42 U.S.C. § 19018 — Intramural emerging research institutions pilot program

(a) Establishment. The Director may run several pilot programs inside the Foundation, including through programs that already exist or others allowed under this division or division A. The goal is to grow the number of colleges and universities (including community colleges) and other eligible groups that can successfully compete for Foundation awards. (b) Components. These pilot programs may include: a mentorship program; technical help with writing award applications; targeted outreach, including to historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal colleges or universities, and minority-serving institutions (including Hispanic-serving institutions or colleges with STEM programs for Native Hawaiians or Alaska Natives); programmatic support for institutions that lack an experienced office to manage awards; adding more proposal reviewers from institutions that have not traditionally received Foundation funding; and, for a first-time lead researcher, extending an award's length and funding by up to three years when paired with regular mentoring on managing the award. (c) Limitation. Each pilot program must work to cut down on paperwork and administrative burdens for the people and institutions receiving awards. (d) Agency-wide programs. Within five years of August 9, 2022, the Director must review how the pilot programs went and use what worked to build best practices for the whole Foundation, to meet the requirement in section 1862(e) of this title.