§5. Advertisements for proposals for purchases and contracts for supplies or services for Government departments; application to Government sales and contracts to sell and to Government corporations

Unless otherwise provided in the appropriation concerned or other law, purchases and contracts for supplies or services for the Government may be made or entered into only after advertising a sufficient time previously for proposals, except (1) when the amount involved in any one case does not exceed $25,000, (2) when the public exigencies require the immediate delivery of the articles or performance of the service, (3) when only one source of supply is available and the Government purchasing or contracting officer shall so certify, or (4) when the services are required to be performed by the contractor in person and are (A) of a technical and professional nature or (B) under Government supervision and paid for on a time basis. Except (1) as authorized by section 1638 ¹ of Appendix to title 50, (2) when otherwise authorized by law, or (3) when the reasonable value involved in any one case does not exceed $500, sales and contracts of sale by the Government shall be governed by the requirements of this section for advertising.

In the case of wholly owned Government corporations, this section shall apply to their administrative transactions only.

(R.S. §3709; Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 744, §9(a), (c), 60 Stat. 809; June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title VI, §602(f), formerly title V, §502(e), 63 Stat. 403; renumbered Sept. 5, 1950, ch. 849, §§6(a), (b), 8(c), 64 Stat. 583, and amended Pub. L. 85–800, §7, Aug. 28, 1958, 72 Stat. 967; Pub. L. 93–356, §1, July 25, 1974, 88 Stat. 390; Pub. L. 98–191, §9(b), Dec. 1, 1983, 97 Stat. 1332.)

References in Text

Section 1638 of Appendix to title 50, referred to in text, was repealed by act June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title VI, §602(a)(1), formerly title V, §502(a)(1), 63 Stat. 399, eff. July 1, 1949, renumbered by act Sept. 5, 1950, ch. 849, §6(a), (b), 64 Stat. 583.

Codification

R.S. §3709 derived from act Mar. 2, 1861, ch. 84, §10, 12 Stat. 220.

Amendments

1983—Pub. L. 98–191 substituted “$25,000” for “$10,000”.

1974—Pub. L. 93–356 substituted “$10,000” for “$2,500”.

1958—Pub. L. 85–800 substituted “$2,500” for “$500”.

1949—Act June 30, 1949, substituted “$500” for “$100”.

1946—Act Aug. 2, 1946, among other changes, inserted cls. (1), (3), and (4), and made section applicable to sales and contracts of sale by the Government, except in certain cases.

Effective Date of 1949 Amendment

Amendment by act June 30, 1949, effective July 1, 1949, see section 605, formerly section 505, of act June 30, 1949, ch. 288, 63 Stat. 403; renumbered by act Sept. 5, 1950, ch. 849, §6(a), (b), 64 Stat. 583.

Exemption of Functions

Functions authorized by Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, as exempt, see Ex. Ord. No. 11223, May 12, 1965, 30 F.R. 6635, set out as a note under section 2393 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.

Section Inapplicable to Armed Services and National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Section inapplicable to procurement or sale of property or services by Armed Services and National Aeronautics and Space Administration, see section 2314 of Title 10, Armed Forces.

Repeal of Exemptions

Section 9(b) of act Aug. 2, 1946, provided: “Exemptions from section 3709, Revised Statutes [this section], in other law in amounts of $100 or less are hereby repealed.”

¹ See References in Text note below.