Section 162. Contracts for professional services of state and municipal employees

Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law,  general,
  special  or  local,  the state and any municipal subdivision thereof and
  any department, bureau, board, commission, authority or any other agency
  or instrumentality of the state or any  municipal  subdivision  thereof,
  are hereby severally authorized and empowered to enter into any contract
  or  arrangement  with  the  United  States  of  America  or  any office,
  department, agency or instrumentality thereof  for  the  performance  at
  cost  by  engineers,  architects, draftsmen and chemists employed by the
  state or such municipal subdivision, upon such terms and  conditions  as
  may  be  mutually  agreed  upon, of any project or work authorized by or
  pursuant to any act of congress or the cost of which has  been  provided
  for  by  an  appropriation  or contract authorization made by any act of
  congress which involves or requires the professional  services  of  such
  employees. The making or performance of any such contract or arrangement
  shall  in  no  wise  be  deemed  to  affect or result in the impairment,
  diminution or abridgment of  the  compensation,  or  any  of  the  civil
  service,  retirement  and other rights, privileges and immunities of any
  employee engaged in the performance of any service thereunder.