; and (B) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives. (6) Department The term Department means the Department of Energy. (7) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 ). (8) National Laboratory The term National Laboratory has the meaning given that term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 15801 ). (9) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy. 3. Coordination of research and development activities relating to improvement of advanced weather models (a) In general The Secretary and the Administrator shall carry out collaborative research and development activities using advanced computing techniques that are focused on the improvement of advanced weather models relevant to the missions of the Department and the Administration. (b) Memorandum of understanding (1) In general The Secretary and the Administrator shall carry out the activities under subsection (a) through the establishment of a memorandum of understanding or other appropriate interagency agreement. (2) Use of process The memorandum or agreement, as the case may be, required under paragraph (1) shall require the use of a competitive, merit-reviewed process that considers applications from Federal agencies, National Laboratories, institutions of higher education, nonprofit institutions, and other appropriate entities (or a consortia thereof). (c) Activities In carrying out the activities under subsection (a), the Secretary and the Administrator may— (1) conduct collaborative research to develop new methods and optimization of advanced computing techniques; (2) explore options for performance portability of optimized advanced weather model codes between the operational computing systems of the Administration and the high-performance computers of the Department