DEMONSTRATION PROJECT TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESSAND UNIVERSITY PARTICIPATION IN OFFICE OF NAVAL RESEARCH EFFORTS TO EXTEND BENEFITS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH TO FLEET.

SEC. 262. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESSAND UNIVERSITY PARTICIPATION IN OFFICE OF NAVAL RESEARCH EFFORTS TO EXTEND BENEFITS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH TO FLEET. (a) Project Required.—The Secretary of the Navy, acting through the Chief of Naval Research, shall carry out a demonstration project to increase access to Navy facilities of small businesses and universities that are engaged in science and technology research beneficial to the fleet. (b) Project Elements.—In carrying out the demonstration project, the Secretary shall— (1) establish and operate a Navy Technology Extension Center at a location to be selected by the Secretary; (2) permit participants in the Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR) that are awarded contracts by the Office of Naval Research to access and use Navy Major Range Test Facilities Base (MRTFB) facilities selected by the Secretary for purposes of carrying out such contracts, and charge such participants for such access and use at the same established rates that Department of Defense customers are charged; and (3) permit universities, institutions of higher learning, and federally funded research and development centers collaborating with participants referred to in paragraph (2) to access and use such facilities for such purposes, and charge such entities for such access and use at such rates. (c) Period of Project.—The demonstration project shall be carried out during the three-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. (d) Report.—Not later than February 1, 2004, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the demonstration project. The report shall include a description of the activities carried out under the demonstration project and any recommendations for the improvement or expansion of the demonstration project that the Secretary considers appropriate.