United States Code

CHAPTER 305—UNIVERSITIES

        

Editorial Notes

Codification

Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, §1843(a), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4244, initially enacted chapter 305 of this title, consisting of sections 4103, 4111, and 4112, which was to become effective Jan. 1, 2022. However, Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, §1701(u)(4)(A), (5)(A), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2153, repealed section 1843(a), and enacted a new section 1844(a), of Pub. L. 116–283, effective as if included therein, which eliminated the initial chapter 305 and enacted the current one.

Amendments

2025—Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title II, §213(a), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 773, added item 4145. Amendment was made pursuant to operation of section 102 of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Support for Protection of Sensitive Research Performed on Behalf of the Department of Defense

Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title II, §221, Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 188, provided that:

"(a) In General.—The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, may enter into contracts or other agreements with one or more eligible entities to assist institutions of higher education in protecting sensitive research performed on behalf of the Department of Defense.

"(b) Activities.—An eligible entity that enters into a contract or other agreement with the Secretary of Defense under subsection (a) shall carry out activities to assist institutions of higher education in protecting sensitive research performed on behalf of the Department of Defense. Such activities may include—

"(1) conducting effective due diligence in vetting visiting scholars;

"(2) assisting institutions in meeting applicable research security requirements, including through the use of common procedures and practices and shared infrastructure, as appropriate;

"(3) providing training to employees and offices of the institution that have responsibilities relating to research security; and

"(4) providing advice and assistance to institutions in establishing and maintaining research security programs.

"(c) Considerations.—In selecting an entity to receive a contract or other agreement under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall consider the following:

"(1) Geographic diversity and the extent to which the entity is able to maximize coverage of different regions of the United States.

"(2) Any ratings of the entity made by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency as part of the Agency's annual security vulnerability assessment ratings.

"(3) Whether and to what extent the entity uses best practices for research security as outlined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

"(4) The entity's demonstrated excellence in security programs, including receipt of awards for excellence in counterintelligence and outstanding achievement in industrial security.

"(d) Performance Metrics.—The Secretary of Defense shall establish metrics to measure the performance of each entity with which the Secretary enters into a contract or other agreement under subsection (a).

"(e) Notification and Report.—For any year in which the Secretary of Defense exercises the authority provided under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a report that—

"(1) identifies each eligible entity with which the Secretary entered into a contract or other agreement under such subsection; and

"(2) evaluates the performance of the entity.

"(f) Eligible Entity Defined.—In this section, the term 'eligible entity' means—

"(1) an entity the Secretary of Defense determines to be eligible to participate in the activities authorized under this section; or

"(2) a consortium composed of two or more such entities."

Support to Covered Educational Institutions

Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title II, §227(f), (g), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 198, provided that:

"(f) Support to Covered Educational Institutions.—

"(1) In general.—The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering may establish a program to award contracts, grants, or other agreements on a competitive basis to a covered educational institution, and to perform other appropriate activities, for the purposes described in paragraph (2).

"(2) Purposes.—The purposes described in this paragraph are the following:

"(A) Developing the capability, including workforce and research infrastructure capabilities, for covered educational institutions to more effectively compete for Federal engineering, applied research, commercialization, and workforce development funding opportunities.

"(B) Improving the capability of covered educational institutions to—

"(i) recruit and retain research faculty;

"(ii) participate in appropriate personnel exchange programs; and

"(iii) participate in appropriate educational and career development activities.

"(C) Any other purposes the Under Secretary determines appropriate for enhancing the engineering, applied research, commercialization, and development capabilities of covered educational institutions.

"(g) Definitions.—In this section:

"(1) Covered educational institution.—The term 'covered educational institution' means—

"(A) a mining, metallurgical, geological, or mineral engineering program—

"(i) accredited by a non-governmental organization that accredits post-secondary education programs in applied and natural science, engineering technology, and computing; and

"(ii) located at an institution of higher education; or

"(B) any other post-secondary educational institution with a geology or engineering program or department that has experience in mining research or work with the mining industry.

"(2) Critical materials.—The term 'critical materials' means materials designated as strategic and critical under section 3(a) of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98b(a)).

"(3) Institution of higher education.—For purposes of paragraph (1), the term 'institution of higher education' has the meaning given in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)."

Infrastructure To Support Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Missions

Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title II, §252, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1285, as amended by Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title II, §215(d)(9), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1594, provided that:

"(a) Master Plan Required.—The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall develop and implement a master plan that addresses the research, development, test, and evaluation infrastructure and modernization requirements of the Department of Defense, including the science and technology reinvention laboratories and the facilities of the Major Range and Test Facility Base.

"(b) Elements.—The master plan required under subsection (a) shall include, with respect to the research, development, test, and evaluation infrastructure of the Department of Defense, the following:

"(1) A summary of deficiencies in the infrastructure, by location, and the effect of the deficiencies on the ability of the Department—

"(A) to meet current and future military requirements identified in the National Defense Strategy;

"(B) to support science and technology development and acquisition programs; and

"(C) to recruit and train qualified personnel.

"(2) A summary of existing and emerging military research, development, test, and evaluation mission areas, by location, that require modernization investments in the infrastructure—

"(A) to improve operations in a manner that may benefit all users;

"(B) to enhance the overall capabilities of the research, development, test, and evaluation infrastructure, including facilities and resources;

"(C) to improve safety for personnel and facilities; and

"(D) to reduce the long-term cost of operation and maintenance.

"(3) Identification of specific infrastructure projects that are required to address the infrastructure deficiencies identified under paragraph (1) or to support the existing and emerging mission areas identified under paragraph (2).

"(4) For each project identified under paragraph (3)—

"(A) a description of the scope of work;

"(B) a cost estimate;

"(C) a summary of the plan for the project;

"(D) an explanation of the level of priority that will be given to the project; and

"(E) a schedule of required infrastructure investments.

"(5) A description of how the Department, including each military department concerned, will carry out the infrastructure projects identified in paragraph (3) using the range of authorities and methods available to the Department, including—

"(A) military construction authority under section 2802 of title 10, United States Code;

"(B) unspecified minor military construction authority under section 2805(a) of such title;

"(C) laboratory revitalization authority under section 2805(d) of such title;

"(D) the authority to carry out facility repair projects, including the conversion of existing facilities, under section 2811 of such title;

"(E) the authority provided under the Defense Laboratory Modernization Pilot Program under section 2803 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114–92; 10 U.S.C. 2358 note [now 10 U.S.C. 4121 note prec.]);

"(F) methods that leverage funding from entities outside the Department, including public-private partnerships, enhanced use leases and real property exchanges;

"(G) the authority to conduct commercial test and evaluation activities at a Major Range and Test Facility Installation, under section 2681 of title 10, United States Code [now 10 U.S.C. 4175]; and

"(H) any other authorities and methods determined to be appropriate by the Secretary of Defense.

"(6) Identification of any regulatory or policy barriers to the effective and efficient implementation of the master plan.

"(c) Consultation and Coordination.—In developing and implementing the plan required under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall—

"(1) consult with existing and anticipated customers and users of the capabilities of the Major Range and Test Facility Base and science and technology reinvention laboratories;

"(2) ensure consistency with the science and technology roadmaps and strategies of the Department of Defense and the Armed Forces; and

"(3) ensure consistency with the strategic plan for test and evaluation resources required by section 196(d) of title 10, United States Code [now 10 U.S.C. 4173(d)].

"(d) Submittal to Congress.—Not later than January 1, 2021, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] the master plan developed under subsection (a).

"(e) Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Infrastructure Defined.—In this section, the term 'research, development, test, and evaluation infrastructure' means the infrastructure of—

"(1) the science and technology reinvention laboratories (as designated under section 4121(b) of title 10, United States Code);

"(2) the Major Range and Test Facility Base (as defined in section 2358a(f)(3) of title 10, United States Code [now 10 U.S.C. 4091(f)(3)]); and

"(3) other facilities that support the research development, test, and evaluation activities of the Department."

Pilot Program for the Enhancement of the Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Centers of the Department of Defense

Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title II, §233, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2061, as amended by Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title II, §235, title X, §1081(d)(2), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1341, 1600; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title XVII, §1731(d), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1816; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title II, §216(a), (b), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3460; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title II, §§215(d)(7), 219, Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1594, 1597, which established a pilot program to demonstrate methods for the more effective development of technology and management of functions at science and technology reinvention laboratories, test and evaluation centers, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, was repealed by Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title II, §213(b), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 774. See 10 U.S.C. 4145.