31 U.S.C. § 6505: Authority to provide specialized or technical services

The President may prescribe statistical and other studies and compilations, development projects, technical tests and evaluations, technical information, training activities, surveys, reports, documents, and other similar services that an executive agency is especially competent and authorized by law to provide. The services prescribed must be consistent with and further the policy of the United States Government of relying on the private enterprise system to provide services reasonably and quickly available through ordinary business channels. written request is made by the State or local government; and payment of pay and all other identifiable costs of providing the services is made to the executive agency by the State or local government making the request. Payment received by an executive agency for providing services under this section shall be deposited to the credit of the principal appropriation from which the cost of providing the services has been paid or will be charged. The authority under this section is in addition to authority under another law in effect on October 16, 1968 . In this section, the term ‘State’ has the meaning given the term in section 6501 of title 31 , United States Code. a written request describing the scope of the services to be performed and agreeing to reimburse the Corps for all costs associated with the performance of the services; and a certification that includes adequate facts to establish that the services requested are not reasonably and quickly available through ordinary business channels. ensure that the requirements of subsection (b) are met with regard to the request for services; and execute a certification that includes adequate facts to establish that the Corps is uniquely equipped to perform such services. Not later than the last day of each calendar year, the Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report identifying any request submitted by a Federal agency (other than an agency of the Department of Defense) or a State or local government to the Corps to provide specialized or technical services. a description of the scope of services requested; the certifications required under subsection (b) and (c); the status of the request; the estimated and final cost of the services; the status of reimbursement; a description of the scope of services performed; and copies of all certifications in support of the request. The Engineering Research and Development Center is exempt from the requirements of this section.”