§5872. Advisory committee and grant process
(a) Advisory committee
The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a committee to set research priorities for, and evaluate, proposed research projects for which grants under section 5871(b) of this title are requested.
(b) Membership
The committee shall be comprised of 13 members as follows:
(1) The Secretary or the designee of the Secretary ex officio.
(2) Two members appointed by the Secretary from among scientists who are employed by colleges, universities, or State agricultural experiment stations and who are specially qualified to serve on the committee by virtue of their demonstrated, generally recognized expertise in food science, microbiology, veterinary medicine, pathology, or any other appropriate scientific discipline.
(3) Two members appointed by the Secretary from among scientists or public health professionals who are employed by private research organizations or other entities involved in food research and who are specially qualified to serve on the committee by virtue of their demonstrated, generally recognized expertise in food science, microbiology, veterinary medicine, pathology, or any other appropriate scientific discipline.
(4) Two members appointed by the Secretary from among individuals who are employees of the Federal Government and who are specially qualified to serve on the committee by virtue of their demonstrated, generally recognized expertise in food science, microbiology, veterinary medicine, pathology, or any other appropriate scientific discipline.
(5) Three members appointed by the Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives (in consultation with the ranking minority member of that Committee) from persons who are specially qualified to serve on the committee by virtue of their demonstrated, generally recognized expertise in food science, microbiology, veterinary medicine, pathology, or any other appropriate scientific discipline.
(6) Three members appointed by the Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate (in consultation with the ranking minority member of that Committee) from persons who are specially qualified to serve on the committee by virtue of their demonstrated, generally recognized expertise in food science, microbiology, veterinary medicine, pathology, or any other appropriate scientific discipline.
(c) Public notice
(1) Proposed research priorities
On receipt of the committee's recommendations with respect to research priorities for grants awarded under section 5871(b) of this title, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register-
(A) the proposed research priorities, and
(B) a notice requesting persons and governmental entities to submit written comments on the priorities to the Secretary not later than sixty days after publication of such notice.
(2) Final research priorities
After review of comments received under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall establish final research priorities by notice in the Federal Register.
(d) Review of research proposals
(1) Role of committee
On receipt of an application submitted under section 5871(b) of this title for research, the Secretary shall refer the research proposal contained in such application to the committee established by this section for its review.
(2) Peer review
To assist the committee in its deliberations, the committee shall establish peer review panels to review the scientific and technical merits of research proposals. The committee shall seek the widest participation of qualified scientists and public health professionals in such panels. The peer review panels shall report their findings and recommendations to the committee.
(3) Consultation and coordination
Both the committee and the peer review panels shall consult and coordinate with other appropriate Federal advisory committees.
(4) Recommendations
After due consideration of the review panel comments, the committee shall recommend to the Secretary which grants should be made under this subchapter.
(e) Basic and applied research
In reviewing research proposals received under subsection (d) of this section, the committee and the peer review panels shall identify both-
(1) proposals for basic research, and
(2) proposals for applied research, taking into consideration the practical application of the results of basic research and applied research.
(f) Review of completed projects
When a research project is completed, the grant recipient shall forward the results of the project to the committee for its review. The committee shall submit the results to the Secretary along with any recommendations or suggestions of the committee.
(g) Application of Federal Advisory Committee Act
The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply with respect to the committee or peer review panels established under this section.
(Pub. L. 101 624, title XVI, §1645, Nov. 28, 1990,
References in Text
The Federal Advisory Committee Act, referred to in subsec. (g), is Pub. L. 92 463, Oct. 6, 1972,
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in section 5871 of this title.