Section 6604 - Interagency working group on research regulation(a) Short titleThis section may be cited as the "Research and Development Efficiency Act".
(b) FindingsCongress makes the following findings:
(1) Scientific and technological advancement have been the largest drivers of economic growth in the last 50 years, with the Federal Government being the largest investor in basic research.(2) Substantial and increasing administrative burdens and costs in Federal research administration, particularly in the higher education sector where most federally funded research is performed, are eroding funds available to carry out basic scientific research.(3) Federally funded grants are increasingly competitive, with the Foundation funding only approximately 1 in every 5 grant proposals.(4) Progress has been made over the last decade in streamlining the pre-award grant application process through the Federal Government's Grants.gov website.(5) Post-award administrative costs have increased as Federal research agencies have continued to impose agency-unique compliance and reporting requirements on researchers and research institutions.(6) Researchers spend as much as 42 percent of their time complying with Federal regulations, including administrative tasks such as applying for grants or meeting reporting requirements.(c) Sense of CongressIt is the sense of Congress that-
(1) administrative burdens faced by researchers may be reducing the return on investment of federally funded research and development; and(2) it is a matter of critical importance to United States competitiveness that administrative costs of federally funded research be streamlined so that a higher proportion of federal funding is applied to direct research activities.(d) EstablishmentThe Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in coordination with the Office of Science and Technology Policy, shall establish an interagency working group (referred to in this section as the "Working Group") for the purpose of reducing administrative burdens on federally funded researchers while protecting the public interest through the transparency of and accountability for federally funded activities.
(e) Responsibilities(1) In generalThe Working Group shall-
(A) regularly review relevant, administration-related regulations imposed on federally funded researchers;(B) recommend those regulations or processes that may be eliminated, streamlined, or otherwise improved for the purpose described in subsection (d);(C) recommend ways to minimize the regulatory burden on United States institutions of higher education performing federally funded research while maintaining accountability for federal funding; and(D) recommend ways to identify and update specific regulations to refocus on performance-based goals rather than on process while achieving the outcome described in subparagraph (C).(2) Grant review(A) In generalThe Working Group shall-
(i) conduct a comprehensive review of Federal science agency grant proposal documents; and(ii) develop, to the extent practicable, a simplified, uniform grant format to be used by all Federal science agencies.(B) ConsiderationsIn developing the uniform grant format, the Working Group shall consider whether to implement-
(i) procedures for preliminary project proposals in advance of peer-review selection;(ii) increased use of "Just-In-Time" procedures for documentation that does not bear directly on the scientific merit of a proposal;(iii) simplified initial budget proposals in advance of peer review selection; and(iv) detailed budget proposals for applicants that peer review selection identifies as likely to be funded.(3) Centralized researcher profile database(A) EstablishmentThe Working Group shall establish, to the extent practicable, a secure, centralized database for investigator biosketches, curriculum vitae, licenses, lists of publications, and other documents considered relevant by the Working Group.
(B) ConsiderationsIn establishing the centralized profile database under subparagraph (A), the Working Group shall consider incorporating existing investigator databases.
(C) Grant proposalsTo the extent practicable, all grant proposals shall utilize the centralized investigator profile database established under subparagraph (A).
(D) RequirementsEach investigator shall-
(i) be responsible for ensuring the investigator's profile is current and accurate; and(ii) be assigned a unique identifier linked to the database and accessible to all Federal funding agencies.(4) Centralized assurances repositoryThe Working Group shall-
(A) establish a central repository for all of the assurances required for Federal research grants; and(B) provide guidance to institutions of higher education and Federal science agencies on the use of the centralized assurances repository.(5) Comprehensive review(A) In generalThe Working Group shall-
(i) conduct a comprehensive review of the mandated progress reports for federally funded research; and(ii) develop a strategy to simplify investigator progress reports.(B) ConsiderationsIn developing the strategy, the Working Group shall consider limiting progress reports to performance outcomes.
(f) ConsultationIn carrying out its responsibilities under subsection (e)(1), the Working Group shall consult with academic researchers outside the Federal Government, including-
(1) federally funded researchers;(2) non-federally funded researchers;(3) institutions of higher education and their representative associations;(4) scientific and engineering disciplinary societies and associations;(5) nonprofit research institutions;(6) industry, including small businesses;(7) federally funded research and development centers; and(8) members of the public with a stake in ensuring effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability in the performance of scientific research.(g) ReportsNot later than 1 year after January 6, 2017, and annually thereafter for 3 years, the Working Group shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on its responsibilities under this section, including a discussion of the considerations described in paragraphs (2)(B), (3)(B), and (5)(B) of subsection (e) and recommendations made under subsection (e)(1).
Pub. L. 114-329, title II, §201, Jan. 6, 2017, 130 Stat. 2995.EDITORIAL NOTES
CODIFICATIONSection was enacted as the Research and Development Efficiency Act and also as part of the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act, and not as part of the National Science and Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976 which comprises this chapter.
STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
DEFINITIONSFor definitions of terms used in this section, see section 2 of Pub. L. 114-329 set out as a note under section 1862s of this title.
- project
- The terms "federally assisted housing" and "project" mean-(A) a public housing project (as such term is defined in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)] );(B) housing for which project-based assistance is provided under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437f] ;(C) housing that is assisted under section 1701q of title 12;(D) housing that is assisted under section 1701q of title 12, as such section existed before November 28, 1990;(E) housing financed by a loan or mortgage insured under section 1715l(d)(3) of title 12 that bears interest at a rate determined under the proviso of section 1715l(d)(5) of title 12;(F) housing insured, assisted, or held by the Secretary or a State or State agency under section 1715z-1 of title 12;(G) housing constructed or substantially rehabilitated pursuant to assistance provided under section 8(b)(2) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437f(b)(2)], as in effect before October 1, 1983, that is assisted under a contract for assistance under such section; and(H) housing that is assisted under section 80131 of this title.