Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 73.djvu/519

 73 S T A T. ]

PUBLIC LAW 86-249-SEPT. 9, 1959

481

SEC. 8. (a) In carrying out his duties under this Act, the Ad- Acquisition of ministrator shall acquire real property within the District of Columbia ^'°^^'^^' exclusively within (1) the area bounded by E Street, New York Avenue, and Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, on the north; Delaware Avenue Southwest, on the east; Virginia Avenue and Maryland Avenue projected in a straight line to the Tidal Basin, Southwest, on the south; and the Potomac River on the west (including properties within said area belonging to the District of Columbia; but excluding those portions of squares 267,268, and 298 not belonging to the District of Columbia, the square known as south of 463, all of square 493, lots 16, 17, 20, and 21 and 808 in square 536, and lots 16 and 45 in square 635); and (2) the areas designated as squares 11, 19, 20, 32, 33, 44, 59, and 167, all of said areas being within the District of Columbia. (b) The purposes of this Act shall be carried out in the District of Columbia as nearly as may be practicable in harmony with the plan of Peter Charles L'Enfant and such public buildings shall be so constructed or altered as to combine architectural beauty with practical utility. (c) Whenever in constructing or altering a public building under C o n t i g u o u s this Act in the District of Columbia the Administrator determines ^^^t^eet" anci aiiey that such construction or alteration requires the utilization of con- closings. tiguous squares as a site for such building, such portions of streets as lie between such squares and such alleys as intersect such squares are authorized to be closed and vacated if such closing and vacating is mutually agreed to by the Administrator, the Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia, and the National Capital Planning Commission. The portions of such streets and alleys so closed and vacated shall thereupon become part of such site. SEC. 9. The Administrator is authorized to carry out any construction or alteration authorized by this Act by contract, if he deems it to be most advantageous to the United States. SEC. 10. (a) The Administrator, whenever he determines it to be necessary, is authorized to employ, by contract or otherwise, and without regard to the Classification Act of 1949, as amended, or to the 63 Stat. 954. civil service laws, rules, and regulations, or to section 3709 of the use 1 71 note. Revised Statutes, the services of established architectural or engineer- 4i use 5. ing corporations, firms, or individuals, to the extent he may require such services for any public building authorized to be constructed or altered under this Act. (b) No corporation, firm, or individual shall be employed under authority of subsection (a) on a permanent basis. (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section the Administrator shall be responsible for all construction authorized by this Act, including the interpretation of construction contracts, the approval of materials and workmanship supplied pursuant to a construction contract, approval of changes in the construction contract, certification of vouchers for payments due the contractor, and final settlement of the contract. SEC. 11. (a) The Administrator shall submit to Congress each Jan- ^^^^0"^ *° ^°"" uary, promptly after the convening of Congress, a report showing the location, space, cost, and status, of each public building the construction, alteration, or acquisition of which is to be under authority of this Act and which was uncompleted as of the date of the last preceding report made under this Act. (b) The Administrator and the Postmaster General are hereby authorized and directed to make such building project surveys as may be requested by resolution hj either the Committee on Public Works of the Senate or the Committee on Public Works of the House of Representatives, and within a reasonable time shall make a report

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