Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§13556 Disadvantaged business enterprises

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 134— - ENERGY POLICY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER XII— - MISCELLANEOUS › Part Part B— - Other Miscellaneous Provisions › § 13556

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The head of each agency must, as much as possible, make sure at least 10 percent of the total money the agency obligates for contracts and subcontracts under this Act and its amendments — when those contracts are awarded by competitive procedures under division C of subtitle I of title 41 (except sections 3302, 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711) or under chapter 137 legacy provisions (as defined in section 3016 of title 10) — is spent with one of these: small businesses owned or controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged people or by women; historically Black colleges and universities; colleges or universities with more than 20 percent Hispanic American or Native American students; or qualified HUBZone small businesses. Definitions (one line each): "Small business concern" — meaning in section 632 of title 15 (but engineering services use the size standard for military and aerospace equipment and military weapons). "Socially and economically disadvantaged individuals" — meaning in section 637(d) of title 15 and related subcontracting regulations. "Qualified HUBZone small business concern" — meaning in section 632(p) of title 15.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §13556

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)To the extent practicable, the head of each agency shall provide that the obligation of not less than 10 percent of the total combined amounts obligated for contracts and subcontracts by each agency under this Act and amendments made by this Act pursuant to competitive procedures within the meaning of either division C (except section 3302, 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41, or chapter 137 legacy provisions (as such term is defined in section 3016 of title 10), shall be expended either with—
(1)small business concerns controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals or women;
(2)historically Black colleges and universities;
(3)colleges and universities having a student body in which more than 20 percent of the students are Hispanic Americans or Native Americans; or
(4)qualified HUBZone small business concerns.
(b)For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)The term “small business concern” has the meaning such term has under section 632 of title 15. However, for purposes of contracts and subcontracts requiring engineering services the applicable size standard shall be that established for military and aerospace equipment and military weapons.
(2)The term “socially and economically disadvantaged individuals” has the meaning such term has under section 637(d) of title 15 and relevant subcontracting regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.
(3)The term “qualified HUBZone small business concern” has the meaning given that term in section 632(p) 11 See References in Text note below. of title 15.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 102–486, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2776, known as the Energy Policy Act of 1992. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 13201 of this title and Tables. section 632(p) of title 15, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), was redesignated section 657a(b) of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, by Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title XVII, § 1701(a)(2), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1795. Codification In subsec. (a), “division C (except section 3302, 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41” substituted for “the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 251 et seq.)” on authority of Pub. L. 111–350, § 6(c), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3854, which Act enacted Title 41, Public Contracts.

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–81 substituted “chapter 137 legacy provisions (as such term is defined in section 3016 of title 10)” for “chapter 137 of title 10”. 1997—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 105–135, § 604(g)(1), added par. (4). Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 105–135, § 604(g)(2), added par. (3).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1997 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 105–135 effective Oct. 1, 1997, see section 3 of Pub. L. 105–135, set out as a note under section 631 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 13556

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73