Administration, without reimbursement, aeronautical and space vehicles, 
and supplies and equipment other than administrative supplies or equip-
ment. 
(g) ADVISORY COMMITTEES.—In the performance of its functions, the 
Administration is authorized to appoint such advisory committees as may 
be appropriate for purposes of consultation and advice to the Administra-
tion. 
(h) OFFICES AND PROCEDURES.—In the performance of its functions, the 
Administration is authorized to establish within the Administration such of-
fices and procedures as may be appropriate to provide for the greatest pos-
sible coordination of its activities under this chapter with related scientific 
and other activities being carried on by other public and private agencies 
and organizations. 
(i) TEMPORARY OR INTERMITTENT SERVICES OF EXPERTS OR CONSULT-
ANTS.—In the performance of its functions, the Administration is author-
ized to obtain services as provided by section 3109 of title 5, but at rates 
for individuals not to exceed the per diem rate equivalent to the maximum 
rate payable under section 5376 of title 5. 
(j) ALIENS.—In the performance of its functions, the Administration is 
authorized, when determined by the Administrator to be necessary, and sub-
ject to such security investigations as the Administrator may determine to 
be appropriate, to employ aliens without regard to statutory provisions pro-
hibiting payment of compensation to aliens. 
(k) CONCESSIONS FOR VISITORS’ FACILITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In the performance of its functions, the Adminis-
tration is authorized to provide by concession, without regard to section 
1302 of title 40, on such terms as the Administrator may deem to be 
appropriate and necessary to protect the concessioner against loss of 
the concessioner’s investment in property (but not anticipated profits) 
resulting from the Administration’s discretionary acts and decisions, 
for the construction, maintenance, and operation of all manner of facili-
ties and equipment for visitors to the several installations of the Ad-
ministration and, in connection therewith, to provide services incident 
to the dissemination of information concerning its activities to such 
visitors, without charge or with a reasonable charge therefor (with this 
authority being in addition to any other authority that the Administra-
tion may have to provide facilities, equipment, and services for visitors 
to its installations). 
(2) PUBLIC NOTICE AND DUE CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSALS.—A 
concession agreement under this subsection may be negotiated with any 
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qualified proposer following due consideration of all proposals received 
after reasonable public notice of the intention to contract. 
(3) REASONABLE
OPPORTUNITY
FOR
PROFIT.—The concessioner 
shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to make a profit commensu-
rate with the capital invested and the obligations assumed. The consid-
eration paid by the concessioner for the concession shall be based on 
the probable value of the opportunity and not on maximizing revenue 
to the United States. 
(4) RECORDS AND ACCESS TO RECORDS.—Each concession agree-
ment shall specify the manner in which the concessioner’s records are 
to be maintained, and shall provide for access to the records by the 
Administration and the Comptroller General of the United States for 
a period of 5 years after the close of the business year to which the 
records relate. 
(5) POSSESSORY INTERESTS.—A concessioner may be accorded a 
possessory interest, consisting of all incidents of ownership except legal 
title (which shall vest in the United States), in any structure, fixture, 
or improvement the concessioner constructs or locates upon land owned 
by the United States. With the approval of the Administration, such 
possessory interest may be assigned, transferred, encumbered, or relin-
quished by the concessioner, and, unless otherwise provided by con-
tract, shall not be extinguished by the expiration or other termination 
of the concession and may not be taken for public use without just 
compensation. 
(l) DETAILING MEMBERS OF ARMED SERVICES.—In the performance of 
its functions, the Administration is authorized, with the approval of the 
President, to enter into cooperative agreements under which members of the 
Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps may be detailed by the appro-
priate Secretary for services in the performance of functions under this 
chapter to the same extent as that to which they might be lawfully assigned 
in the Department of Defense. 
(m) CLAIMS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES.—In the performance of its 
functions, the Administration is authorized— 
(1) to consider, ascertain, adjust, determine, settle, and pay, on be-
half of the United States, in full satisfaction thereof, any claim for 
$25,000 or less against the United States for bodily injury, death, or 
damage to or loss of real or personal property resulting from the con-
duct of the Administration’s functions as specified in section 20112(a) 
of this title, where such claim is presented to the Administration in 
writing within 2 years after the accident or incident out of which the 
claim arises; and 
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(2) if the Administration considers that a claim in excess of $25,000 
is meritorious and would otherwise be covered by this subsection, to re-
port the facts and circumstances to Congress for its consideration. 
§ 20114. Administration and Department of Defense coordi-
nation 
(a) ADVISE AND CONSULT.—The Administration and the Department of 
Defense, through the President, shall advise and consult with each other on 
all matters within their respective jurisdictions related to aeronautical and 
space activities and shall keep each other fully and currently informed with 
respect to such activities. 
(b) REFERRAL TO THE PRESIDENT.—If the Secretary of Defense con-
cludes that any request, action, proposed action, or failure to act on the 
part of the Administrator is adverse to the responsibilities of the Depart-
ment of Defense, or the Administrator concludes that any request, action, 
proposed action, or failure to act on the part of the Department of Defense 
is adverse to the responsibilities of the Administration, and the Adminis-
trator and the Secretary of Defense are unable to reach an agreement with 
respect to the matter, either the Administrator or the Secretary of Defense 
may refer the matter to the President for a decision (which shall be final). 
§ 20115. International cooperation 
The Administration, under the foreign policy guidance of the President, 
may engage in a program of international cooperation in work done pursu-
ant to this chapter, and in the peaceful application of the results thereof, 
pursuant to agreements made by the President with the advice and consent 
of the Senate. 
§ 20116. Reports to Congress 
(a) PRESIDENTIAL REPORT.—The President shall transmit to Congress 
in May of each year a report, which shall include— 
(1) a comprehensive description of the programmed activities and the 
accomplishments of all agencies of the United States in the field of aer-
onautics and space activities during the preceding fiscal year; and 
(2) an evaluation of such activities and accomplishments in terms of 
the attainment of, or the failure to attain, the objectives described in 
section 20102(d) of this title. 
(b) RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION.—Any report 
made under this section shall contain such recommendations for additional 
legislation as the Administrator or the President may consider necessary or 
desirable for the attainment of the objectives described in section 20102(d) 
of this title. 
(c) CLASSIFIED INFORMATION.—No information that has been classified 
for reasons of national security shall be included in any report made under 
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this section, unless the information has been declassified by, or pursuant to 
authorization given by, the President. 
§ 20117. Disposal of excess land 
Notwithstanding the provisions of this or any other law, the Administra-
tion may not report to a disposal agency as excess to the needs of the Ad-
ministration any land having an estimated value in excess of $50,000 that 
is owned by the United States and under the jurisdiction and control of the 
Administration, unless— 
(1) a period of 30 days has passed after the receipt by the Speaker 
and the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the President and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate of a report by the Adminis-
trator or the Administrator’s designee containing a full and complete 
statement of the action proposed to be taken and the facts and cir-
cumstances relied upon in support of such action; or 
(2) each such committee before the expiration of that period has 
transmitted to the Administrator written notice to the effect that the 
committee has no objection to the proposed action. 
SUBCHAPTER III—GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS 
§ 20131. Public access to information 
(a) PUBLIC INSPECTION.—Information obtained or developed by the Ad-
ministrator in the performance of the Administrator’s functions under this 
chapter shall be made available for public inspection, except information— 
(1) authorized or required by Federal statute to be withheld; 
(2) classified to protect the national security; or 
(3) described in subsection (b). 
(b) SPECIAL HANDLING OF TRADE SECRET OR CONFIDENTIAL INFORMA-
TION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator, for a period of up to 5 years 
after the development of information described in paragraph (2), may 
provide appropriate protections against the dissemination of such infor-
mation, including exemption from subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 
5. 
(2) INFORMATION
DESCRIBED.—Information referred to in para-
graph (1) is information that results from activities conducted under 
an agreement entered into under subsections (e) and (f) of section 
20113 of this title, and that would be a trade secret or commercial or 
financial information that is privileged or confidential under the mean-
ing of section 552(b)(4) of title 5 if the information had been obtained 
from a non-Federal party participating in such an agreement. 
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