2021 US Code
Title 41 - Public Contracts
Subtitle I - Federal Procurement Policy
Division C - Procurement
Chapter 47 - Miscellaneous
Sec. 4704 - Prohibition of contractors limiting subcontractor sales directly to Federal Government

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Citation 41 U.S.C. § 4704 (2021)
Section Name §4704. Prohibition of contractors limiting subcontractor sales directly to Federal Government
Section Text

(a) Contract Restrictions.—Each contract for the purchase of property or services made by an executive agency shall provide that the contractor will not—

(1) enter into an agreement with a subcontractor under the contract that has the effect of unreasonably restricting sales by the subcontractor directly to the Federal Government of any item or process (including computer software) made or furnished by the subcontractor under the contract (or any follow-on production contract); or

(2) otherwise act to restrict unreasonably the ability of a subcontractor to make sales described in paragraph (1) to the Federal Government.


(b) Rights Under Law Preserved.—This section does not prohibit a contractor from asserting rights it otherwise has under law.

(c) Inapplicability to Certain Contracts.—This section does not apply to a contract for an amount that is not greater than the simplified acquisition threshold.

(d) Inapplicability When Government Treated Similarly to Other Purchasers.—An agreement between the contractor in a contract for the acquisition of commercial products or commercial services and a subcontractor under the contract that restricts sales by the subcontractor directly to persons other than the contractor may not be considered to unreasonably restrict sales by that subcontractor to the Federal Government in violation of the provision included in the contract pursuant to subsection (a) if the agreement does not result in the Federal Government being treated differently with regard to the restriction than any other prospective purchaser of the commercial products or commercial services from that subcontractor.

Source Credit

(Pub. L. 111–350, §3, Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3795; Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, §836(b)(19), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1864.)

Editorial Notes
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large)
4704(a) 41:253g(a). June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title III, §303G(a), (b), formerly §303H, as added Pub. L. 98–577, title II, §206(a), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 3073; renumbered §303G, Pub. L. 99–145, title XIII, §1304(c)(4)(A), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 742.
4704(b) 41:253g(b).
4704(c) 41:253g(c). June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title III, §303G(c), as added Pub. L. 103–355, title IV, §4103(b), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3341.
4704(d) 41:253g(d). June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title III, §303G(d), as added Pub. L. 103–355, title VIII, §8204(a), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3396.

EDITORIAL NOTES AMENDMENTS

2018—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 115–232 substituted "commercial products or commercial services" for "commercial items" in two places.


STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2018 AMENDMENT

Amendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Jan. 1, 2020, subject to a savings provision, see section 836(h) of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as an Effective Date of 2018 Amendment; Savings Provision note under section 453b of Title 6, Domestic Security.

Publication Title United States Code, 2018 Edition, Supplement 3, Title 41 - PUBLIC CONTRACTS
Category Bills and Statutes
Collection United States Code
SuDoc Class Number Y 1.2/5:
Contained Within Title 41 - PUBLIC CONTRACTS
Subtitle I - Federal Procurement Policy
Division C - Procurement
CHAPTER 47 - MISCELLANEOUS
Sec. 4704 - Prohibition of contractors limiting subcontractor sales directly to Federal Government
Contains section 4704
Date 2021
Laws In Effect As Of Date January 3, 2022
Positive Law Yes
Disposition standard
Statutes at Large References 98 Stat. 3073
99 Stat. 742
108 Stat. 3341, 3396
124 Stat. 3795
132 Stat. 1864
Public Law References Public Law 98-577, Public Law 99-145, Public Law 103-355, Public Law 111-350, Public Law 115-232
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