6 U.S.C. § 188 : US Code - Section 188: Conduct of research, development, demonstration, testing and evaluation

Search 6 U.S.C. § 188 : US Code - Section 188: Conduct of research, development, demonstration, testing and evaluation

(a) In general
The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Science and
Technology, shall carry out the responsibilities under section
182(4) of this title through both extramural and intramural
programs.
(b) Extramural programs
(1) In general
The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Science
and Technology, shall operate extramural research, development,
demonstration, testing, and evaluation programs so as to - 
(A) ensure that colleges, universities, private research
institutes, and companies (and consortia thereof) from as many
areas of the United States as practicable participate;
(B) ensure that the research funded is of high quality, as
determined through merit review processes developed under
section 182(14) of this title; and
(C) distribute funds through grants, cooperative agreements,
and contracts.
(2) University-based centers for homeland security
(A) Designation
The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Science
and Technology, shall designate a university-based center or
several university-based centers for homeland security. The
purpose of the center or these centers shall be to establish a
coordinated, university-based system to enhance the Nation's
homeland security.
(B) Criteria for designation
Criteria for the designation of colleges or universities as a
center for homeland security, shall include, but are not
limited to, demonstrated expertise in - 
(i) The training of first responders.
(ii) Responding to incidents involving weapons of mass
destruction and biological warfare.
(iii) Emergency and diagnostic medical services.
(iv) Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear
countermeasures or detection.
(v) Animal and plant health and diagnostics.
(vi) Food safety.
(vii) Water and wastewater operations.
(viii) Port and waterway security.
(ix) Multi-modal transportation.
(x) Information security and information engineering.
(xi) Engineering.
(xii) Educational outreach and technical assistance.
(xiii) Border transportation and security.
(xiv) The public policy implications and public
dissemination of homeland security related research and
development.
(C) Discretion of Secretary
To the extent that exercising such discretion is in the
interest of homeland security, and with respect to the
designation of any given university-based center for homeland
security, the Secretary may except certain criteria as
specified in subparagraph (B) and consider additional criteria
beyond those specified in subparagraph (B). Upon designation of
a university-based center for homeland security, the Secretary
shall that day publish in the Federal Register the criteria
that were excepted or added in the selection process and the
justification for the set of criteria that were used for that
designation.
(D) Report to Congress
The Secretary shall report annually, from the date of
enactment, to Congress concerning the implementation of this
section. That report shall indicate which center or centers
have been designated and how the designation or designations
enhance homeland security, as well as report any decisions to
revoke or modify such designations.
(E) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this paragraph.
(c) Intramural programs
(1) Consultation
In carrying out the duties under section 182 of this title, the
Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Science and
Technology, may draw upon the expertise of any laboratory of the
Federal Government, whether operated by a contractor or the
Government.
(2) Laboratories
The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Science
and Technology, may establish a headquarters laboratory for the
Department at any laboratory or site and may establish additional
laboratory units at other laboratories or sites.
(3) Criteria for headquarters laboratory
If the Secretary chooses to establish a headquarters laboratory
pursuant to paragraph (2), then the Secretary shall do the
following:
(A) Establish criteria for the selection of the headquarters
laboratory in consultation with the National Academy of
Sciences, appropriate Federal agencies, and other experts.
(B) Publish the criteria in the Federal Register.
(C) Evaluate all appropriate laboratories or sites against
the criteria.
(D) Select a laboratory or site on the basis of the criteria.
(E) Report to the appropriate congressional committees on
which laboratory was selected, how the selected laboratory
meets the published criteria, and what duties the headquarters
laboratory shall perform.
(4) Limitation on operation of laboratories
No laboratory shall begin operating as the headquarters
laboratory of the Department until at least 30 days after the
transmittal of the report required by paragraph (3)(E).