69
STAT.]
653
PUBLIC LAW 345-AUG. 11, 1955
assign quarters therein to military and civilian personnel and their dependents. Appropriations for quarters allowances or appropriate allotments, and rental charges to civilian personnel, may be utilized by the military department concerned for the payment of principal, interest, and other obligations, except those of maintenance and operation, of the mortgagor corporation with respect to such housing projects. Such payments shall not exceed an average of $90 a month per housing unit and total payments for all housing so acquired shall not exceed $9,000,000 per month: Provided, That, in case of the United States Coast Guard, total payments for all housing so acquired shall not exceed $90,000 per month. SEC. 406. Whenever the Secretary of Defense or his designee determines that it is desirable in order to effectuate the purposes of this title, the Secretary is authorized, without regard to the civil service and classification laws, to procure, by negotiation or otherwise, the services of architects and engineers, or organizations thereof, under such arrangements as he deems desirable, but at an expense not in excess of that permissible under the schedule of fees allowed from time to time by the Public Housing Administration in connection with projects assisted under the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended. Such services may include the development of plans, drawings, and specifications for family housing under this title and other services in connection therewith: Provided, That such plans, drawings, and specifications may include the use on any project to be constructed under this title of alternate materials or alternate types of construction, including prefabrication, that provide substantially equal value and conform to standards established by the Federal Housing Commissioner: Provided further, That the Secretary may designate certain sites or parts thereof for family housing to be furnished from prefabricated houses or housing components. Such arrangements may include provision for advance or progress payments, for payment by third parties, for payment by the Government of any such compensation as is not paid for by third parties, and shall include provision for reimbursement by third parties to the Government of any compensation or other expenses paid by the Government pursuant to this section, and may include other provisions for compensation. Any public works appropriations now or hereafter available to the Departments of the Army, Navy, or Air Force or the Coast Guard may be obligated by the respective departments or the Coast Guard for these purposes. Reimbursements to the Government on account of payments made pursuant to this section shall be made to appropriations against which such payments were charged. The Secretary is further authorized to advance or pay to the Federal Housing Administration its "Appraisal and Eligibility Statement" fees in connection with such family housing. The Secretary is further authorized to enter into arrangements by contract or otherwise for eventual acquisition by the Government, without cost to the Government of all right, title, and interest in sites on which housing is constructed pursuant to this title and improvements thereon. SEC. 407. (a) There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of sections 403 through 406 of this Act. (b) Any funds heretofore or hereafter authorized to be expended by any of the military departments or the Coast Guard for the payment of allowances for quarters for military personnel may be used for the purposes specified in subsection (a) above. SEC. 408. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 401 of this Act, the provisions of title VIII of the National Housing Act in effect prior to the enactment of the Housing Amendments of 1955 shall
Use of quarters allowances, etc.
Coast Guard.
Services of archit e c t s and e n g ineers.
SO Stat. 888. 42 USC 14011430.
Appropriations.
Prior ments.
commit-
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