33 U.S.C. § 2314a: Technical assistance program

certify to the Secretary that such assistance is not otherwise reasonably and expeditiously available; and agree to hold and save the United States free from damages due to the planning, design, construction, operation, or maintenance of the project. grant or agree to grant in advance, to a United States firm, a patent license or assignment, or an option thereto, retaining a nonexclusive, nontransferable, irrevocable, paid-up license to practice the invention or have the invention practiced throughout the world by or on behalf of the United States and such other rights as the Secretary deems appropriate; or waive, subject to reservation by the United States of a nonexclusive, irrevocable, paid-up license to practice the invention or have the invention practiced throughout the world by or on behalf of the United States, in advance, in whole, or in part, any right which the United States may have to such invention. Information of a confidential nature, such as proprietary or classified information, provided to a United States firm pursuant to this section shall be protected. Such information may be released by a United States firm only after written approval by the Secretary. The term “United States firm” means a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, or sole proprietorship that is incorporated or established under the laws of any of the United States with its principal place of business in the United States. The term “United States”, when used in a geographical sense, means the several States of the United States and the District of Columbia.