U.S. CODE

U.S. Code

§ 16767. National laboratory designation

(a) Designation

To further the policy described in section 16761 (a) of this title, the United States segment of the ISS is hereby designated a national laboratory.

(b) Management

(1) Partnerships

The Administrator shall seek to increase the utilization of the ISS by other Federal entities and the private sector through partnerships, cost-sharing agreements, and other arrangements that would supplement NASA funding of the ISS.

(2) Contracting

The Administrator may enter into a contract with a nongovernmental entity to operate the ISS national laboratory, subject to all applicable Federal laws and regulations.

Not later than 1 year after December 30, 2005, the Administrator shall transmit to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a plan describing how the national laboratory will be operated. At a minimum, the plan shall describe—

(1) any changes in the research plan transmitted under section 16766 (3) of this title and any other changes in the operation of the ISS resulting from the designation;

(2) any ground-based NASA operations or buildings that will be considered part of the national laboratory;

(3) the management structure for the laboratory, including the rationale for contracting or not contracting with a nongovernmental entity to operate the ISS national laboratory;

(4) the workforce that will be considered employees of the national laboratory;

(5) how NASA will seek the participation of other parties described in subsection (b)(1); and

(6) a schedule for implementing any changes in ISS operations, utilization, or management described in the plan.

(d) United States segment defined

In this section the term “United States segment of the ISS” means those elements of the ISS manufactured—

(1) by the United States; or

(2) for the United States by other nations in exchange for funds or launch services.

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