To amend the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 to require Federal agencies to impose certain requirements on recipients of awards for scientific and engineering research.

H.R. 286 would require federal agencies to mandate the use of the metric system in all government-funded scientific and engineering research projects. Under this bill, research contracts and grants would have to clearly specify which measurement systems must be used and hold the researchers financially responsible for any errors or costs resulting from a failure to follow those standards. For the average citizen, this measure aims to improve the accuracy and international compatibility of American research while ensuring that taxpayer-funded projects are held to strict technical standards.