(a) The commission may, consistent with the requirements of this chapter, provide awards to any individual or entity for planning, implementation, and administration of projects or programs selected pursuant to Section 25620.5.

(b) The commission may provide an award to a project or program that includes a group of related projects, or to a party who aggregates projects that directly benefit from the award.

(c) The commission may establish multiparty agreements. In a multiparty agreement, the commission may be a signatory to a common agreement among two or more parties. These agreements include, but are not limited to, cofunding, leveraged research, collaborations, and membership arrangements. If the commission enters into these agreements, it shall be a party to these agreements and may share in the roles, responsibilities, risks, investments, and results.

(d) The commission may issue awards that include the ability to make advance payments to prime contractors, to enable them to make advance payments to a subcontractor that is a federal agency, national laboratory, or state entity, on the condition that the subcontract is binding and enforceable and includes specific performance milestones.

(e) The commission may issue awards that include the ability to assign tasks on a work authorization basis.

(f) Prior to making any award pursuant to this chapter for a research, development, or demonstration program or project, the commission shall identify the expected costs and any qualitative or quantitative benefits of the proposed program or project.

(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 515, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2003.)