---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 8518"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "8518"
heading: "Computing resource efficiency improvement and annual report"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/8518"
units:
  - "Chapter 111 — Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation"
  - "Subchapter I — United States Weather Research and Forecasting Improvement"
---

# §8518. Computing resource efficiency improvement and annual report

- (a) **Computing resources—**
  - (1) **In general—** In acquiring computing capabilities, including high performance computing technologies and supercomputing technologies, that enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) to meet its mission requirements, the [Under Secretary](/usc/15/8501.md?p=4) shall, when appropriate and cost-effective, assess and prioritize options for entering into multi-year lease [agreements](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) for computing capabilities over options for purchasing computing hardware outright.
  - (2) **Acquisition—** In carrying out the requirements of [paragraph (1)](#a-1), the [Under Secretary](/usc/15/8501.md?p=4) shall structure multi-year lease [agreements](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) in such a manner that the expiration of the lease is set for a date on or around—
    - (A) the expected degradation point of the computing resources; or
    - (B) the point at which significantly increased computing capabilities are expected to be available for lease.
  - (3) **Pilot programs—**
    - (A) **In general—** In order to more efficiently and effectively meet the mission requirements of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1), the [Under Secretary](/usc/15/8501.md?p=4) may create 1 or more pilot programs for assessing new or innovative information and technology capabilities and services.
    - (B) **Program requirements—** Any program created under [paragraph (3)](#a-3) shall assess only those capabilities and services that—
      - (i) meet or exceed the standards and requirements of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1), including for processing speed, cybersecurity, and overall reliability; or
      - (ii) meet or exceed, or are expected to meet or exceed, the performance of similar, in-house information and technology capabilities and services that are owned and operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) prior to the establishment of the pilot program.
    - (C) **Authorization of appropriations—** There is authorized to be appropriated, out of funds appropriated to the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, to carry out this paragraph $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2019, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2020, and $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023, to remain available until expended.
- (b) **Reports—** Not later than 1 year after January 7, 2019, and triennially thereafter until the date that is 6 years after the date on which the first report is submitted, the [Under Secretary](/usc/15/8501.md?p=4), acting through the Chief Information Officer of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) and in coordination with the Assistant [Administrator](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the Director of the National Weather Service, shall produce and make publicly available a report that explains how the [Under Secretary](/usc/15/8501.md?p=4) intends—
  - (1) to continually support upgrades to pursue the fastest, most powerful, and cost-effective high performance computing technologies in support of its weather prediction mission;
  - (2) to ensure a balance between the research to operations requirements to develop the next generation of regional and global models as well as highly reliable operational models;
  - (3) to take advantage of advanced development concepts to, as appropriate, make next generation weather prediction models available in beta-test mode to operational forecasters, the United States [weather industry](/usc/15/8501.md?p=5), and partners in academic and Government research;
  - (4) to use existing computing resources to improve advanced research and operational weather prediction;
  - (5) to utilize non-Federal contracts to obtain the necessary expertise for advanced weather computing, if appropriate;
  - (6) to utilize cloud computing; and
  - (7) to create a long-term strategy to transition the programming language of weather model code to current and broadly-used coding language.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 115–25, title I, § 108, Apr. 18, 2017, 131 Stat. 97; Pub. L. 115–423, § 5(a), Jan. 7, 2019, 132 Stat. 5457.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2019—Pub. L. 115–423 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to annual report on computing resources prioritization.