S. 3290 would authorize the appropriation of $31 million for fiscal year 2023 and $26 million for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2027 for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop and maintain a central database that tracks information critical to securing the U.S. manufacturing supply chain. The bill would require the agency to collect basic company information; an overview of the capabilities, accreditations, and products of companies; and proprietary data; companies would submit that information on a voluntary basis. NIST would administer the central database through its Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, connecting state-level databases managed by each MEP center to the central database.
Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, and based on historical spending patterns for similar activities, CBO estimates that implementing S. 3290 would cost $129 million over the 2023-2027 period and $6 million after 2027 (see Table 1). The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 370 (commerce and housing credit).
