subpart 1—national center for research resources

§287. General purpose

The general purpose of the National Center for Research Resources (in this subpart referred to as the "Center") is to strengthen and enhance the research environments of entities engaged in health-related research by developing and supporting essential research resources.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, §479, as added Pub. L. 99–158, §2, Nov. 20, 1985, 99 Stat. 864; amended Pub. L. 103–43, title XV, §1501(2)(B), June 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 172.)

Amendments

1993—Pub. L. 103–43 substituted "the National Center for Research Resources (in this subpart referred to as the 'Center')" for "the Division of Research Resources".

§287a. Advisory council

(a) Appointment; functions and duties; acceptance of conditional gifts; subcommittees

(1) The Secretary shall appoint an advisory council for the Center which shall advise, assist, consult with, and make recommendations to the Secretary and the Director of the Center on matters related to the activities carried out by and through the Center and the policies respecting such activities.

(2) The advisory council for the Center may recommend to the Secretary acceptance, in accordance with section 238 of this title, of conditional gifts for study, investigations, and research and for the acquisition of grounds or construction, equipping, or maintenance of facilities for the Center.

(3) The advisory council for the Center—

(A)(i) may make recommendations to the Director of the Center respecting research conducted at the Center,

(ii) may review applications for grants and cooperative agreements for research or training and recommend for approval applications for projects which show promise of making valuable contributions to human knowledge, and

(iii) may review any grant, contract, or cooperative agreement proposed to be made or entered into by the Center;

(B) may collect, by correspondence or by personal investigation, information as to studies which are being carried on in the United States or any other country as to the diseases, disorders, or other aspects of human health with respect to which the Center is concerned and with the approval of the Director of the Center make available such information through appropriate publications for the benefit of public and private health entities and health professions personnel and scientists and for the information of the general public; and

(C) may appoint subcommittees and convene workshops and conferences.

(b) Membership; ex officio members; compensation

(1) The advisory council shall consist of ex officio members and not more than eighteen members appointed by the Secretary.

(2) The ex officio members of the advisory council shall consist of—

(A) the Secretary, the Director of NIH, the Director of the Center, the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (or the designees of such officers), and

(B) such additional officers or employees of the United States as the Secretary determines necessary for the advisory council to effectively carry out its functions.

(3) The members of the advisory council who are not ex officio members shall be appointed as follows:

(A) Two-thirds of the members shall be appointed by the Secretary from among the leading representatives of the health and scientific disciplines (including public health and the behavioral or social sciences) relevant to the activities of the Center.

(B) One-third of the members shall be appointed by the Secretary from the general public and shall include leaders in fields of public policy, law, health policy, economics, and management.

(4) Members of the advisory council who are officers or employees of the United States shall not receive any compensation for service on the advisory council. The other members of the advisory council shall receive, for each day (including traveltime) they are engaged in the performance of the functions of the advisory council, compensation at rates not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate in effect for grade GS–18 of the General Schedule.

(c) Term of office; vacancy; reappointment

The term of office of an appointed member of the advisory council is four years, except that any member appointed to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term shall be appointed for the remainder of such term and the Secretary shall make appointments to an advisory council in such a manner as to ensure that the terms of the members do not all expire in the same year. A member may serve after the expiration of the member's term until a successor has taken office. A member who has been appointed for a term of four years may not be reappointed to an advisory council before two years from the date of expiration of such term of office. If a vacancy occurs in the advisory council among the appointed members, the Secretary shall make an appointment to fill the vacancy within 90 days from the date the vacancy occurs.

(d) Chairman; selection; term of office

The chairman of the advisory council shall be selected by the Secretary from among the appointed members, except that the Secretary may select the Director of the Center to be the chairman of the advisory council. The term of office of the chairman shall be two years.

(e) Meetings

The advisory council shall meet at the call of the chairman or upon the request of the Director of the Center, but at least three times each fiscal year. The location of the meetings of the advisory council is subject to the approval of the Director of the Center.

(f) Executive secretary; staff; orientation and training for new members

The Director of the Center shall designate a member of the staff of the Center to serve as the executive secretary of the advisory council. The Director of the Center shall make available to the advisory council such staff, information, and other assistance as it may require to carry out its functions. The Director of the Center shall provide orientation and training for new members of the advisory council to provide them with such information and training as may be appropriate for their effective participation in the functions of the advisory council.

(g) Material for inclusion in biennial report; additional reports

The advisory council may prepare, for inclusion in the biennial report made under section 287a–1 of this title, (1) comments respecting the activities of the advisory council in the fiscal years respecting which the report is prepared, (2) comments on the progress of the Center in meeting its objectives, and (3) recommendations respecting the future directions and program and policy emphasis of the Center. The advisory council may prepare such additional reports as it may determine appropriate.

(h) Advisory council in existence on November 20, 1985

This section does not terminate the membership of the advisory council for the Center which was in existence on November 20, 1985. After November 20, 1985—

(1) the Secretary shall make appointments to such advisory council in such a manner as to bring about as soon as practicable the composition for such council prescribed by this section;

(2) the advisory council shall organize itself in accordance with this section and exercise the functions prescribed by this section; and

(3) the Director of the Center shall perform for such advisory council the functions prescribed by this section.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, §480, as added Pub. L. 99–158, §2, Nov. 20, 1985, 99 Stat. 864; amended Pub. L. 101–381, title I, §102(3), Aug. 18, 1990, 104 Stat. 586; Pub. L. 102–405, title III, §302(e)(1), Oct. 9, 1992, 106 Stat. 1985; Pub. L. 103–43, title XV, §1501(2)(C), (D), title XX, §§2008(b)(12), 2010(b)(4), June 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 172, 173, 211, 214.)

Amendments

1993—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 103–43, §1501(2)(C), (D), substituted "the Center" for "the Division of Research Resources" after "advisory council for" and substituted "the Center" for "the Division" in two places.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 103–43, §§1501(2)(C), (D), 2010(b)(4), substituted "the Center" for "the Division of Research Resources" after "advisory council for", "section 238" for "section 300aaa", and "the Center" for "the Division".

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 103–43, §1501(2)(D), substituted "the Center" for "the Division" wherever appearing.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–43, §§1501(2)(C), (D), 2008(b)(12), in par. (2)(A) substituted "the Center" for "the Division of Research Resources" and "Department of Veterans Affairs" for "Veterans' Administration" and in par. (3)(A) substituted "the Center" for "the Division".

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103–43, §1501(2)(C), substituted "the Center" for "the Division of Research Resources".

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 103–43, §1501(2)(C), (D), substituted "the Center" for "the Division of Research Resources" and "the Center" for "the Division".

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 103–43, §1501(2)(C), (D), substituted "the Center" for "the Division of Research Resources" and "the Center" for "the Division" in three places.

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 103–43, §1501(2)(C), (D), substituted "the Center" for "the Division of Research Resources" and "the Center" for "the Division".

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 103–43, §1501(2)(C), substituted "the Center" for "the Division of Research Resources" in introductory provisions and in par. (3).

1992—Subsec. (b)(2)(A). Pub. L. 102–405 substituted "Under Secretary for Health" for "Chief Medical Director".

1990—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 101–381 made technical amendment to reference to section 300aaa of this title to reflect renumbering of corresponding section of original act.

Termination of Advisory Councils

Advisory councils established after Jan. 5, 1973, to terminate not later than the expiration of the 2-year period beginning on the date of their establishment, unless, in the case of a council established by the President or an officer of the Federal Government, such council is renewed by appropriate action prior to the expiration of such 2-year period, or in the case of a council established by the Congress, its duration is otherwise provided by law. See sections 3(2) and 14 of Pub. L. 92–463, Oct. 6, 1972, 86 Stat. 770, 776, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Pub. L. 93–641, §6, Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2275, set out as a note under section 217a of this title, provided that an advisory committee established pursuant to the Public Health Service Act shall terminate at such time as may be specifically prescribed by an Act of Congress enacted after Jan. 4, 1975.

References in Other Laws to GS–16, 17, or 18 Pay Rates

References in laws to the rates of pay for GS–16, 17, or 18, or to maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, see section 529 [title I, §101(c)(1)] of Pub. L. 101–509, set out in a note under section 5376 of Title 5.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 287a–1, 287a–2 of this title.

§287a–1. Biennial report

The Director of the Center, after consultation with the advisory council for the Center, shall prepare for inclusion in the biennial report made under section 283 of this title a biennial report which shall consist of a description of the activities of the Center and program policies of the Director of the Center in the fiscal years respecting which the report is prepared. The Director of the Center may prepare such additional reports as the Director determines appropriate. The Director of the Center shall provide the advisory council of the Center an opportunity for the submission of the written comments referred to in section 287a(g) of this title.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, §481, as added Pub. L. 99–158, §2, Nov. 20, 1985, 99 Stat. 866; amended Pub. L. 103–43, title XV, §1501(2)(C), (D), June 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 172, 173.)

Amendments

1993—Pub. L. 103–43 substituted "the Center" for "the Division of Research Resources" and "the Center" for "the Division" wherever appearing.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 287a of this title.

§287a–2. Biomedical and behavioral research facilities

(a) Modernization and construction of facilities

(1) In general

The Director of NIH, acting through the Director of the Center, may make grants to public and nonprofit private entities to expand, remodel, renovate, or alter existing research facilities or construct new research facilities, subject to the provisions of this section.

(2) Construction and cost of construction

For purposes of this section, the terms "construction" and "cost of construction" include the construction of new buildings and the expansion, renovation, remodeling, and alteration of existing buildings, including architects' fees, but do not include the cost of acquisition of land or off-site improvements.

(b) Scientific and technical review boards for merit-based review of proposals

(1) In general; approval as precondition to grants

(A) There is established within the Center a Scientific and Technical Review Board on Biomedical and Behavioral Research Facilities (referred to in this section as the "Board").

(B) The Director of the Center may approve an application for a grant under subsection (a) of this section only if the Board has under paragraph (2) recommended the application for approval.

(2) Duties

(A) The Board shall provide advice to the Director of the Center and the advisory council established under section 287a of this title (in this section referred to as the "Advisory Council") on carrying out this section.

(B) In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Board shall make a determination of the merit of each application submitted for a grant under subsection (a) of this section, after consideration of the requirements established in subsection (c) of this section, and shall report the results of the determination to the Director of the Center and the Advisory Council. Such determinations shall be conducted in a manner consistent with procedures established under section 289a of this title.

(C) In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Board shall, in the case of applications recommended for approval, make recommendations to the Director and the Advisory Council on the amount that should be provided in the grant.

(D) In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Board shall prepare an annual report for the Director of the Center and the Advisory Council describing the activities of the Board in the fiscal year for which the report is made. Each such report shall be available to the public, and shall—

(i) summarize and analyze expenditures made under this section;

(ii) provide a summary of the types, numbers, and amounts of applications that were recommended for grants under subsection (a) of this section but that were not approved by the Director of the Center; and

(iii) contain the recommendations of the Board for any changes in the administration of this section.

(3) Membership

(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), the Board shall be composed of 9 appointed members, and such ex officio members as the Director of the Center determines to be appropriate.

(B) Not more than 3 individuals who are officers or employees of the Federal Government may serve as members of the Board.

(4) Certain requirements regarding membership

In selecting individuals for membership on the Board, the Director of the Center shall ensure that the members are individuals who, by virtue of their training or experience, are eminently qualified to perform peer review functions. In selecting such individuals for such membership, the Director of the Center shall ensure that the members of the Board collectively—

(A) are experienced in the planning, construction, financing, and administration of entities that conduct biomedical or behavioral research sciences;

(B) are knowledgeable in making determinations of the need of entities for biomedical or behavioral research facilities, including such facilities for the dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, and allied health professions;

(C) are knowledgeable in evaluating the relative priorities for applications for grants under subsection (a) of this section in view of the overall research needs of the United States; and

(D) are experienced with emerging centers of excellence, as described in subsection (c)(3) of this section.

(5) Certain authorities

(A) In carrying out paragraph (2), the Board may convene workshops and conferences, and collect data as the Board considers appropriate.

(B) In carrying out paragraph (2), the Board may establish subcommittees within the Board. Such subcommittees may hold meetings as determined necessary to enable the subcommittee to carry out its duties.

(6) Terms

(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), each appointed member of the Board shall hold office for a term of 4 years. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which such member's predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of the term of the predecessor.

(B) Of the initial members appointed to the Board (as specified by the Director of the Center when making the appointments)—

(i) 3 shall hold office for a term of 3 years;

(ii) 3 shall hold office for a term of 2 years; and

(iii) 3 shall hold office for a term of 1 year.

(C) No member is eligible for reappointment to the Board until 1 year has elapsed after the end of the most recent term of the member.

(7) Compensation

Members of the Board who are not officers or employees of the United States shall receive for each day the members are engaged in the performance of the functions of the Board compensation at the same rate received by members of other national advisory councils established under this subchapter.

(c) Requirements for grants

(1) In general

The Director of the Center may make a grant under subsection (a) of this section only if the applicant for the grant meets the following conditions:

(A) The applicant is determined by such Director to be competent to engage in the type of research for which the proposed facility is to be constructed.

(B) The applicant provides assurances satisfactory to the Director that—

(i) for not less than 20 years after completion of the construction, the facility will be used for the purposes of research for which it is to be constructed;

(ii) sufficient funds will be available to meet the non-Federal share of the cost of constructing the facility;

(iii) sufficient funds will be available, when construction is completed, for the effective use of the facility for the research for which it is being constructed; and

(iv) the proposed construction will expand the applicant's capacity for research, or is necessary to improve or maintain the quality of the applicant's research.

(C) The applicant meets reasonable qualifications established by the Director with respect to—

(i) the relative scientific and technical merit of the applications, and the relative effectiveness of the proposed facilities, in expanding the capacity for biomedical or behavioral research and in improving the quality of such research;

(ii) the quality of the research or training, or both, to be carried out in the facilities involved;

(iii) the need of the applicant for such facilities in order to maintain or expand the applicant's research and training mission;

(iv) the congruence of the research activities to be carried out within the facility with the research and investigator manpower needs of the United States; and

(v) the age and condition of existing research facilities and equipment.

(D) The applicant has demonstrated a commitment to enhancing and expanding the research productivity of the applicant.

(2) Consideration of certain factors

In making grants under subsection (a) of this section, the Director of the Center may, in addition to the requirements established in paragraph (1), consider the following factors:

(A) To what extent the applicant has the capacity to broaden the scope of research and research training programs of the applicant by promoting—

(i) interdisciplinary research;

(ii) research on emerging technologies, including those involving novel analytical techniques or computational methods; or

(iii) other novel research mechanisms or programs.

(B) To what extent the applicant has broadened the scope of research and research training programs of qualified institutions by promoting genomic research with an emphasis on interdisciplinary research, including research related to pediatric investigations.

(3) Institutions of emerging excellence

Of the amounts appropriated under subsection (h) of this section for a fiscal year, the Director of the Center shall make available 25 percent for grants under subsection (a) of this section to applicants that, in addition to meeting the requirements established in paragraph (1), have demonstrated emerging excellence in biomedical or behavioral research, as follows:

(A) The applicant has a plan for research or training advancement and possesses the ability to carry out the plan.

(B) The applicant carries out research and research training programs that have a special relevance to a problem, concern, or unmet health need of the United States.

(C) The applicant has been productive in research or research development and training.

(D) The applicant—

(i) has been designated as a center of excellence under part B of subchapter V of this chapter;

(ii) is located in a geographic area whose population includes a significant number of individuals with a health-status deficit, and the applicant provides health services to such individuals; or

(iii) is located in a geographic area in which a deficit in health care technology, services, or research resources may adversely affect health status of the population of the area in the future, and the applicant is carrying out activities with respect to protecting the health status of such population.

(d) Requirement of application

The Director of the Center may make a grant under subsection (a) of this section only if an application for the grant is submitted to the Director and the application is in such form, is made in such manner, and contains such agreements, assurances, and information as the Director determines to be necessary to carry out this section.

(e) Amount of grant; payments

(1) Amount

The amount of any grant awarded under subsection (a) of this section shall be determined by the Director of the Center, except that such amount shall not exceed—

(A) 50 percent of the necessary cost of the construction of a proposed facility as determined by the Director; or

(B) in the case of a multipurpose facility, 40 percent of that part of the necessary cost of construction that the Director determines to be proportionate to the contemplated use of the facility.

(2) Reservation of amounts

On approval of any application for a grant under subsection (a) of this section, the Director of the Center shall reserve, from any appropriation available therefore, the amount of such grant, and shall pay such amount, in advance or by way of reimbursement, and in such installments consistent with the construction progress, as the Director may determine appropriate. The reservation of the Director of any amount by the Director under this paragraph may be amended by the Director, either on the approval of an amendment of the application or on the revision of the estimated cost of construction of the facility.

(3) Exclusion of certain costs

In determining the amount of any grant under this subsection (a) of this section, there shall be excluded from the cost of construction an amount equal to the sum of—

(A) the amount of any other Federal grant that the applicant has obtained, or is assured of obtaining, with respect to construction that is to be financed in part by a grant authorized under this section; and

(B) the amount of any non-Federal funds required to be expended as a condition of such other Federal grant.

(4) Waiver of limitations

The limitations imposed by paragraph (1) may be waived at the discretion of the Director for applicants meeting the conditions described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (c) of this section.

(f) Recapture of payments

If, not later than 20 years after the completion of construction for which a grant has been awarded under subsection (a) of this section—

(1) the applicant or other owner of the facility shall cease to be a public or nonprofit private entity; or

(2) the facility shall cease to be used for the research purposes for which it was constructed (unless the Director determines, in accordance with regulations, that there is good cause for releasing the applicant or other owner from obligation to do so);

the United States shall be entitled to recover from the applicant or other owner of the facility the amount bearing the same ratio to the current value (as determined by an agreement between the parties or by action brought in the United States District Court for the district in which such facility is situated) of the facility as the amount of the Federal participation bore to the cost of the construction of such facility.

(g) Guidelines

Not later than 6 months after June 10, 1993, the Director of the Center, after consultation with the Advisory Council, shall issue guidelines with respect to grants under subsection (a) of this section.

(h) Authorization of appropriations

For the purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $150,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1995 and 1996.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, §481A, as added Pub. L. 103–43, title XV, §1502, June 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 173; amended Pub. L. 105–392, title I, §101(c), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3537.)

Amendments

1998—Subsec. (c)(3)(D)(i). Pub. L. 105–392 substituted "part B of subchapter V of this chapter" for "section 293c of this title".

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 287a–3 of this title.

§287a–3. Construction of regional centers for research on primates

(a) With respect to activities carried out by the National Center for Research Resources to support regional centers for research on primates, the Director of NIH may, for each of the fiscal years 1994 through 1996, reserve from the amounts appropriated under section 287a–2(h) of this title up to $2,500,000 for the purpose of making awards of grants and contracts to public or nonprofit private entities to construct, renovate, or otherwise improve such regional centers. The reservation of such amounts for any fiscal year is subject to the availability of qualified applicants for such awards.

(b) The Director of NIH may not make a grant or enter into a contract under subsection (a) of this section unless the applicant for such assistance agrees, with respect to the costs to be incurred by the applicant in carrying out the purpose described in such subsection, to make available (directly or through donations from public or private entities) non-Federal contributions in cash toward such costs in an amount equal to not less than $1 for each $4 of Federal funds provided in such assistance.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, §481B, as added Pub. L. 103–43, title XV, §1503, June 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 178; amended Pub. L. 105–392, title IV, §411, Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3590.)

Amendments

1998—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–392, in first sentence, substituted "may" for "shall" and "up to $2,500,000" for "$5,000,000".