31 U.S.C. § 6306

The head of an executive agency may vest title in tangible personal property in a nonprofit institution of higher education or in a nonprofit organization whose primary purpose is conducting scientific research— (1) when the property is bought with amounts provided under a procurement contract, grant agreement, or cooperative agreement with the institution or organization to conduct basic or applied scientific research; (2) when the head of the agency decides the vesting furthers the objectives of the agency; (3) without further obligation to the United States Government; and (4) under conditions the head of the agency considers appropriate.