(a) There is established in the Public Health Service the Silvio O. Conte Senior Biomedical Research and Biomedical Product Assessment Service (SBRBPAS or Service) consisting of members the maximum number of which is prescribed by law. The purpose of the Service is to recruit and retain outstanding and qualified scientific and technical experts in the fields of biomedical research, clinical research evaluation, and biomedical product assessment.

(b) The Secretary may not use the authority in paragraph (a) of this section to reduce the number of employees serving in any other employment system to offset the number of members within the Service.