An Act to amend the act of March 3, 1901 (31 Stat. 1449) as amended, to incorporate in the Organic Act of the National Bureau of Standards the authority to use the Working Capital Fund, and to permit certain improvements in fiscal practices.
PL 84-940 (S.2060), enacted 08/03/1956

70 
S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 940-1 
AUG. 3, 1956 
959 
Public Law 940 
CHAPTER 906 
AN ACT 
To amend the Act of March 3, 1901 (31 Stat. 1449) as amended, to incorporate 
in the Organic Act of the National Bureau of Standards the authority to use 
the Worlfing Capital Fund, and to permit certain improvements in fiscal 
practices. 
Augusta, 1956 
TS. 2060] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States 
of Afnerioa in Congress asseinMed^ That the Act 
entitled "An Act to establish the National Bureau of Standards", 
approved March 3, 1901, as amended, is amended by striking out 
sections 7 and 8 and inserting in lieu thereof the following sections: 
"SEC. 7. The Secretary shall charge for services performed under the 
authority of section 3 of this Act, except in cases where he determines 
that the interest of the Government would be best served by waiving 
the charge. Such charges may be based upon fixed prices or cost. The 
appropriation or fund bearing the cost of the services may be reim-
bursed, or the Secretary may require advance payment subject to 
such adjustment on completion of the work as may be agreed upon. 
"SEC. 8. In the absence of specific agreement to the contrary, addi-
tional facilities, including equipment, purchased pursuant to the per-
formance of services authorized by section 3 of this Act shall become 
the property of the Department of Commerce." 
SEC. 2. Such Act is further amended by striking out sections 11, 
12, and 13 and inserting in lieu thereof the following sections : 
"SEC. 11. (a) The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to accept 
and utilize gifts or bequests of real or personal property for the pur-
pose of aiding and facilitating the work authorized therein. 
"(b) For the purpose of Federal income, estate, and gift taxes, 
gifts and bequests accepted by the Secretary of Commerce under the 
authority of this Act shall be deemed to be gifts and bequests to or 
for the use of the United States. 
"SEC. 12. (a) The National Bureau of Standards is authorized to 
utilize in the performance of its functions the Working Capital Fund 
established by the Act of June 29,1950 (64 Stat. 275), and additional 
amounts as from time to time may be required for the purposes of 
said fund are hereby authorized to be appropriated. 
"(b) The working capital of the fund shall be available for obliga-
tion and payment for any activities authorized by this Act, as 
amended, and for any activities for which provision is made in the 
appropriations which reimburse the fund. 
"(c) In the performance of authorized activities, the Working 
Capital Fund shall be available and may be reimbursed for expenses 
of hire of automobile, hire of consultants, and travel to meetings, to 
the extent that such expenses are authorized for the appropriations 
of the Department of Commerce. 
"(d) Tne fund may be credited with advances and reimbursements, 
including receipts from non-Federal sources, for services performed 
under the authority of section 3 of this Act. 
"(e) As used in this Act the term 'cost' shall be construed 
to 
include directly related expenses and appropriate charges for indirect 
and administrative expenses. 
"(f) The amount of any earned net income resulting from the 
operation of the fund at the close of each fiscal year shall be paid into 
the general fund of the Treasury: Provided^ That such earned net 
income may be applied first to restore any prior impairment of the 
fund." 
Approved August 3, 1956. 
National Bweau 
of Standards. 
31 Stat. 1450. 
IS u s e 276. 
Service charf'es. 
Ownership of fa-
cilities. 
15 u s e 273. 
64 Stat. 373. 
IS u s e 2 7 8a-
278c. 
G i f t s and be-
quests. 
Working Capital 
Fund. 
64 Stat. 279. 
15 u s e 273.