41 U.S.C.
United States Code, 2009 Edition
Title 41 - PUBLIC CONTRACTS
CHAPTER 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 57 - Contractor responsibilities
From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov

§57. Contractor responsibilities

(a) Procedural requirements for prevention and detection of violations

Each contracting agency shall include in each prime contract awarded by such agency a requirement that the prime contractor shall have in place and follow reasonable procedures designed to prevent and detect violations of section 53 of this title in its own operations and direct business relationships.

(b) Cooperation in investigations requirement

Each contracting agency shall include in each prime contract awarded by such agency a requirement that the prime contractor shall cooperate fully with any Federal Government agency investigating a violation of section 53 of this title.

(c) Reporting requirement; supplying information as favorable evidence of responsibility

(1)(A) Whenever a prime contractor or subcontractor has reasonable grounds to believe that a violation of section 53 of this title may have occurred, the prime contractor or subcontractor shall promptly report the possible violation in writing.

(B) A contractor shall make the reports required by subparagraph (A) to the inspector general of the contracting agency, the head of the contracting agency if the agency does not have an inspector general, or the Department of Justice.

(2) In the case of an administrative or contractual action to suspend or debar any person who is eligible to enter into contracts with the Federal Government, evidence that such person has supplied information to the United States pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be favorable evidence of such person's responsibility for the purposes of Federal procurement laws and regulations.

(d) Partial inapplicability to small contracts

Subsections (a) and (b) of this section do not apply to a prime contract that is not greater than $100,000 or to a prime contract for the acquisition of commercial items (as defined in section 403(12) of this title).

(e) Cooperation in investigations regardless of contract amount

Notwithstanding subsection (d) of this section, a prime contractor shall cooperate fully with any Federal Government agency investigating a violation of section 53 of this title.

(Mar. 8, 1946, ch. 80, §7, as added Pub. L. 99–634, §2(a), Nov. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 3525; amended Pub. L. 103–355, title IV, §4104(a), title VIII, §8301(c)(1), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3341, 3397; Pub. L. 104–106, div. D, title XLIII, §4321(g), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 675.)

Amendments

1996—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–106 made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 403(12) of this title and struck out second period at end.

1994—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103–355, §8301(c)(1), inserted before period at end “or to a prime contract for the acquisition of commercial items (as defined in section 403(12) of this title).”

Pub. L. 103–355, §4104(a), added subsec. (d).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 103–355, §4104(a), added subsec. (e).

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

For effective date and applicability of amendment by Pub. L. 104–106, see section 4401 of Pub. L. 104–106, set out as a note under section 251 of this title.

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

For effective date and applicability of amendment by Pub. L. 103–355, see section 10001 of Pub. L. 103–355, set out as a note under section 251 of this title.

Effective Date

Subsecs. (a) and (b) effective with respect to contract solicitations issued by an agency, department, or other establishment of the Federal Government on or after the date which is 90 days after Nov. 7, 1986, and subsec. (c) effective with respect to conduct described in section 53 of this title which occurs on or after Nov. 7, 1986, see section 3 of Pub. L. 99–634, set out as an Effective Date of 1986 Amendment note under section 51 of this title.