42 U.S.C. § 1900 — Interior Department programs

(a) Authorization for research contracts The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to enter into contracts with educational institutions, public or private agencies or organizations, or persons for the conduct of scientific or technological research into any aspect of the problems related to the programs of the Department of the Interior which are authorized by statute. (b) Capabilities of prospective contractors; advice and assistance, coordination of research, lines of inquiry, and cooperation The Secretary must require a showing that the institutions, agencies, organizations, or persons with which he expects to enter into contracts under this section have the capability of doing effective work. He must furnish that advice and assistance as he believes will best carry out the mission of the Department of the Interior, participate in coordinating all research initiated under this section, indicate the lines of inquiry which seem to him most important, and encourage and assist in the establishment and maintenance of cooperation by and between the institutions, agencies, organizations, or persons and between them and other research organizations, the United States Department of the Interior, and other Federal agencies. (c) Research reports or publications The Secretary may from time to time disseminate in the form of reports or publications to public or private agencies or organizations, or individuals that information as he deems desirable on the research carried out under this section.