Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 82.djvu/627

 82 STAT. ]

PUBLIC LAW 90-448-AUG. 1, 1968

flood insurance, and upon the disallowance by the Secretary of any such claim, or upon the refusal of the claimant to accept the amount allowed upon any such claim, the claimant, within one year after the date of mailing; of notice of disallowance or partial disallowance by the Secretary, may institute an action against the Secretary on such claim in the United States district court for the district in which the insured property or the major part thereof shall have been situated, ^^^^ ttisdic' and jurisdiction is hereby conferred upon such court to hear and deter- uon.' '"" mine such action without regard to the amount in controversy. PART C—PROVISIONS OF GENERATE APPLICABILITY SERVICES BY INSUILINCE INDTJSTRY

SEC. 1345. (a) I n administering the flood insurance program under,t,^,°f^'"^'^* ^" this chapter, the Secretary is authorized to enter into any contracts, thority. agreements, or other appropriate arrangements which may, from time to time, be necessary for the purpose of utilizing, on such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon, the facilities and services of any insurance companies or other insurers, insurance agents and brokers, or insurance adjustment organizations; and such contracts, agreements, or arrangements may include provision for payment of applicable operating costs and allowances for such facilities and services as set forth in the schedules prescribed under section 1811. (b) Any such contracts, agreements, or other arrangements may be entered into without regard to the provisions of sectjon 8709 of the Revised Statutes (41 ILS.C. 5) or any other provision of law requiring competitive bidding. C S E O F INSURANCE POOL, C O M P A N I E S, OR OTHER PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS FOR CERTAIN P A Y M E N T S

SEC. 1346. (a) I n order to provide for maximum efficiency in the administration of the flood insurance program and in order to facilitate the expeditious payment of any Federal funds under such program, the Secretary may enter into contracts with pool formed or otherwise created under section 1831, or any insurance company or other private organization, for the purpose of securing performance by such pool, company, or organization of any or all of the following responsibilities: (1) estimating and later determining any amounts of payments to be made; (2) receiving from the Secretary, disbursing, and accounting for funds in making such payments; (3) making such audits of the records of any insurance company or other insurer, insurance agent or broker, or insurance adjustment organization as may be necessary to assure that proper payments are made; and (4) otherwise assisting in such manner as the contract may provide to further the purposes of this title. (b) Any contract with the pool or an insurance company or other private organization under this section may contain such terms and conditions as the Secretary finds necessary or appropriate for carrying out responsibilities under subsection (a), and may provide for payment of any costs which the Secretary determines are incidental to carrying out such responsibilities which are covered by the contract. (c) Any contract entered into under subsection (a) may be entered into without regard to section 8709 of the Revised Statute (41 U.S.C. 5) or any other provision of law requiring competitive bidding.

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