§50504 Use of Government Facilities

Summary

Federal agencies, including NASA and the Department of Defense, can let private or non-government groups use their space facilities and charge them to cover the cost. An agency head must decide that the use will help commercial space work, can be handled with current or planned government resources, won’t interfere with government missions, isn’t something the private market already provides on fair terms, and fits public safety, national security, and treaty obligations. For safety, security, or treaty questions, the agency must talk with the right federal officials. The agency may charge an amount equal to the direct costs caused by the private use, including pay for U.S. civilian and contract staff. "Direct costs" means the actual expenses clearly linked to that use and that the government wouldn’t have without it. Money paid for using the facilities must go back into the same government account that paid the original costs.