15 U.S.C. § 2218: Administrative provisions

Each department, agency, and instrumentality of the executive branch of the Federal Government and each independent regulatory agency of the United States is authorized and directed to furnish to the Administrator, upon written request, on a reimbursable basis or otherwise, such assistance as the Administrator deems necessary to carry out his functions and duties pursuant to this chapter, including, but not limited to, transfer of personnel with their consent and without prejudice to their position and ratings. enter into, without regard to section 6101 of title 41 1 such contracts, grants, leases, cooperative agreements, or other transactions as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter; 1 So in original. Probably should be followed by a comma. accept gifts and voluntary and uncompensated services, notwithstanding the provisions of section 1342 of title 31 ; purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire, own, hold, improve, use, or deal in and with any property (real, personal, or mixed, tangible or intangible), or interest in property, wherever situated; and sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, or otherwise dispose of property and assets; procure temporary and intermittent services to the same extent as is authorized under section 3109 of title 5 , but at rates not to exceed the daily equivalent of the maximum annual rate of basic pay then in effect for grade GS–15 of the General Schedule ( 5 U.S.C. 5332(a) ) for qualified experts; and establish such rules, regulations, and procedures as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter. The Administrator of FEMA and the Comptroller General of the United States, or any of their duly authorized representatives, shall have access to any books, documents, papers, and records of the recipients of contracts, grants, or other forms of assistance that are pertinent to its activities under this chapter for the purpose of audit or to determine if a proposed activity is in the public interest. All property rights with respect to inventions and discoveries, which are made in the course of or under contract with any government agency pursuant to this chapter, shall be subject to the basic policies set forth in the President’s Statement of Government Patent Policy issued August 23, 1971 , or such revisions of that statement of the policy as may subsequently be promulgated and published in the Federal Register. To the extent practicable, the Administrator shall use existing programs, data, information, and facilities already available in other Federal Government departments and agencies and, where appropriate, existing research organizations, centers, and universities. The Administrator shall provide liaison at an appropriate organizational level to assure coordination of the activities of the Administrator with Federal, State, and local government agencies and departments and nongovernmental organizations concerned with any matter related to programs of fire prevention and control. The Administrator shall provide liaison at an appropriate organizational level to assure coordination of the activities of the Administrator related to emergency medical services provided by fire service-based systems with Federal, State, and local government agencies and departments and nongovernmental organizations so concerned, as well as those entities concerned with emergency medical services generally. The term ‘Administrator’ means the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration. The term ‘educationally useful Federal equipment’ means computers and related peripheral tools and research equipment that is appropriate for use in schools. The term ‘school’ means a public or private educational institution that serves any of the grades of kindergarten through grade 12. It is the sense of Congress that the Administrator should, to the greatest extent practicable and in a manner consistent with applicable Federal law (including Executive Order No. 12999 [ 40 U.S.C. 549 note]), donate educationally useful Federal equipment to schools in order to enhance the science and mathematics programs of those schools. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [ Nov. 20, 1997 ], and annually thereafter, the Administrator shall prepare and submit to the President a report that meets the requirements of this paragraph. The President shall submit that report to Congress at the same time as the President submits a budget request to Congress under section 1105(a) of title 31 , United States Code. The report prepared by the Administrator under this paragraph shall describe any donations of educationally useful Federal equipment to schools made during the period covered by the report.”