LIMITATION ON FUNDING FOR CONFERENCES.

SEC. 1121. LIMITATION ON FUNDING FOR CONFERENCES. (a) In General.—There are authorized to be appropriated not more than $5,000,000 for any expenses related to conferences, including conference programs, travel costs, and related expenses. No funds authorized under this Act may be used to support a Space Flight Awareness Launch Honoree Event conference. The total amount of the funds available under this Act for other Space Flight Awareness Honoree-related activities in fiscal year 2009 may not exceed ½ of the total amount of funds from all sources obligated or expended on such activities in fiscal year 2008.(b) Quarterly Reports.—The Administrator shall submit quarterly reports to the Inspector General of NASA regarding the costs and contracting procedures relating to each conference held by NASA during fiscal year 2009 for which the cost to the Government is more than $20,000. Each report shall include, for each conference described in that subsection held during the applicable quarter—(1) a description of the subject of and number of participants attending, the conference, including the number of NASA employees attending and the number of contractors attending at agency expense;(2) a detailed statement of the costs to the Government relating to the conference, including—(A) the cost of any food or beverages;122 STAT. 4816(B) the cost of any audio-visual services; and(C) a discussion of the methodology used to determine which costs relate to the conference; and D) cost of any room, board, travel, and per diem expenses; and(3) a description of the contracting procedures relating to the conference, including—(A) whether contracts were awarded on a competitive basis for that conference; and(B) a discussion of any cost comparison conducted by NASA in evaluating potential contractors for that conference.