SEC. 101. Short Title.
This title may be cited as the “Laboratory Modernization and Technology Transfer Act”.
Title I — Laboratory Modernization and Technology Transfer
TITLE I Laboratory Modernization and Technology Transfer
SEC. 102. Inclusion of Early Stage Technology Demonstration in Authorized Technology Transfer Activities.
Section 1001 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16391) is amended—
by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and
by inserting after subsection (f) the following:
“(g) Early Stage Technology Demonstration.—The Secretary shall permit the directors of the National Laboratories to use funds authorized to support technology transfer within the Department to carry out early stage and precommercial technology demonstration activities to remove technology barriers that limit private sector interest and demonstrate potential commercial applications of any research and technologies arising from National Laboratory activities.”
SEC. 103. Sense of Congress on Accelerating Energy Innovation.
It is the sense of Congress that—
although important progress has been made in cost reduction and deployment of clean energy technologies, accelerating clean energy innovation will help meet critical competitiveness, energy security, and environmental goals;
accelerating the pace of clean energy innovation in the United States calls for—
supporting existing research and development programs at the Department and the world-class National Laboratories;
exploring and developing new pathways for innovators, investors, and decision-makers to leverage the resources of the Department for addressing the challenges and comparative strengths of geographic regions; and
recognizing the financial constraints of the Department, regularly reviewing clean energy programs to ensure that taxpayer investments are maximized;
the energy supply, demand, policies, markets, and resource options of the United States vary by geographic region;
a regional approach to innovation can bridge the gaps between local talent, institutions, and industries to identify opportunities and convert United States investment into domestic companies; and
Congress, the Secretary, and energy industry participants should advance efforts that promote international, domestic, and regional cooperation on the research and development of energy innovations that—
provide clean, affordable, and reliable energy for everyone;
promote economic growth;
are critical for energy security; and
are sustainable without government support.
SEC. 104. Restoration of Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program.
In General.— Except as provided in subsection (b), the Secretary shall ensure that laboratory operating contractors do not allocate costs of general and administrative overhead to laboratory directed research and development.
Exception for National Security Laboratories.— This section shall not apply to the national security laboratories with respect to which section 3119 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328) applies.
SEC. 105. Research Grants Database.
In General.— The Secretary shall establish and maintain a public database, accessible on the website of the Department, that contains a searchable listing of each unclassified research and development project contract, grant, cooperative agreement, task order for a federally funded research and development center, or other transaction administered by the Department.
Requirements.— Each listing described in subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum, for each listed project, the Department office carrying out the project, the project name, an abstract or summary of the project, funding levels, project duration, contractor or grantee name (including the names of any subcontractors), and expected objectives and milestones.
Relevant Literature and Patents.— The Secretary shall provide information through the public database established under subsection (a) on relevant literature and patents that are associated with each research and development project contract, grant, or cooperative agreement, or other transaction, of the Department.
SEC. 106. Technology Transfer and Transitions Assessment.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and as often as the Secretary determines to be necessary thereafter, the Secretary shall transmit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes recommended changes to the policy of the Department and legislative changes to section 1001 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16391) to improve the ability of the Department to successfully transfer new energy technologies to the private sector.
SEC. 107. Agreements for Commercializing Technology Pilot Program.
In General.— The Secretary shall carry out the Agreements for Commercializing Technology pilot program of the Department, as announced by the Secretary on December 8, 2011, in accordance with this section.
Terms.— Each agreement entered into pursuant to the pilot program referred to in subsection (a) shall provide to the contractor of the applicable National Laboratory, to the maximum extent determined to be appropriate by the Secretary, increased authority to negotiate contract terms, such as intellectual property rights, payment structures, performance guarantees, and multiparty collaborations.
Eligibility.—
In general.— Any director of a National Laboratory may enter into an agreement pursuant to the pilot program referred to in subsection (a).
Agreements with non-federal entities.— To carry out paragraph (1) and subject to paragraph (3), the Secretary shall permit the directors of the National Laboratories to execute agreements with a non-Federal entity, including a non-Federal entity already receiving Federal funding that will be used to support activities under agreements executed pursuant to paragraph (1), provided that such funding is solely used to carry out the purposes of the Federal award.
Restriction.— The requirements of chapter 18 of title 35, United States Code (commonly known as the “Bayh-Dole Act”) shall apply if—
the agreement is a funding agreement (as that term is defined in section 201 of that title); and
at least one of the parties to the funding agreement is eligible to receive rights under that chapter.
Submission to Secretary.— Each affected director of a National Laboratory shall submit to the Secretary, with respect to each agreement entered into under this section—
a summary of information relating to the relevant project;
the total estimated costs of the project;
estimated commencement and completion dates of the project; and
other documentation determined to be appropriate by the Secretary.
Certification.— The Secretary shall require the contractor of the affected National Laboratory to certify that each activity carried out under a project for which an agreement is entered into under this section—
is not in direct competition with the private sector; and
does not present, or minimizes, any apparent conflict of interest, and avoids or neutralizes any actual conflict of interest, as a result of the agreement under this section.
Extension.— The pilot program referred to in subsection (a) shall be extended until September 30, 2019.
Reports.—
Overall assessment.— Not later than 60 days after the date described in subsection (f), the Secretary, in coordination with directors of the National Laboratories, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that—
assesses the overall effectiveness of the pilot program referred to in subsection (a);
identifies opportunities to improve the effectiveness of the pilot program;
assesses the potential for program activities to interfere with the responsibilities of the National Laboratories to the Department; and
provides a recommendation regarding the future of the pilot program.
Transparency.— The Secretary, in coordination with directors of the National Laboratories, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress an annual report that accounts for all incidences of, and provides a justification for, non-Federal entities using funds derived from a Federal contract or award to carry out agreements pursuant to this section.
SEC. 108. Short-Term Cost-Share Pilot Program.
in paragraph (1), by striking “ Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3)” and inserting “ Except as provided in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4)”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(4) Exemption for institutions of higher education and other nonprofit institutions.—
“(A) In general.—Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a research or development activity performed by an institution of higher education or nonprofit institution (as defined in section 4 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3703)).
“(B) Termination date.—The exemption under subparagraph (A) shall apply during the 2-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this paragraph.”
Reports.—
Initial report.— As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that describes the use of cost-sharing waivers by the Department under section 988(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352(b)) during the 2-year period ending on the date of enactment of this Act.
Annual reports.— Annually during the 2-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that describes the use of cost-sharing waivers by the Department under section 988(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352(b)) during the period covered by the report.