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VOLUME 14

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NUMBER 128

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Washington, Wednesday, July 6, 1949

TITLE 3 THE PRESIDENT
LETTER OF JUNE 30, 1949
A

A c t i n g A d m in is t r a t o r S e r v ic e s ; S t a t e m e n t o f P o l ic y U nd er t h e F ederal P r o per ty a n d A d m i n i s t r a t i v e S e r v ic e s A c t Of p p o in t m e n t
of
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eneral
1949
T he W

h it e
H

ouse,
Washington, June 30,1949.
M y D e a r M r . L a r s o n : I have today signed H. R. 4754 which was passed by the Congress To simplify the procure ment, utilization, and disposal of Gov ernment property, to reorganize certain agencies of the Government, and for other purposes, Pursuant to the au thority ofthe new Act, I hereby desig nate you to perform temporarily, pend ing the appointment of the first Admin istrator of General Services, the func tions of that officer,With the title of Act ing Administrator of General Services.
The Federal Property and Administra tive Services Act of 1949 consolidates functions which until now have been carried out piece-meal under some 38
overlapping statutes dating back of 1870.
A better system of property and records management has been needed by the Federal Government for many years.
An important responsibility is vested in the Administrator of General Services to achieve effective and economical re sults in the property management field and to insure that the General Services Administration affords the operating agencies the type of service requisite for the successful conduct of their programs.
The Act requires that a fair propor tion of all procurement shall be placed with small business concerns. It also states that all purchases and contracts for supplies and services shall be made by advertising, except under circum stances specified in the Act where excep tions to this general policy may be made.
The Act also grants civilian agencies unprecedented freedom from specific procurement restrictions during peace time. That freedom is given to permit the flexibility and latitude needed in present day activities. The basic need, howver, remains to assure favorable price and adequate service to the Govern ment. To the degree that restrictions have been diminished, therefore, re sponsibility upon the General Services Administration has been increased.
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There is always the danger that the natural desire for flexibility and speed in procurement may lead to excessive place ment of contracts by negotiations and undue reliance upon large concerns.
This must not occur.
I am therefore asking you to undertake a study looking toward the issuance of detailed standards to guide procurement officers in carrying out the intent of this law to insure a fair and substantial pro portion of contract placement with small business establishments. I am relying upon your discretion to delegate the au thority to negotiate contracts so that it will be used sparingly and with care, and so that it may be promptly withdrawn when necessary.
In order to make this policy uniform in the Federal Government, la m asking you to make an annual repoiwhich will show, as of the end of each fiscal year, the total value and the proportion in each agency of contracts under indi vidual exceptions to competitive bidding the total value and the proportion in each agency of contracts placed with small business concerns, and any other pertinent information.
I have heretofore required the three departments of the National Military Es tablishment, and the Coast Guard and the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, to make similar reports under Public Law 413, 80th Congress. In the interest of uniformity, the General Services Administration should utilize the definition of small business which those agencies are currently using.
Sincerely yours, H

arry
S.

T

ruman
495543; Piled, 11:17 a. m .

July
5,
1949;

F ederal P r o p
A d m i n i s t r a t i v e S e r v ic e s A c t
m p l e m e n t a t io n o f th e erty and
1949

of

T

he
W

h it e

Page
Federal Property and Administra tive Services Act:
Acting Administrator of Gen eral Services, appointment ;
statement of policy__________
Implementation_______________

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EXECUTIVE AGENCIES
Agriculture Department Rules and regulations:
Administration; preservation of records see Liquidation Di vision .
War food order; agricultureimport order_______________

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Alien Property, Office of Notices :
Vesting orders, etc.:
Alzheimer, Gertrude Stertzgeb, et al---------------------Blask, Marie___________ _____
Credito Italiano_______ ___
Groening, Frederick C. C. H__
Harck, Fred W _____________
Jankewitz, Herbert__________
Koopmann, Beatrizl.________
Matoba, Nakako____________
McLoughlin, Hugh F________
Redman, Ferdinand A _______
Steinhauer, Leo_____________
Towne, A. Lyndhurstj_______
Von.Ostman, Maria Elena__

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Army Department See Engineers Corps.

Notices:
Organization;
miscellaneous amendments________________

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Civil Aeronautics Board
LETTER OF JULY 1, 1949
I

THE PRESIDENT
Letters
Civil Aeronautics Administra tion

Hon. J e s s L a r s o n , Administrator, Federal Works Agency, Washington 25, D. C. P . R. Doc.

CONTENTS

H

ouse,
Washington, July 1, 1949.
To A l l E x e c u t i v e A g e n c i e s : By virtue of the authority vested in me by section C o n tin u e d on p. 3701

Notices:
Hearings, etc.:
International Air Transport Assn, agency resolutions proceeding________________
S. S. W., Inc.; service to Lake Tahoe_____________________
Proposed rule making:
Long over-water flight, required communications equipment and facilities; postponement of date for submission of doc uments_____________ ________
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