TechSolutions Authorizing Statute

H. R. 5005—42
SEC. 312. HOMELAND SECURITY INSTITUTE.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish a federally
funded research and development center to be known as the ‘‘Homeland Security Institute’’ (in this section referred to as the
‘‘Institute’’).
(b) ADMINISTRATION.—The Institute shall be administered as
a separate entity by the Secretary.
(c) DUTIES.—The duties of the Institute shall be determined
by the Secretary, and may include the following:
(1) Systems analysis, risk analysis, and simulation and
modeling to determine the vulnerabilities of the Nation’s critical
infrastructures and the effectiveness of the systems deployed
to reduce those vulnerabilities.
(2) Economic and policy analysis to assess the distributed
costs and benefits of alternative approaches to enhancing security.
(3) Evaluation of the effectiveness of measures deployed
to enhance the security of institutions, facilities, and infrastructure that may be terrorist targets.
(4) Identification of instances when common standards and
protocols could improve the interoperability and effective utilization of tools developed for field operators and first responders.
(5) Assistance for Federal agencies and departments in
establishing testbeds to evaluate the effectiveness of technologies under development and to assess the appropriateness
of such technologies for deployment.
(6) Design of metrics and use of those metrics to evaluate
the effectiveness of homeland security programs throughout
the Federal Government, including all national laboratories.
(7) Design of and support for the conduct of homeland
security-related exercises and simulations.
(8) Creation of strategic technology development plans to
reduce vulnerabilities in the Nation’s critical infrastructure
and key resources.
(d) CONSULTATION ON INSTITUTE ACTIVITIES.—In carrying out
the duties described in subsection (c), the Institute shall consult
widely with representatives from private industry, institutions of
higher education, nonprofit institutions, other Government agencies,
and federally funded research and development centers.
(e) USE OF CENTERS.—The Institute shall utilize the capabilities
of the National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center.
(f) ANNUAL REPORTS.—The Institute shall transmit to the Secretary and Congress an annual report on the activities of the
Institute under this section.
(g) TERMINATION.—The Homeland Security Institute shall
terminate 3 years after the effective date of this Act.
SEC. 313. TECHNOLOGY CLEARINGHOUSE TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO ENHANCE HOMELAND
SECURITY.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.—The Secretary, acting
through the Under Secretary for Science and Technology, shall
establish and promote a program to encourage technological innovation in facilitating the mission of the Department (as described
in section 101).
(b) ELEMENTS OF PROGRAM.—The program described in subsection (a) shall include the following components:

H. R. 5005—43
(1) The establishment of a centralized Federal clearinghouse for information relating to technologies that would further the mission of the Department for dissemination, as appropriate, to Federal, State, and local government and private
sector entities for additional review, purchase, or use.
(2) The issuance of announcements seeking unique and
innovative technologies to advance the mission of the Department.
(3) The establishment of a technical assistance team to
assist in screening, as appropriate, proposals submitted to the
Secretary (except as provided in subsection (c)(2)) to assess
the feasibility, scientific and technical merits, and estimated
cost of such proposals, as appropriate.
(4) The provision of guidance, recommendations, and technical assistance, as appropriate, to assist Federal, State, and
local government and private sector efforts to evaluate and
implement the use of technologies described in paragraph (1)
or (2).
(5) The provision of information for persons seeking guidance on how to pursue proposals to develop or deploy technologies that would enhance homeland security, including
information relating to Federal funding, regulation, or acquisition.
(c) MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this section shall be construed
as authorizing the Secretary or the technical assistance team
established under subsection (b)(3) to set standards for technology to be used by the Department, any other executive
agency, any State or local government entity, or any private
sector entity.
(2) CERTAIN PROPOSALS.—The technical assistance team
established under subsection (b)(3) shall not consider or
evaluate proposals submitted in response to a solicitation for
offers for a pending procurement or for a specific agency
requirement.
(3) COORDINATION.—In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall coordinate with the Technical Support Working
Group (organized under the April 1982 National Security Decision Directive Numbered 30).

TITLE IV—DIRECTORATE OF BORDER
AND TRANSPORTATION SECURITY
Subtitle A—Under Secretary for Border
and Transportation Security
SEC. 401. UNDER SECRETARY FOR BORDER AND TRANSPORTATION
SECURITY.

There shall be in the Department a Directorate of Border
and Transportation Security headed by an Under Secretary for
Border and Transportation Security.
SEC. 402. RESPONSIBILITIES.

The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Border
and Transportation Security, shall be responsible for the following: