TITLE 15 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER II - AGENCY ACTIVITIES

15 USC 5521 - National Science Foundation activities

(a) General responsibilities 
As part of the Program described in subchapter I of this chapter
(1) the National Science Foundation shall provide computing and networking infrastructure support for all science and engineering disciplines, and support basic research and human resource development in all aspects of high-performance computing and advanced high-speed computer networking;
(2) to the extent that colleges, universities, and libraries cannot connect to the Network with the assistance of the private sector, the National Science Foundation shall have primary responsibility for assisting colleges, universities, and libraries to connect to the Network;
(3) the National Science Foundation shall serve as the primary source of information on access to and use of the Network; and
(4) the National Science Foundation shall upgrade the National Science Foundation funded network, assist regional networks to upgrade their capabilities, and provide other Federal departments and agencies the opportunity to connect to the National Science Foundation funded network.
(b) Authorization of appropriations 
From sums otherwise authorized to be appropriated, there are authorized to be appropriated to the National Science Foundation for the purposes of the Program $213,000,000 for fiscal year 1992; $262,000,000 for fiscal year 1993; $305,000,000 for fiscal year 1994; $354,000,000 for fiscal year 1995; and $413,000,000 for fiscal year 1996.

15 USC 5522 - National Aeronautics and Space Administration activities

(a) General responsibilities 
As part of the Program described in subchapter I of this chapter, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall conduct basic and applied research in high-performance computing, particularly in the field of computational science, with emphasis on aerospace sciences, earth and space sciences, and remote exploration and experimentation.
(b) Authorization of appropriations 
From sums otherwise authorized to be appropriated, there are authorized to be appropriated to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for the purposes of the Program $72,000,000 for fiscal year 1992; $107,000,000 for fiscal year 1993; $134,000,000 for fiscal year 1994; $151,000,000 for fiscal year 1995; and $145,000,000 for fiscal year 1996.

15 USC 5523 - Department of Energy activities

(a) General responsibilities 
As part of the Program described in subchapter I of this chapter, the Secretary of Energy shall
(1) conduct and support basic and applied research in high-performance computing and networking to support fundamental research in science and engineering disciplines related to energy applications; and
(2) provide computing and networking infrastructure support, including
(A) the provision of high-performance computing systems that are among the most advanced in the world in terms of performance in solving scientific and engineering problems; and
(B) support for advanced software and applications development for science and engineering disciplines related to energy applications.
(b) Authorization of appropriations 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.

15 USC 5524 - Department of Commerce activities

(a) General responsibilities 
As part of the Program described in subchapter I of this chapter
(1) the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall
(A) conduct basic and applied measurement research needed to support various high-performance computing systems and networks;
(B) develop and propose standards and guidelines, and develop measurement techniques and test methods, for the interoperability of high-performance computing systems in networks and for common user interfaces to systems; and
(C) be responsible for developing benchmark tests and standards for high-performance computing systems and software; and
(2) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall conduct basic and applied research in weather prediction and ocean sciences, particularly in development of new forecast models, in computational fluid dynamics, and in the incorporation of evolving computer architectures and networks into the systems that carry out agency missions.
(b) High-performance computing and network security 
Pursuant to the Computer Security Act of 1987 (Public Law 100235; 101 Stat. 1724), the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall be responsible for developing and proposing standards and guidelines needed to assure the cost-effective security and privacy of sensitive information in Federal computer systems.
(c) Study of impact of Federal procurement regulations 

(1) The Secretary of Commerce shall conduct a study to
(A) evaluate the impact of Federal procurement regulations that require that contractors providing software to the Federal Government share the rights to proprietary software development tools that the contractors use to develop the software; and
(B) determine whether such regulations discourage development of improved software development tools and techniques.
(2) The Secretary of Commerce shall, within one year after December 9, 1991, report to the Congress regarding the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1).
(d) Authorization of appropriations 
From sums otherwise authorized to be appropriated, there are authorized to be appropriated
(1) to the National Institute of Standards and Technology for the purposes of the Program $3,000,000 for fiscal year 1992; $4,000,000 for fiscal year 1993; $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1994; $6,000,000 for fiscal year 1995; and $7,000,000 for fiscal year 1996; and
(2) to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for the purposes of the Program $2,500,000 for fiscal year 1992; $3,000,000 for fiscal year 1993; $3,500,000 for fiscal year 1994; $4,000,000 for fiscal year 1995; and $4,500,000 for fiscal year 1996.

15 USC 5525 - Environmental Protection Agency activities

(a) General responsibilities 
As part of the Program described in subchapter I of this chapter, the Environmental Protection Agency shall conduct basic and applied research directed toward the advancement and dissemination of computational techniques and software tools which form the core of ecosystem, atmospheric chemistry, and atmospheric dynamics models.
(b) Authorization of appropriations 
From sums otherwise authorized to be appropriated, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Environmental Protection Agency for the purposes of the Program $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1992; $5,500,000 for fiscal year 1993; $6,000,000 for fiscal year 1994; $6,500,000 for fiscal year 1995; and $7,000,000 for fiscal year 1996.

15 USC 5526 - Role of Department of Education

(a) General responsibilities 
As part of the Program described in subchapter I of this chapter, the Secretary of Education is authorized to conduct basic and applied research in computational research with an emphasis on the coordination of activities with libraries, school facilities, and education research groups with respect to the advancement and dissemination of computational science and the development, evaluation and application of software capabilities.
(b) Authorization of appropriations 
From sums otherwise authorized to be appropriated, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Education for the purposes of this section $1,500,000 for fiscal year 1992; $1,700,000 for fiscal year 1993; $1,900,000 for fiscal year 1994; $2,100,000 for fiscal year 1995; and $2,300,000 for fiscal year 1996.

15 USC 5527 - Miscellaneous provisions

(a) Nonapplicability 
Except to the extent the appropriate Federal agency or department head determines, the provisions of this chapter shall not apply to
(1) programs or activities regarding computer systems that process classified information; or
(2) computer systems the function, operation, or use of which are those delineated in paragraphs (1) through (5) of section 2315 (a) of title 10.[1]
(b) Acquisition of prototype and early production models 
In accordance with Federal contracting law, Federal agencies and departments participating in the Program may acquire prototype or early production models of new high-performance computing systems and subsystems to stimulate hardware and software development. Items of computing equipment acquired under this subsection shall be considered research computers for purposes of applicable acquisition regulations.
[1] So in original. Section 2315 of title 10 does not contain a subsec. (a).

15 USC 5528 - Fostering United States competitiveness in high-performance computing and related activities

(a) Findings 
The Congress finds the following:
(1) High-performance computing and associated technologies are critical to the United States economy.
(2) While the United States has led the development of high-performance computing, United States industry is facing increasing global competition.
(3) Despite existing international agreements on fair competition and nondiscrimination in government procurements, there is increasing concern that such agreements are not being honored, that more aggressive enforcement of such agreements is needed, and that additional steps may be required to ensure fair global competition, particularly in high-technology fields such as high-performance computing and associated technologies.
(4) It is appropriate for Federal agencies and departments to use the funds authorized for the Program in a manner which most effectively fosters the maintenance and development of United States leadership in high-performance computers and associated technologies in and for the benefit of the United States.
(5) It is appropriate for Federal agencies and departments to use the funds authorized for the Program in a manner, consistent with the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (19 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.), which most effectively fosters reciprocal competitive procurement treatment by foreign governments for United States high-performance computing and associated technology products and suppliers.
(b) Annual report 

(1) Report 
The Director shall submit an annual report to Congress that identifies
(A) any grant, contract, cooperative agreement, or cooperative research and development agreement (as defined under section 3710a (d)(1) of this title) made or entered into by any Federal agency or department for research and development under the Program with
(i) any company other than a company that is either incorporated or located in the United States, and that has majority ownership by individuals who are citizens of the United States; or
(ii) any educational institution or nonprofit">nonprofit institution located outside the United States; and
(B) any procurement exceeding $1,000,000 by any Federal agency or department under the Program for
(i) unmanufactured articles, materials, or supplies mined or produced outside the United States; or
(ii) manufactured articles, materials, or supplies other than those manufactured in the United States substantially all from articles, materials, or supplies mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States, under the meaning of title III of the Act of March 3, 1933 (41 U.S.C. 10a–10d;[1] popularly known as the Buy American Act) as amended by the Buy American Act of 1988.
(2) Consolidation of reports 
The report required by this subsection may be included with the report required by section 5511 (a)(3)(A)1 of this title.
(c) Application of Buy American Act 
This chapter does not affect the applicability of title III of the Act of March 3, 1933 (41 U.S.C. 10a–10d;[1] popularly known as the Buy American Act), as amended by the Buy American Act of 1988, to procurements by Federal agencies and departments undertaken as a part of the Program.
[1] See References in Text note below.