Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 56 Part 1.djvu/380

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PUBLIC LAWS-CEH. 404-JUNE 11, 1942 Cooperation with other agencies. Inventory of pro- ductive facilities. Directing attention to small plants. Subcontracts. Encouraging con- version of small plants to war production. Certification of funds for conversions. Certinfcation as to e;aplcitV nn ren-lit. Reports from Gov- ernment procurement and financing agen- cies. Studies of supply and fair treatment for small concerns. Letting of contracts on certification. It shall also be the duty of the Chairman of the War Production Board, and he is hereby empowered, through the deputy so appointed by him, to cooperate to the fullest practicable extent with the Director of Civilian Supply and other appropriate governmental agencies in the issuance of all orders limiting production by business enterprises, with a view to insuring that small business concerns will be most efficiently and effectively utilized in the production of articles, equip- ment, supplies, and materials for both war and essential civilian purposes. SEC. 2 . The Chairman of the War Production Board shall have power, and he is hereby directed, whenever and to the extent that he determines such action to be necessary- (1) to make, or arrange with the Bureau of the Census or such other governmental agency as may be possessed of the necessary personnel and facilities for the making of, a complete inventory of all productive facilities in the United States which may be used for war production; (2) to direct the attention of officers of the Government having procurement powers to the potential productive capacity of plants operated by small business concerns; (3) to obtain information with respect to the extent and the terms upon which prime contractors with the Government have let subcontracts, and to take such action as he may deem appro- priate to bring about the letting by such prime contractors of subcontracts upon fair and equitable terms and in the greatest volume practicable; (4) to take such action as will result in the granting of such Government contracts to business concerns operating small plants as will provide them with a sufficient incentive to engage in war production and to make such conversion of their plants as may be necessary to engage in war production; (5) to certify to the Smaller War Plants Corporation estab- lished under section 4 of this Act and to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, the amount of funds necessary for the conversion to war production of any small plant or other plant interested in obtaining from the Smaller War Plants Corporation, or from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, or any such subsidiary, the capital neces- sary to provide for such conversion; (6) to certify to Government procurement officers with respect to the competency, as to capacity and credit, of any small business concern or group of such concerns to perform a specific Govern- ment procurement contract; (7) to obtain from the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Navy, the Director of the Procurement Division of the Treasury, the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and any sub- sidiary thereof, and any other Federal department, establishment, or agency engaged in war procurement or in the financing of war procurement or production, such reports concerning the letting of contracts and subcontracts and making of loans to business concerns as he may deem pertinent in carrying out his functions under this Act: and (8) to make studies with respect to the means by which small business concerns may be supplied with essential raw materials and receive fair and reasonable treatment from all Government departments and agencies without interfering with the efficiency of the war-production program. SEC. 3. In any case in which a small business concern or group of such concerns has been certified by or under the authority of the 352 [56 STAT.