(a) The Act of August 28, 1958 (50 U.S.C. 1431-35) (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”), empowers the President to authorize departments and agencies exercising functions in connection with the national defense to enter into contracts or into amendments or modifications of contracts and to make advance payments, without regard to other provisions of law relating to the making, performance, amendment, or modification of contracts, whenever the President deems that such action would facilitate the national defense.

(b) Executive Order No. 10789, dated November 14, 1958 (23 FR 8897), authorizes the Administrator, NASA, to exercise the authority conferred by the Act and to prescribe regulations for the carrying out of such authority.

(c) Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), part 50, April 1, 1985, and NASA/FAR Supplement 84-2, part 18-50, October 19, 1984, establishes standards and procedures for the disposition of requests for extraordinary contractual adjustments by NASA contractors.