Property disposal officers

In its final recommendation the report urged that contract terminations be studied in connection with the peacetime Industrial Mobilization Program, so that in any future emergency proper instruction might be given to prospective negotiators and property disposal officers. 

Departmental Property Management Officer also designated as the DOE National Utilization Officer who provides approval for user access to the Federal Disposal System (FEDS) (see definition). 

Where the ever-growing workload did not account for the activation of new administrative units, the decentralization of operations in accordance with ASF policy did. In 1942 such functions as priorities and allocations and manpower utilization were decentralized to the installations. From 1943 to the close of the war, decentralization of operations took place on pricing analysis, public relations, property disposal, contract termination, and demobilization. Units to supervise these functions were set up in the district offices and other pertinent installations. 

The War Department was but one of six major procurement agencies in the government consequently there was need for developing uniform termination procedures for all these agencies. At the request of the President, Bernard Baruch and John Hancock made a study of contract settlement and property disposal matters, which they embodied in their Report on War and Post-War Adjustment Policies (15 February 1944). Congress was meanwhile studying the need for new legislation and passed the Contract Settlement Act of 1944. This act, which pointed out the need for speed, equity, and finality in the settlement of terminated contracts, created an Office of Contraa Setdement with a director empowered to prescribe policies, procedures, and standards on contract settlements. 

The Baruch-Hancock Report of February 1944 led to drastic reforms in the field of property disposal no less than in contract termination. The first result was establishment of a Surplus Property Administration in the Office of War Mobilization. The Surplus Property Administration arranged for the Reconstruction Finance Corporation to act as a disposal agency in addition to the Procurement Division of the Treasury Department. The Reconstruction Finance Corporation handled general purpose equipment, machine tools, and chemicals, while the Procurement Division, Treasury Department, was restricted to consumer-type property. 

While the CWS conducted its surplus property functions under the general supervision of Headquarters, ASF, it also had direct contacts with the Surplus Property Board and later the Surplus Property Administration. The Property Disposal Branch in the chiefs office formulated pro-... 

Property which has been lost, sold or disposed of shall be removed from the records of non-expendable property. Removal of such items from the records shall require the prior authorisation of the Principal Financial Officer. 

It may be said that the apprehension that the judicial power will operate in this manner is merely visionary, for that the legislature will never pass laws that will work these effects. Or if they were disposed to do it, they cannot provide for levying an execution on a state, for where will the officer find property whereon to levy. ... 

Handles all motters relating to administration and office monogemenl. Provides communication and messenger service for the depot 0 whole. Provides for odequote iniernol security and safety. Assumes lesponsibiiily for depot property. Oper-otes the motor vehicle pool. Receives and disposes of property turned in for salvage. 

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