---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 1886"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "1886"
heading: "Data collection and analysis"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/1886"
units:
  - "Chapter 16 — National Science Foundation"
---

# §1886. Data collection and analysis


The National Science Foundation is authorized to design, establish, and maintain a data collection and analysis capability in the Foundation for the purpose of identifying and assessing the research facilities needs of universities. The needs of universities, by major field of science and engineering, for [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7) and [modernization](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=9) of research laboratories, including fixed equipment and major research equipment, shall be documented. University expenditures for the [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7) and [modernization](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=9) of research facilities, the sources of funds, and other appropriate data shall be collected and analyzed. The Foundation, in conjunction with other appropriate Federal [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), shall conduct the necessary surveys every 2 years and report the results to the Congress. The first report shall be submitted to the Congress by September 1, 1986.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 99–159, title I, § 108, Nov. 22, 1985, 99 Stat. 888.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1986, and not as part of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 which comprises this chapter.