§ 6101. Advertising requirement for Federal Government purchases and sales

• (a) In this section—
  • (1) The term “appropriation” includes amounts made available by legislation under section 9104 of title 31 .
  • (2) The term “Federal Government” includes the government of the District of Columbia.
• (b)
  • (1) Unless otherwise provided in the appropriation concerned or other law, purchases and contracts for supplies or services for the Federal Government may be made or entered into only after advertising for proposals for a sufficient time.
  • (2) Paragraph (1) does not apply when—
    • (A) the amount involved in any one case does not exceed $25,000;
    • (B) public exigencies require the immediate delivery of articles or performance of services;
    • (C) only one source of supply is available and the Federal Government purchasing or contracting officer so certifies; or
    • (D) services are required to be performed by a contractor in person and are—
      • (i) of a technical and professional nature; or
      • (ii) under Federal Government supervision and paid for on a time basis.
• (c) Except when otherwise authorized by law or when the reasonable value involved in any one case does not exceed $500, sales and contracts of sale by the Federal Government are governed by the requirements of this section for advertising.
• (d) For wholly owned Government corporations, this section applies only to administrative transactions.

§ 6102. Exceptions from advertising requirement

• (a) Section 6101 of this title does not apply to the American Battle Monuments Commission with respect to leases in foreign countries for office or garage space.
• (b) Section 6101 of this title does not apply to the Bureau of Interparliamentary Union for Promotion of International Arbitration with respect to necessary stenographic reporting services by contract.
• (c) Section 6101 of this title does not apply to the Department of State when the purchase or service relates to the packing of personal and household effects of Diplomatic, Consular, and Foreign Service officers and clerks for foreign shipment.
• (d) Section 6101 of this title does not apply to the International Committee of Aerial Legal Experts with respect to necessary stenographic and other services by contract.
• (e) The purchase of supplies and equipment and the procurement of services for all branches under the Architect of the Capitol may be made in the open market according to common business practice, without compliance with section 6101 of this title , when the aggregate amount of the purchase or the service does not exceed $25,000 in any instance.
• (f) Lumber and other forest products produced by Indian enterprises from forests on Indian reservations may be sold under regulations the Secretary of the Interior prescribes, without compliance with section 6101 of this title .
• (g) Section 6101 of this title does not apply to purchases and contracts for supplies or services for any office of the House of Representatives.
• (h) The Director of the Congressional Budget Office may enter into agreements or contracts without regard to section 6101 of this title .
• (i) Section 6101 of this title does not apply to agreements, contracts or purchases by any office of the Senate.

§ 6103. Opening of bids

Whenever proposals for supplies have been solicited, the parties responding to the solicitation shall be notified of the time and place of the opening of the bids, and be permitted to be present either in person or by attorney. A record of each bid shall be made at the time and place of the opening of the bids.