1090 PUBLIC LAWS-CH. 966-AUG. 14, 1946 [60 STAT. best equipped and qualified to conduct the specific project to be under- taken. Such allotments shall be covered by cooperative agreements between the Secretary of Agriculture and the cooperating agency and shall include appropriate provisions for preventing duplication or overlapping of work within the State or States cooperating. Should duplication or overlapping occur subsequent to approval of a coopera- tive project or allotment of funds, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized and directed to withhold unexpended balances on such projects notwithstanding the prior approval thereof. Cooperation with SEC. 205. (a) In carrying out the provisions of title II of this Act, ernment, state agen- the Secretary of Agriculture may cooperate with other branches of the cies, etc. Government, State agencies, private research organizations, purchas- ing and consuming organizations, boards of trade, chambers of commerce, other associations of business or trade organizations, trans- portation and storage agencies and organizations, or other persons or corporations engaged in the production, transportation, storing proc- essing, marketing, and distribution of agricultural products whether Contractsndgr operating in one or more jurisdictions. The Secretary of Agriculture etc. shall have authority to enter into contracts and agreements under the terms of regulations promulgated by him with States and agencies of States, private firms, institutions, and individuals for the purpose of conducting research and service work, making and compiling reports and surveys, and carrying out other functions relating thereto when in his judgment the services or functions to be performed will be carried out more effectively, more rapidly, or at less cost than if per- Time limitation. formed by the Department of Agriculture. Contracts hereunder may be made for work to be performed within a period not more than four years from the date of any such contract, and advance, progress, or other payments may be made. The provisions of section 3648 (31 Ante, p. 89. U. S. C., sec. 529) and section 3709 (41 U. S . C., sec. 5) of the Revised Statutes shall not be applicable to contracts or agreements made under Unexpended bal- the authority of this section. Any unexpended balances of appro- priations obligated by contracts as authorized by this section may, notwithstanding the provisions of section 5 of the Act of June 20, s1stat. 110. 1874, as amended (31 U. S . C., sec. 713), remain upon the books of the Treasury for not more than five fiscal years before being carried to the sevacileaiity or'e- surplus fund and covered into the Treasury. Any contract made pursuant to this section shall contain requirements making the result of such research and investigations available to the public by such means as the Secretary of Agriculture shall determine. deProme'ation or- (b) The Secretary of Agriculture shall promulgate such orders, rules, and regulations as he deems necessary to carry out the provisions Report to Congress. f this title. In his annual report to Congress, he shall include a com- plete statement of research work being performed under contracts or cooperative agreements under this title, showing the names of the agencies cooperating and the amounts expended thereon, segregated by Federal and non-Federal funds. Cooldtionet of SEC. 206. In order to facilitate administration and to increase the effectiveness of the marketing research, service, and regulatory work of the Department of Agriculture to the fullest extent practicable, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, to transfer, group, coordinate, and consolidate the functions, powers, duties, and authorities of each and every agency, division, bureau, service, section, or other administrative unit in the Department of Agriculture primarily concerned with research, service, or regulatory activities in connection with the marketing, transporta- tion, storage, processing, distribution of, or service or regulatory activities in connection with, the utilization of, agricultural products, into a single administrative agency. In making such changes as may
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