Sec. 4. Applications
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/bill/116/s/3135/is/section-4A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
To receive a grant under this Act, a consortium shall submit to the Secretary an application in such manner, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary determines to be necessary. A consortium shall be eligible to receive a grant under this Act if— the consortium consists of— one or more research universities that can demonstrate a significant annual clean technology research budget, entrepreneurial support programs, and technology licensing expertise; and a total of three or more qualifying entities that can demonstrate expertise in translational research, clean technology, and cluster development; the members of the consortium have established a binding agreement that documents— the structure of the partnership agreement; a governance and management structure that enables cost-effective implementation of the program; a conflicts-of-interest policy, including procedures, consistent with those of the Department of Commerce, to ensure that employees and designees for consortium activities who are in decision-making capacities disclose all material conflicts of interest, including financial, organizational, and personal conflicts of interest; an accounting structure that meets the requirements of the Secretary and that may be audited under this Act; and the existence of an external advisory committee; the consortium receives funding from non-Federal sources, such as a State and participants of the consortium, that may be used to support projects; the consortium is part of an existing cluster or demonstrates high potential to develop a new cluster; and the consortium operates as a nonprofit organization or as a public-private partnership under an operating agreement led by a nonprofit organization.
The Secretary may disqualify an application from a consortium under this Act if the Secretary determines that the conflicts-of-interest policy of the consortium is inadequate. To be eligible to receive a grant under this Act, a consortium shall establish an external advisory committee, the members of which shall have extensive and relevant scientific, technical, industry, financial, or research management expertise. An external advisory committee shall— review the proposed plans, programs, project selection criteria, and projects of the consortium; and ensure that projects selected by the consortium meet the applicable conflicts-of-interest policy of the consortium.
An external advisory committee shall consist of— representatives of the members of the consortium; and such representatives of industry, including entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, as the members of the consortium determine to be necessary. The Secretary shall join the external advisory committee of a consortium that receives a grant under this Act.