US Code
SUBCHAPTER III— SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN SUPPORT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
§ 187. Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency

(a) DefinitionsIn this section:(1) FundThe term “Fund” means the Acceleration Fund for Research and Development of Homeland Security Technologies established in subsection (c).
(2) Homeland security researchThe term “homeland security research” means research relevant to the detection of, prevention of, protection against, response to, attribution of, and recovery from homeland security threats, particularly acts of terrorism.
(3) HSARPAThe term “HSARPA” means the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency established in subsection (b).
(4) Under SecretaryThe term “Under Secretary” means the Under Secretary for Science and Technology.
(b) Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency(1) EstablishmentThere is established the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency.
(2) DirectorHSARPA shall be headed by a Director, who shall be appointed by the Secretary. The Director shall report to the Under Secretary.
(3) ResponsibilitiesThe Director shall administer the Fund to award competitive, merit-reviewed grants, cooperative agreements or contracts to public or private entities, including businesses, federally funded research and development centers, and universities. The Director shall administer the Fund to—(A) support basic and applied homeland security research to promote revolutionary changes in technologies that would promote homeland security;
(B) advance the development, testing and evaluation, and deployment of critical homeland security technologies;
(C) accelerate the prototyping and deployment of technologies that would address homeland security vulnerabilities; and
(D) conduct research and development for the purpose of advancing technology for the investigation of child exploitation crimes, including child victim identification, trafficking in persons, and child pornography, and for advanced forensics.
(4) Targeted competitionsThe Director may solicit proposals to address specific vulnerabilities identified by the Director.
(5) CoordinationThe Director shall ensure that the activities of HSARPA are coordinated with those of other relevant research agencies, and may run projects jointly with other agencies.
(6) PersonnelIn hiring personnel for HSARPA, the Secretary shall have the hiring and management authorities described in section 1101 11 See References in Text note below. of the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (5 U.S.C. 3104 note; Public Law 105–261). The term of appointments for employees under subsection (c)(1) of that section may not exceed 5 years before the granting of any extension under subsection (c)(2) of that section.
(7) DemonstrationsThe Director, periodically, shall hold homeland security technology demonstrations to improve contact among technology developers, vendors and acquisition personnel.
(c) Fund(1) EstablishmentThere is established the Acceleration Fund for Research and Development of Homeland Security Technologies, which shall be administered by the Director of HSARPA.
(2) Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated $500,000,000 to the Fund for fiscal year 2003 and such sums as may be necessary thereafter.
(3) Coast GuardOf the funds authorized to be appropriated under paragraph (2), not less than 10 percent of such funds for each fiscal year through fiscal year 2005 shall be authorized only for the Under Secretary, through joint agreement with the Commandant of the Coast Guard, to carry out research and development of improved ports, waterways and coastal security surveillance and perimeter protection capabilities for the purpose of minimizing the possibility that Coast Guard cutters, aircraft, helicopters, and personnel will be diverted from non-homeland security missions to the ports, waterways and coastal security mission.