NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACADEMIC RESEARCH FACILITIES MODERNIZATION PROGRAM.

SEC. 6402. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACADEMIC RESEARCH FACILITIES MODERNIZATION PROGRAM. (a) Purpose.— It is the purpose of this section to assist in modernizing and revitalizing the Nation’s research facilities at institutions of higher education, independent nonprofit research institutions and research museums through capital investments. (b) Establishment of Program.— To carry out this purpose, the National Science Foundation shall establish and carry out an Academic Research Facilities Modernization Program, under which awards shall be made to institutions of higher education, independent nonprofit research institutions and research museums, and consortia thereof, for the repair, renovation, or replacement (as appropriate) of such institutions’ obsolete laboratories and other research facilities. (c) Projects and Funding.— (1) The Academic Research Facilities Modernization Program established by the National Science Foundation pursuant to subsection (b) shall be carried out, through projects— (A) which involve the repair, renovation, or replacement (as appropriate) of specific research facilities at the eligible institutions or consortia thereof involved, and (B) for which funds are awarded in response to specific proposals submitted by such eligible institutions or consortia thereof in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Director of the Foundation, pursuant to subsection (d), with the objective of carrying out the purpose of this section. (2) The regulations so prescribed shall contain such terms, conditions, and guidelines as may be necessary in the light of that objective, but shall in any event provide that— (A) funds to carry out the program will be awarded to an institution after a comprehensive review using established Foundation procedures, and (B) the funds so awarded to any eligible institution or consortia thereof will be in an amount equal to not more than 50 percent of the cost of the repair, renovation, or replacement involved (with the funds required to meet the remainder of such cost being provided by the institution involved or consortia thereof or from other non-Federal public or private sources). 102 STAT. 1543 (d) Criteria for Awards.— (1) Annually, or prior to the issuance of a program announcement for solicitation of proposals for the award of funds to any institution or consortia thereof for a project under the National Science Foundation Academic Research Facilities Modernization Program, the National Science Foundation shall publish in the Federal Register interim guidelines for public review and comment for a period of 60 days. Such guidelines shall include (but not be limited to) the following: (A) specific definitions for the terms: facilities, instrumentation, equipment, repair, renovation, and replacement; (B) specific selection criteria to be used in evaluating the scientific merit of proposals and, in making awards to an institution or to consortia thereof, including an analysis of the age and condition of existing research facilities; and (C) specific provisions for matching the Federal grant pursuant to subsection (b). (2) Final guidelines shall be published in the Federal Register 60 days following the close of the comment period incorporating such appropriate revisions as may arise from comments received during the review period. The guidelines, at a minimum, shall include selection criteria for the following: (A) the quality of the research and training to be carried out in the facility or facilities involved; (B) the congruence of the institution’s research and training activities with the future research needs of the Nation and the training and research mission of the National Science Foundation; (C) the contribution which the project will make toward meeting national, regional, and the institution’s research and related training needs; and (D) the need for the proposed repair, renovation, or replacement (as appropriate) based on an analysis of the age and condition of existing research facilities and equipment. (e) Distribution of Funds.— Awards made under the National Science Foundation Academic Research Facilities Modernization Program shall not exceed $5,000,000 to any institution or consortium over any period of 5 years for the repair, renovation, or replacement (as appropriate) of academic research facilities. (f) Consultations.— In prescribing criteria and conducting the program under this section, the Director of the National Science Foundation shall consult with the Secretary of Education and other related agencies. (g) Reservations for Certain Institutions.— (1) At least 15 percent of the amount which is appropriated pursuant to this section in any fiscal year shall be available only for awards to universities, colleges, and research museums that received less than $10,000,000 in total Federal obligations for research and development (including obligations for the activities authorized in this section and section 6403) in each of the two preceding fiscal years. (2) Of the amounts appropriated under this section in each fiscal year at least 10 percent of the funds shall be reserved for institutions of higher education servicing a substantial percentage of students who are Black Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, Alaskan Natives (Eskimos or Aleut), Native Hawaiian, American Samoan, Micronesian, Guamanian (Chamorro), Northern Marianian, or Palauan. 102 STAT. 1544 (3) Requirements of paragraph (2) may be satisfied by considering the funds awarded under paragraph (1) to the institutions described in paragraph (2). (h) Authorization of Appropriations.— There are authorized to be appropriated $85,000,000 for fiscal year 1989 to carry out the National Science Foundation Academic Research Facilities Modernization Program. Such sums shall be available for that Program every year thereafter subject-to the authorizations and appropriations of activities for the National Science Foundation.