National Science Foundation Authorization Act
PL 94-471 (H.R.12566), enacted 10/11/1976

PUBLIC LAW 94-471—OCT. 11, 1976 
90 STAT. 2053 
Public Law 94-471 
94th Congress 
An Act 
Authorizing appropriations to the National Science Foundation for fiscal year 
1977. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America 
in Congress assembled, That this Act may 
be cited as the "National Science Foundation Authorization Act, 
1977." 
AUTHORIZATION FOR ACTIVITIES OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 
SEC. 2. (a) There is authorized to be appropriated to the National 
Science Foundation 
for the fiscal year 1977, for the 
following 
categories: 
(1) 
Mathematical 
and 
Physical 
Sciences 
and 
Engineering, 
$231,525,000. 
(2) 
Astronomical, 
Atmospheric, Earth 
and 
Ocean 
Sciences, 
$244,850,000. 
(3) Biological, Behavioral, and Social Sciences, $130,425,000. 
(4) Science Education Programs, $69,400,000. 
(5) Kesearch Applied to National Needs, $69,000,000. 
(6) Scientific, Technological, and International Affairs, $22,000,000. 
(7) Program Development and Management, $43,500,000. 
(b) The National Science Foundation shall recommend and encour-
age the pursuit of national policies designed to foster research and 
education in science and engineering, and the application of scientific 
and technical knowledge to the solution of national and international 
problems. 
(c) The National Science Foundation is authorized and directed to 
provide assistance to the Office of Science and Technology Policy 
established by the "Presidential Science and Technology Advisory 
Organization Act of 1976" (42 U.S.C. 6611). 
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this or any other Act 
not less than 10 per centum of the amount authorized for category (5) 
of subsection (a) of this section shall be expended to small business 
concerns. 
(e) (1) The National Science Foundation shall establish uniform 
procedures for establishing the responsibility for material published 
with the assistance of or under the sponsorship of the Foundation. 
The Foundation shall also establish procedures for reporting on the 
utilization of research projects assisted under the program "Research 
Applied to National Needs". 
(2) The National Science Foundation shall arrange for the dis-
semination of all substantive technical reports through the National 
Technical Information Service of the Department of Commerce. 
(3) In the conduct of the energy research and development activi-
ties under the "Research Applied to National Needs" category, the 
National Science Foundation shall coordinate all new energy research 
project awards with the Administrator of the Energy Research and 
Development Administration or his designee. 
(f) The Director of the National Science Foundation is authorized 
and directed to conduct a feasibility study of operating the peer review 
system used in the evaluation of grant proposals within the Founda-
Oct. 11, 1976 
[H.R. 12566] 
National Science 
Foundation 
Authorization 
Act, 1977. 
42 use 1861 
note. 
Ante, p. 463. 
42 use 5820 
note. 
42 use 1864 
note. 
90 STAT. 2054 
PUBLIC LAW 94-471—OCT. 11, 1976 
Transfer of 
funds, 
limitation. 
Report to 
Speaker of the 
House, President 
of the Senate 
and congressional 
committees. 
tion S
O as to assure that the identity of the proposer is not known to 
the reviewers of the proposal. Any such system shall be considered to 
supplement and not to supplant the peer review system in operation 
in the Foundation on the date of enactment of this Act. 
(g) No funds may be transferred from any particular category 
listed in section 2(a) to any other category or categories listed in such 
section if the total of the funds so transferred from that particular 
category would exceed 10 per centum thereof, and no funds may be 
transferred to any particular category listed in section 2(a) from any 
other category or categories listed in such section if the total of the 
funds so transferred to that particular category would exceed 10 per 
centum thereof luiless-— 
(1) a period of thirty legislative days has passed after the 
Director or his designate has transmitted to the Speaker of the 
House of Eepresentatives and to the President of the Senate and 
to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of 
llepresentatives and to the Committee on Labor and Public Wel-
fare of the Senate a written report containing a full and complete 
statement concerning the nature of the transfer and the reason 
thereof, or 
(2) each such committee before the expiration of such period 
has transmitted to the Director written notice to the effect that 
such committee has no objection to the proposed action. 
42 use 1862 
note. 
INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC KESEARGIT, EDUCATION, AND 
POLICY ANALYSIS 
SEC. 3. The National Science Foundation is authorized and 
directed to support basic and applied research and education pro-
grams, and to conduct and support policy analysis, information dis-
semination, and international cooperative programs consistent with 
the Nation's foreign policy objectives designed to make the results of 
scientific research conducted abroad more readily available to United 
States scientists, engineers, and technologists, to promote interna-
tional cooperation in science and technology, to assist in the resolu-
tion of critical and emerging problems with significant scientific or 
technical components, such as world food and population problems, 
and to insure full coordination of these programs with related 
activities conducted by other Federal agencies and organizations. The 
Director of the National Science Foundation shall consult with the 
Secretary of State to assure that the programs authorized under this 
section are consistent with the foreign policy objectives of the United 
States. 
INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH 
SEC. 4. The National Science Foundation is directed to encourage 
and promote the conduct of interdisciplinary research through 
broadly based undergraduate interdisciplinary education programs, 
interdisciplinary research projects which provide for apprenticeship 
training, interdisciplinary fellowship programs, and arrangements 
for degree training, including postgraduate degrees in more than one 
discipline, in institutions of higher education. 
SCIENCE FOR CITIZENS 
SEC. 5. (a) The National Science Foundation is authorized and 
directed to conduct an experimental "Science for Citizens Program" 
and an augmented Public Understanding of Science Program under 
which funds will be available for pilot projects to: 
PUBLIC LAW 94-471—OCT. 11, 1976 
90 STAT. 2055 
(1) improve public understanding of science, engineering and 
technology and their impact on public policy issues. 
(2) facilitate the participation of experienced scientists and 
engineers as well as graduate and undergraduate students in 
helping the public understand science, engineering and tech-
nology and their impact on public policies; and 
(3) assist nationally recognized professional societies and 
groups serving important public purposes in conducting a 
limited number of forums, conferences, and workshops to 
increase public understanding of science and technology, and of 
their impact on public policy issues, after consideration of the 
following eligibility factors: 
(A) the extent to which the proposal of the society or 
group will contribute to the development of facts, issues, and 
arguments relevant to public policy issues having significant 
scientific and technical aspects, and 
(B) the ability of the society or group, using its own 
resources, to conduct such forums, conferences, and work-
shops, 
(b) One or more review panels shall be established for the pur-
pose of evaluating applications for awards under this section. The 
membership of each review panel shall have balanced representation 
fi-oin the scientific and nonscientific communities and the public and 
private sectors. 
(c) No contract, grant or other arrangement shall be made under 
this Section without the prior approval of the National Science 
Board. 
(d) To assist the Congress in evaluating activities initiated pursu-
ant to this Section, the Director of the National Science Foundation, 
in consultation with a review panel having a balanced representation 
from the scientific and nonscientific community and the public and 
private sectors, is directed to prepare a comprehensive analysis and 
assessment of such activities to be submitted to the House Committee 
on Science and Technology and the Senate Committee on Labor and 
Public Welfare, not later than October 31, 1977. An interim report is Interim report, 
required no later than March 1,1977. 
Panels, 
establishment. 
Contract 
approval. 
Analysis, 
submittal to 
congressional 
committees. 
CONTINUING EDUCATION IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 
SEC. 6. (a) The National Science Foundation shall develop a pro-
gram plan for continuing education in science and engineering in 
order to enable scientists and engineers who have been engaged in 
their careers for at least five years to pursue courses of study designed 
to— 
(1) provide them with new knowledge, techniques, and skills in 
their special fields; or 
(2) acquire new knowledge, techniques, and skills in other fields 
which will enable them to render more valuable contributions to 
the Nation. 
(b) The program plan developed under this section shall include, 
but not be limited to— 
(1) the development of special curricula and educational tech-
niques for continuing education in science and technology; and 
(2) the award of fellowships to scientists and engineers to 
enable them to pursue courses of study which provide continuing 
education in science and engineering. 
(c) The Foundation is directed to provide the House Committee on 
Science and Technology and the Senate Committee on Labor and Pub-
Program plan. 
42 use 1862 
note. 
Report to 
congressional 
committees. 
90 STAT. 2056 
PUBLIC LAW 94-471—OCT. 11, 1976 
lie Welfare, not later than March 1,1977, with a detailed report on the 
program plan developed under this section, including recommenda-
tions for its implementation in fiscal year 1978. 
Executive 
position search. 
42 use 1873 
note. 
Quarterly 
report to 
Congress. 
Grants. 
Criteria. 
Report to 
congressional 
committees. 
MINORITIES, WOMEN, AND HANDICAPPED INDIVIDUALS 
SEC. 7. (a) The Director of the National Science Foundation shall 
initiate an intensive search for qualified women, members of minority 
groups, and handicapped individuals to fill executive level positions in 
the National Science Foundation. In carrying out the requirement of 
this subsection, the Director shall work closely with organizations 
which have been active in seeking greater recognition and utilization 
of the scientific and technical capabilities of minorities, women, and 
handicapped individuals. The Director shall improve the represen-
tation of minorities, women, and handicapped individuals on advisory 
committees, review panels, and all other mechanisms by which the 
scientific community provides assistance to the Foundation. The 
Director of the National Science Foundation shall report quarterly to 
the Congress on the status of minorities, women, and handicapped 
individuals and activities undertaken pursuant to this section. 
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this or any other Act, 
the National Science Foundation shall, with funds available from the 
program "Minorities, Women, and Handicapped Individuals in 
Science" conduct experimental forums, conferences, workshops or 
other activities designed to improve scientific literacy and to encourage 
and assist minorities, women, and handicapped individuals to under-
take and to advance in careers in scientific research and science 
education. 
(c) (1) In order to promote increased participation by minorities 
in careers in science and engineering, the National Science Foundation 
is authorized and directed to make available planning and study 
grants for programs including, but not limited to. Minority Centers 
for Graduate Education in Science and Engineering in accordance 
with this subsection. 
(2) The grants for Minority Centers for Graduate Education shall 
be used to determine the need for and feasibility of developing Centers 
to be established at geographically dispersed educational institutions 
which— 
(A) have substantial minority student enrollment; 
(B) are geographically located near minority 
population 
centers; 
(C) demonstrate a commitment to encouraging and assisting 
minority students, researchers, and faculty; 
(D) have an existing or developing capacity to offer doctoral 
pixjgrams in science and engineering; 
(E) will support basic research and the acquisition of necessary 
research facilities and equipment; 
(F) will serve as a regional resource in science and engineering 
for the minority community which the Center is designed to serve; 
and 
(G) will develop joint educational programs with nearby 
undergraduate institutions of higher education which have a 
substantial minority student enrollment. 
(3) The Director, in consultation with groups which have been 
active in seeking greater recognition of the scientific and technical 
capabilities of minorities, shall establish criteria for the award of the 
grants, and shall report to the Committee on Science and Technology 
PUBLIC LAW 94-471—OCT. 11, 1976 
90 STAT. 2057 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Labor and 
Public Welfare of the Senate on the results of activities including an 
evaluation and assessment of the entire program carried out under this 
subsection, not later than March 1, 1977. 
OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
SEC. 8. The National Science Foundation is authorized and directed Establishment, 
to establish an Office of Small Business Research and Development. 42 USC 1883. 
The Foundation through the Office of Small Business Research and 
Development and in cooperation and consultation with the Small 
Business Administration shall— 
(1) foster communication between the National Science Foun-
dation and the small business community, and insure that the set-
aside for small business concerns provided under this Act or any 
other Act authorizing appropriations for the National Science 
Foundation is fully and effectively utilized; 
(2) collect, analyze, compile, and publish information concern-
ing grants and contracts awarded to small business concerns by 
the Foundation, and the procedures for handling proposals sub-
mitted by small business concerns; 
(3) assist individual small business concerns in obtaining 
information regarding programs, policies, and procedures of the 
Foundation, and assure the expeditious processing of proposals 
by small business concerns based on scientific and technical merit; 
(4) recommend to the Director and to the National Science 
Board such changes in the procedures and practices of the Foun-
dation as may be required to enable the Foundation to draw fully 
on the resources of the small business research and development 
community; and 
(5) make quarterly reports to the Congress concerning the Quarterly 
activities of the Office of Small Business Research and reports to 
D e v e l o p m e n t . 
Congress. 
NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD 
SEC. 9. (a) Section 4 of the National Science Foundation Act of 
1960 is amended by inserting before the period at the end of subsection Ante, p. 473. 
(a) a comma and the following: "within the framework of applicable 42 USC 1863. 
national policies as set forth by the President and the Congress". 
(b) Section 4(g) of such Act as redesignated by this section is 
amended— 
(1) by inserting after "the Director," the following: "after con-
sultation with the Chairman of the Board"; and 
(2) by striking out "GS-15" and inserting in lieu thereof 
"GS-18". 
LIMITATION 
SEC. 10. (a) In addition to such sums as are authorized by section 2, Appropriation 
not to exceed $6,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year authorization. 
1977, for expenses of the National Science Foundation incurred out-
side the United States to be paid for in foreign currencies which the 
Treasury Department determines to be excess to the normal require-
ments of the United States. 
(b) Appropriations made pursuant to this Act may be used, but not 
to exceed $5,000 for official consultation, representation, or other 
\ 
extraordinary expenses upon the approval or authority of the Director 
of the National Science Foundation, and his determination shall be 
final and conclusive upon the accounting officers of the Government. 
90 STAT. 2058 
PUBLIC LAW 94-471—OCT. 11, 1976 
(c) Appropriations made pursuant to this Act shall remain avail-
able for obligation, for expenditure, or for obligation and expenditure, 
for such period or periods as may be specified in Acts making such 
appropriations. 
INFORMATION 
REQUIREMENT 
42 use 1882. 
SEC. 11. Notwithstanding any other provision of this or any other 
Act, the Director of the National Science Foundation shall keep the 
Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare of the Senate 
fully and currently informed with respect to all of the activities of the 
National Science Foundation. 
Approved October 11, 1976. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 94-930 (Comm. on Science and Technology) and No. 94-1689 
(Comm. of Conference). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 94-888 accompanying S. 3202 and No. 94-890 (both from 
Comm. on Labor and Public Welfare). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 122 (1976): 
Mar. 24, 25, considered and passed House. 
May 27, considered and passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 3202. 
Sept. 24, Senate agreed to conference report. 
Sept. 29, House agreed to conference report.