18-5-202. Authority and duties of the state agency for surplus property. (1) The state agency for surplus property is hereby authorized and empowered to:

(a) acquire from the United States of America under and in conformance with the provisions of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended, hereinafter referred to as the "act", such property, including equipment, materials, books, or other supplies under the control of any department or agency of the United States of America as may be usable and necessary for purposes authorized by the act;

(b) warehouse such property; and

(c) distribute such property within the state to eligible participants.

(2) The state agency for surplus property is hereby authorized to receive applications from eligible participants for the acquisition of federal surplus real property, investigate the same, obtain expression of views respecting such applications from the appropriate authorities of the state, make recommendations regarding the need of such applicant for the property, the merits of its proposed program of utilization, the suitability of the property for such purposes, and otherwise assist in the processing of such applications for acquisition of real and related personal property of the United States under section 203(k) of the act as amended.

(3) For the purpose of executing its authority under this part, the state agency for surplus property is authorized and empowered to adopt, amend, or rescind such rules and prescribe such requirements as may be deemed necessary and take such other action as is deemed necessary and suitable in the administration of this part to assure maximum utilization by and benefit to participants within the state from property distributed under this part.

(4) The state agency for surplus property is authorized and empowered to make such certifications, take such action, make such expenditures, and enter into such contracts, agreements, and undertakings for and in the name of the state (including cooperative agreements with any federal agencies providing for utilization by and exchange between them of the property, facilities, personnel, and services of each by the other), require such reports and make such investigation as may be required by law or regulation of the United States of America in connection with the disposal of real property and the receipt, warehousing, and distribution of personal property received by the state agency for surplus property from the United States of America.

(5) The state agency for surplus property is authorized and empowered to act as clearinghouse of information for eligible participants to locate both real and personal property available for acquisition from the United States of America, to ascertain the terms and conditions under which such property may be obtained, to receive requests from eligible participants and to transmit to them all available information in reference to such property, and to aid and assist eligible participants in every way possible in the consummation of acquisitions or transactions hereunder.

(6) The state agency for surplus property, in the administration of this part, shall cooperate to the fullest extent consistent with the provisions of the act, with the departments or agencies of the United States of America and shall file a state plan of operation, operate in accordance therewith, and take such action as may be necessary to meet the minimum standards prescribed in accordance with the act; make such reports in such form and containing such information as the United States of America or any of its departments or agencies may from time to time require; and comply with the laws of the United States of America and the rules and regulations of any of the departments or agencies of the United States of America governing the allocation, transfer, use, or accounting for property donable or donated to the state.