---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 513"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "513"
heading: "Contracts and personal services"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/513"
units:
  - "Part I — General Provisions"
  - "Chapter 5 — Authority and Duties of the Secretary"
  - "Subchapter I — General Authorities"
---

# §513. Contracts and personal services


The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may, for purposes of all laws administered by the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1), accept uncompensated services, and enter into contracts or agreements with private or public [agencies](/usc/38/4214.md?p=a-2-A) or persons (including contracts for services of translators without regard to any other law), for such necessary services (including personal services) as the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may consider practicable. The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may also enter into contracts or agreements with private concerns or public [agencies](/usc/38/4214.md?p=a-2-A) for the hiring of passenger motor vehicles or aircraft for official travel whenever, in the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1)’s judgment, such arrangements are in the interest of efficiency or economy.


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 102–83, § 2(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 389.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 213 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 102–83, § 2(a).