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Title 33, Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-110

§2323 Technical Assistance to Private Entities

Title 33 › CHAPTER 36 — WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT › SUBCHAPTER V — GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 2323

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Lets the Secretary use Corps of Engineers research labs to help corporations, partnerships, consortia, foundations, universities, and nonprofits that work in the United States, its territories, Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The groups must pay all costs up front, before the United States spends money. The Secretary must decide the work fits the Corps’ mission and is in the public interest. The group must say the help can’t be got reasonably and quickly from private firms. The group must agree to protect the United States from any claims or damages. The Secretary can provide the help by contract.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §2323

Navigation and Navigable Waters, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Use of Corps research and development labs
The Secretary is authorized to use Corps of Engineers research and development laboratories to provide research and development assistance to corporations, partnerships, limited partnerships, consortia, public and private foundations, universities, and nonprofit organizations operating within the United States, territories or possessions of the United States, and the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands—
(1)if the entity furnishes in advance of fiscal obligation by the United States such funds as are necessary to cover any and all costs of such research and development assistance;
(2)if the Secretary determines that the research and development assistance to be provided is within the mission of the Corps of Engineers and is in the public interest;
(3)if the entity has certified to the Secretary that provision of such research and development assistance is not otherwise reasonably and expeditiously obtainable from the private sector; and
(4)if the entity has agreed to hold and save the United States free from any damages due to any such research and development assistance.
(b)Contract
The Secretary may provide research and development assistance under subsection (a), or any part thereof, by contract.
(c)Omitted

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section is comprised of section 318 of Pub. L. 101–640. Subsec. (c) of section 318 of Pub. L. 101–640 amended section 2314a of this title. Section was enacted as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 1990, and not as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 which comprises this chapter.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

“Secretary” Defined Secretary means the Secretary of the Army, see section 2 of Pub. L. 101–640, set out as a note under section 2201 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 2323

Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110