Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 124.djvu/3360

 124 STAT. 3334 PUBLIC LAW 111–314—DEC. 18, 2010 (1) to the extent the Administrator deems such action nec- essary to the discharge of the Administrator’s responsibilities, the Administrator may appoint not more than 425 of the sci- entific, engineering, and administrative personnel of the Administration without regard to such laws, and may fix the compensation of such personnel not in excess of the rate of basic pay payable for level III of the Executive Schedule; and (2) to the extent the Administrator deems such action nec- essary to recruit specially qualified scientific and engineering talent, the Administrator may establish the entrance grade for scientific and engineering personnel without previous service in the Federal Government at a level up to 2 grades higher than the grade provided for such personnel under the General Schedule, and fix their compensation accordingly. (c) PROPERTY.—In the performance of its functions, the Adminis- tration is authorized— (1) to acquire (by purchase, lease, condemnation, or other- wise), construct, improve, repair, operate, and maintain labora- tories, research and testing sites and facilities, aeronautical and space vehicles, quarters and related accommodations for employees and dependents of employees of the Administration, and such other real and personal property (including patents), or any interest therein, as the Administration deems necessary within and outside the continental United States; (2) to acquire by lease or otherwise, through the Adminis- trator of General Services, buildings or parts of buildings in the District of Columbia for the use of the Administration for a period not to exceed 10 years without regard to section 8141 of title 40; (3) to lease to others such real and personal property; (4) to sell and otherwise dispose of real and personal property (including patents and rights thereunder) in accordance with the provisions of chapters 1 to 11 of title 40 and in accordance with title III of the Federal Property and Administrative Serv- ices Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 251 et seq.); and (5) to provide by contract or otherwise for cafeterias and other necessary facilities for the welfare of employees of the Administration at its installations and purchase and maintain equipment therefor. (d) GIFTS.—In the performance of its functions, the Administra- tion is authorized to accept unconditional gifts or donations of services, money, or property, real, personal, or mixed, tangible or intangible. (e) CONTRACTS, LEASES, AND AGREEMENTS.—In the performance of its functions, the Administration is authorized, without regard to subsections (a) and (b) of section 3324 of title 31, to enter into and perform such contracts, leases, cooperative agreements, or other transactions as may be necessary in the conduct of its work and on such terms as it may deem appropriate, with any agency or instrumentality of the United States, or with any State, territory, or possession, or with any political subdivision thereof, or with any person, firm, association, corporation, or educational institution. To the maximum extent practicable and consistent with the accomplishment of the purpose of this chapter, such contracts, leases, agreements, and other transactions shall be allocated by the Administrator in a manner which will enable small-business