1996 US Code
Title 10 - ARMED FORCES
Subtitle A - General Military Law
PART IV - SERVICE, SUPPLY, AND PROCUREMENT
CHAPTER 137 - PROCUREMENT GENERALLY
Sec. 2320 - Rights in technical data

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§2320. Rights in technical data

(a)(1) The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations to define the legitimate interest of the United States and of a contractor or subcontractor in technical data pertaining to an item or process. Such regulations shall be included in regulations of the Department of Defense prescribed as part of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Such regulations may not impair any right of the United States or of any contractor or subcontractor with respect to patents or copyrights or any other right in technical data otherwise established by law. Such regulations also may not impair the right of a contractor or subcontractor to receive from a third party a fee or royalty for the use of technical data pertaining to an item or process developed exclusively at private expense by the contractor or subcontractor, except as otherwise specifically provided by law.

(2) Such regulations shall include the following provisions:

(A) In the case of an item or process that is developed by a contractor or subcontractor exclusively with Federal funds (other than an item or process developed under a contract or subcontract to which regulations under section 9(j)(2) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(j)(2)) apply), the United States shall have the unlimited right to—

(i) use technical data pertaining to the item or process; or

(ii) release or disclose the technical data to persons outside the government or permit the use of the technical data by such persons.

(B) Except as provided in subparagraphs (C) and (D), in the case of an item or process that is developed by a contractor or subcontractor exclusively at private expense, the contractor or subcontractor may restrict the right of the United States to release or disclose technical data pertaining to the item or process to persons outside the government or permit the use of the technical data by such persons.

(C) Subparagraph (B) does not apply to technical data that—

(i) constitutes a correction or change to data furnished by the United States;

(ii) relates to form, fit, or function;

(iii) is necessary for operation, maintenance, installation, or training (other than detailed manufacturing or process data); or

(iv) is otherwise publicly available or has been released or disclosed by the contractor or subcontractor without restriction on further release or disclosure.

(D) Notwithstanding subparagraph (B), the United States may release or disclose technical data to persons outside the Government, or permit the use of technical data by such persons, if—

(i) such release, disclosure, or use—

(I) is necessary for emergency repair and overhaul; or

(II) is a release or disclosure of technical data (other than detailed manufacturing or process data) to, or use of such data by, a foreign government that is in the interest of the United States and is required for evaluational or informational purposes;

(ii) such release, disclosure, or use is made subject to a prohibition that the person to whom the data is released or disclosed may not further release, disclose, or use such data; and

(iii) the contractor or subcontractor asserting the restriction is notified of such release, disclosure, or use.

(E) In the case of an item or process that is developed in part with Federal funds and in part at private expense, the respective rights of the United States and of the contractor or subcontractor in technical data pertaining to such item or process shall be established as early in the acquisition process as practicable (preferably during contract negotiations) and shall be based upon negotiations between the United States and the contractor, except in any case in which the Secretary of Defense determines, on the basis of criteria established in the regulations, that negotiations would not be practicable. The establishment of such rights shall be based upon consideration of all of the following factors:

(i) The statement of congressional policy and objectives in section 200 of title 35, the statement of purposes in section 2(b) of the Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982 (15 U.S.C. 638 note), and the declaration of policy in section 2 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631).

(ii) The interest of the United States in increasing competition and lowering costs by developing and locating alternative sources of supply and manufacture.

(iii) The interest of the United States in encouraging contractors to develop at private expense items for use by the Government.

(iv) Such other factors as the Secretary of Defense may prescribe.

(F) A contractor or subcontractor (or a prospective contractor or subcontractor) may not be required, as a condition of being responsive to a solicitation or as a condition for the award of a contract—

(i) to sell or otherwise relinquish to the United States any rights in technical data except—

(I) rights in technical data described in subparagraph (C); or

(II) under the conditions described in subparagraph (D); or

(ii) to refrain from offering to use, or from using, an item or process to which the contractor is entitled to restrict rights in data under subparagraph (B).

(G) The Secretary of Defense may—

(i) negotiate and enter into a contract with a contractor or subcontractor for the acquisition of rights in technical data not otherwise provided under subparagraph (C) or (D), if necessary to develop alternative sources of supply and manufacture;

(ii) agree to restrict rights in technical data otherwise accorded to the United States under this section if the United States receives a royalty-free license to use, release, or disclose the data for purposes of the United States (including purposes of competitive procurement); or

(iii) permit a contractor or subcontractor to license directly to a third party the use of technical data which the contractor is otherwise allowed to restrict, if necessary to develop alternative sources of supply and manufacture.

(3) The Secretary of Defense shall define the terms “developed”, “exclusively with Federal funds”, and “exclusively at private expense” in regulations prescribed under paragraph (1). In defining such terms, the Secretary shall specify the manner in which indirect costs shall be treated and shall specify that amounts spent for independent research and development and bid and proposal costs shall not be considered to be Federal funds for the purposes of definitions under this paragraph.

(b) Regulations prescribed under subsection (a) shall require that, whenever practicable, a contract for supplies or services entered into by an agency named in section 2303 of this title contain appropriate provisions relating to technical data, including provisions—

(1) defining the respective rights of the United States and the contractor or subcontractor (at any tier) regarding any technical data to be delivered under the contract and providing that, in the case of a contract for a commercial item, the item shall be presumed to be developed at private expense unless shown otherwise in accordance with section 2321(f);

(2) specifying the technical data, if any, to be delivered under the contract and delivery schedules for such delivery;

(3) establishing or referencing procedures for determining the acceptability of technical data to be delivered under the contract;

(4) establishing separate contract line items for the technical data, if any, to be delivered under the contract;

(5) to the maximum practicable extent, identifying, in advance of delivery, technical data which is to be delivered with restrictions on the right of the United States to use such data;

(6) requiring the contractor to revise any technical data delivered under the contract to reflect engineering design changes made during the performance of the contract and affecting the form, fit, and function of the items specified in the contract and to deliver such revised technical data to an agency within a time specified in the contract;

(7) requiring the contractor to furnish written assurance at the time the technical data is delivered or is made available that the technical data is complete and accurate and satisfies the requirements of the contract concerning technical data;

(8) establishing remedies to be available to the United States when technical data required to be delivered or made available under the contract is found to be incomplete or inadequate or to not satisfy the requirements of the contract concerning technical data; and

(9) authorizing the head of the agency to withhold payments under the contract (or exercise such other remedies as the head of the agency considers appropriate) during any period if the contractor does not meet the requirements of the contract pertaining to the delivery of technical data.

(c) Nothing in this section or in section 2305(d) of this title prohibits the Secretary of Defense from—

(1) prescribing standards for determining whether a contract entered into by the Department of Defense shall provide for a time to be specified in the contract after which the United States shall have the right to use (or have used) for any purpose of the United States all technical data required to be delivered to the United States under the contract or providing for such a period of time (not to exceed 7 years) as a negotiation objective; or

(2) prescribing reasonable and flexible guidelines, including negotiation objectives, for the conduct of negotiations regarding the respective rights in technical data of the United States and the contractor.

(d) The Secretary of Defense shall by regulation establish programs which provide domestic business concerns an opportunity to purchase or borrow replenishment parts from the United States for the purpose of design replication or modification, to be used by such concerns in the submission of subsequent offers to sell the same or like parts to the United States. Nothing in this subsection limits the authority of the head of an agency to impose restrictions on such a program related to national security considerations, inventory needs of the United States, the improbability of future purchases of the same or like parts, or any additional restriction otherwise required by law.

(Added Pub. L. 98–525, title XII, §1216(a), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2595; amended Pub. L. 98–577, title III, §301(b), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 3076; Pub. L. 99–145, title IX, §961(d)(1), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 703; Pub. L. 99–500, §101(c) [title X, §953(a)], Oct. 18, 1986, 100 Stat. 1783–82, 1783–169, and Pub. L. 99–591, §101(c) [title X, §953(a)], Oct. 30, 1986, 100 Stat. 3341–82, 3341–169; Pub. L. 99–661, div. A, title IX, formerly title IV, §953(a), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3949, renumbered title IX, Pub. L. 100–26, §3(5), Apr. 21, 1987, 101 Stat. 273; Pub. L. 100–26, §7(a)(4), Apr. 21, 1987, 101 Stat. 275; Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title VIII, §808(a), (b), Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1128, 1130; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title VIII, §853(b)(2), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1518; Pub. L. 103–355, title VIII, §8106(a), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3393.)

Codification

Pub. L. 99–591 is a corrected version of Pub. L. 99–500.

Amendments

1994—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 103–355 inserted before semicolon at end “and providing that, in the case of a contract for a commercial item, the item shall be presumed to be developed at private expense unless shown otherwise in accordance with section 2321(f)”.

1989—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 101–189 struck out par. (4) which provided that for purposes of this subsection, the term “Federal Acquisition Regulation” means the single system of Government-wide procurement regulations as defined in section 4(4) of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act (41 U.S.C. 403(4)).

1987—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 100–180, §808(a)(1), inserted at end “Such regulations also may not impair the right of a contractor or subcontractor to receive from a third party a fee or royalty for the use of technical data pertaining to an item or process developed exclusively at private expense by the contractor or subcontractor, except as otherwise specifically provided by law.”

Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 100–26, §7(a)(4)(A), inserted “(other than an item or process developed under a contract or subcontract to which regulations under section 9(j)(2) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(j)(2)) apply)” after “Federal funds”.

Subsec. (a)(2)(E). Pub. L. 100–180, §808(a)(2), in introductory provisions, substituted “established” for “agreed upon”, struck out comma after “negotiations)” and inserted in lieu “and shall be based upon negotiations between the United States and the contractor, except in any case in which the Secretary of Defense determines, on the basis of criteria established in the regulations, that negotiations would not be practicable. The establishment of such rights shall be”, and added cl. (iv).

Subsec. (a)(2)(F). Pub. L. 100–180, §808(a)(3), amended subpar. (F) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (F) read as follows: “A contractor or subcontractor (or a prospective contractor or subcontractor) may not be required, as a condition of being responsive to a solicitation or as a condition for the award of a contract, to sell or otherwise relinquish to the United States any rights in technical data except—

“(i) rights in technical data described in subparagraph (C); or

“(ii) under the conditions described in subparagraph (D).”

Subsec. (a)(2)(G)(i). Pub. L. 100–180, §808(a)(4)(A), substituted “not otherwise provided under subparagraph (C) or (D),” for “pertaining to an item or process developed by such contractor or subcontractor exclusively at private expense” and struck out “or” at end.

Subsec. (a)(2)(G)(ii). Pub. L. 100–180, §808(a)(4)(B), substituted “this section” for “such regulations” and “; or” for period at end.

Pub. L. 100–26, §7(a)(4)(B), substituted “in technical data otherwise accorded to the United States under such regulations” for “of the United States in technical data pertaining to an item or process developed entirely or in part with Federal funds”.

Subsec. (a)(2)(G)(iii). Pub. L. 100–180, §808(a)(4)(C), added cl. (iii).

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 100–180, §808(a)(5), substituted “, ‘exclusively with Federal funds’, and ‘exclusively at private expense’ ” for “and ‘private expense’ ” and inserted at end “In defining such terms, the Secretary shall specify the manner in which indirect costs shall be treated and shall specify that amounts spent for independent research and development and bid and proposal costs shall not be considered to be Federal funds for the purposes of definitions under this paragraph.”

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100–180, §808(b), substituted “from—” for “from”, designated existing provisions beginning with “prescribing standards” as par. (1), and added par. (2).

1986—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–500, Pub. L. 99–591, and Pub. L. 99–661 amended generally subsec. (a) identically, substituting provision that regulations to define the legitimate interest of the United States and of a contractor or subcontractor in technical data be included in regulations of the Department of Defense prescribed as part of the Federal Acquisition Regulation for provision that such regulations define the legitimate proprietary interest of the United States and a contractor and be part of the single system of Government-wide procurement regulations, detailed what such regulations must contain if the item or process is developed exclusively with Federal funds, exclusively with private funds, or partly with Federal funds and partly with private funds, inserted provision relating to relinquishment of rights in data to the United States, directed the Secretary of Defense to define “developed” and “private expense”, and defined “Federal Acquisition Regulation”.

1985—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 99–145 substituted “the item or process to which the technical data pertains” for “the technical data”.

1984—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–577 substituted “in regulations of the Department of Defense prescribed as part” for “in regulations prescribed as part” in text preceding par. (1).

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

For effective date and applicability of amendment by Pub. L. 103–355, see section 10001 of Pub. L. 103–355, set out as a note under section 251 of Title 41, Public Contracts.

Effective Date of 1987 Amendment

Section 808(c) of Pub. L. 100–180 provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect on the earlier of—

“(1) the last day of the 120-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 4, 1987]; or

“(2) the date on which regulations are prescribed and made effective to implement such amendments.”

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

Section 101(c) [title X, §953(e)] of Pub. L. 99–500 and Pub. L. 99–591, and section 953(e) of title IX, formerly title IV, of Pub. L. 99–661, renumbered title IX, Pub. L. 100–26, §3(5), Apr. 21, 1987, 101 Stat. 273, provided that: “The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) [amending this section and section 2321 of this title] shall apply to contracts for which solicitations are issued after the end of the 210-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 18, 1986].”

Effective Date

Section applicable with respect to solicitations issued after the end of the one-year period beginning Oct. 19, 1984, see section 1216(c)(2) of Pub. L. 98–525, set out as a note under section 2319 of this title.

Government-Industry Committee on Rights in Technical Data

Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title VIII, §807, Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1421, as amended by Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title VIII, §814, Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2454; Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title IX, §904(f), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1729, provided that:

“(a) Regulations.—(1) Not later than September 15, 1992, the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe final regulations required by subsection (a) of section 2320 of title 10, United States Code, that supersede the interim regulations prescribed before the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 5, 1991] for the purposes of that section.

“(2) In prescribing such regulations, the Secretary shall give thorough consideration to the recommendations of the government-industry committee appointed pursuant to subsection (b).

“(3) Not less than 30 days before prescribing such regulations, the Secretary shall—

“(A) transmit, on a day on which both Houses of Congress are in session, to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing such regulations, the recommendations of the committee, and any matters required by subsection (b)(4); and

“(B) publish such regulations for comment in the Federal Register.

“(4) The regulations shall apply to contracts entered into on or after November 1, 1992, or, if provided in the regulations, an earlier date. The regulations may be applied to any other contract upon the agreement of the parties to the contract.

“(b) Government-Industry Committee.—(1) Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 5, 1991], the Secretary of Defense shall appoint a government-industry committee for the purpose of developing regulations to recommend to the Secretary of Defense for purposes of carrying out subsection (a).

“(2) The membership of the committee shall include, at a minimum, representatives of the following:

“(A) The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology.

“(B) The acquisition executives of the military departments.

“(C) Prime contractors under major defense acquisition programs.

“(D) Subcontractors and suppliers under major defense acquisition programs.

“(E) Contractors under contracts other than contracts under major defense acquisition programs.

“(F) Subcontractors and suppliers under contracts other than contracts under major defense acquisition programs.

“(G) Small businesses.

“(H) Contractors and subcontractors primarily involved in the sale of commercial products to the Department of Defense.

“(I) Contractors and subcontractors primarily involved in the sale of spare or repair parts to the Department of Defense.

“(J) Institutions of higher education.

“(3) Not later than June 1, 1992, the committee shall submit to the Secretary a report containing the following matters:

“(A) Proposals for the regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (a).

“(B) Proposed legislation that the committee considers necessary to achieve the purposes of section 2320 of title 10, United States Code.

“(C) Any other recommendations that the committee considers appropriate.

“(4) If the Secretary omits from the regulations prescribed pursuant to subsection (a) any regulation proposed by the advisory committee, any regulation proposed by a minority of the committee in any minority report accompanying the committee's report, or any part of such a proposed regulation, the Secretary shall set forth his reasons for each such omission in the report submitted to Congress pursuant to subsection (a)(3)(A).

“(c) Restriction.—(1) Before the expiration of the period described in paragraph (2), the Secretary may not revise or supersede the interim regulations implementing section 2320 of title 10, United States Code, prescribed before the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 5, 1991], except to the extent required by law or necessitated by urgent and unforeseen circumstances affecting the national defense.

“(2) The period referred to in paragraph (1) is the period of 30 days of continuous session of Congress beginning on the date on which the report required by subsection (a)(3) is transmitted to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives. For purposes of this paragraph, the continuity of a session of Congress is broken only by an adjournment of the Congress sine die, and the days on which either House is not in session because of an adjournment of more than 3 days to a day certain are excluded in the computation of the 30-day period.

“(d) Definition.—In this section, the term ‘major defense acquisition program’ has the meaning given such term by section 2430 of title 10, United States Code.”

Control of Government Personnel Work Product

Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title VIII, §808, Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1423, required Secretary of Defense to prescribe regulations ensuring that any Department of Defense employee or member of the armed forces with an appropriate security clearance who is engaged in oversight of an acquisition program maintains control of the employee's or member's work product, provided that procedures for protecting unauthorized disclosure of classified information by contractors do not require such an employee or member to relinquish control of his or her work product to any such contractor, required implementing regulations not later than 120 days after Dec. 5, 1991, and provided that this section would cease to be effective on Sept. 30, 1992.

Deadline for Revision of Regulations

Section 101(c) [title X, §953(d)] of Pub. L. 99–500 and Pub. L. 99–591, and section 953(d) of title IX, formerly title IV, of Pub. L. 99–661, renumbered title IX, Pub. L. 100–26, §3(5), Apr. 21, 1987, 101 Stat. 273, required that proposed regulations under subsec. (a)(1) of this section be published in Federal Register for comment not later than 90 days after Oct. 18, 1986, and that proposed final regulations be published in Federal Register not later than 180 days after Oct. 18, 1986.