Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-110
§57503 Competitive Bidding
Title 46 › Subtitle V — Merchant Marine › Part F — Government-Owned Merchant Vessels › CHAPTER 575 — CONSTRUCTION, CHARTER, AND SALE OF VESSELS › SUBCHAPTER I — GENERAL › § 57503
Summary
Secretary may contract with a private shipbuilder to construct, reconstruct, or recondition vessels only after public notice and sealed competitive bids. Bids open at the advertised time and place; the public and press may attend, and results are announced.
Full Legal Text
Title 46, §57503
Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Advertisement and Bidding.—
The Secretary of Transportation may make a contract with a private shipbuilder for the construction of a new vessel, or for the reconstruction or reconditioning of an existing vessel, only after due advertisement and upon sealed competitive bids.
(b)Opening of Bids.—
Bids required under this section shall be opened at the time and place stated in the advertisement for bids. All interested persons, including representatives of the press, shall be permitted to attend. The results of the bidding shall be publicly announced.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 57503(a)46 App.:1193(a).June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title VII, § 703(a), (c) (related to
Construction
, re
Construction
, or reconditioning), 49 Stat. 2008; Pub. L. 97–31, § 12(105), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 163. 57503(b)46 App.:1193(c) (related to
Construction
, re
Construction
, or reconditioning). In subsection (b), the words “Bids required under this section” are substituted for “All bids required by the Secretary of Transportation for the
Construction
, re
Construction
, or reconditioning of vessels” to eliminate unnecessary words. The word “hour” is omitted as covered by “time”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
46 U.S.C. § 57503
Title 46, Shipping
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110