitle B—ARPA–E 
Sec. 621. Short title. 
Sec. 622. ARPA–E amendments. 
Subtitle C—Energy Innovation 
Sec. 641. Energy innovation hubs. 
Sec. 642. Participation in the Innovation Corps program. 
Sec. 643. Technology transfer. 
Sec. 644. Elimination of cost sharing requirement for research and development 
activities conducted by universities and nonprofit institutions. 
Sec. 645. Pilot Race to the Top for Energy Efficiency and Grid Modernization 
Program. 
Sec. 646. Rename Under Secretary for Science to Under Secretary for Science 
and Energy. 
Sec. 647. Special hiring authority for scientific, engineering, and project man-
agement personnel. 
TITLE I—OSTP; 
GOVERNMENTWIDE SCIENCE 
Subtitle A—General Provisions 
SEC. 101. NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL 
AMENDMENTS. 
Section 401 of the National Science and Technology 
Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act of 1977 (42 
U.S.C. 6651) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘Federal Co-
ordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and 
Technology’’ and inserting ‘‘National Science and 
Technology Council’’; 
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(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘and Energy 
Research and Development Administration’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Department of Energy, and any other agen-
cy designated by the President’’; and 
(3) in subsection (e)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘engineering, and tech-
nology’’ and inserting ‘‘engineering, technology, 
innovation, and STEM education’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘engi-
neering, and technological’’ and inserting ‘‘engi-
neering, technological, innovation, and STEM 
education’’; 
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and 
(4) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and 
(D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) address research needs identified under 
paragraph (2) through appropriate funding mecha-
nisms, which may include solicitations involving 2 or 
more agencies and public-private partnerships;’’. 
SEC. 102. REVIEW OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND RE-
PORTING REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy shall establish or designate 
a working group under the National Science and Tech-
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nology Council with the responsibility of reviewing Federal 
regulatory and reporting requirements across Federal 
agencies that affect the conduct of United States research 
in an effort to reduce regulatory burdens and to eliminate 
and harmonize duplicative regulatory and reporting re-
quirements. 
(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The working group estab-
lished or designated under subsection (a) shall— 
(1) periodically review all Federal regulations 
and reporting requirements that affect the conduct 
of United States research to— 
(A) identify ways to harmonize overlapping 
or duplicative research regulations and report-
ing requirements across Federal agencies; 
(B) evaluate such regulations and report-
ing requirements in relationship to the risks the 
requirements seek to address to determine if 
the benefits of the requirements are commensu-
rate with the costs to the progress of science or 
to the taxpayer; 
(C) identify any regulations that are ap-
plied to scientific researchers or to research-per-
forming institutions for which exemptions could 
be reasonably applied or for which adjustments 
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could be made to better fit those regulations to 
diverse research environments; and 
(D) identify any specific regulations which 
could be refocused on performance-based goals 
rather than on process while still meeting the 
desired outcome; 
(2) examine the extent to which agencies’ guid-
ance documents adhere with the most recently up-
dated version of the Office of Management and 
Budget’s Agency Good Guidance Practices bulletin; 
and 
(3) develop and update at least once every 3 
years a strategic plan for streamlining Federal regu-
lations and reporting requirements that affect the 
conduct of United States research that contains, at 
a minimum— 
(A) a priority list of research-related regu-
lations, reporting requirements, and agency 
guidance to be harmonized, streamlined, up-
dated, or eliminated; and 
(B) a plan, including a timeline, for imple-
menting the regulatory and reporting reforms 
identified in subparagraph (A). 
(c) STAKEHOLDER INPUT.—In carrying out the re-
sponsibilities under subsection (b), including the develop-
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ment of the strategic plan under subsection (b)(3), the 
working group established or designated under subsection 
(a) shall take into account input and recommendations 
from non-Federal stakeholders, including federally funded 
and nonfederally funded researchers, institutions of higher 
education, scientific disciplinary societies and associations, 
nonprofit research institutions, industry, including small 
businesses, federally funded research and development 
centers, and others with a stake in ensuring effectiveness, 
efficiency, and accountability in the performance of sci-
entific research. 
(d) RESPONSIBILITIES OF OSTP.—The Director of 
the Office of Science and Technology Policy, in collabora-
tion with the Office of Management and Budget Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, shall encourage 
and monitor the efforts of the participating agencies to 
ensure that the strategic plan is developed under sub-
section (b)(3) and that appropriate steps are taken by the 
agencies to effectively implement the recommendations, 
achieve the objectives, and to adhere to the timeline in 
the strategic plan. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy shall transmit the priority 
list and strategic plan developed under subsection (b)(3) 
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to the Congress. The Director shall further provide a re-
port annually to the Congress, to be submitted not later 
than 60 days after the submission of the President’s an-
nual budget request, on the progress toward implementa-
tion of the regulatory reforms outlined in the strategic 
plan. 
SEC. 103. AMENDMENTS TO PRIZE COMPETITIONS. 
Section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Inno-
vation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘competition’’ after ‘‘sec-
tion, a prize’’; 
(B) by inserting ‘‘types’’ after ‘‘following’’; 
and 
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘prizes’’ 
and inserting ‘‘prize competitions’’; 
(2) in subsection (f)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘in the Federal Register’’ 
and inserting ‘‘on a publicly accessible Govern-
ment website, such as www.challenge.gov,’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘prize’’ 
and inserting ‘‘cash prize purse’’; 
(3) in subsection (g), by striking ‘‘prize’’ and 
inserting ‘‘cash prize purse’’; 
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(4) in subsection (h), by inserting ‘‘prize’’ be-
fore ‘‘competition’’ both places it appears; 
(5) in subsection (i)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting 
‘‘prize’’ before ‘‘competition’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting 
‘‘prize’’ before ‘‘competition’’ both places it ap-
pears; 
(C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as 
paragraph (4); and 
(D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) WAIVER.—An agency may waive the re-
quirement under paragraph (2). The annual report 
under subsection (p) shall include a list of such 
waivers granted during the preceding fiscal year, 
along with an explanation of the reasons for grant-
ing the waivers.’’; 
(6) in subsection (j) by amending paragraph (2) 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(2) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.— 
‘‘(A) LICENSES.—The Federal Government 
may negotiate a license for the use of intellec-
tual property developed by a participant for a 
prize competition. 
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‘‘(B) OTHER
CONDITIONS.—A Federal 
agency or agencies in cooperation may require 
participants to agree in advance to a specific 
approach to intellectual property as a condition 
for eligibility to participate in a prize competi-
tion.’’; 
(7) in subsection (k)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting 
‘‘prize’’ before ‘‘competition’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘prize’’ 
before ‘‘competitions’’ both places it appears; 
(8) in subsection (l), by striking all after ‘‘may 
enter into’’ and inserting ‘‘a grant, contract, cooper-
ative agreement, or other agreement with a private 
sector for-profit or nonprofit entity to administer the 
prize competition, subject to the provisions of this 
section.’’; 
(9) in subsection (m)— 
(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Support for a prize com-
petition under this section, including financial sup-
port for the design and administration of a prize 
competition or funds for a cash prize purse, may 
consist of Federal appropriated funds and funds 
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provided by private sector for-profit and nonprofit 
entities. The head of an agency may accept funds 
from other Federal agencies, private sector for-profit 
entities, and nonprofit entities to support such prize 
competitions. The head of an agency may not give 
any special consideration to any private sector for- 
profit or nonprofit entity in return for a donation.’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘prize 
awards’’ and inserting ‘‘cash prize purses’’; 
(C) in paragraph (3)(A)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘No prize’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘No prize competition’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘the prize’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘the cash prize purse’’; 
(D) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking ‘‘a 
prize’’ and inserting ‘‘a cash prize purse’’; 
(E) in paragraph (3)(B)(i), by inserting 
‘‘competition’’ after ‘‘prize’’; 
(F) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking ‘‘a 
prize’’ and inserting ‘‘a cash prize purse’’; and 
(G) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking ‘‘cash 
prizes’’ and inserting ‘‘cash prize purses’’; 
(10) in subsection (n), by inserting ‘‘for both 
for-profit and nonprofit entities,’’ after ‘‘contract ve-
hicle’’; 
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(11) in subsection (o)(1), by striking ‘‘or pro-
viding a prize’’ and insert ‘‘a prize competition or 
providing a cash prize purse’’; and 
(12) in subsection (p)— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘ANNUAL 
REPORT’’ and inserting ‘‘BIENNIAL REPORT’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘of each 
year’’ and inserting ‘‘of each odd-numbered 
year’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (2)(C), by striking ‘‘cash 
prizes’’ both places it occurs and inserting 
‘‘cash prize purses’’. 
SEC. 104. COORDINATION OF INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE 
AND TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIPS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 
‘‘International Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 
2014’’. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy shall establish a body 
under the National Science and Technology Council 
(NSTC) with the responsibility to identify and coordinate 
international science and technology cooperation that can 
strengthen the United States science and technology en-
terprise, improve economic and national security, and sup-
port United States foreign policy goals. 
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(c) NSTC BODY LEADERSHIP.—The body estab-
lished under subsection (b) shall be co-chaired by senior 
level officials from the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy and the Department of State. 
(d) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The body established under 
subsection (b) shall— 
(1) plan and coordinate interagency inter-
national science and technology cooperative research 
and training activities and partnerships supported or 
managed by Federal agencies and work with other 
National Science and Technology Council commit-
tees to help plan and coordinate the international 
component of national science and technology prior-
ities; 
(2) establish Federal priorities and policies for 
aligning, as appropriate, international science and 
technology cooperative research and training activi-
ties and partnerships supported or managed by Fed-
eral agencies with the foreign policy goals of the 
United States; 
(3) identify opportunities for new international 
science and technology cooperative research and 
training partnerships that advance both the science 
and technology and the foreign policy priorities of 
the United States; 
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(4) in carrying out paragraph (3), solicit input 
and recommendations from non-Federal science and 
technology stakeholders, including universities, sci-
entific and professional societies, industry, and rel-
evant organizations and institutions; and 
(5) identify broad issues that influence the abil-
ity of United States scientists and engineers to col-
laborate with foreign counterparts, including bar-
riers to collaboration and access to scientific infor-
mation. 
(e) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The Director of the Of-
fice of Science and Technology Policy shall transmit a re-
port, to be updated annually, to the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology and the Committee on Foreign Af-
fairs of the House of Representatives, and to the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the 
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate. The report 
shall also be made available to the public on the reporting 
agency’s website. The report shall contain a description 
of— 
(1) the priorities and policies established under 
subsection (d)(2); 
(2) the ongoing and new partnerships estab-
lished since the last update to the report; 
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(3) the means by which stakeholder input was 
received, as well as summary views of stakeholder 
input; and 
(4) the issues influencing the ability of United 
States scientists and engineers to collaborate with 
foreign counterparts. 
Subtitle B—Reauthorization of the 
National Nanotechnology Initiative 
SEC. 111. SHORT TITLE. 
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘National Nano-
technology Initiative Amendments Act of 2014’’. 
SEC. 112. NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY PROGRAM AMEND-
MENTS. 
The 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and De-
velopment Act (15 U.S.C. 7501 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) in section 2— 
(A) in subsection (c), by amending para-
graph (4) to read as follows: 
‘‘(4) develop, and update every 3 years there-
after, a strategic plan to guide the activities de-
scribed under subsection (b) that specifies near-term 
and long-term objectives for the Program, the antici-
pated timeframe for achieving the near-term objec-
tives, and the metrics to be used for assessing 
progress toward the objectives, and that describes— 
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‘‘(A) how the Program will move results 
out of the laboratory and into applications for 
the benefit of society, including through co-
operation and collaborations with nanotechnol-
ogy research, development, and technology tran-
sition initiatives supported by the States; and 
‘‘(B) proposed research in areas of na-
tional importance in accordance with the re-
quirements of section 116 of the National 
Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act of 
2014;’’; 
(B) in subsection (d)— 
(i) by redesignating paragraphs (1) 
through (5) as paragraphs (2) through (6), 
respectively; 
(ii) by inserting before paragraph (2), 
as redesignated by clause (i), the following: 
‘‘(1) the Program budget, for the previous fiscal 
year, for each agency that participates in the Pro-
gram, and for each program component area;’’; and 
(iii) by amending paragraph (6), as 
redesignated by clause (i), to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(6) an assessment of how Federal agencies are 
implementing the plan described in subsection (c)(7) 
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and a description of the amount of Small Business 
Innovative Research and Small Business Technology 
Transfer Research funds supporting the plan.’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(e) STANDARDS SETTING.—The agencies partici-
pating in the Program shall support the activities of com-
mittees involved in the development of standards for nano-
technology and may reimburse the travel costs of scientists 
and engineers who participate in activities of such commit-
tees.’’; 
(2) in section 3— 
(A) by amending subsection (b)(1) to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(b) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The operation of the Na-
tional Nanotechnology Coordination Office shall be 
supported by funds from each agency participating 
in the Program. 
‘‘(2) PROPORTION.—The portion of such Of-
fice’s total budget provided by each agency for each 
fiscal year shall be in the same proportion as the 
agency’s share of the total budget for the Program 
for the previous fiscal year, as specified in the report 
required under section 2(d)(1). 
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‘‘(3) EXCEPTION.—The Director of the Na-
tional Nanotechnology Coordination Office may es-
tablish a minimum contribution or other exception to 
the requirement in paragraph (2) for participating 
agencies whose share of the total budget for the Pro-
gram is below a threshold level, to be set by the Di-
rector.’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(d) PUBLIC INFORMATION.— 
‘‘(1) DATABASE.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The National Nano-
technology Coordination Office shall develop 
and maintain a database accessible by the pub-
lic of projects funded under at least the Envi-
ronmental, Health, and Safety program compo-
nent area, or any successor program component 
area, including, to the extent practicable, a de-
scription of each project, its source of funding 
by agency, and its funding history. 
‘‘(B) ORGANIZATION.—Projects shall be 
grouped by major objective as defined by the re-
search plan required under section 3(b) of the 
National Nanotechnology Initiative Amend-
ments Act of 2014. 
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‘‘(2) ACCESSIBLE FACILITIES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The National Nano-
technology Coordination Office shall develop, 
maintain, and publicize information on nano-
technology facilities supported under the Pro-
gram, and may include information on nano-
technology facilities supported by the States, 
that are accessible for use by individuals from 
academic institutions and from industry. 
‘‘(B) WEBSITES.—The National Nanotech-
nology Coordination Office shall maintain active 
web links to the websites for each of these fa-
cilities and shall work with each facility sup-
ported under the Program to ensure that each 
facility publishes on its respective website up-
dated information on the terms and conditions 
for the use of the facility, a description of the 
capabilities of the instruments and equipment 
available for use at the facility, and a descrip-
tion of the technical support available to assist 
users of the facility.’’; 
(3) in section 4— 
(A) in subsection (a), by adding at the end 
the following: ‘‘The co-chairs of the Advisory 
Panel shall meet the qualifications of Panel 
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membership required in subsection (b) and may 
be members of the President’s Council of Advi-
sors on Science and Technology. The Advisory 
Panel shall include members having specific 
qualifications tailored to enable it to carry out 
the requirements of subsection (c)(6).’’; 
(B) in subsection (c)— 
(i) by striking paragraph (1); and 
(ii) by redesignating paragraphs (2) 
through (7) as paragraphs (1) through (6), 
respectively; and 
(C) by amending subsection (d) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(d) REPORTS.—The Advisory Panel shall report not 
less frequently than every 3 years, and, to the extent prac-
ticable, 1 year following each of the National Research 
Council triennial reviews required under section 5, to the 
President on its assessments under subsection (c) and its 
recommendations for ways to improve the Program. The 
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy 
shall transmit a copy of each report under this subsection 
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate, the Committee on Science, Space, 
and Technology of the House of Representatives, and 
other appropriate committees of the Congress.’’; 
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(4) by amending section 5 to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 5. TRIENNIAL EXTERNAL REVIEW OF THE NATIONAL 
NANOTECHNOLOGY PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National 
Nanotechnology Coordination Office shall enter into an ar-
rangement with the National Research Council of the Na-
tional Academy of Sciences to conduct a triennial review 
of the Program. The Director shall ensure that the ar-
rangement with the National Research Council is con-
cluded in order to allow sufficient time for the reporting 
requirements of subsection (b) to be satisfied. Each tri-
ennial review shall include an evaluation of the— 
‘‘(1) research priorities and technical content of 
the Program, including whether the balance of fund-
ing among program component areas, as designated 
according to section 2(c)(2), is appropriate; 
‘‘(2) Program’s scientific and technological ac-
complishments and its success in transferring tech-
nology to the private sector; and 
‘‘(3) adequacy of the Program’s activities ad-
dressing ethical, legal, environmental, and other ap-
propriate societal concerns, including human health 
concerns. 
‘‘(b) PRIORITY REPORTS.—If the Director of the Na-
tional Nanotechnology Coordination Office, working with 
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the National Research Council and with input from the 
Advisory Panel, determines that a more narrowly focused 
review of the Program is in the best interests of the Pro-
gram, the Director may enter into such an arrangement 
with the National Research Council in lieu of a full review 
as required under subsection (a), but not more often than 
every second triennial review. 
‘‘(c) EVALUATION TO BE TRANSMITTED TO CON-
GRESS.—The National Research Council shall document 
the results of each triennial review carried out in accord-
ance with this section in a report that includes any rec-
ommendations for changes to the Program’s objectives, 
technical content, or other policy or Program changes. 
Each report shall be submitted to the Director of the Na-
tional Nanotechnology Coordination Office, who shall 
transmit it to the Advisory Panel, the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
House of Representatives.’’; and 
(5) in section 10— 
(A) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(2) NANOTECHNOLOGY.—The term ‘nanotech-
nology’ means the science and technology that will 
enable one to understand, measure, model, image, 
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manipulate, and manufacture at the nanoscale, 
aimed at creating materials, devices, and systems 
with fundamentally new properties or functions.’’; 
and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(7) NANOSCALE.—The term ‘nanoscale’ means 
one or more dimensions of between approximately 1 
and 100 nanometers.’’. 
SEC. 113. SOCIETAL DIMENSIONS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY. 
(a) COORDINATOR FOR ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH, 
AND SAFETY RESEARCH.—The Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy shall designate an associate 
director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy 
or other appropriate senior government official as the Co-
ordinator for Environmental, Health, and Safety Re-
search. The Coordinator shall be responsible for oversight 
of the coordination, planning, and budget prioritization of 
research and other activities related to environmental, 
health, safety, and other appropriate societal concerns re-
lated to nanotechnology. The responsibilities of the Coor-
dinator shall include— 
(1) ensuring that a research plan for the envi-
ronmental, health, and safety research activities re-
quired under subsection (b) is developed, updated, 
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and implemented and that the plan is responsive to 
the recommendations of the Advisory Panel estab-
lished under section 4(a) of the 21st Century Nano-
technology Research and Development Act (15 
U.S.C. 7503(a)); and 
(2) encouraging and monitoring the efforts of 
the agencies participating in the Program to allocate 
the level of resources and management attention 
necessary to ensure that the environmental, health, 
safety, and other appropriate societal concerns re-
lated to nanotechnology are addressed under the 
Program. 
(b) RESEARCH PLAN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Coordinator for Envi-
ronmental, Health, and Safety Research shall con-
vene and chair a panel comprised of representatives 
from the agencies funding research activities under 
the Environmental, Health, and Safety program 
component area of the Program, or any successor 
program component area, and from such other agen-
cies as the Coordinator considers necessary to de-
velop, periodically update, and coordinate the imple-
mentation of a research plan for this program com-
ponent area. Such panel may be a subgroup of the 
Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology 
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Subcommittee of the National Science and Tech-
nology Council. In developing and updating the plan, 
the panel convened by the Coordinator shall solicit 
and be responsive to recommendations and advice 
from— 
(A) the Advisory Panel established under 
section 4(a) of the 21st Century Nanotechnol-
ogy Research and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 
7503(a)); and 
(B) the agencies responsible for environ-
mental, health, and safety regulations associ-
ated with the production, use, and disposal of 
nanoscale materials and products. 
(2) DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDS.—The plan 
required under paragraph (1) shall include a de-
scription of how the Program will help to ensure the 
development of— 
(A) standards related to nomenclature as-
sociated with engineered nanoscale materials; 
(B) engineered nanoscale standard ref-
erence materials for environmental, health, and 
safety testing; and 
(C) standards related to methods and pro-
cedures for detecting, measuring, monitoring, 
sampling, and testing engineered nanoscale ma-
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terials for environmental, health, and safety im-
pacts. 
(3) COMPONENTS OF PLAN.—The plan required 
under paragraph (1) shall, with respect to activities 
described in paragraphs (1) and (2)— 
(A) specify near-term research objectives 
and long-term research objectives; 
(B) specify milestones associated with each 
near-term objective and the estimated time and 
resources required to reach each milestone; 
(C) with respect to subparagraphs (A) and 
(B), describe the role of each agency carrying 
out or sponsoring research in order to meet the 
objectives specified under subparagraph (A) and 
to achieve the milestones specified under sub-
paragraph (B); and 
(D) specify the funding allocated to each 
major objective of the plan and the source of 
funding by agency for the current fiscal year. 
(4) TRANSMITTAL
TO
CONGRESS.—Not later 
than 6 months after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the plan required under paragraph (1) shall be 
transmitted to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
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Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
House of Representatives. 
(5) UPDATING AND APPENDING TO REPORT.— 
The plan required under paragraph (1) shall be up-
dated at least every 3 years and may be submitted 
as part of the report required under section 2(c)(4) 
of the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and 
Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7501(c)(4)). 
SEC. 114. NANOTECHNOLOGY EDUCATION. 
(a) UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION PROGRAMS.—The 
Program shall support efforts to introduce nanoscale 
science, engineering, and technology into undergraduate 
science and engineering education through a variety of 
interdisciplinary approaches. Activities supported may in-
clude— 
(1) development of courses of instruction or 
modules to existing courses; 
(2) faculty professional development; and 
(3) acquisition of equipment and instrumenta-
tion suitable for undergraduate education and re-
search in nanotechnology. 
(b) INTERAGENCY COORDINATION OF EDUCATION.— 
The Committee established under section 2(c) of the 21st 
Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act 
(15 U.S.C. 7501(c)) shall coordinate, as appropriate, with 
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the Committee established under section 101 of the Amer-
ica COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 
6621) to prioritize, plan, and assess the educational activi-
ties supported under the Program. 
(c) SOCIETAL DIMENSIONS
IN NANOTECHNOLOGY 
EDUCATION ACTIVITIES.—Activities supported under the 
Education and Societal Dimensions program component 
area, or any successor program component area, that in-
volve informal, precollege, or undergraduate nanotechnol-
ogy education shall include education regarding the envi-
ronmental, health and safety, and other societal aspects 
of nanotechnology. 
(d) REMOTE ACCESS TO NANOTECHNOLOGY FACILI-
TIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Agencies supporting nano-
technology research facilities as part of the Program 
shall require the entities that operate such facilities 
to allow access via the Internet, and support the 
costs associated with the provision of such access, by 
secondary school students and teachers, to instru-
ments and equipment within such facilities for edu-
cational purposes. The agencies may waive this re-
quirement for cases when particular facilities would 
be inappropriate for educational purposes or the 
costs for providing such access would be prohibitive. 
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(2) PROCEDURES.—The agencies identified in 
paragraph (1) shall require the entities that operate 
such nanotechnology research facilities to establish 
and publish procedures, guidelines, and conditions 
for the submission and approval of applications for 
the use of the facilities for the purpose identified in 
paragraph (1) and shall authorize personnel who op-
erate the facilities to provide necessary technical 
support to students and teachers. 
SEC. 115. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER. 
(a) PROTOTYPING.— 
(1) ACCESS
TO
FACILITIES.—In accordance 
with section 2(b)(7) of 21st Century Nanotechnology 
Research 
and 
Development 
Act 
(15 
U.S.C. 
7501(b)(7)), the agencies supporting nanotechnology 
research facilities as part of the Program shall pro-
vide access to such facilities to companies for the 
purpose of assisting the companies in the develop-
ment of prototypes of nanoscale products, devices, or 
processes (or products, devices, or processes enabled 
by nanotechnology) for determining proof of concept. 
The agencies shall publicize the availability of these 
facilities and encourage their use by companies as 
provided for in this section. The agencies may waive 
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this requirement for academic facilities for which the 
costs of providing such access would be prohibitive. 
(2) PROCEDURES.—The agencies identified in 
paragraph (1)— 
(A) shall establish and publish procedures, 
guidelines, and conditions for the submission 
and approval of applications for use of nano-
technology facilities; 
(B) shall publish descriptions of the capa-
bilities of facilities available for use under this 
subsection, including the availability of tech-
nical support; and 
(C) may waive recovery, require full recov-
ery, or require partial recovery of the costs as-
sociated with use of the facilities for projects 
under this subsection. 
(3) SELECTION AND CRITERIA.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In cases when less than 
full cost recovery is required pursuant to para-
graph (2)(C), projects provided access to nano-
technology facilities in accordance with this sub-
section shall be selected through a competitive, 
merit-based process, and the criteria for the se-
lection of such projects shall include at a min-
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imum the readiness of the project for tech-
nology demonstration. 
(B) SPECIAL CONSIDERATION.—The agen-
cies may give special consideration in selecting 
projects to applications that are relevant to im-
portant national needs or requirements. 
(b) COLLABORATION WITH INDUSTRY.—The Pro-
gram shall coordinate with industry from all industrial 
sectors that would benefit from applications of nanotech-
nology by— 
(1) enhancing communication of information re-
lated to nanotechnology innovation, including infor-
mation about research, education and training, man-
ufacturing issues, and market-driven needs; 
(2) advancing and accelerating the creation of 
new products and manufacturing processes derived 
from discovery at the nanoscale by working with in-
dustry, including small and medium-sized manufac-
turers; 
(3) developing innovative methods for transfer-
ring nanotechnology products and processes from 
Federal agencies to industry; and 
(4) facilitating industry-led partnerships be-
tween the Program and industry sectors, including 
regional partnerships. 
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(c) COORDINATION WITH STATE, REGIONAL, AND 
LOCAL INITIATIVES.—Section 2(b)(5) of the 21st Century 
Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (15 
U.S.C. 7501(b)(5)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(5) ensuring United States global leadership in 
the development and application of nanotechnology, 
including through the coordination and leveraging of 
Federal investments with nanotechnology research, 
development, and technology transition initiatives 
supported by the States and regions across the coun-
try;’’. 
SEC. 116. SIGNATURE INITIATIVES IN AREAS OF NATIONAL 
IMPORTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Program shall include sup-
port for nanotechnology research and development activi-
ties directed toward topical and application areas that 
have the potential for significant contributions to national 
economic competitiveness and for other significant societal 
benefits. The activities supported shall be designed to ad-
vance the development of research discoveries by dem-
onstrating technical solutions to important national chal-
lenges. The Advisory Panel shall make recommendations 
to the Program for candidate research and development 
areas for support under this section. 
(b) CHARACTERISTICS.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Research and development 
activities under this section shall— 
(A) include projects selected on the basis 
of applications for support through a competi-
tive, merit-based process; 
(B) involve collaborations among research-
ers in academic institutions and industry, and 
may involve nonprofit research institutions and 
Federal laboratories, as appropriate; 
(C) when possible, leverage Federal invest-
ments through collaboration with related State 
initiatives; and 
(D) include a plan for fostering the trans-
fer of research discoveries and the results of 
technology demonstration activities to industry 
for commercial development. 
(2) JOINT SOLICITATIONS.—Projects supported 
under this section shall include projects for which 
determination of the requirements for applications, 
review and selection of applications for support, and 
subsequent funding of projects shall be carried out 
by a collaboration of no fewer than 2 agencies par-
ticipating in the Program. In selecting applications 
for support, agencies may, as appropriate, give spe-
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cial consideration to projects that include cost shar-
ing from non-Federal sources. 
(3) INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH CENTERS.— 
Research and development activities under this sec-
tion may be supported through interdisciplinary 
nanotechnology research centers, as authorized by 
section 2(b)(4) of the 21st Century Nanotechnology 
Research 
and 
Development 
Act 
(15 
U.S.C. 
7501(b)(4)), that are organized to investigate basic 
research questions and carry out technology dem-
onstration activities in areas such as those identified 
in subsection (a). 
(c) REPORT.—Reports required under section 2(d) of 
the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Develop-
ment Act (15 U.S.C. 7501(d)) shall include a description 
of research and development areas supported in accord-
ance with this section. 
SEC. 117. NANOMANUFACTURING RESEARCH. 
(a) RESEARCH AREAS.—The Program shall include 
research on— 
(1) the development of instrumentation and 
tools required for the rapid characterization of 
nanoscale materials and for monitoring of nanoscale 
manufacturing processes; and 
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or functions for STEM education programs or ac-
tivities between agencies, at the time of submission 
of such proposals to Congress, the Director shall re-
port to Congress on activities undertaken by the Of-
fice of Science and Technology Policy or by relevant 
agencies to take into consideration relevant input 
from the STEM Education Advisory Panel estab-
lished under subsection (e) and other relevant edu-
cation stakeholders. 
‘‘(2) INTRAAGENCY
CONSOLIDATION.—For all 
agency proposals to internally consolidate or termi-
nate STEM education programs with budgets ex-
ceeding $3,000,000, at the time of submission of 
such proposals to Congress, the head of the relevant 
agency shall report to Congress on activities to so-
licit and take into consideration input on such pro-
posals from the STEM Education Advisory Panel 
established under subsection (e) and other relevant 
education stakeholders. 
‘‘(e) STEM EDUCATION ADVISORY PANEL.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The President shall estab-
lish or designate a STEM Education Advisory 
Panel. The cochairs of the Advisory Panel shall meet 
the qualifications of Panel membership required in 
paragraph (2) and may be members of the Presi-
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