Contracts for research

§ 7522. Contracts for research (a) The Secretary of the Navy and, by direction of the Secretary, the Chief of Naval Research and the chiefs of bureaus may, without advertising, make contracts or amendments or modifications of contracts for services and materials necessary to conduct research and to make or secure reports, tests, models, or apparatus. A contractor supplying such services or materials need not be required to furnish a bond. (b) Section 529 of title 31 does not apply to advance, progress, or other payments made with respect to a contract under this section. (c) This section does not authorize the use of the cost-plus-a-percentage-of-cost system of contracting.