51 U.S.C. § 40903 — Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research—merit grant competition requirements

In this section, the term “eligible State” means a State designated by the Administrator^* as eligible to compete in the National Science Foundation’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.

Making use of the existing infrastructure established in eligible States by the National Science Foundation, the Administrator shall conduct a merit grant competition among the eligible States in areas of research important to the mission of the Administration^*. With respect to a grant application by an eligible State, the Administrator shall consider—

The Administrator shall endeavor, where appropriate, to supplement grants made under subsection (b) with such grants for fellowships, traineeships, equipment, or instrumentation as are available.

In order to ensure that research expertise and talent throughout the Nation is developed and engaged in Administration research and education activities, the Administration shall, as part of its annual budget submission, detail additional steps that can be taken to further integrate the participating eligible States in both existing and new or emerging Administration research programs and center activities.