§321 — Title 40 Public Buildings, Property, and Works | U.S. Code

Summary

Creates a special Treasury fund to buy and manage goods and services for federal agencies. Money in the fund comes from transfers, refunds, and fees — including money from selling surplus items, payments for lost or damaged property, and charges to agencies. The head of the General Services Administration must work with the agency’s Chief Financial Officer to set yearly cost and capital needs and to set rates charged to agencies. Fees allowed under section 313 may also go into the fund. The fund pays for buying personal property, nonpersonal services, IT-related personal services, transport, repairs, and other direct or related costs of contracting, storage, and distribution. It can also buy items for some non-federal entities when authorized. Agencies must pay the prices the Administrator sets. Prices must, as much as possible, cover purchase, transport, inventory losses, repair and IT service costs, equipment amortization, and other related costs. Agencies may have to pay in advance if the fund lacks capital, or reimburse quickly under Comptroller General rules. If an agency does not pay within 45 days after billing or after the fund incurs the liability, the Administrator may use lawful transfer documents to get paid. Congress’s Senate and House can repay equipment costs over the equipment’s useful life as set with their officials. After each fiscal year, once enough inventory, vehicle replacement, and planned needs are set aside, any leftover money goes to the Treasury general fund. The Comptroller General must audit the fund. By September 30 each year, the Administrator must report to specified House and Senate committees on Technology Transformation Services programs funded in the past year or five years, including program explanations, funding amounts, expected reimbursements, project dates and costs, and supporting data. Definitions: Administrator — the Administrator of General Services. Expenditure — any obligation of fund money for the programs listed in the annual report requirement.

Title 40, §321

Public Buildings, Property, and Works — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Acquisition Services Fund is a special fund in the Treasury.

(b)(1)The Fund is composed of amounts authorized to be transferred to the Fund or otherwise made available to the Fund.

(2)The Fund shall be credited with all reimbursements, advances, and refunds or recoveries relating to personal property or services procured through the Fund, including—

(A)the net proceeds of disposal of surplus personal property; and

(B)receipts from carriers and others for loss of, or damage to, personal property; and

(C)receipts from agencies charged fees pursuant to rates established by the Administrator.

(3)The Administrator shall determine the cost and capital requirements of the Fund for each fiscal year and shall develop a plan concerning such requirements in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer of the General Services Administration. Any change to the cost and capital requirements of the Fund for a fiscal year shall be approved by the Administrator. The Administrator shall establish rates to be charged agencies provided, or to be provided, supply of personal property and non-personal services through the Fund, in accordance with the plan.

(4)Fees collected by the Administrator under section 313 of this title may be deposited in the Fund to be used for the purposes of the Fund.

(c)(1)The Fund is available for use by or under the direction and control of the Administrator for—

(A)procuring, for the use of federal agencies in the proper discharge of their responsibilities—

(i)personal property (including the purchase from or through the Director of the Government Publishing Office, for warehouse issue, of standard forms, blankbook work, standard specifications, and other printed material in common use by federal agencies and not available through the Superintendent of Documents);

(ii)nonpersonal services; and

(iii)personal services related to the provision of information technology (as defined in section 11101(6) of this title);

(B)paying the purchase price, cost of transportation of personal property and services, and cost of personal services employed directly in the repair, rehabilitation, and conversion of personal property; and

(C)paying other direct costs of, and indirect costs that are reasonably related to, contracting, procurement, inspection, storage, management, distribution, and accountability of property and nonpersonal services provided by the General Services Administration or by special order through the Administration.

(2)The Fund may be used for the procurement of personal property and nonpersonal services authorized to be acquired by—

(A)mixed-ownership Government corporations;

(B)the municipal government of the District of Columbia; or

(C)a requisitioning non-federal agency when the function of a federal agency authorized to procure for it is transferred to the Administration.

(d)(1)For property or services procured through the Fund for requisitioning agencies, the agencies shall pay prices the Administrator fixes under this subsection.

(2)The Administrator shall fix prices at levels sufficient to recover—

(A)so far as practicable—

(i)the purchase price;

(ii)the transportation cost;

(iii)inventory losses;

(iv)the cost of personal services employed directly in the repair, rehabilitation, and conversion of personal property;

(v)the cost of personal services employed directly in providing information technology (as defined in section 11101(6) of this title); and

(vi)the cost of amortization and repair of equipment used for lease or rent to executive agencies; and

(B)properly allocable costs payable by the Fund under subsection (c)(1)(C).

(3)(A)A requisitioning agency shall pay in advance when the Administrator determines that there is insufficient capital otherwise available in the Fund. Payment in advance may also be made under an agreement between a requisitioning agency and the Administrator.

(B)If payment is not made in advance, the Administration shall be reimbursed promptly out of amounts of the requisitioning agency in accordance with accounting procedures approved by the Comptroller General.

(C)The Administrator may obtain reimbursement by the issuance of transfer and counterwarrants, or other lawful transfer documents, supported by itemized invoices, if payment is not made by a requisitioning agency within 45 days after the later of—

(i)the date of billing by the Administrator; or

(ii)the date on which actual liability for personal property or services is incurred by the Administrator.

(e)The Administrator may accept periodic reimbursement from the Senate and from the House of Representatives for the cost of any equipment purchased for the Senate or the House of Representatives with money from the Fund. The amount of each periodic reimbursement shall be computed by amortizing the total cost of each item of equipment over the useful life of the equipment, as determined by the Administrator, in consultation with the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate or the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, as appropriate.

(f)Following the close of each fiscal year, after making provision for a sufficient level of inventory of personal property to meet the needs of Federal agencies, the replacement cost of motor vehicles, and other anticipated operating needs reflected in the cost and capital plan developed under subsection (b), the uncommitted balance of any funds remaining in the Fund shall be transferred to the general fund of the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.

(g)The Comptroller General shall audit the Fund in accordance with the provisions of chapter 35 of title 31 and report the results of the audits.

(h)Not later than September 30 of each year, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report that includes, at a minimum, a list of each program within the Technology Transformation Services funded by expenditures during the previous fiscal year, or that have been funded by expenditures in the previous 5-year period, including the following:

(1)An explanation of the program.

(2)Information about how the program is funded, including the amount of expenditures the program received in the previous fiscal year and total amount.

(3)The amount of reimbursements associated with or anticipated to be associated with the program from another source of funds or another agency, if applicable.

(4)A description of projects or initiatives associated with the program, including—

(A)information about when the projects or initiatives were initiated and completed; and

(B)funding information, to the extent practicable.

(5)Any additional information, data, or analysis used to determine the information estimated within the report, if applicable.

(i)In this section:

(1)The term “Administrator” means the Administrator of General Services.

(2)The term “expenditure” means any obligation of funds from the Acquisition Services Fund for programs referenced in subsection (h).

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 321(a)40:756(a) (1st sentence).June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title I, § 109(a)–(c), (e), (f), 63 Stat. 382; Sept. 5, 1950, ch. 849, §§ 1, 2(a), (b), 3(a), 64 Stat. 578, 579; July 12, 1952, ch. 703, § 1(c)–(e), 66 Stat. 593; Pub. L. 87–372, Oct. 4, 1961, 75 Stat. 802; Pub. L. 87–600, § 1(a), (b), (d), Aug. 24, 1962, 76 Stat. 401; Pub. L. 93–604, title VII, § 701, Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1963; Pub. L. 94–273, § 2(19), Apr. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 375; Pub. L. 100–202, § 101(m) [title VI, § 619(a), (b)], Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1329–427. 321(b)(1)40:756(a) (2d sentence). 321(b)(2)40:756(c). 321(b)(3)40:756(g) (last sentence).June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title I, § 109(g) (last sentence), as added Sept. 5, 1950, ch. 849, § 3(b), 64 Stat. 579; Pub. L. 86–591, July 5, 1960, 74 Stat. 330. 321(c)(1)40:756(a) (last sentence). 321(c)(2)40:756(f). 321(d)40:756(b). 321(e)40:756b.Pub. L. 99–500, § 151, Oct. 18, 1986, 100 Stat. 1783–352; Pub. L. 99–591, § 151, Oct. 30, 1986, 100 Stat. 3341–355; Pub. L. 100–202, § 101(i) [title I, § 4], Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1329–294; Pub. L. 104–186, title II, § 221(15), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1750. 321(f)(1)40:756(e)(1). 321(f)(2)40:756a.Pub. L. 97–12, title I, (proviso in par. under heading “General Supply Fund”), June 5, 1981, 95 Stat. 75. 321(g)40:756(e)(2). In subsection (b)(1), the words “the assets of the general supply fund (including any surplus therein) created by section 3 of the Act of February 27, 1929 (45 Stat. 1342; 41 U.S.C. 7c), and transferred to the Administrator by section 752 of this title” and “the fund shall assume all of the liabilities, obligations, and commitments of the general supply fund created by such Act of February 27, 1929” are omitted as executed and obsolete. In subsection (b)(2)(B), the words “Amounts credited under this paragraph” are substituted for “and the same” for clarity. In subsection (c)(2), the words “Subject to the requirements of subsections (a) to (e) of this section” are omitted as unnecessary. In subsection (d)(1), the words “For property or services procured through the Fund for requisitioning agencies” are added for clarity. In subsection (d)(2)(B), the words “with respect to the supplies or services concerned” are omitted as included in “properly allocable costs”. In subsection (e), the text of 40:756b(b) and the words “Notwithstanding any other provision of law” are omitted as unnecessary. In subsection (f)(2), the words “on and after June 5, 1981” are omitted as obsolete. Delayed

Effective Date

of AmendmentAmendment by section 2(b) of Pub. L. 118–182 adding subsecs. (h) and (i) of this section effective on the commencement of the first fiscal year after Dec. 23, 2024. See 2024 Amendment note below.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2024—Subsecs. (h), (i). Pub. L. 118–182 added subsecs. (h) and (i). 2006—Pub. L. 109–313, § 3(h)(2), substituted “Acquisition Services Fund” for “General Supply Fund” in section catchline. Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 109–313, § 3(d), amended subsecs. (a) and (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsecs. (a) and (b) related to the existence and composition, respectively, of the General Supply Fund. Subsec. (c)(1)(A)(iii). Pub. L. 109–313, § 3(e), added cl. (iii). Subsec. (d)(2)(A)(v), (vi). Pub. L. 109–313, § 3(f), added cl. (v) and redesignated former cl. (v) as (vi). Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 109–313, § 3(g), amended heading and text of subsec. (f) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “(1) Surplus deposited in treasury.—As of September 30 of each year, any surplus in the Fund above the amounts transferred or appropriated to establish and maintain the Fund (all assets, liabilities, and prior losses considered) shall be deposited in the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. “(2) Surplus retained.—From any surplus generated by operation of the Fund, the Administrator may retain amounts necessary to maintain a sufficient level of inventory of personal property to meet the needs of the federal agencies.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

“Director of the Government Publishing Office” substituted for “Public Printer” in subsec. (c)(1)(A)(i) on authority of section 1301(d) of Pub. L. 113–235, set out as a note under section 301 of Title 44, Public Printing and Documents.

Effective Date

of 2024 Amendment Pub. L. 118–182, § 2(c), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2624, provided that: “The amendment made by this Act [amending this section and section 323 of this title] shall take effect on the commencement of the first fiscal year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2024].”

Effective Date

of 2006 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 109–313 effective 60 days after Oct. 6, 2006, see section 6 of Pub. L. 109–313, set out as a note under section 5316 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Acquisition Services Fund Pub. L. 109–313, § 3(a)–(c), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1735, provided that: “(a) Abolishment of General Supply Fund and Information Technology Fund.—The General Supply Fund and the Information Technology Fund in the Treasury are hereby abolished. “(b) Transfers.—Capital assets and balances remaining in the General Supply Fund and the Information Technology Fund as in existence immediately before this section takes effect [see

Effective Date

of 2006 Amendment note above] shall be transferred to the Acquisition Services Fund and shall be merged with and be available for the purposes of the Acquisition Services Fund under section 321 of title 40, United States Code (as amended by this Act). “(c) Assumption of Obligations.—Any liabilities, commitments, and obligations of the General Supply Fund and the Information Technology Fund as in existence immediately before this section takes effect shall be assumed by the Acquisition Services Fund.”

§321 Acquisition Services Fund

Summary

Title 40, §321

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Effective Date

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Effective Date

Effective Date

Effective Date

Citations & Metadata