The department may:

  (a) Receive from the United States under and in conformance with the provisions of the federal act such personal property, including any equipment, materials, books or other supplies as shall have been determined to be surplus property and as may be usable and necessary within this state for purposes of education, public health or civil defense, or for research for any such purpose or for any other purpose which may be authorized by federal law.

  (b) Warehouse the property.

  (c) Distribute the property within the state to tax supported medical institutions, hospitals, clinics, health centers, schools, colleges and universities, and to other nonprofit medical institutions, hospitals, clinics, health centers, schools, colleges and universities which have been held exempt from taxation under section 501 (c) (3) of the United States internal revenue code of 1954, as amended; to civil defense organizations established pursuant to state law, and to such other types of institutions or activities as are eligible under federal law to acquire the property.