Assembly and distribution of information.

The department is authorized to secure, gather and assemble from the United States, or any owning or disposal agency thereof, information relating to the lease, sale or procurement and distribution of any equipment, supplies, materials or other property, real or personal, offered for procurement or distribution under the provisions of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, or any amendments thereto, or any other law providing for the disposal of surplus property. The department shall distribute and disseminate such information to the several boards, commissions, departments, state agencies and officers of the state, and the several counties of the state, boards of county commissioners, school boards, and other county agencies and officers, and municipalities of the state, and officers thereof, authorized by law to make purchases of material, supplies, and equipment or other property, real or personal, for state, county or municipal uses or purposes. The department may act as agent for any board, commission, department, state agency or officer of the state, or any of the several counties of the state, boards of county commissioners, school boards, and any other county agency and officer, or municipality of the state, and officers thereof, to enter a bid or bids in its or their behalf for any surplus property, real or personal, offered for lease, sale or other disposal by the United States, or any owning or disposal agency thereof, and as such agent to make any down payment or payment in full required in connection with such bidding.