PUBLIC LAW 105-160—MAR. 6, 1998 112 STAT. 23 "(1) sea grant programs which comprise a national sea grant college program network, including international projects conducted within such programs; "(2) administration of the national sea grant college program and this title by the national sea grant office, the Administration, and the panel; "(3) the fellowship program under section 208; and "(4) any national strategic investments in fields relating to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources developed with the approval of the panel, the sea grant colleges, and the sea grant institutes. "(c) RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SECRETARY.— "(1) The Secretary, in consultation with the panel, sea grant colleges, and sea grant institutes, shall develop a longrange strategic plan which establishes priorities for the national sea grant college program and which provides an appropriately balanced response to local, regional, and national needs. "(2) Within 6 months of the date of enactment of the Guidelines. National Sea Grant College Program Reauthorization Act of 1998, the Secretary, in consultation with the panel, sea grant colleges, and sea grant institutes, shall establish guidelines related to the activities and responsibilities of sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes. Such guidelines shall include requirements for the conduct of merit review by the sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes of proposals for grants and contracts to be awarded under section 205, providing, at a minimum, for standardized documentation of such proposals and peer review of all research projects. "(3) The Secretary shall by regulation prescribe the quali- Regulations, fications required for designation of sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes under section 207. "(4) To carry out the provisions of this title, the Secretary may— "(A) appoint, assign the duties, transfer, and fix the compensation of such personnel as may be necessary, in accordance with civil service laws; "(B) make appointments with respect to temporary and intermittent services to the extent authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code; "(C) publish or arrange for the publication of, and otherwise disseminate, in cooperation with other offices and programs in the Administration and without regard to section 501 of title 44, United States Code, any information of research, educational, training or other value in fields related to ocean, coastal, or Great Lakes resources; "(D) enter into contracts, cooperative agreements, and other transactions without regard to section 5 of title 41, United States Code; "(E) notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, accept donations and voluntary and uncompensated services; "(F) accept funds from other Federal departments and agencies, including agencies within the Administration, to pay for and add to grants made and contracts entered into by the Secretary; and "(G) promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary and appropriate.
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