PRIA Logo™
Title 41 — Public ContractsRelease 119-73not60

§6301 Authorization Requirement

Title 41 › Subtitle Subtitle II— Other Advertising and Contract Provisions › Chapter 63— GENERAL CONTRACT PROVISIONS › § 6301

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Federal agencies may not sign a contract or buy something unless a law allows it or Congress has set aside enough money to pay for it. The Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Homeland Security for the Coast Guard when it is not part of the Navy, may still buy certain supplies (7 kinds: clothing, food, animal feed, fuel, housing, transportation, and medical supplies). Those special buys cannot be more than what is needed for the current year. The Secretary must tell Congress right away when they use this authority and must report every three months on the estimated money owed because of it. The federal government also may not buy land unless a law specifically allows the purchase.

Full Legal Text

Title 41, §6301

Public Contracts — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A contract or purchase on behalf of the Federal Government shall not be made unless the contract or purchase is authorized by law or is under an appropriation adequate to its fulfillment.
(b)(1)In this subsection, the term “defined Secretary” means—
(A)the Secretary of Defense; or
(B)the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when the Coast Guard is not operating as a service in the Navy.
(2)Subsection (a) does not apply to a contract or purchase made by a defined Secretary for clothing, subsistence, forage, fuel, quarters, transportation, or medical and hospital supplies.
(3)A contract or purchase made by a defined Secretary under this subsection may not exceed the necessities of the current year.
(4)The defined Secretary shall immediately advise Congress when authority is exercised under this subsection. The defined Secretary shall report quarterly on the estimated obligations incurred pursuant to the authority granted in this subsection.
(c)Land may not be purchased by the Federal Government unless the purchase is authorized by law.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Amendment Not Shown in TextSubsecs. (a) and (b) of this section are derived from section 11 of former Title 41, Public Contracts, which was amended by Pub. L. 111–281, title IX, § 903(a)(4), Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 3010, prior to being repealed and reenacted as subsecs. (a) and (b) of this section by Pub. L. 111–350, §§ 3, 7(b), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3677, 3855. For applicability of that amendment to this section, see section 6(a) of Pub. L. 111–350, set out as a Transitional and

Savings Provision

s note preceding section 101 of this title. section 903 of Pub. L. 111–281 provided that, effective with the enactment of Pub. L. 109–241, section 902(c) of Pub. L. 109–241, which amended section 3732 of the Revised Statutes, is amended by inserting in the directory language, “of the United States” after “Revised Statutes”, resulting in no change in text.

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 6301(a)41:11(a) (words before 2nd comma).R.S. § 3732; Pub. L. 89–687, title VI, § 612(e), Oct. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 993; Pub. L. 98–557, § 17(e)(1), (2), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2868; Pub. L. 104–106, div. D, title XLIII, § 4322(b)(4), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 677; Pub. L. 109–241, title IX, § 902(c), July 11, 2006, 120 Stat. 566. 6301(b)41:11(a) (words after 2nd comma), (b). 6301(c)41:14.R.S. § 3736. In subsection (b)(1)(A), the words “Secretary of Defense” are substituted for “Department of Defense” because of 10:113. In subsection (b)(1)(B), the words “Secretary of Homeland Security” are substituted for “Department of Homeland Security” because of section 102(a)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 112(a)(2)).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

41 U.S.C. § 6301

Title 41 — Public Contracts

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60