---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 19181"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "19181"
heading: "Agency responsibilities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/19181"
units:
  - "Chapter 163 — Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation"
  - "Subchapter V — Broadening Participation in Science"
  - "Part C — MSI STEM Achievement"
---

# §19181. Agency responsibilities

- (a) **In general—** In consultation with outside stakeholders and the heads of [Federal research agencies](/usc/42/18901.md?p=10) and the [Interagency Working Group on Inclusion in STEM](/usc/42/18901.md?p=14), the [Director](/usc/42/19184.md?p=1) of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall develop a uniform set of policy guidelines for [Federal research agencies](/usc/42/18901.md?p=10) to carry out a sustained program of outreach activities to increase clarity, transparency, and accountability for [Federal research agency](/usc/42/18901.md?p=10) investments in [STEM education](/usc/42/18901.md?p=28) and research activities at [HBCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=2), [TCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=4), and [MSIs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=3), including such institutions in rural areas.
- (b) **Outreach activities—** In developing policy guidelines under [subsection (a)](#a) the [Director](/usc/42/19184.md?p=1) of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall include guidelines that require each [Federal research agency](/usc/42/18901.md?p=10)—
  - (1) to designate a liaison for [HBCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=2), [TCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=4), and [MSIs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=3) responsible for—
    - (A) enhancing direct communication with [HBCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=2), [TCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=4), and [MSIs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=3) to increase the [Federal research agency](/usc/42/18901.md?p=10)’s understanding of the capacity and needs of such institutions and to raise awareness of available Federal funding opportunities at such institutions;
    - (B) coordinating programs, activities, and initiatives while accounting for the capacity and needs of [HBCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=2), [TCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=4), and [MSIs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=3);
    - (C) tracking [Federal research agency](/usc/42/18901.md?p=10) investments in and engagement with [HBCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=2), [TCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=4), and [MSIs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=3); and
    - (D) reporting progress toward increasing participation of [HBCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=2), [TCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=4), and [MSIs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=3) in award programs;
  - (2) to the extent practicable, to produce an annual summary of funding opportunities and proposal deadlines targeted at [HBCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=2), [TCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=4), and [MSIs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=3), including for [grants](/usc/42/19291.md?p=5), contracts, subcontracts, and cooperative agreements;
  - (3) to the extent practicable, identifying in annual budget requests potential areas for collaboration with [HBCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=2), [TCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=4), and [MSIs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=3) in the relevant fiscal year, including relating to potential meetings and workshops;
  - (4) to investigate proposal structures that support broader participation by [emerging research institutions](/usc/42/18901.md?p=5), including [HBCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=2), [TCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=4), and [MSIs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=3);
  - (5) to conduct on-site reviews of research facilities at [HBCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=2), [TCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=4), and [MSIs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=3), as practicable, and make recommendations regarding strategies for becoming more competitive in research;
  - (6) to hold geographically accessible or virtual workshops on research priorities of the [Federal research agency](/usc/42/18901.md?p=10) and on how to write competitive award proposals and how to bolster award management capacity for the entire award lifecycle, from application to completion;
  - (7) to ensure opportunities for [HBCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=2), [TCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=4), and [MSIs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=3) to directly communicate with [Federal research agency](/usc/42/18901.md?p=10) officials responsible for managing competitive award programs in order to receive feedback on research ideas and proposals, including guidance on the [Federal research agency](/usc/42/18901.md?p=10)’s merit review process; and
  - (8) to foster mutually beneficial public-private collaboration among [Federal research agencies](/usc/42/18901.md?p=10), industry, [Federal laboratories](/usc/42/18901.md?p=9), academia, and [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) organizations to—
    - (A) identify alternative sources of funding for [STEM education](/usc/42/18901.md?p=28) and research at [HBCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=2), [TCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=4), and [MSIs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=3);
    - (B) provide access to high-quality, relevant research experiences for students and faculty of [HBCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=2), [TCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=4), and [MSIs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=3);
    - (C) expand the professional networks of students and faculty of [HBCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=2), [TCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=4), and [MSIs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=3);
    - (D) broaden STEM educational opportunities for students and faculty of [HBCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=2), [TCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=4), and [MSIs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=3); and
    - (E) support the transition of students of [HBCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=2), [TCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=4), and [MSIs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=3) into the [STEM](/usc/42/18901.md?p=27) workforce;[^1]
- (c) **Strategic plan—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than one year after August 9, 2022, the [Director](/usc/42/19184.md?p=1) of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, in collaboration with the head of each [Federal research agency](/usc/42/18901.md?p=10), shall submit to Congress a report containing a strategic plan which reflects the plans of each [Federal research agency](/usc/42/18901.md?p=10) to increase the capacity of [HBCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=2), [TCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=4), and [MSIs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=3) to compete effectively for [grants](/usc/42/19291.md?p=5), contracts, or cooperative agreements and to encourage [HBCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=2), [TCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=4), and [MSIs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=3) to participate in Federal programs.
  - (2) **Considerations—** In developing a strategic plan under [paragraph (1)](#c-1), the [Director](/usc/42/19184.md?p=1) and the head of each [Federal research agency](/usc/42/18901.md?p=10) shall consider the following:
    - (A) Issuing new or expanding existing funding opportunities targeted to [HBCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=2), [TCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=4), and [MSIs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=3).
    - (B) Modifying existing research and development program solicitations to incentivize effective partnerships with [HBCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=2), [TCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=4), and [MSIs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=3).
    - (C) Offering planning [grants](/usc/42/19291.md?p=5) for [HBCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=2), [TCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=4), and [MSIs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=3) to develop or equip [grant](/usc/42/19291.md?p=5) offices with the requisite depth of knowledge to submit competitive [grant](/usc/42/19291.md?p=5) proposals and manage awarded [grants](/usc/42/19291.md?p=5).
    - (D) Offering additional training programs, including individualized and timely guidance to [grant](/usc/42/19291.md?p=5) officers, faculty, and postdoctoral researchers at [HBCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=2), [TCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=4), and [MSIs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=3) to ensure their understanding of the requirements for an effective [grant](/usc/42/19291.md?p=5) proposal.
    - (E) Other approaches for making current competitive funding models more accessible for underresourced [HBCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=2), [TCUs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=4), and [MSIs](/usc/42/19184.md?p=3).
- (d) **Report on policy guidelines—** Not later than two years after August 9, 2022, and every five years thereafter, the [Director](/usc/42/19184.md?p=1) of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall report to Congress on the implementation by [Federal research agencies](/usc/42/18901.md?p=10) of the policy guidelines developed under this section.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. The semicolon probably should be a period.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title V, § 10522, Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1620.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section is comprised of section 10522 of Pub. L. 117–167. Subsec. (e) of section 10522 of Pub. L. 117–167 amended section 6621 of this title.