15 USC § 278d - Construction and improvement of buildings and facilities

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t15/s278d"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "15 USC § 278d - Construction and improvement of buildings and facilities"
title_number: 15
title_name: "COMMERCE AND TRADE"
section_number: "278d"
section_name: "Construction and improvement of buildings and facilities"
chapter_number: 7
chapter_name: "NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Mar. 3, 1901, ch. 872, § 14, as added Pub. L. 85–890, § 1, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1711; amended Pub. L. 92–317, § 3(d), June 22, 1972, 86 Stat. 235; Pub. L. 96–461, § 8, Oct. 15, 1980, 94 Stat. 2051; Pub. L. 100–418, title V, § 5115(a)(1), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1433; Pub. L. 102–245, title I, § 104(f), Feb. 14, 1992, 106 Stat. 11; Pub. L. 110–69, title III, § 3014, Aug. 9, 2007, 121 Stat. 599.)"
---


# § 278d. Construction and improvement of buildings and facilities

**(a)** **In general** Within the limits of funds which are appropriated for the Institute, the Secretary of Commerce is authorized to undertake such construction of buildings and other facilities and to make such improvements to existing buildings, grounds, and other facilities occupied or used by the Institute as are necessary for the proper and efficient conduct of the activities authorized herein.

**(b)** **Retention of fees** The Director is authorized to retain all building use and depreciation surcharge fees collected pursuant to OMB Circular A–25. Such fees shall be collected and credited to the Construction of Research Facilities Appropriation Account for use in maintenance and repair of the Institute’s existing facilities.

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**Source Credit**: (Mar. 3, 1901, ch. 872, § 14, as added Pub. L. 85–890, § 1, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1711; amended Pub. L. 92–317, § 3(d), June 22, 1972, 86 Stat. 235; Pub. L. 96–461, § 8, Oct. 15, 1980, 94 Stat. 2051; Pub. L. 100–418, title V, § 5115(a)(1), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1433; Pub. L. 102–245, title I, § 104(f), Feb. 14, 1992, 106 Stat. 11; Pub. L. 110–69, title III, § 3014, Aug. 9, 2007, 121 Stat. 599.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

“Herein”, referred to in subsec. (a), refers to , which is classified generally to this chapter.

### Amendments

2007— designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, and added subsec. (b).

1992— substituted “herein.” for “herein: , That no improvement shall be made nor shall any building be constructed under this authority at a cost in excess of $250,000 unless specific provision is made therefor in the appropriation concerned.”

1988— substituted “Institute” for “National Bureau of Standards” wherever appearing.

1980— substituted “$250,000” for $75,000”.

1972— substituted “$75,000” for “$40,000”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , see , set out as an Effective Date note under .

### Facilities for Cold Neutron Research

> “Hereafter, the National Institute of Standards and Technology is authorized to accept contributions of funds, to remain available until expended, from any public or private source to construct a facility for cold neutron research on materials, notwithstanding the limitations contained in
> 
> .”

, , , provided that: