Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 106 Part 1.djvu/57

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PUBLIC LAW 102-245—FEB. 14, 1992 106 STAT. 25 in each of the critical indiistries identified under paragraph (1). (b) INITIAL REPORT.— The Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress within 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act on the actions taken under subsection (a). (c) ANNUAL UPDATES. —The Secretary shall annually submit to the Congress an update of the report submitted under subsection (b). Each such update shall— (1) describe the status of each identified critical industry, including the advances and declines occurring since the most recent report; and (2) identify any industries that should be added to the list of critical industries. SEC. 505. RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION, 15 USC 3701 AND GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT POLICY. note. (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.— The Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, shall establish a Commission on Technology and Procurement (hereafter in this section referred to as the "Commission"), for the purposes of analyzing the effect of Federal Government procurement laws, procedures, and policies on the development of advanced technologies within the United States and making recommendations on how Federal policy could be changed to promote further the development of advanced technologies. (b) ISSUES. —The Commission shall address the following issues: (1) To what extent, if any, should Federal Government technology purchase strategies be used to give domestic suppliers a competitive adv£mtage in new generations of existing technologies and in inititil market penetration for new technologies? (2) Under what conditions can Federal Government purchases of advanced technology-based products be based on performance specifications rather than on product specifications? Should Federal Government procurement first look to the commercial markets for products that will meet performance specifications before purchasing a unique product that has to be developed? (3) How can the Federal Government procurement laws, practices, and procedures be used as a strategic tool to foster the use of emerging technologies? (4) How can the Federal Government ensure that its suppliers adopt the principles embodied in the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award? (5) Should Federal Government procurement practices include cooperative efforts between the supplier and the Federal entity to develop products so as to be more ecisily marketed on a commercisd basis? Should a progrcim for the exchange of technical personnel to foster innovation in product development be part of such practices? (6) To what extent, if any, should Federed Government documents specify stsindards that are beneficial to domestic suppliers, aid the compatibility of advanced technologies, and speed the commercial acceptance of those technologies, and what would be the role of the Institute in such an effort? (7) Should Federal Government procurement be linked to the Advanced Technology Program and to technology transfer activities so that specification development can incorporate the latest techniccd advances available?