H.R. 5049NSF Major Research Facility Reform Act of 2016

1 recorded action126 of these members are on the 2026 ballotWhat the measure does Read on Congress.gov

Sponsor: Barry Loudermilk [R-GA-11]
Cosponsors: 1 · 1 Republican
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Committees: Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
Latest action: Jun 15, 2016 · Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

IntroducedApr 26, 2016
Passed the HouseJun 14, 2016
Passed the SenateNot yet reached
Sent to the PresidentNot yet reached
Became lawNot yet reached

What the measure doesCRS summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on June 13, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

NSF Major Research Facility Reform Act of 2016

(Sec. 3) This bill directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to maintain a Large Facilities Office to support its research directorates in the development, implementation, and assessment of major multi-user research facilities.

The NSF shall appoint a senior agency official to head the Office, whose responsibility shall be to oversee development, construction, and transfer to operations of major multi-user facilities across the NSF.

The bill requires:

an external cost proposal analysis for any major multi-user research facility;

the resolution of all issues identified, including any unjustified or questionable cost items; and
biennial incurred cost audits of any such facility.

The NSF shall not make any award which arranges for contributions to an awardee's contingency reserve.

(Contingency is the part of a budget estimate of future costs associated with possible events or conditions arising from causes whose precise outcome is indeterminable at the time of estimate, and that experience shows will likely result, in aggregate, in additional costs for the approved activity or project.) The NSF shall update its Large Facilities Manual and any other applicable guidance for estimating, monitoring, and accounting for contingencies on major multi-user research facilities.

The updated policy shall state that the NSF: (1) may only include contingency amounts in an award meeting specified criteria; and (2) shall retain control over funds budgeted for contingency, but may disburse budgeted contingency funds incrementally to an awardee to ensure project stability and continuity.

An awardee shall: (1) furnish verifiable documentation to support proposed contingency amounts, and (2) support requests for the release of contingency funds with evidence of a bona fide need and reasonable and allowable allocations to the performance baseline.

The NSF shall work with current awardees to: (1) determine if any of their use of contingency funds represents out-of-scope changes for which prior NSF written approval was not obtained, and (2) identify appropriate financial action regarding any out-of-scope changes found.

The NSF may include management fees under an award for ordinary and legitimate business expenses, not otherwise allowable, only if the awardee furnishes a justification of need.

The NSF shall require award applicants to report:

How every member votedHouse roll call 301

House Jun 14, 2016

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

NSF Major Research Facility Reform Act of 2016

Passed · Two-thirds required

412 Yea 9 Nay 13 not voting

Crossed both parties 9 of 421 voting members broke with their own party: 9 Republicans.

Open the official roll call

How the chamber split

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DemocratsRepublicansFilled: YeaRing: NayGrey: not voting or present

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All members434 members

Democratic188 members

Republican246 members

marks half of the votes cast. A party’s majority is the side most of its voting members took.

Cosponsors1 · 1 Republican

Signing on is not a vote: a member can cosponsor H.R. 5049 and vote against it. 1 signed when it was filed.

RLAMAR SMITH [R-TX-21]Original

Loading the public record

H.R. 5049NSF Major Research Facility Reform Act of 2016

What the measure doesCRS summary

How every member votedHouse roll call 301

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

How the chamber split

Cosponsors1 · 1 Republican

H.R. 5049NSF Major Research Facility Reform Act of 2016

What the measure doesCRS summary

How every member votedHouse roll call 301

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

How the chamber split

Cosponsors1 · 1 Republican

Who lobbied on H.R. 50497 organizations

Who lobbied on H.R. 50497 organizations