Title 41 — Public ContractsRelease 119-73
§3702 Sealed bids
Title 41 › Subtitle Subtitle I— - Federal Procurement Policy › Chapter CHAPTER 37— - AWARDING OF CONTRACTS › § 3702
Summary
Open sealed bids in public at the time and place shown in the solicitation. The agency must evaluate bids under 3701(a) without talking with bidders and, unless 3701(b) allows otherwise, promptly award to the responsible bidder whose compliant bid is best for the Government based only on price and price-related factors. Tell the winner in writing or electronically, and notify all other bidders within 3 days after the award.
Full Legal Text
Title 41, §3702
Public Contracts — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Sealed bids shall be opened publicly at the time and place stated in the solicitation.
(b)The executive agency shall evaluate the bids in accordance with section 3701(a) of this title without discussions with the bidders and, except as provided in section 3701(b) of this title, shall award a contract with reasonable promptness to the responsible source whose bid conforms to the solicitation and is most advantageous to the Federal Government, considering only price and the other price-related factors included in the solicitation.
(c)The award of a contract shall be made by transmitting, in writing or by electronic means, notice of the award to the successful bidder. Within 3 days after the date of contract award, the executive agency shall notify, in writing or by electronic means, each bidder not awarded the contract that the contract has been awarded.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 3702(a)41:253b(c) (1st sentence).June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title III, § 303B(c), as added Pub. L. 98–369, title VII, § 2711(a)(2), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 1179; Pub. L. 103–355, title I, §§ 1061(c)(2), 1063(a), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3267, 3268. 3702(b)41:253b(c) (2d sentence). 3702(a)41:253b(c) (3d, last sentences).
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
41 U.S.C. § 3702
Title 41 — Public Contracts
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73