SHARED INSTRUMENTATION GRANT PROGRAM.

SEC. 305. SHARED INSTRUMENTATION GRANT PROGRAM. (a) Authorization of Appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2000, and such sums as may be necessary for each subsequent fiscal year, to enable the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the National Center for Research Resources, to provide for the continued operation of the Shared Instrumentation Grant Program (initiated in fiscal year 1992 under the authority of section 479 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 287 et seq.)).114 STAT. 2336 (b) Requirements for Grants.—In determining whether to award a grant to an applicant under the program described in subsection (a) the Director of the National Center for Research Resources shall consider— (1) the extent to which an award for the specific instrument involved would meet the scientific needs and enhance the planned research endeavors of the major users by providing an instrument that is unavailable or to which availability is highly limited; (2) with respect to the instrument involved, the availability and commitment of the appropriate technical expertise within the major user group or the applicant institution for use of the instrumentation; (3) the adequacy of the organizational plan for the use of the instrument involved and the internal advisory committee for oversight of the applicant, including sharing arrangements if any; (4) the applicant’s commitment for continued support of the utilization and maintenance of the instrument; and (5) the extent to which the specified instrument will be shared and the benefit of the proposed instrument to the overall research community to be served. (c) Peer Review.—In awarding grants under the program described in subsection (a) Director of the National Center for Research Resources shall comply with the peer review requirements in section 492 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 289a).