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(6) after advertising under subsection (a), the bid prices for the property, or part of the property, are not reasonable or have not been independently arrived at in open competition;

(7) with respect to real property, the character or condition of the property or unusual circumstances make it impractical to advertise publicly for competitive bids and the fair market value of the property and other satisfactory terms of disposal can be obtained by negotiation;

(8) the disposal will be to a State, territory, or possession of the United States, or to a political subdivision of, or a tax-supported agency in, a State, territory, or possession, and the estimated fair market value of the property and other satisfactory terms of disposal are obtained by negotiation; or (9) otherwise authorized by law.

(c) DISPOSAL THROUGH CONTRACT BROKERS.-Disposals and contracts for disposal of surplus real and related personal property through contract realty brokers employed by the Administrator shall be made in the manner followed in similar commercial transactions under regulations the Administrator prescribes. The regulations must require that brokers give wide public notice of the availability of the property for disposal.

(d) NEGOTIATED SALE AT FIXED PRICE.

(1) AUTHORIZATION.-The Administrator may make a negotiated sale of personal property at a fixed price, either directly or through the use of a disposal contractor, without regard to subsection (a). However, the sale must be publicized to an extent consistent with the value and nature of the property involved and the price established must reflect the estimated fair market value of the property. Sales under this subsection are limited to categories of personal property for which the Administrator determines that disposal under this subsection best serves the interests of the Government.

(2) FIRST OFFER.-Under regulations and restrictions the Administrator prescribes, an opportunity to purchase property at a fixed price under this subsection may be offered first to an entity specified in subsection (b)(8) that has expressed an interest in the property.

(e) EXPLANATORY STATEMENTS FOR NEGOTIATED DISPOSALS.(1) REQUIREMENT.

(A) IN GENERAL.-Except as provided in subparagraph (B), an explanatory statement of the circumstances shall be prepared for each disposal by negotiation of

(i) personal property that has an estimated fair market value in excess of $15,000;

(ii) real property that has an estimated fair market value in excess of $100,000, except that real property disposed of by lease or exchange is subject only to clauses (iii)-(v) of this subparagraph;

(iii) real property disposed of by lease for a term of not more than 5 years, if the estimated fair annual rent is more than $100,000 for any year;

(iv) real property disposed of by lease for a term of more than 5 years, if the total estimated rent over the term of the lease is more than $100,000; or

(v) real property or real and related personal property disposed of by exchange, regardless of value, or

any property for which any part of the consideration is real property.

(B) EXCEPTION.-An explanatory statement is not required for a disposal of personal property under subsection (d), or for a disposal of real or personal property authorized by any other law to be made without advertising.

(2) TRANSMITTAL TO CONGRESS.-The explanatory statement shall be transmitted to the appropriate committees of Congress in advance of the disposal, and a copy of the statement shall be preserved in the files of the executive agency making the disposal.

(3) LISTING IN REPORT.—A report of the Administrator under section 126 of this title must include a listing and description of any negotiated disposals of surplus property having an estimated fair market value of more than $15,000, in the case of real property, or $5,000, in the case of any other property, other than disposals for which an explanatory statement has been transmitted under this subsection.

(f) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW.-Section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5) does not apply to a disposal or contract for disposal made under this section.

$546. Contractor inventories

Subject to regulations of the Administrator of General Services, an executive agency may authorize a contractor or subcontractor with the agency to retain or dispose of contractor inventory.

§ 547. Agricultural commodities, foods, and cotton or woolen goods

(a) POLICIES.-The Administrator of General Services shall consult with the Secretary of Agriculture to formulate policies for the disposal of surplus agricultural commodities, surplus foods processed from agricultural commodities, and surplus cotton or woolen goods. The policies shall be formulated to prevent surplus agricultural commodities, or surplus foods processed from agricultural commodities, from being dumped on the market in a disorderly manner and disrupting the market prices for agricultural commodities.

(b) TRANSFERS TO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.—

(1) IN GENERAL.-The Administrator shall transfer without charge to the Department of Agriculture any surplus agricultural commodities, foods, and cotton or woolen goods for disposal, when the Secretary determines that a transfer is necessary for the Secretary to carry out responsibilities for price support or stabilization.

(2) DEPOSIT OF RECEIPTS.-Receipts resulting from disposal by the Department under this subsection shall be deposited pursuant to any authority available to the Secretary. When applicable, however, net proceeds from the sale of surplus property transferred under this subsection shall be credited pursuant to section 572(a) of this title.

(3) LIMITATION OF SALES.-Surplus farm commodities transferred under this subsection may not be sold, other than for export, in quantities exceeding, or at prices less than, the applicable quantities and prices for sales of those commodities by the Commodity Credit Corporation.

§ 548. Surplus vessels

The Maritime Administration shall dispose of surplus vessels of 1,500 gross tons or more which the Administration determines to be merchant vessels or capable of conversion to merchant use. The vessels shall be disposed of in accordance with the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 App. U.S.C. 1101 et seq.), and other laws authorizing the sale of such vessels.

§ 549. Donation of personal property through state agencies (a) DEFINITIONS.-In this section, the following definitions apply: (1) PUBLIC AGENCY.-The term "public agency" means—

(A) a State;

(B) a political subdivision of a State (including a unit of local government or economic development district);

(C) a department, agency, or instrumentality of a State (including instrumentalities created by compact or other agreement between States or political subdivisions); or

(D) an Indian tribe, band, group, pueblo, or community located on a state reservation.

(2) STATE. The term "State" means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.

(3) STATE AGENCY.-The term "state agency" means an agency designated under state law as the agency responsible for fair and equitable distribution, through donation, of property transferred under this section.

(b) AUTHORIZATION.—

(1) IN GENERAL.-The Administrator of General Services, in the Administrator's discretion and under regulations the Administrator may prescribe, may transfer property described in paragraph (2) to a state agency.

(2) PROPERTY.—

(A) IN GENERAL.-Property referred to in paragraph (1) is any personal property that

(i) is under the control of an executive agency; and (ii) has been determined to be surplus property. (B) SPECIAL RULE.-In determining whether the property is to be transferred for donation under this section, no distinction may be made between property capitalized in a working-capital fund established under section 2208 of title 10 (or similar fund) and any other property.

(3) NO COST.-Transfer of property under this section is without cost, except for any costs of care and handling. (c) ALLOCATION AND TRANSFER OF PROPERTY.—

(1) IN GENERAL.-The Administrator shall allocate and transfer property under this section in accordance with criteria that are based on need and use and that are established after consultation with state agencies to the extent feasible. The Administrator shall give fair consideration, consistent with the established criteria, to an expression of need and interest from a public agency or other eligible institution within a State. The Administrator shall give special consideration to an eligible recipient's request, transmitted through the state agency, for a specific item of property.

(2) ALLOCATION AMONG STATES.-The Administrator shall allocate property among the States on a fair and equitable

basis, taking into account the condition of the property as well as the original acquisition cost of the property.

(3) RECIPIENTS AND PURPOSES.-The Administrator shall transfer to a state agency property the state agency selects for distribution through donation within the State

(A) to a public agency for use in carrying out or promoting, for residents of a given political area, a public purpose, including conservation, economic development, education, parks and recreation, public health, and public safety; or

(B) for purposes of education or public health (including research), to a nonprofit educational or public health institution or organization that is exempt from taxation under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 501), including

(i) a medical institution, hospital, clinic, health center, or drug abuse treatment center;

(ii) a provider of assistance to homeless individuals or to families or individuals whose annual incomes are below the poverty line (as that term is defined in section 673 of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902));

(iii) a school, college, or university;

(iv) a school for the mentally retarded or physically handicapped;

(v) a child care center;

(vi) a radio or television station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission as an educational radio or educational television station;

(vii) a museum attended by the public; or

(viii) a library serving free all residents of a community, district, State, or region.

(4) EXCEPTION.-This subsection does not apply to property transferred under subsection (d).

(d) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PROPERTY.—

(1) DETERMINATION.-The Secretary of Defense shall determine whether surplus personal property under the control of the Department of Defense is usable and necessary for educational activities which are of special interest to the armed services, including maritime academies, or military, naval, Air Force, or Coast Guard preparatory schools.

(2) PROPERTY USABLE FOR SPECIAL INTEREST ACTIVITIES.— If the Secretary of Defense determines that the property is usable and necessary for educational activities which are of special interest to the armed services, the Secretary shall allocate the property for transfer by the Administrator to the appropriate state agency for distribution through donation to the educational activities.

(3) PROPERTY NOT USABLE FOR SPECIAL INTEREST ACTIVITIES.-If the Secretary of Defense determines that the property is not usable and necessary for educational activities which are of special interest to the armed services, the property may be disposed of in accordance with subsection (c).

(e) STATE PLAN OF OPERATION.

(1) IN GENERAL.-Before property may be transferred to a state agency, the State shall develop a detailed state plan

of operation, in accordance with this subsection and with state law.

(2) PROCEDURE.—

(A) CONSIDERATION OF NEEDS AND RESOURCES.-In developing and implementing the state plan of operation, the relative needs and resources of all public agencies and other eligible institutions in the State shall be taken into consideration. The Administrator may consult with interested federal agencies to obtain their views concerning the administration and operation of this section.

(B) PUBLICATION AND PERIOD FOR COMMENT.-The state plan of operation, and any major amendment to the plan, may not be filed with the Administrator until 60 days after general notice of the proposed plan or amendment has been published and interested persons have been given at least 30 days to submit comments.

(C) CERTIFICATION.-The chief executive officer of the State shall certify and submit the state plan of operation to the Administrator.

(3) REQUIREMENTS.—

(A) STATE AGENCY.-The state plan of operation shall include adequate assurance that the state agency has(i) the necessary organizational and operational authority and capability including staff, facilities, and means and methods of financing; and

(ii) established procedures for accountability, internal and external audits, cooperative agreements, compliance and use reviews, equitable distribution and property disposal, determination of eligibility, and assistance through consultation with advisory bodies and public and private groups.

(B) EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION.-The state plan of operation shall provide for fair and equitable distribution of property in the State based on the relative needs and resources of interested public agencies and other eligible institutions in the State and their abilities to use the property.

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(C) MANAGEMENT CONTROL AND ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS.— The state plan of operation shall require, for donable property transferred under this section, that the state agency use management control and accounting systems of the same type as systems required by state law for stateowned property. However, with approval from the chief executive officer of the State, the state agency may elect to use other management control and accounting systems that are effective to govern the use, inventory control, accountability, and disposal of property under this section.

(D) RETURN AND REDISTRIBUTION FOR NON-USE.-The state plan of operation shall require the state agency to provide for the return and redistribution of donable property if the property, while still usable, has not been placed in use for the purpose for which it was donated within one year of donation or ceases to be used by the donee for that purpose within one year of being placed in use. (E) REQUEST BY RECIPIENT.-The state plan of operation shall require the state agency, to the extent practicable, to select property requested by a public agency or other

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