(a) The Administrator may designate Space Grant colleges, Space Grant college consortia, and Space Grant regional consortia in order to establish Federal/university partnerships to promote a strong educational base in the space and aeronautical sciences. These designated colleges and consortia will provide leadership for a network of American colleges and universities, industry, and state and local governments in space-related fields. The Administrator hereby delegates this authority to the Director, NASA Space Grant Program.

(b) Designation of Space Grant colleges, Space Grant college consortia, and Space Grant regional consortia shall be for five years. Designation of Space Grant colleges and consortia may be continued for more than five years based on the results of a merit review at the beginning of the fifth year. A claim arising in the United States should be submitted to the Chief Counsel of the NASA installation whose activities are believed to have given rise to the claimed injury, loss, or death. If the identity of such installation is not known, or if the claim arose in a foreign country, the claim should be submitted to the General Counsel, Headquarters, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC 20546.

(c) Each designated Space Grant college or consortium will receive:

(1) A Space Grant award that requires a 100 percent match; and

(2) Funds for fellowships.

(d) Each Space Grant college or consortium will be funded annually.

Each designated Space Grant college or consortium shall:

(a) Designate a Space Grant Program Director;

(b) Establish a Space Grant Office;

(c) Administer a fellowship program;

(d) Develop and implement programs of public service, interdisciplinary space-related programs, advisory activities, and cooperation with industry, research laboratories, state and local governments, and other colleges and universities, particularly institutions in their state and/or region with significantly large enrollments of minority students who are under-represented in science and technology; and

(e) Provide non-Federal matching funds (exclusive of in-kind contributions) for the Space Grant program equal to those provided by NASA.

(a) Any institution of higher education may be designated a Space Grant college if the Administrator or designee, Director, NASA Space Grant Program, determines that it has a balanced program of research, education, training, and advisory services in fields related to space, as further defined in the program announcement.

(b) Any association or other alliance of two or more persons may be designated a Space Grant regional consortium, if the Administrator or designee, Director, National Space Grant Program, determines that such association or alliance:

(1) Is established for the purpose of sharing expertise, research, educational or training facilities and other capabilities in order to facilitate research, education, training and advisory services, in any field related to space;

(2) Will encourage and follow a regional approach to solving problems or meeting needs relating to space, in cooperation with other institutions of higher education, Space Grant program grantees and other persons in the region.

(c) The opportunity to apply for designation shall be announced by the Director, NASA Space Grant Program. The application procedures and evaluation guidelines for designation shall be included in the designation announcement.

(d) Designation will be decided by a competitive merit review of the program proposal measured against the purposes of the Act and including, but not limited to, proposed linkages with other colleges and universities (particularly institutions with significant enrollments of under-represented minority groups), public service and collaboration with space-related industry.

The same limitations shall apply as stated in § 1259.203.

The Administrator or designee, Director, NASA Space Grant Program, may, for cause, after an opportunity for a hearing before a Federal administrative judge appointed by the Deputy Administrator, suspend or terminate the Space Grant designation of any institution or consortium.