42 U.S.C. § 299c–4 — Additional provisions with respect to grants and contracts

(a) Financial conflicts of interest For projects that get grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts under this subchapter, the Director must issue regulations defining: what specific financial interests would create — or could reasonably be expected to create — a bias toward getting results that favor those interests; and what actions the Director will take when such interests are identified. (b) Requirement of application The Director cannot provide financial assistance under any grant, cooperative agreement, or contract program in this subchapter unless an application has been submitted to the Secretary, in whatever form and manner, and with whatever agreements, assurances, and information the Director decides are necessary to run the program. (c) Provision of supplies and services in lieu of funds If a grant, cooperative agreement, or contract recipient requests it, the Secretary may provide supplies, equipment, and services instead of some funding — including loaning the entity a Department of Health and Human Services officer or employee — but must reduce the financial assistance by the cost of detailing that person and the fair market value of whatever is provided, and must spend the withheld amount on covering those costs. (d) Applicability of certain provisions with respect to contracts Contracts entered into under this part don't have to follow the usual federal contracting rules in section 3324(a) and (b) of title 31, or section 6101 of title 41.