42 U.S.C. § 1862n–4 — Major research equipment and facilities construction plan

(a) Prioritization of proposed major research equipment and facilities construction (1) Development of priorities The Director must— (A) develop a list indicating by number the relative priority for funding under the major research equipment and facilities construction account that the Director assigns to each project the Board has approved for inclusion in a future budget request; and (B) submit the list described in subparagraph (A) to the Board for approval. (2) Criteria The Director must include in the criteria for developing the list under paragraph (1) the readiness of plans for construction and operation, including confidence in the estimates of the full life-cycle cost (as defined in section 2 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1998 ( 42 U.S.C. 1862k note)) and the proposed schedule of completion. (3) Updates The Director must update the list prepared under paragraph (1) each time the Board approves a new project that would receive funding under the major research equipment and facilities construction account and periodically submit any updated list to the Board for approval. (b) Project management No national research facility project funded under the major research equipment and facilities construction account must be managed by an individual whose appointment to the Foundation is temporary. (c) Board approval of major research equipment and facilities projects The Board must explicitly approve any project to be funded out of the major research equipment and facilities construction account before any funds may be obligated from such account for such project.