(a) Definition of qualified item of personal propertyIn this section, the term “qualified item of personal property” means—
(b) General authorityExcept as provided in subsection (c), notwithstanding chapter 5 of subtitle I of title 40, the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, in managing personal property for the purpose of carrying out the research functions of the Department, may exchange, sell, or otherwise dispose of any qualified item of personal property, including by way of public auction, and may retain and apply the sale or other proceeds, without further appropriation and without fiscal year limitation, in whole or in partial payment—
(2)
to offset costs related to the maintenance, care, or feeding of any qualified item of personal property.
(c) Exception
Subsection (b) does not apply to the free dissemination of new varieties of seeds and germplasm in accordance with section 2201 of this title.
(Pub. L. 103–354, title III, § 307, as added Pub. L. 110–234, title VII, § 7408, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1252, and Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VII, § 7408, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2013; amended Pub. L. 113–79, title VII, § 7605, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 912.)