(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 5 years after its establishment.
SEC. 313. [6 U.S.C. 193] 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:
(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).