---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 299c–5"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "299c–5"
heading: "Certain administrative authorities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/299c-5"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter VII — Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality"
  - "Part E — General Provisions"
---

# §299c–5. Certain administrative authorities

- (a) **Deputy director and other officers and employees—**
  - (1) **Deputy director—** The [Director](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=3) may appoint a deputy [director](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=3) for the [Agency](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=2).
  - (2) **Other officers and employees—** The [Director](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=3) may appoint and fix the compensation of such officers and [employees](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-5) as may be necessary to carry out this subchapter. Except as otherwise provided by law, such officers and [employees](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-5) shall be appointed in accordance with the civil [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) laws and their compensation fixed in accordance with title 5.
- (b) **Facilities—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), in carrying out this subchapter—
  - (1) may acquire, without regard to [section 8141 of title 40](/usc/40/8141.md), by lease or otherwise through the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) of General [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a), buildings or portions of buildings in the District of Columbia or communities located adjacent to the District of Columbia for use for a period not to exceed 10 years; and
  - (2) may acquire, construct, improve, [repair](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=4), operate, and maintain laboratory, research, and other necessary facilities and equipment, and such other real or personal property (including patents) as the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) deems necessary.
- (c) **Provision of financial assistance—** The [Director](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=3), in carrying out this subchapter, may make grants to public and [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) entities and individuals, and may enter into cooperative agreements or contracts with public and private entities and individuals.
- (d) **Utilization of certain personnel and resources—**
  - (1) **Department of Health and Human Services—** The [Director](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=3), in carrying out this subchapter, may utilize personnel and equipment, facilities, and other physical resources of the Department of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a), permit appropriate (as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c)) entities and individuals to utilize the physical resources of such Department, and provide technical assistance and advice.
  - (2) **Other agencies—** The [Director](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=3), in carrying out this subchapter, may use, with their consent, the [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a), equipment, personnel, information, and facilities of other Federal, [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), or local [public agencies](/usc/42/11851.md?p=8), or of any foreign government, with or without reimbursement of such [agencies](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=2).
- (e) **Consultants—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), in carrying out this subchapter, may secure, from time to time and for such periods as the [Director](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=3) deems advisable but in accordance with [section 3109 of title 5](/usc/5/3109.md), the assistance and advice of consultants from the United States or abroad.
- (f) **Experts—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may, in carrying out this subchapter, obtain the [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) of not more than 50 experts or consultants who have appropriate scientific or professional qualifications. Such experts or consultants shall be obtained in accordance with [section 3109 of title 5](/usc/5/3109.md), except that the limitation in such section on the duration of [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) shall not apply.
  - (2) **Travel expenses—**
    - (A) **In general—** Experts and consultants whose [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) are obtained under [paragraph (1)](#f-1) shall be paid or reimbursed for their expenses associated with traveling to and from their assignment location in accordance with sections 5724, 5724a(a), 5724a(c), and 5726(c) of title 5.
    - (B) **Limitation—** Expenses specified in [subparagraph (A)](#f-2-A) may not be allowed in connection with the assignment of an expert or consultant whose [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) are obtained under [paragraph (1)](#f-1) unless and until the expert agrees in writing to complete the entire period of assignment, or 1 year, whichever is shorter, unless separated or reassigned for reasons that are beyond the control of the expert or consultant and that are acceptable to the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c). If the expert or consultant violates the agreement, the money spent by the United States for the expenses specified in [subparagraph (A)](#f-2-A) is recoverable from the expert or consultant as a statutory obligation owed to the United States. The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may waive in whole or in part a right of recovery under this subparagraph.
- (g) **Voluntary and uncompensated services—** The [Director](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=3), in carrying out this subchapter, may accept voluntary and uncompensated [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a).

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IX, § 946, formerly § 926, as added Pub. L. 106–129, § 2(a), Dec. 6, 1999, 113 Stat. 1668; renumbered § 936, Pub. L. 109–41, § 2(a)(3), July 29, 2005, 119 Stat. 424; renumbered § 946, Pub. L. 111–148, title III, § 3013(a)(2), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 381.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

In subsec. (b)(1), “section 8141 of title 40” substituted for “the Act of March 3, 1877 (40 U.S.C. 34)” on authority of Pub. L. 107–217, § 5(c), Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1303, the first section of which enacted Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 299c–5, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IX, § 926, as added Pub. L. 101–239, title VI, § 6103(c), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2204; amended Pub. L. 101–381, title I, § 102(7), Aug. 18, 1990, 104 Stat. 586; Pub. L. 102–410, § 10, Oct. 13, 1992, 106 Stat. 2101; Pub. L. 103–43, title XX, § 2010(b)(8), June 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 214, authorized appropriations to carry out this subchapter, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 106–129. See section 299c–6 of this title.