Us Code § 3901 - Contracts: prohibition on competition between Department of Defense and small businesses

Full text of Us Code United States Code § 3901 — Contracts: prohibition on competition between Department of Defense and small businesses, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 3901. Contracts: prohibition on competition between Department of Defense and small businesses

(a) Exclusion.—In any case in which the Secretary of Defense plans to use competitive procedures for a procurement, if the procurement is to be conducted as described in subsection (b), then the Secretary shall exclude the Department of Defense from competing in the procurement.

(b) Procurement Description.—The requirement to exclude the Department of Defense under subsection (a) applies in the case of a procurement to be conducted by excluding from competition entities in the private sector other than small business concerns in furtherance of section 8 or 15 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637 or 644).

(Added Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title VIII, §848(a)(1), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1724, §2304a; renumbered §2304e, Pub. L. 104–106, div. D, title XLIII, §4321(b)(6)(A), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 672; amended Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, §812(a)(2)(C)(vi), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1847; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title XVII, §1731(a)(39)(A), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1814; renumbered §3901, Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, §1838(b), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4242; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, §1701(v)(2)(A), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2154.)


Editorial Notes

Amendments

2021—Pub. L. 116–283, §1838(b), as amended by Pub. L. 117–81, §1701(v)(2)(A), renumbered section 2304e of this title as this section.

2018—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–232 substituted "other than" for "other than—", struck out par. (1) designation before "small business", and struck out par. (2) which read as follows: "entities described in subsection (a)(1) of section 2323 of this title in furtherance of the goal specified in that subsection."

1996—Pub. L. 104–106 renumbered section 2304a of this title as this section.


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2021 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 117–81 applicable as if included in the enactment of title XVIII of Pub. L. 116–283 as enacted, see section 1701(a)(2) of Pub. L. 117–81, set out in a note preceding section 3001 of this title and note below.

Amendment by Pub. L. 116–283 effective Jan. 1, 2022, with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see section 1801(d) of Pub. L. 116–283, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

Effective Date

Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title VIII, §848(b), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1725, provided that: "Section 2304a of title 10, United States Code [now 10 U.S.C. 3901], as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 30, 1993]."

About This Section

10 U.S.C. § 3901 is part of Title 10 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

This section may be cited in legal writing as 10 U.S.C. § 3901. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.

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Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

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Frequently Asked Questions About Us Code § 3901

What does United States Code § 3901 cover?

Section 3901 ("Contracts: prohibition on competition between Department of Defense and small businesses") is part of the United States Code, the codified statutory law of Us Code. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

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Is this the official text of Us Code law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Us Code official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Us Code attorney.

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Sources & Verification

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