The Secretary shall establish a 5-year National Advanced Manufacturing Technologies Program, in accordance with sections 13541 and 13542 of this title. Such program shall foster the commercialization of advanced manufacturing technologies to improve energy efficiency and productivity in manufacturing. At a minimum, the Program shall expedite the private sector deployment of advanced manufacturing technologies to improve productivity, quality, and control in manufacturing processes that can foster economic growth, energy efficiency, and competitiveness. The program [1] shall include field demonstrations of sufficient scale and number to prove technical and economic feasibility.

Within 180 days after October 24, 1992, the Secretary, in consultation with appropriate representatives of industry, institutions of higher education, Department of Energy national laboratories, and professional and technical societies, shall prepare and submit to the Congress a 5-year program plan to guide activities under this section. The Secretary shall biennially update and resubmit the program plan to Congress.

Proposals submitted under this subsection shall include—

(1) Solicitation Within 1 year after October 24, 1992, the Secretary shall solicit proposals for conducting activities consistent with the 5-year program plan. Such proposals may be submitted by one or more parties.

Proposals submitted under this subsection shall include—

(A) an explanation of how the proposal will expedite the commercialization of advanced manufacturing technologies to improve energy efficiency in the building, industry, and transportation sectors;

(B) evidence of consideration of whether the unique capabilities of Department of Energy national laboratories warrants collaboration with such laboratories, and the extent of such collaboration proposed;

(C) a description of the extent to which the proposal includes collaboration with relevant industry or other groups or organizations; and

(D) evidence of the ability of the proposers to undertake and complete the proposed project.

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for carrying out this section such sums as may be necessary, to be derived from sums authorized under section 13451(e) of this title, including Department of Energy national laboratory participation in proposals submitted under subsection (c).

(Pub. L. 102–486, title XXII, § 2202, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3086.)