DOE and NASA Interagency Research Coordination Act

This bill, the "DOE and NASA Interagency Research Coordination Act," authorizes the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to conduct cross-cutting and collaborative research and development activities . These efforts aim to advance both agencies' mission requirements and priorities, with coordination facilitated through memoranda of understanding and the potential for competitive awards. The legislation specifies numerous focus areas for collaboration, including propulsion systems , advanced modeling, Earth and environmental sciences, quantum information sciences, and STEM workforce development. The bill also promotes collaboration and data sharing with National Laboratories and supports NASA's access to DOE's research infrastructure. A significant provision amends existing law to allow other federal departments or agencies to transfer funds to NASA for activities directly related to space exploration and its associated scientific or engineering research or education. These transferred funds are primarily for grants or cooperative agreements, enhancing NASA's capacity for interagency collaborations. To ensure oversight, the bill requires DOE and NASA to submit a report to Congress within two years detailing their coordination activities, achievements, and future collaborative areas, including clean energy and Arctic science. NASA must also provide annual information on any transferred funds and, within three years, report on the overall value and challenges of the new fund transfer authority. All activities must adhere to research security guidelines.