A Plan to Promote Defense Research at Minority-Serving Institutions (2024)
Chapter: Appendix C: Section 233 of Relevant NDAA Legislation
Appendix C
Section 233 of Relevant NDAA Legislation
SEC. 233. REPORT ON EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE PARTICIPATION OF HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS IN THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
(a) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on measures that may be implemented to increase the participation of historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions in the research, development, test, and evaluation activities of the Department of Defense.
(b) Elements.--The report under subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1) A strategy for the provision of long-term institutional support to historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions, including support for--
(A) the development and enhancement of the physical research infrastructure of such institutions; and
(B) the research activities of such institutions.
(2) An evaluation of the feasibility of expanding the support provided by the Department of Defense to historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions to include support for the development or enhancement of grant and contract administration capabilities at such institutions.
(3) An evaluation of options to strengthen support for historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions within the military departments and other organizations and elements of the Department, including an evaluation of the need for and feasibility of establishing dedicated organizations within the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force to increase engagement with such institutions.
(4) A review of the adequacy of the level of staffing within the Department that is dedicated to engagement with historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions.
(5) A plan to improve data collection and evaluation with respect to historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions, including--
(A) harmonization of standards with respect to the type, detail, and organization of data on such institutions;
(B) improving the completeness of data submissions regarding such institutions;
(C) improving the retention of data on such institutions across the Department;
(D) additional data collection specific to such institutions, including data on--
(i) the rates at which such institutions submit proposals for grants and contracts from the Department, the success rates of such proposals, and feedback regarding such proposals;
(ii) the total number of grants and contracts for which such institutions are eligible to apply and the number of applications received from such institutions for such grants and contracts; and
(iii) formal feedback mechanisms for rejected proposals from first-time applicants from such institutions; and
(E) as necessary, promulgation of additional or modified regulations, instructions, or guidance regarding the collection, evaluation, and retention of data on such institutions.
(6) Identification of the types of research facilities, personnel, capabilities, and subject areas that are in-demand within the Department so that historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions may prioritize investment in those types of facilities, personnel, capabilities, and subject areas as appropriate.
(7) Identification of metrics that may be used to evaluate, track, and improve the competitiveness of historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions for grants and contracts with the Department.
(8) An evaluation of options to implement criteria for the award of grants and contracts that assign value to the inclusion of historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions as research partners, including such mechanisms as weighted grant solicitation evaluation criteria and longer periods of performance to allow for capacity-building within such institutions.
(9) An evaluation of options to incentivize the defense industry to support capacity building within historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions, including through the incentivization of independent research and development or other activities.
(10) A plan to compile and maintain data regarding institutions of higher education, including historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions, that receive funding from departments and agencies of the Federal Government outside the Department of Defense.
(11) A review of the programs and practices of departments and agencies of the Federal Government outside the Department of Defense relevant to increasing research capacity at historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions for purposes of--
(A) the potential adoption of best practices within the Department;
(B) the identification of opportunities to leverage the research capacity of such institutions; and
(C) increasing the level of collaboration between the Department and such institutions.
(12) Recommendations for the modification or expansion of the workforce development programs of the Department, including
fellowships and internships, to increase the proportion of the workforce hired from historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions.
(13) Such other recommendations as the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering determines appropriate.
(14) A plan for the implementation of the recommendations included in the report, as appropriate, including an explanation of any additional funding, authorities, or organizational changes needed for the implementation of such recommendations.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term “historically Black college or university” means a part B institution (as defined in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061)).
(2) The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given that term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1932 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
(3) The term “other minority-serving institution” means an institution of higher education specified in paragraphs (2) through (7) of section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
(d) Report on Implementation.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the submission of the report under subsection (a), the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the progress of the Under Secretary in implementing measures to increase the participation of historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions in the research, development, test, and evaluation activities of the Department of Defense, as identified in the report under subsection (a).
