; and (B) make the plan available on a publicly accessible website of the Department of Defense. (b) Activities to support the engineering, applied research, commercialization, and workforce development capacity of mining schools (1) In general Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Under Secretary may establish a program to award contracts, grants, or other agreements on a competitive basis, and to perform other appropriate activities, for the purposes described in paragraph (2). (2) Purposes The purposes described in this paragraph are the following: (A) Developing the capability, including workforce and research infrastructure, for mining schools to more effectively compete for Federal engineering, applied research, commercialization, and workforce development funding opportunities. (B) Improving the capability of mining schools to recruit and retain research faculty, and to participate in appropriate personnel exchange programs and educational and career development activities. (C) Any other purposes the Under Secretary determines appropriate for enhancing the defense-related engineering, applied research, commercialization, and development capabilities of mining schools. (c) Increasing partnerships for mining schools with national security research and engineering organizations (1) In general Chapter 305 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 4145. Research and educational programs and activities: critical minerals (a) Program established (1) In general The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and the Secretary of each military department, shall carry out a program to provide assistance to covered educational institutions to assist the Department of Defense in defense-related critical minerals engineering, applied research, commercialization, and workforce development activities. (2) Limitation on delegation The Secretary of Defense may not delegate or transfer to an individual outside