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252 S 4502. I n d u s t r i a l mobilization: p l a n t s; l i s t s; Board on Mobilization of I n d u s t r i e s Essential for Military P r e p a r e d n e s s (a) The Secretary of the Army shall maintain a list of all privately owned plants in the United States, and the Territories, Commonwealths, and possessions, that are equipped to manufacture for the Army arms or ammunition, or parts thereof, and shall obtain complete information of the kinds of those products manufactured or capable of being manufactured by each of those plants, and of the equipment and capacity of each of those plants. (b) The Secretary shall maintain a list of privately owned plants in the United States, and the Territories, Commonwealths, and possessions, that are capable of bein^ readily transformed into factories for the manufacture of ammunition for the Army, and that have a capacity sufficient to warrant conversion into ammunition plants in time of war or when war is imminent, and shall obtain complete information as to the equipment of each of those plants. (c) The Secretary shall prepare comprehensive plans for converting each plant listed pursuant to subsection (b) into a factory for the manufacture of ammunition or parts thereof. (d) The President may appoint a nonpartisan Board on Mobilization of Industries Essential for Military Preparedness, and may provide necessary clerical assistance to organize and coordinate operations under this section and section 4501 of this title. § 4503. Research and development programs The Secretary of the Army may conduct and participate in research and development programs relating to the Army, and may procure or contract for the use of facilities, supplies, and services that are needed for those programs. This section does not authorize the design or development of any prototype aircraft intended primarily for commercial use. §4504.
Procurement for experimental purposes
The Secretary of the Army may buy ordnance, signal, and chemical warfare supplies, including parts and accessories, and designs thereof, that he considers necessary for experimental or test purposes in the development of the best supplies that are needed for the national defense. Purchases under this section may be made inside or outside the United States, with or without competitive bidding, and by contract or otherwise. Chapter 137 of this title applies when such purchases are made in quantity. §4505. Procurement of production equipment The Secretary of the Army may make or procure gauges, dies, jigs, tools, fixtures, and other special aids and appliances, and specifications and drawings, necessary for the immediate manufacture of arms, ammunition, or special equipment that are necessary to equip the Army and are likely to be needed in time of war. Whenever he considers it in the best interest of the United States, the Secretary may procure any of those items without regard to laws prescribing competition in the procurement of suppKes.
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