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TITLE VIII--ACQUISITION POLICY, ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT, AND RELATED MATTERS

Subtitle F—Other Matters

P. L. 112-81

House Conference Report 112-329

(a) In General- The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics shall develop programs and incentives to ensure that Department of Defense contractors take appropriate steps to--

(1) enhance undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in science, technology, engineering and math (in this section referred to as `STEM' disciplines);

(2) make investments, such as programming and curriculum development, in STEM programs within elementary and secondary schools;

(3) encourage employees to volunteer in Title I schools in order to enhance STEM education and programs;

(4) make personnel available to advise and assist faculty at such colleges and universities in the performance of STEM research and disciplines critical to the functions of the Department of Defense;

(5) establish partnerships between the offeror and historically Black colleges and universities and minority institutions for the purpose of training students in scientific disciplines;

(6) award scholarships and fellowships, and establish cooperative work-education programs in scientific disciplines; or

(7) conduct recruitment activities at historically black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions or offer internships or apprenticeships.

(b) Implementation- Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the steps taken to implement the requirements of this section.

The House bill contained a provision (sec. 845) that would establish a preference for offerors who take steps to encourage and enhance undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in science, technology, engineering, and math (`STEM' programs).

The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.

The Senate recedes with an amendment that would require the Department of Defense to develop programs and incentives to encourage contractors to support STEM programs.

H. Rpt 112-88 (pdf) to accompany H. Resolution 276

Would provide a preference for potential DOD contractors that carry out certain investment and philanthropic activities to bolster education and training in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Would also require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study of the implementation of the DOD’s current programs for providing assistance to certain educational institutions. The amendment does not create a quota or establish hard-line criteria for awarding contracts these activities will be one of many criteria DOD can consider in awarding contracts.