### **CHAPTER 31—GENERAL**

Sec.
3101.
Applicability.
3102.
Delegation and assignment of powers, functions, and responsibilities.
3103.
Acquisition programs.
3104.
Small business concerns.
3105.
New contracts and grants and merit-based selection procedures.
3106.
Erection, repair, or furnishing of public buildings and improvements not authorized, and certain contracts not permitted, by this division.

#### **Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries**

#### Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Equipment Rental

Pub. L. 115–254, div. B, title V, §555, Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3381, as amended by Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, §1702(i)(1), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2159, provided that:

"(a) Agency Analysis of Equipment Acquisition.—

"(1) In general.—Except as provided for under subsection (d), the head of each executive agency shall acquire equipment using the method of acquisition most advantageous to the Federal Government based on a case-by-case analysis of comparative costs and other factors, including those factors listed in section 7.401 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

"(2) Methods of acquisition.—The methods of acquisition to be compared in the analysis under paragraph (1) shall include, at a minimum, purchase, short-term rental or lease, long-term rental or lease, interagency acquisition, and acquisition agreements with a State or a local government as described in subsection (c).

"(3) Amendment of federal acquisition regulation.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 5, 2018], the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council shall amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation to implement the requirement of this subsection, including a determination of the factors for executive agencies to consider for purposes of performing the analysis under paragraph (1).

"(4) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to affect the requirements of chapter 37 of title 41, United States Code, sections 3206 through 3208 and sections 3301 through 3309 of title 10, United States Code, or section 1535 of title 31, United States Code.

"(b) Date of Implementation.—The analysis described in subsection (a) shall be applied to contracts for the acquisition of equipment entered into on or after the date that the Federal Acquisition Regulation is amended pursuant to paragraph (3) of such subsection.

"(c) Acquisition Agreements With States or Local Governments.—

"(1) In general.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including chapter 37 of title 41, United States Code, the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.), and sections 3206 through 3208 and sections 3301 through 3309 of title 10, United States Code, the head of an executive agency may enter into an acquisition agreement authorized by this section directly with a State or a local government if the agency head determines that the agreement otherwise satisfies the requirements of subsection (a)(1).

"(2) Terms and conditions.—Any agreement under paragraph (1) shall contain such terms and conditions as the head of the agency deems necessary or appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.

"(d) Exceptions.—The analysis otherwise required under subsection (a) is not required—

"(1) when the President has issued an emergency declaration or a major disaster declaration pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.);

"(2) in other emergency situations if the agency head makes a determination that obtaining such equipment is necessary in order to protect human life or property; or

"(3) when otherwise authorized by law.

"(e) Study of Agency Analyses.—Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform [now Committee on Oversight and Accountability] of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a comprehensive report on the decisions made by the executive agencies with the highest levels of acquisition spending, and a sample of executive agencies with lower levels of acquisition spending, to acquire high-value equipment by lease, rental, or purchase pursuant to subpart 7.4 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

"(f) Definitions.—In this section:

"(1) Executive agency.—The term 'executive agency' has the meaning given that term in section 102 of title 40, United States Code.

"(2) Interagency acquisition.—The term 'interagency acquisition' has the meaning given that term in section 2.101 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

"(3) State.—The term 'State' has the meaning given the term in section 6501 of title 31, United States Code.

"(4) Local government.—The term 'local government' means any unit of local government within a State, including a county, municipality, city, borough, town, township, parish, local public authority, school district, special district, intrastate district, council of governments, or regional or interstate government entity, and any agency or instrumentality of a local government."

#### Uniform Contract Writing System Requirements

Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title VIII, §862, Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1859, provided that:

"(a) Uniform Standards and Controls Required.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 2, 2013], the officials specified in subsection (b) shall—

"(1) establish uniform data standards, internal control requirements, independent verification and validation requirements, and business process rules for processing procurement requests, contracts, receipts, and invoices by the Department of Defense or other executive agencies, as applicable;

"(2) establish and maintain one or more approved electronic contract writing systems that conform with the standards, requirements, and rules established pursuant to paragraph (1); and

"(3) require the use of electronic contract writing systems approved in accordance with paragraph (2) for all contracts entered into by the Department of Defense or other executive agencies, as applicable.

"(b) Covered Officials.—The officials specified in this subsection are the following:

"(1) The Secretary of Defense, with respect to the Department of Defense and the military departments.

"(2) The Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy, with respect to the executive agencies other than the Department of Defense and the military departments.

"(c) Electronic Writing Systems for Department of State and USAID.—Notwithstanding subsection (b)(2), the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development may meet the requirements of subsection (a)(2) with respect to approved electronic contract writing systems for the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development, respectively, if the Secretary and the Administrator, as the case may be, demonstrate to the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy that prior investment of resources in existing contract writing systems will result in the most cost effective and efficient means to satisfy such requirements.

"(d) Phase-in of Implementation of Requirement for Approved Systems.—The officials specified in subsection (b) may phase in the implementation of the requirement to use approved electronic contract writing systems in accordance with subsection (a)(3) over a period of up to five years beginning with the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 2, 2013].

"(e) Reports.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 2, 2013], the officials specified in subsection (b) shall each submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the implementation of the requirements of this section. Each report shall, at a minimum—

"(1) describe the standards, requirements, and rules established pursuant to subsection (a)(1);

"(2) identify the electronic contract writing systems approved pursuant to subsection (a)(2) and, if multiple systems are approved, explain why the use of such multiple systems is the most efficient and effective approach to meet the contract writing needs of the Federal Government; and

"(3) provide the schedule for phasing in the use of approved electronic contract writing systems in accordance with subsections (a)(3) and (d).

"(f) Definitions.—In this section:

"(1) The term 'appropriate committees of Congress' means—

"(A) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and

"(B) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform [now Committee on Oversight and Accountability], and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.

"(2) The term 'executive agency' has the meaning given that term in section 133 of title 41, United States Code."