(a) The Department of Administration may

(1) acquire from the United States under The Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 as amended, referred to in AS 44.68.120 - 44.68.140 as the “Federal Act,” and other applicable federal statutes and regulations, (63 Stat. 377 et seq., 40 U.S.C.A. 471 et seq.) property under the control of a department or agency of the United States that is usable and necessary for purposes of education (including educational activities which are of special interest to the armed services), public health or civil defense, and other purposes authorized by federal law;

(2) warehouse property acquired under (a)(1) of this section; and

(3) distribute the property to tax-supported medical institutions, hospitals, clinics, health centers, school systems, colleges, schools, and universities in the state, to other nonprofit medical institutions, hospitals, clinics, health centers, schools, colleges, and universities exempt from taxation under § 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1954, including future amendments, to civil defense organizations of the state established under state law, to organizations or institutions engaged in educational activities which are of special interest to the armed services, and to other types of institutions or activities eligible under federal law to acquire the property.

(b) The Department of Administration may receive applications from the eligible institutions listed in (a)(3) of this section, including the state government and its political subdivisions, for the acquisition of federal surplus real property, investigate the applications, get an expression of views on the applications from the health or educational authorities of the state, make recommendations on applicants, needs for the property, the merits of its proposed program of use, and the suitability of the property for these purposes, and otherwise assist in the processing of applications for acquisition of real and related personal property of the United States under § 203 (k) of the Federal Act.

(c) The Department of Administration may adopt the regulations and prescribe the requirements and take other action considered necessary to administer AS 44.68.120 - 44.68.140 to assure maximum use and benefit to eligible institutions and organizations in the state.

(d) The Department of Administration may take the action, make the expenditures, and enter into contracts, agreements, and undertakings in the name of the state, including cooperative agreements with federal agencies providing for use by and exchange between them of the property, facilities, personnel, and services of each by the other, require the reports and make the investigations required by law or regulation of the United States in connection with the disposal of real property and the receipt, warehousing, and distribution of personal property received by the department from the United States.

(e) The Department of Administration may act as clearinghouse of information for eligible institutions and organizations referred to in (a) of this section and other institutions eligible to acquire federal surplus real property, locate real and personal property available for acquisition from the United States, ascertain the terms and conditions under which the property may be obtained, receive requests from the eligible institutions and organizations, and transmit to them available information in reference to the property, and aid and assist them to acquire federal surplus property under AS 44.68.120 - 44.68.140.

(f) The Department of Administration shall cooperate with the departments or agencies of the United States and shall file a state plan of operation, operate in accordance with it, and take the action necessary to meet the minimum standards prescribed in accordance with the Federal Act, and make the reports in the form and containing the information which the United States or its departments or agencies may require and shall comply with the laws of the United States and the regulations of its departments or agencies governing the allocation, transfer, use, or accounting for property donated to the state.

(g) The Department of Administration may perform functions necessary to carry out the transfer of federal surplus personal property for eligible purposes under Public Law 659, 1954, as amended, and to comply with regulations of the Federal General Services Administration in connection with the Federal Act. In carrying out the purposes of this subsection the department may, upon the governor's request, act as the governor's representative in connection with the function to be performed under AS 44.68.120 - 44.68.140.

(h) The civil defense organization, officials, and contacts throughout the state may be used to assist in carrying out the purposes of AS 44.68.120 - 44.68.140 to the extent that this is feasible and can be done without adversely affecting civil defense. The department may employ the assistants and other workers in the surplus property service necessary to carry out the purposes of AS 44.68.120 - 44.68.140.