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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Specialty Crop Mechanization Prize
Challenge of 2018''.

SEC. 2. SPECIALTY CROP MECHANIZATION CHALLENGES.

(a) Authority.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a program to
be known as ''Specialty Crop Mechanization Challenges'' for carrying
out prize competitions described under subsection (c) pursuant to
section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980
(15 U.S.C. 3719) relating to the mechanization of specialty crop
production.
(b) Prize Committees.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall assemble a prize
committee with respect to each prize competition that shall
define the scope and detail of, and provide the requirements
for, the prize competitions under this section. Such committee
shall be composed of--
(A) representatives of the specialty crop industry,
with at least a plurality of committee members from
sectors of the specialty crop industry that are labor-
intensive and lack adequate mechanization technology;
(B) members from the Federal agency, department, or
office that most appropriately corresponds with the
topic of the prize competition; and
(C) representatives of any other entities, as
determined appropriate by the Secretary, including
State and local governments and institutions of higher
education.
(2) Incentive for prize competition.--The prize committee
for each prize competition shall determine the incentive for
the prize competition. In determining the incentive, the
committee shall consider--
(A) a cash prize;
(B) access to Government facilities, a cooperative
research and development agreement, or other method;
and
(C) any other incentive provided for by law.
(3) Judging criteria.--The prize committee for each prize
competition shall establish judging criteria for the
competition that shall include, at a minimum--
(A) potential for the solution to become a
commercial product or service to further the public
good;
(B) consideration of how likely the solution is to
lead to subsequent research, development, or
manufacturing in the United States;
(C) the degree to which the solution will alleviate
stresses on the agricultural workforce and allow them
to work more efficiently;
(D) the degree to which the solution will alleviate
burdens on agricultural producers, shippers, and
packers facing labor shortages; and
(E) the degree to which the solution will reduce
losses of fresh fruit and vegetables due to lack of
available workers to manage and harvest crops.
(4) Consideration.--In carrying out this section, the
committee shall take into consideration the best practices
provided for in the challenges and prizes toolkit made publicly
available on December 15, 2016, by the General Services
Administration.
(c) Prize Competitions.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary
shall provide for prize competitions, including at least one prize
competition on each of the following:
(1) Planting.--Solutions to automate or alleviate stresses
on the workforce during the planting of specialty crops
including, but not limited to, the planting of seeds,
seedlings, and plants being transferred from nurseries or
greenhouses to the field.
(2) Crop management.--Solutions to automate or alleviate
stresses on the workforce when conducting tasks associated with
the management of specialty crops including, but not limited
to, weeding, pest management, and the application of crop
protectants.
(3) Harvesting.--Solutions to automate or alleviate
stresses on the workforce related to the harvesting of
specialty crops.
(4) Packaging.--Solutions to automate or alleviate stresses
on the workforce when processing and preparing specialty crops
for distribution.
(d) Acceptance of Funds.--In addition to such sums as may be
appropriated or otherwise made available to the Secretary to award
prizes under this section, the Secretary may accept funds from other
Federal agencies, private sector entities, institutions of higher
education, and State and local governments to award prizes under this
section. The Secretary may not give any special consideration relating
to the selection of awards under the prize competition to any private
sector entity or individual in return for a donation to the Secretary
or prize committee.
(e) Eligibility.--Notwithstanding section 24(g)(3) of the
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C.
3719(g)(3)), for a group to be eligible for an award under this
section, at least one member of such group shall be a citizen or
permanent resident of the United States.
(f) Completion of Prize Competitions.--The prize competitions
carried out under this section shall be completed not later than the
date that is 5 years after the program is established under subsection
(a).
(g) GAO Report.--Not later than the date of completion under
subsection (f), the Comptroller General of the United States shall
submit to Congress a report on the impact and the effectiveness of the
program carried out under this section.
(h) Specialty Crop Defined.--In this section, the term ''specialty
crop'' has the meaning given the term in section 3(1) of the Specialty
Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note).
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated $10,000,000 to carry out this Act, to remain available
until expended.
Specialty Crop Mechanization Prize Challenge of 2018 This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a Specialty Crop Mechanization Challenges program to carry out prize competitions for the mechanization of specialty crop production. (Specialty crops are fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.) The program must include at least one prize competition for solutions to automate or alleviate stresses on the workforce during each of the following: the planting of specialty crops, tasks associated with the management of specialty crops, the harvesting of specialty crops, and processing and preparing specialty crops for distribution. USDA must assemble prize committees to determine the scope, details, requirements, judging criteria, and incentives for each competition.