§ 5304. — Operation of program.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC5304]
TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 79--METAL CASTING COMPETITIVENESS RESEARCH PROGRAM
Sec. 5304. Operation of program
(a) Solicitation of proposals
Within one year after October 15, 1990, the Secretary shall solicit
and, subject to available appropriations, select proposals on a
competitive basis from applicants to carry out the program under section
5303 of this title. In order for a proposal to be considered by the
Secretary, the applicant shall have in existence at the time the
proposal is submitted the following qualifications:
(1) the technical capability to enable it to make use of
existing research support and facilities in carrying out its
research objectives;
(2) a multidisciplinary research staff experienced in metal
casting or other directly related technologies; and
(3) the facilities and equipment capable of conducting at least
laboratory scale testing or demonstration of metal casting or
related processes.
(b) Proposal criteria
Each proposal shall--
(1) demonstrate the support of the metal casting industry by
describing--
(A) how industry has participated in deciding what research
activities will be undertaken;
(B) how industry will participate in the evaluation of the
applicant's progress in research and development activities; and
(C) the extent to which industry funds are committed to the
applicant's proposal;
(2) have a commitment for matching funds from non-Federal
sources, which shall consist of:
(A) cash, or
(B) as determined by the Secretary, the fair market value of
equipment, services, materials, appropriate technology transfer
activities, and other assets directly related to the proposal's
cost;
(3) include a single or multiyear management plan that outlines
how the research and development activities will be administered and
carried out;
(4) state the annual cost of the proposal and a breakdown of
those costs; and
(5) describe the technology transfer mechanisms the applicant
will use to make available research results to industry and to other
researchers.
(c) Content of management plan
The management plan set forth in subsection (b)(3) of this section
shall--
(1) outline the basic research and development activities
expected to be performed;
(2) outline who will conduct those research activities;
(3) establish the time frame over which the research activities
will take place; and
(4) define the overall program management and direction by--
(A) identifying managerial, organizational and
administrative procedures and responsibilities;
(B) outlining how the coordination of research and
development between the individuals and organizations involved
will be achieved;
(C) demonstrating how implementation and monitoring of the
progress of research projects after receipt of funding from the
Secretary will be achieved;
(D) demonstrating how recommendations and implementations on
modifications to the plan will be achieved; and
(E) providing sufficient rationale to support the plan's
costs.
(d) Selection of proposals
From the proposals submitted, the Secretary shall select proposals
for funding. The Secretary shall attempt to select at least four
proposals. The Secretary shall select the proposals that--
(1) will best result in carrying out needed metal casting
research and development in one or more of the following general
areas--
(A) solidification and casting technologies;
(B) computational modeling and design;
(C) processing technologies and design for energy
efficiency, material conservation, environmental protection, or
industrial productivity; and
(D) other areas of research, which in the judgment of the
Secretary, after consulting with the Board established in
section 5306 of this title, further the purposes of this
chapter;
(2) represent research and development in specific areas
identified in the ``Metal Casting Research Priorities'' developed
annually by the Board pursuant to section 5306(b)(1) of this title;
(3) to the greatest extent possible and subject to available
appropriations, ensure that at least one applicant is selected from
each of the four census regions of the country where the metal
casting industry is concentrated;
(4) demonstrate strong industry support;
(5) ensure the timely transfer of technology to industry; and
(6) otherwise best carry out the purposes of this chapter.
(e) Funding of program
From amounts made available in separate appropriation Acts, the
Secretary shall provide to each applicant selected the financial and
technical assistance and other incentives that are necessary and
appropriate to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
(f) National Metal Casting Research Institute
Each recipient of financial assistance under subsection (d) of this
section shall be known as a ``National Metal Casting Research
Institute''.
(Pub. L. 101-425, Sec. 5, Oct. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 916.)
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 5305, 5306 of this title.
