CONDUCT OF RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, DEMONSTRATION, TESTING AND EVALUATION.

SEC. 308. 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 302(4) 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 302(14); and (C) distribute funds through grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts. (2) University-based centers for homeland security.— (A) Establishment.—The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Science and Technology, shall establish within 1 year of the date of enactment of this Act a university-based center or centers for homeland security. The purpose of this center or centers shall be to establish a coordinated, university-based system to enhance the Nation’s homeland security. (B) Criteria for selection.—In selecting colleges or universities as centers for homeland security, the Secretary shall consider the following criteria: (i) Demonstrated expertise in the training of first responders. (ii) Demonstrated expertise in responding to incidents involving weapons of mass destruction and biological warfare. (iii) Demonstrated expertise in emergency medical services. (iv) Demonstrated expertise in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear countermeasures. (v) Strong affiliations with animal and plant diagnostic laboratories. (vi) Demonstrated expertise in food safety. 116 STAT. 2171 (vii) Affiliation with Department of Agriculture laboratories or training centers. (viii) Demonstrated expertise in water and wastewater operations. (ix) Demonstrated expertise in port and waterway security. (x) Demonstrated expertise in multi-modal transportation. (xi) Nationally recognized programs in information security. (xii) Nationally recognized programs in engineering. (xiii) Demonstrated expertise in educational outreach and technical assistance. (xiv) Demonstrated expertise in border transportation and security. (xv) Demonstrated expertise in interdisciplinary public policy research and communication outreach regarding science, technology, and public policy. (C) Discretion of secretary.—The Secretary shall have the discretion to establish such centers and to consider additional criteria as necessary to meet the evolving needs of homeland security and shall report to Congress concerning the implementation of this paragraph as necessary. (D) 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 302, 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 116 STAT. 2172of the Department until at least 30 days after the transmittal of the report required by paragraph (3)(E).