42 U.S.C. § 299c–5 — Certain administrative authorities

(a) Deputy director and other officers and employees The Director may appoint a deputy director for the Agency, plus whatever other officers and employees are necessary to carry out this subchapter — generally hired and paid under normal civil service laws and title 5 pay rules, unless another law provides otherwise. (b) Facilities In carrying out this subchapter, the Secretary may lease or otherwise acquire, through the Administrator of General Services, buildings or portions of buildings in or near Washington, D.C., for up to 10 years, and may acquire, build, improve, repair, run, and maintain laboratory, research, and other necessary facilities and equipment, along with other real or personal property — including patents — the Secretary considers necessary. (c) Provision of financial assistance In carrying out this subchapter, the Director may give grants to public and nonprofit entities and individuals, and may enter cooperative agreements or contracts with public and private entities and individuals. (d) Utilization of certain personnel and resources The Director may use the Department of Health and Human Services' own staff, equipment, facilities, and other physical resources; may let appropriate entities and individuals — as the Secretary determines — use those resources; and may provide technical assistance and advice. The Director may also use, with their consent, the services, equipment, staff, information, and facilities of other federal, state, or local public agencies, or even a foreign government, with or without reimbursing them. (e) Consultants In carrying out this subchapter, the Secretary may bring in consultants from the United States or abroad, for whatever period the Director considers advisable, under section 3109 of title 5. (f) Experts The Secretary may, in carrying out this subchapter, hire up to 50 experts or consultants with appropriate scientific or professional qualifications, under section 3109 of title 5 — except that the usual limit on how long such experts can serve doesn't apply here. These experts and consultants are paid or reimbursed for travel to and from their assignment location under specific title 5 travel-expense sections. But they can only get those travel expenses if they agree in writing to complete their whole assignment, or one year, whichever is shorter — unless they are separated or reassigned for reasons beyond their control that the Secretary accepts. If an expert or consultant breaks that agreement, the government can recover the money it spent on those travel expenses as a debt owed to the United States, though the Secretary may waive that recovery in whole or in part. (g) Voluntary and uncompensated services In carrying out this subchapter, the Director may accept voluntary, unpaid help.