((a)) ** NIST programs** The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall—

((1)) as part of the Program activities under , establish a program to conduct basic research on issues related to the development and manufacture of nanotechnology, including metrology; reliability and quality assurance; processes control; and manufacturing best practices; and

((2)) utilize the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program  to the extent possible to ensure that the research conducted under paragraph (1) reaches small- and medium-sized manufacturing companies.

((b)) ** Clearinghouse** The Secretary of Commerce or his designee, in consultation with the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office and, to the extent possible, utilizing resources at the National Technical Information Service, shall establish a clearinghouse of information related to commercialization of nanotechnology research, including information relating to activities by regional, State, and local commercial nanotechnology initiatives; transition of research, technologies, and concepts from Federal nanotechnology research and development programs into commercial and military products; best practices by government, universities and private sector laboratories transitioning technology to commercial use; examples of ways to overcome barriers and challenges to technology deployment; and use of manufacturing infrastructure and workforce.