PARTNERSHIP INTERMEDIARIES FOR PROMOTION OF DEFENSE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION.

SEC. 231. PARTNERSHIP INTERMEDIARIES FOR PROMOTION OF DEFENSE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION. Section 2368 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections (g) and (h), respectively; and (2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following new subsection (f): “(f) Use of Partnership Intermediaries to Promote Defense Research and Education.—(1) Subject to the approval of the Secretary or the head of the another department or agency of the Federal Government concerned, the Director of a Center may enter into a contract, memorandum of understanding or other transition with a partnership intermediary that provides for the partnership intermediary to perform services for the Department of Defense that increase the likelihood of success in the conduct of cooperative or joint activities of the Center with industry or academic institutions. “(2) In this subsection, the term ‘partnership intermediary’ means an agency of a State or local government, or a nonprofit entity owned in whole or in part by, chartered by, funded in whole or in part by, or operated in whole or in part by or on behalf of a State or local government, that assists, counsels, advises, evaluates, or otherwise cooperates with industry or academic institutions that need or can make demonstrably productive use of technology-related assistance from a Center.” .