A company shall be eligible to receive an award of financial assistance under a covered program only if DOE finds that—

(a) Consistent with §600.503, the company's participation in a covered program would be in the economic interest of the United States; and

(b) The company is either—

(1) A United States-owned company; or

(2) Incorporated or organized under the laws of any State and has a parent company which is incorporated or organized under the laws of a country which—

(i) Affords to the United States-owned companies opportunities, comparable to those afforded to any other company, to participate in any joint venture similar to those authorized under the Act;

(ii) Affords to United States-owned companies local investment opportunities comparable to those afforded to any other company; and

(iii) Affords adequate and effective protection for the intellectual property rights of United States-owned companies.