---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 7261c"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "7261c"
heading: "Technology partnerships ombudsman"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/7261c"
units:
  - "Chapter 84 — Department of Energy"
  - "Subchapter VI — Administrative Provisions"
  - "Part C — General Administrative Provisions"
---

# §7261c. Technology partnerships ombudsman

- (a) **Appointment of ombudsman—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of [Energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) shall direct the [director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) of each [national laboratory](/usc/42/7381c–1.md?p=a-3) of the Department of [Energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7), and may direct the [director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) of each [facility](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) under the jurisdiction of the Department of [Energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7), to appoint a technology partnership [ombudsman](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=2) to hear and help resolve complaints from outside organizations regarding the policies and actions of each such [laboratory](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=10) or [facility](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) with respect to technology partnerships (including cooperative research and development [agreements](/usc/42/1320b–8.md?p=a-3-A)), patents, and technology licensing.
- (b) **Qualifications—** An [ombudsman](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=2) appointed under [subsection (a)](#a) shall be a senior official of the [national laboratory](/usc/42/7381c–1.md?p=a-3) or [facility](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) who is not involved in day-to-day technology partnerships, patents, or technology licensing, or, if appointed from outside the [laboratory](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=10) or [facility](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4), function as such a senior official.
- (c) **Duties—** Each [ombudsman](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=2) appointed under [subsection (a)](#a) shall—
  - (1) serve as the focal point for assisting the public and industry in resolving complaints and disputes with the [national laboratory](/usc/42/7381c–1.md?p=a-3) or [facility](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) regarding technology partnerships, patents, and technology licensing;
  - (2) promote the use of collaborative alternative dispute resolution techniques such as mediation to facilitate the speedy and low-cost resolution of complaints and disputes, when appropriate; and
  - (3) report quarterly on the number and nature of complaints and disputes raised, along with the [ombudsman](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=2)’s assessment of their resolution, consistent with the protection of confidential and sensitive information, to—
    - (A) the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2);
    - (B) the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) for Nuclear Security;
    - (C) the [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) of the [Office](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=1) of Dispute Resolution of the Department of [Energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7); and
    - (D) the [employees](/usc/42/1320a–7h.md?p=e-7) of the Department responsible for the administration of the contract for the operation of each [national laboratory](/usc/42/7381c–1.md?p=a-3) or [facility](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) that is a subject of the report, for consideration in the administration and review of that contract.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–404, § 11, Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1749.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Technology Transfer Commercialization Act of 2000, and not as part of the Department of Energy Organization Act which comprises this chapter.