This Act may be cited as the Space Research Innovation Act.

(a) In general The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, using the authority under section 3204(a)(3)(B) of title 10, United States Code, shall— (1) establish a university-affiliated research center to facilitate capabilities in support of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; (2) use such a university-affiliated research center to fund analyses and engineering support related to cis-lunar and deep-space missions and interplanetary research; and (3) ensure such a university-affiliated research center— (A) is held accountable for the technical quality of the work product developed under this section; and (B) has established expertise in convening academic and private sector groups to facilitate research and private-public partnerships. (b) Policies and procedures The Administrator shall develop and implement policies and procedures to govern, with respect to the establishment of the university-affiliated research center under subsection (a)— (1) the selection of participants; (2) the award of cooperative agreements or other contracts; (3) the appropriate use of competitive awards and sole source awards; and (4) the technical capabilities required. (c) Eligibility The following entities shall be eligible to participate in a university-affiliated research center established under subsection (a): (1) An institution of higher education (as such term is defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002U.S. Code — Title 20, Section 1002View official source on GovInfo)). (2) An operator of a federally funded research and development center. (3) A nonprofit or not-for-profit research institution.