AUTHORITY FOR NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTERS TO PARTICIPATE IN MERIT-BASED TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.

SEC. 254. AUTHORITY FOR NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTERS TO PARTICIPATE IN MERIT-BASED TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. Section 217(f)(1) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 (Public Law 103–337; 108 Stat 2695), as amended by section 3136 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (Public Law 105–261), is amended—123 STAT. 2244(1) in subparagraph (A) by inserting “, of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration,” after “the Department of Defense”; and(2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph (C):“(C) A federally funded research and development center of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration that functions primarily as a research laboratory may respond to broad agency announcements under programs authorized by the Federal Government for the purpose of promoting the research, development, demonstration, or transfer of technology in a manner consistent with the terms and conditions of such program.”.