Military Construction Authorization Act, 1979

(Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 95-1448)

Military Construction Authorization Act - =Title I: Army= - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to establish or develop military installations and facilities at specified locations. Authorizes appropriations in specified amounts for each of these locations. Authorizes the Secretary to establish or develop other installations by proceeding with construction made necessary by unforeseen security considerations, new weapons development, new and unforeseen research and development requirements, improved production schedules, or revisions in the tasks or functions assigned to a military installation or for environmental considerations.

=Title II: Navy= - Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to establish or develop military installations and facilities at specified locations. Authorizes appropriations in specified amounts for each such location. Authorizes the Secretary to establish or develop other installations where necessary under the same conditions as those relating to the Secretary of the Army under Title I of this Act.

=Title III: Air Force= - Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to establish or develop military installations and facilities at specified locations. Authorizes appropriations in specified amounts for each such location. Authorizes the Secretary to establish or develop additional facilities where necessitated by those factors enumerated in Title I of this Act pertaining to the Secretary of the Army.

=Title IV: Defense Agencies= - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to establish or develop military installations at specified locations and authorizes appropriations in specified amounts for each such location. Authorizes the Secretary to establish or develop additional facilities which are determined to be vital to the security of the United States.

=Title V: Military Family Housing= - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to construct or acquire military family housing units in specified numbers at specified locations. Requires the Secretary to consult with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development as to the availability of suitable private housing before commencing housing construction. Authorizes the Secretary to increase the amounts authorized for housing construction by up to ten percent to meet unforseeable and unusual variations in cost.

Increases the average amounts which may be expanded for leasing family housing units for military personnel. Increases the number of housing units which may be leased in foreign countries.

Authorizes the Secretary to expend specified amounts to improve existing public quarters for the various military departments.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to settle claims regarding the construction of public quarters at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in the amount of $500,000.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to settle claims regarding the construction of public quarters at the Naval Complex, South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the amount of $1,750,000.

Increases authorization to construct or acquire 100 units of housing for Naval Station Adak, Alaska, from $8,500,000 to $10,500,000.

Authorizes appropriations for use by the Secretary of Defense for military family housing and homeowner's assistance for specified purposes.

=Title VI: Authorization of Appropriations and Administrative Provisions= - Sets forth limitations on the use of funds authorized to be appropriated under this Act. Authorizes increases in the amounts specified under this Act under certain circumstances.

Requires that construction contracts under this Act be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder if the national security will not be impaired by such an award. Requires the Secretaries of the military departments to report annually to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House "of Representatives with respect to all contracts awarded on other than competitive basis to the lowest responsible bidder.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to annually report to Congress on projects which have been placed under contract where the current working estimate of the Department of Defense exceeded the amount authorized by Congress for that project by more than 25 percent.

Repeals authorizations for military public works in the Military Construction Authorization Act, 1978, and all authorizations contained in Acts approved before August 1, 1977, and not superseded or otherwise modified by a later authorization. Specifies exceptions to such repealer.

Sets forth the unit cost limitations for military construction projects within the United States.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to encourage the utilization of solar energy for projects authorized by this Act where it would be practical and economically feasible. Authorizes the Secretary to permit increases in the cost limitations or floor area limitations contained in this Act in order to equip projects with solar heating or cooling equipment.

=Title VII: Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities= - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to establish or develop additional facilities for the National Guard and the Reserve Components of the various armed forces. Authorizes appropriations for such purpose.

Waives certain restrictions on the Secretary of Defense's authority to establish or develop installation and facilities under this Title. Expands such authority to acquire real estate or lands to include acquisition by exchange of Government-owned land, gift, or purchase.

=Title VIII: General Provisions= - Increases the ceiling on estimated costs of any public works project requiring advance planning, construction design, and architectural services for the purpose of requiring reports to Congress on such estimates.

Requires the Secretary to transmit to the Congress the annual request for military construction authorization for the fiscal year within ten days after the President transmits the Budget for that year to the Congress.

Authorizes each of the Secretaries of the various military departments to develop geothermal resources within property under the control of the department (except public lands) for the benefit of the Department of Defense.

Authorizes the Secretaries to enter into contracts for the purchase of public utility services with contractors operating energy production facilities on property under the control of the department so long as such energy resources are derived from other than nuclear or fossil fuel sources.

Requires that 25 percent of all new military facilities (except housing) include solar energy systems to the extent that such a system is cost effective. Requires that all new military family housing include solar energy systems where such a system is cost effective.

Redefines "military installation" as a facility at which not less than 300 civilian personnel are authorized to be employed for purposes of base closure and realinement.

Prohibits the Department of Defense from purchasing any land adjacent to Pease Air Force Base in New Hampshire without the express authorization of Congress.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to convey to Plough, Inc., the land and improvements which comprise the Marine Corps Reserve Center in Memphis, Tennessee.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to convey: (1) to the city of Niceville, Florida, a portion of Eglin Air Force Base, Florida; and (2) to the Air Force Enlisted Men's Widows and Dependents Home Foundation, Incorporated, two parcels of land at Eglin Air Force Base. Requires the city of Niceville and the Foundation each to convey land or pay an amount of money to the United States which in total equals an amount which is not less than the fair market value of such land authorized to be conveyed.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to convey to the Central-Wyandotte Development Corporation specified real property in Kansas City, Missouri.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to convey to Utah State University specified land located on land leased from the University on its campus in Logan, Utah.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to transfer the Navy Drum Storage Area in Hawaii to that State.

Specifies that such land conveyances shall take effect on October 1, 1978.