---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 563f"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "563f"
heading: "Diversified security technology industry marketplace"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/563f"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — Homeland Security Organization"
  - "Subchapter XII–A — Transportation Security"
  - "Part B — Transportation Security Administration Acquisition Improvements"
---

# §563f. Diversified security technology industry marketplace

- (a) **In general—** Not later than 120 days after October 5, 2018, the [Administrator](/usc/6/561.md?p=2) shall develop and submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security of the House of Representatives a strategy to promote a diverse security technology industry marketplace upon which the [Administrator](/usc/6/561.md?p=2) can rely to acquire advanced transportation security technologies or capabilities, including by increased participation of [small business innovators](#e-3).
- (b) **Contents—** The strategy required under [subsection (a)](#a) shall include the following:
  - (1) Information on how existing [Administration](/usc/6/561.md?p=1) solicitation, testing, evaluation, piloting, acquisition, and procurement processes impact the [Administrator](/usc/6/561.md?p=2)’s ability to acquire from the security technology industry marketplace, including [small business innovators](#e-3) that have not previously provided technology to the [Administration](/usc/6/561.md?p=1), innovative technologies or capabilities with the potential to enhance transportation security.
  - (2) Specific actions that the [Administrator](/usc/6/561.md?p=2) will take, including modifications to the processes described in [paragraph (1)](#b-1), to foster diversification within the security technology industry marketplace.
  - (3) Projected timelines for implementing the actions described in [paragraph (2)](#b-2).
  - (4) Plans for how the [Administrator](/usc/6/561.md?p=2) could, to the extent practicable, assist a [small business innovator](#e-3) periodically during such processes, including when such an innovator lacks adequate [resources](/usc/6/741.md?p=12) to participate in such processes, to facilitate an advanced transportation security technology or capability being developed and acquired by the [Administrator](/usc/6/561.md?p=2).
  - (5) An assessment of the feasibility of partnering with an organization described in [section 501(c)(3) of title 26](/usc/26/501.md?p=c-3) and exempt from tax under [section 501(a) of title 26](/usc/26/501.md?p=a) to provide venture capital to businesses, particularly [small business innovators](#e-3), for commercialization of innovative transportation security technologies that are expected to be ready for commercialization in the near term and within 36 months.
- (c) **Feasibility assessment—** In conducting the feasibility assessment under [subsection (b)(5)](#b-5), the [Administrator](/usc/6/561.md?p=2) shall consider the following:
  - (1) Establishing an organization described in [section 501(c)(3) of title 26](/usc/26/501.md?p=c-3) and exempt from tax under [section 501(a) of title 26](/usc/26/501.md?p=a) as a venture capital partnership between the private sector and the [intelligence community](#e-1) to help businesses, particularly [small business innovators](#e-3), commercialize innovative [security-related technologies](/usc/6/561.md?p=4).
  - (2) Enhanced engagement through the Science and Technology Directorate of the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) of [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security.
- (d) **Rule of construction—** Nothing in this section may be construed as requiring changes to the Transportation Security [Administration](/usc/6/561.md?p=1) standards for security technology.
- (e) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **Intelligence community—** The term “intelligence community” has the meaning given the term in [section 3003 of title 50](/usc/50/3003.md).
  - (2) **Small business concern—** The term “small business concern” has the meaning described under [section 632 of title 15](/usc/15/632.md).
  - (3) **Small business innovator—** The term “small business innovator” means a [small business concern](#e-2) that has an advanced transportation security technology or capability.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–296, title XVI, § 1617, as added Pub. L. 115–254, div. K, title I, § 1913(a), Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3554.)