§7256. Contracts, leases, etc., with public agencies and private organizations and persons

(a) General authority

The Secretary is authorized to enter into and perform such contracts, leases, cooperative agreements, or other similar transactions with public agencies and private organizations and persons, and to make such payments (in lump sum or installments, and by way of advance or reimbursement) as he may deem to be necessary or appropriate to carry out functions now or hereafter vested in the Secretary.

(b) Limitation on authority; appropriations

Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, no authority to enter into contracts or to make payments under this subchapter shall be effective except to such extent or in such amounts as are provided in advance in appropriation Acts.

(c) Leasing of excess Department of Energy property

The Secretary may lease, upon terms and conditions the Secretary considers appropriate to promote national security or the public interest, acquired real property and related personal property that-

(1) is located at a facility of the Department of Energy to be closed or reconfigured;

(2) at the time the lease is entered into, is not needed by the Department of Energy; and

(3) is under the control of the Department of Energy.

(d) Terms of lease

(1) A lease entered into under subsection (c) of this section may not be for a term of more than 10 years, except that the Secretary may enter into a lease that includes an option to renew for a term of more than 10 years if the Secretary determines that entering into such a lease will promote the national security or be in the public interest.

(2) A lease entered into under subsection (c) of this section may provide for the payment (in cash or in kind) by the lessee of consideration in an amount that is less than the fair market rental value of the leasehold interest. Services relating to the protection and maintenance of the leased property may constitute all or part of such consideration.

(e) Environmental concerns

(1) Before entering into a lease under subsection (c) of this section, the Secretary shall consult with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (with respect to property located on a site on the National Priorities List) or the appropriate State official (with respect to property located on a site that is not listed on the National Priorities List) to determine whether the environmental conditions of the property are such that leasing the property, and the terms and conditions of the lease agreement, are consistent with safety and the protection of public health and the environment.

(2) Before entering into a lease under subsection (c) of this section, the Secretary shall obtain the concurrence of the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency or the appropriate State official, as the case may be, in the determination required under paragraph (1). The Secretary may enter into a lease under subsection (c) of this section without obtaining such concurrence if, within 60 days after the Secretary requests the concurrence, the Administrator or appropriate State official, as the case may be, fails to submit to the Secretary a notice of such individual's concurrence with, or rejection of, the determination.

(f) Retention and use of rentals; report

To the extent provided in advance in appropriations Acts, the Secretary may retain and use money rentals received by the Secretary directly from a lease entered into under subsection (c) of this section in any amount the Secretary considers necessary to cover the administrative expenses of the lease, the maintenance and repair of the leased property, or environmental restoration activities at the facility where the leased property is located. Amounts retained under this subsection shall be retained in a separate fund established in the Treasury for such purpose. The Secretary shall annually submit to the Congress a report on amounts retained and amounts used under this subsection.

( Pub. L. 95–91, title VI, §646, Aug. 4, 1977, 91 Stat. 599 ; Pub. L. 103–160, div. C, title XXXI, §3154, Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1952 .)

Amendments

1993-Subsecs. (c) to (f). Pub. L. 103–160 added subsecs. (c) to (f).

Contract Goal for Small Disadvantaged Businesses and Certain Institutions of Higher Education

Section 3159 of Pub. L. 103–160, as amended by Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title X, §1070(b)(16), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2857 , provided that:

"(a) Goal.-Except as provided in subsection (c), a goal of 5 percent of the amount described in subsection (b) shall be the objective of the Department of Energy in carrying out national security programs of the Department in each of fiscal years 1994 through 2000 for the total combined amount obligated for contracts and subcontracts entered into with-

"(1) small business concerns, including mass media and advertising firms, owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (as such term is used in section 8(d) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(d)) and regulations issued under that section), the majority of the earnings of which directly accrue to such individuals;

"(2) historically Black colleges and universities, including any nonprofit research institution that was an integral part of such a college or university before November 14, 1986; and

"(3) minority institutions (as defined in section 1046(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1135d-5(3))), which, for the purposes of this section, shall include Hispanic-serving institutions (as defined in section 316(b)(1) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)(1))).

"(b) Amount.-(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the requirements of subsection (a) for any fiscal year apply to the combined total of the funds obligated for contracts entered into by the Department of Energy pursuant to competitive procedures for such fiscal year for purposes of carrying out national security programs of the Department.

"(2) In computing the combined total of funds under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, funds obligated for such fiscal year for contracts for naval reactor programs shall not be included.

"(c) Applicability.-Subsection (a) does not apply-

"(1) to the extent to which the Secretary of Energy determines that compelling national security considerations require otherwise; and

"(2) if the Secretary notifies the Congress of such a determination and the reasons for the determination."

Small Business Concerns Participation in Programs Funded by Department of Energy Act of 1978-Civilian Applications; Report to Congressional Committees

Pub. L. 95–238, title II, §204, Feb. 25, 1978, 92 Stat. 59 , as amended by Pub. L. 96–470, title II, §203(f), Oct. 19, 1980, 94 Stat. 2243 , provided that:

"(a) In carrying out the programs for which funds are authorized by this Act [see Tables for classification], the Secretary of Energy shall provide a realistic and adequate opportunity for small business concerns to participate in such programs to the optimum extent feasible consistent with the size and nature of the projects and activities involved.

"(b) The Secretary of Energy shall submit annually to the appropriate committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate a full report on the actions taken in carrying out subsection (a) during the preceding year, including the extent to which small business concerns are participating in the programs involved and in projects and activities of various types and sizes within each such program, and indicating the steps currently taken to assure such participation in the future. Such report shall also contain such information as may be required by section 308 of the Act of December 31, 1975 (42 U.S.C. 5878a; 89 Stat. 1074)."

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 7141 of this title.