Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 112 Part 1.djvu/553

 PUBLIC LAW 105-185-^IUNE 23, 1998 112 STAT. 527 (d) MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES. —TO the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure that federally supported and conducted agricultural research, extension, and education activities are accomplished in a manner that— (1) integrates agricultural research, extension, and education functions to better link research to technology transfer and information dissemination activities; (2) encourages regional and multistate programs to address relevant issues of common concern and to better leverage scarce resources; and (3) achieves agricultural research, extension, and education objectives through multi-institutional and multifunctional approaches and by conducting research at facilities and institutions best equipped to achieve those objectives. SEC. 103. RELEVANCE AND MERIT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, 7 USC 7613. EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION FUNDED BY THE DEPART- MENT. (a) REVIEW OF COOPERATIVE STATE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND Procedures. EXTENSION SERVICE. — (1) PEER REVIEW OF RESEARCH GRANTS.— The Secretary shall establish procedures that provide for scientific peer review of each agricultural research grant administered, on a competitive basis, by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service of the Department. (2) MERIT REVIEW OF EXTENSION AND EDUCATION GRANTS. — (A) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROCEDURES.—The Secretary shall establish procedures that provide for merit review of each agricultural extension or education grant administered, on a competitive basis, by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. (B) CONSULTATION WITH ADVISORY BOARD.— The Secretary shall consult with the Advisory Board in establishing the merit review procedures. (b) ADVISORY BOARD REVIEW. —On an annual basis, the Advisory Board shall review— (1) the relevance to the priorities established under section 102(a) of the funding of all agricultural research, extension, or education activities conducted or funded by the Department; and (2) the adequacy of the funding. (c) REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS.— (1) REVIEW RESULTS. —As soon as practicable after the review is conducted under subsection (b) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall consider the results of the review when formulating each request for proposals, and evaluating proposals, involving an agricultural research, extension, or education activity funded, on a competitive basis, by the Depgirtment. (2) INPUT. — In formulating a request for proposals described in paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall solicit and consider input from persons who conduct or use agricultural research, extension, or education regarding the prior year's request for proposals. (d) SCIENTIFIC PEER REVIEW OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH.— (1) PEER REVIEW PROCEDURES.—The Secretary shall establish procedures that ensure scientific peer review of all research activities conducted by the Department.

�