Personnel, facilities, and other resources

(a) Personnel The Special Inspector General may select, appoint, and employ such officers and employees as may be necessary for carrying out the duties of the Special Inspector General, subject to the provisions of— (1) chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service; and (2) chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title, relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates. (b) Employment of experts and consultants The Special Inspector General may obtain the services of experts and consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, at daily rates not to exceed the equivalent rate prescribed for grade GS–15 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of such title. (c) Contracting authority To the extent and in such amounts as may be provided in advance by appropriations Acts, the Special Inspector General may— (1) enter into contracts and other arrangements for audits, studies, analyses, and other services with public agencies and with private persons; and (2) make such payments as may be necessary to carry out the duties of the Special Inspector General. (d) Resources The Secretary of State or the Secretary of Defense, as appropriate, shall provide the Special Inspector General with— (1) appropriate and adequate office space at appropriate locations of the Department of State or the Department of Defense, as appropriate, in Ukraine or in European partner countries; (2) such equipment, office supplies, and communications facilities and services as may be necessary for the operation of such offices; and (3) necessary maintenance services for such offices and the equipment and facilities located in such offices. (e) Assistance from federal agencies (1) In general Upon request of the Special Inspector General for information or assistance from any department, agency, or other entity of the Federal Government, the head of such entity shall, to the extent practicable and not in contravention of any existing law, furnish such information or assistance to the Special Inspector General or an authorized designee. (2) Reporting of refused assistance Whenever information or assistance requested by the Special Inspector General is, in the judgment of the Special Inspector General, unreasonably refused or not provided, the Special Inspector General shall immediately report the circumstances to— (A) the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Defense, as appropriate; and (B) the appropriate congressional committees.