§487. Surveys of Government property and management practices

(a) Authorization for surveys, inventory levels, supply catalog system and standardized forms and procedures

As he may deem necessary for the effectuation of his functions under this subchapter, and after adequate advance notice to the executive agencies affected, and with due regard to the requirements of the Department of Defense as determined by the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator is authorized (1) to make surveys of Government property and property management practices and obtain reports thereon from executive agencies; (2) to cooperate with executive agencies in the establishment of reasonable inventory levels for property stocked by them and from time to time report any excessive stocking to the Congress and to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget; (3) to establish and maintain such uniform Federal supply catalog system as may be appropriate to identify and classify personal property under the control of Federal agencies: Provided, That the Administrator and the Secretary of Defense shall coordinate the cataloging activities of the General Services Administration and the Department of Defense so as to avoid unnecessary duplication; and (4) subject to regulations ¹ promulgated by the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy pursuant to the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act [41 U.S.C. 401 et seq.], to prescribe standardized forms and procedures, except such as the Comptroller General is authorized by law to prescribe, and standard purchase specifications.

(b) Utilization by Federal agencies of supply catalog system and standardized forms and procedures

Each Federal agency shall utilize such uniformed Federal supply catalog system and standardized forms and procedures, and standard purchase specifications, except as the Administrator, taking into consideration efficiency, economy, and other interests of the Government, shall otherwise provide.

(c) Audit of property accounts by General Accounting Office

The General Accounting Office shall audit all types of property accounts and transactions at such times and in such manner as determined by the Comptroller General. Such audit shall be conducted as far as practicable at the place or places where the property or records of the executive agencies are kept and shall include but not necessarily be limited to an evaluation of the effectiveness of internal controls and audits and a general audit of the discharge of accountability for Government-owned or controlled property based upon generally accepted principles of auditing.

(June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title II, §206, 63 Stat. 390 ; Aug. 10, 1949, ch. 412, §12(a), (g), 63 Stat. 591 ; July 12, 1952, ch. 703, §1(k), 66 Stat. 593 ; 1970 Reorg. Plan No. 2, §102, eff. July 1, 1970, 35 F.R. 7959, 84 Stat. 2085; Pub. L. 93–400, §15(3), Aug. 30, 1974, 88 Stat. 800 ; Pub. L. 96–83, §10(a), Oct. 10, 1979, 93 Stat. 652 ; Pub. L. 98–191, §§8(d)(1), 9(a)(2), Dec. 1, 1983, 97 Stat. 1331 .)

References in Text

The Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(4), is Pub. L. 93–400, Aug. 30, 1974, 88 Stat. 796 , as amended, which is classified principally to chapter 7 (§401 et seq.) of Title 41, Public Contracts. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 401 of Title 41 and Tables.

Codification

In subsec. (a), "Department of Defense" substituted for "National Military Establishment" on authority of act Aug. 10, 1949, ch. 412, §12(a), (g), 63 Stat. 591 .

Section was formerly classified to section 236 of Title 41, Public Contracts.

Amendments

1983-Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 98–191 inserted "and regulations" after "subject to policy directives" and then substituted "subject to regulations" for "subject to policy directives". A literal execution of both amendments would have resulted in the phrase reading "subject to regulations and regulations".

1979-Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 96–83 substituted "policy directives" for "regulations".

1974-Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 93–400 substituted "subject to regulations promulgated by the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy pursuant to the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act, to prescribe standardized" for "to prescribe standardized".

1952-Subsec. (b). Act July 12, 1952, inserted "and standardized forms and procedures" after "system".

Effective Date of 1979 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–83 effective Oct. 1, 1979, see section 12 of Pub. L. 96–83, set out as a note under section 401 of Title 41, Public Contracts.

Transfer of Functions

Functions vested by law (including reorganization plan) in Bureau of the Budget or Director of Bureau of the Budget transferred to President of the United States by section 101 of Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1970, eff. July 1, 1970, 35 F.R. 7959, 84 Stat. 2085, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Section 102 of Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1970, redesignated Bureau of the Budget as Office of Management and Budget.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 474 of this title.

¹ See 1983 Amendment note below.