; transactions other than contracts and grants (a) Additional forms of transactions authorized The Commandant may enter into transactions (other than contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants) under the authority of this subsection in carrying out basic, applied, and advanced research projects. The authority under this subsection is in addition to the authority provided in section 717 of this title to use contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants in carrying out such projects. (b) Advance payments The authority provided under subsection (a) may be exercised without regard to section 3324 of title 31. (c) Recovery of funds (1) In general A cooperative agreement for performance of basic, applied, or advanced research authorized by section 717 of this title and a transaction authorized by subsection (a) may include a clause that requires a person or other entity to make payments to the Coast Guard or any other department or agency of the Federal Government as a condition for receiving support under the agreement or other transaction. (2) Availability of funds The amount of any payment received by the Federal Government pursuant to a requirement imposed under paragraph (1) may be credited, to the extent authorized by the Commandant, to an appropriate account. Amounts so credited shall be merged with other funds in the account and shall be available for the same purposes and the same period for which other funds in such account are available. (d) Conditions The Commandant shall ensure that, to the maximum extent practicable, no cooperative agreement containing a clause under subsection (c)(1), and no transaction entered into under subsection (a), provides for research that duplicates research being conducted under existing programs carried out by the Coast Guard. (e) Education and training The Commandant shall— (1) ensure that management, technical, and contracting personnel of the Coast Guard involved in the award or administration of transactions under this section or other innovative forms of contracting