40 U.S.C. § 501 — Services for executive agencies

(a) Authority of Administrator of General Services.
(1) In general. The Administrator of General Services must act for an executive agency under this subchapter when the Administrator decides it's better for the federal government — in terms of economy, efficiency, or service — while still respecting that agency's own programs.
(2) Exemption for defense. The Secretary of Defense can exempt the Department of Defense from an action the Administrator takes, unless the President says otherwise, whenever the Secretary decides the exemption serves national security.

(b) Procurement and Supply.
(1) Functions. (A) The Administrator must procure and supply personal property and non-personal services that executive agencies need to do their jobs, and handle related functions: contracting, inspection, storage, issuing goods, identifying and classifying property, managing transportation and traffic, managing public utility services, and repairing and converting equipment. (B) A public utility services contract can last up to 10 years.
(2) Policies and methods. (A) The Administrator must set policies and methods for how executive agencies procure and supply personal property, non-personal services, and related functions. (B) These policies and methods must follow regulations the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy sets under a specific part of title 41.

(c) Representation.
(1) For transportation and other public utility services used by executive agencies, the Administrator represents those agencies (A) in negotiations with carriers and utilities, and (B) in proceedings involving carriers or utilities before federal and state regulators.
(2) Before representing any Department of Defense installation in such a proceeding, the Administrator (or anyone acting for the Administrator) must (A) notify that installation's senior mission commander, and (B) ask for and represent the interests that commander identifies.

(d) Facilities. The Administrator must operate warehouses, supply centers, repair shops, fuel yards, and similar facilities for executive agencies. After talking with the affected agencies, the Administrator must consolidate these facilities, take them over, or arrange for the agencies themselves to run them.