---
kind: "section"
citation: "41 U.S.C. § 4701"
title: "41"
title_heading: "Public Contracts"
number: "4701"
heading: "Determinations and decisions"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/41/4701"
units:
  - "Subtitle I — Federal Procurement Policy"
  - "Division C — Procurement"
  - "Chapter 47 — Miscellaneous"
---

# §4701. Determinations and decisions

- (a) **Individual or Class Determinations and Decisions Authorized.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** Determinations and decisions required to be made under this division by the head of an [executive agency](/usc/41/3302.md?p=a-1) or provided in this division or [chapters 1 to 11](/usc/40/ch1..11.md) of title 40 to be made by the [Administrator](/usc/41/101.md) of General Services or other agency head may be made for an individual purchase or contract or, except for determinations or decisions made under sections [3105](/usc/41/3105.md), [3301](/usc/41/3301.md), [3303 to 3305](/usc/41/3303..3305.md), [3306(a)–(e)](/usc/41/3306.md?p=a..e), and [3308](/usc/41/3308.md), [chapter 37](/usc/41/chstI-dC-ch37.md), and [section 4702 of this title](/usc/41/4702.md) or to the extent expressly prohibited by another law, for a class of purchases or contracts.
  - (2) **Delegation.—** Except as provided in [section 3304(a)(7) of this title](/usc/41/3304.md?p=a-7), and except as provided in section [121(d)(1)](/usc/40/121.md?p=d-1) and [(2)](/usc/40/121.md?p=d-2) of title 40 with respect to the [Administrator](/usc/41/101.md) of General Services, the agency head, in the discretion and subject to the direction of the agency head, may delegate powers provided by this division or [chapters 1 to 11](/usc/40/ch1..11.md) of title 40, including the making of determinations and decisions described in [paragraph (1)](#a-1), to other officers or officials of the agency.
  - (3) **Finality.—** The determinations and decisions are final.
- (b) **Written Findings.—**
  - (1) **Basis for certain determinations.—** Each determination or decision under section [3901](/usc/41/3901.md), [3905](/usc/41/3905.md), [4503](/usc/41/4503.md), or [4706(d)(2)(B)](/usc/41/4706.md?p=d-2-B) of this title shall be based on a written finding by the individual making the determination or decision. A finding under section [4503](/usc/41/4503.md) or [4706(d)(2)(B)](/usc/41/4706.md?p=d-2-B) shall set out facts and circumstances that support the determination or decision.
  - (2) **Finality.—** Each finding referred to in [paragraph (1)](#b-1) is final.
  - (3) **Maintaining copies of findings.—** The head of an [executive agency](/usc/41/3302.md?p=a-1) shall maintain for a period of not less than 6 years a copy of each finding referred to in [paragraph (1)](#b-1) that is made by an individual in that [executive agency](/usc/41/3302.md?p=a-1). The period begins on the date of the determination or decision to which the finding relates.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–350, § 3, Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3793.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 4701 | 41:257. | June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title III, § 307, 63 Stat. 396; Pub. L. 85–800, § 5, Aug. 28, 1958, 72 Stat. 967; Pub. L. 89–343, §§ 3, 4, Nov. 8, 1965, 79 Stat. 1303; Pub. L. 98–369, title VII, § 2714(a)(4), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 1184; Pub. L. 104–106, title XLIII, § 4321(e)(6), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 675; Pub. L. 104–316, title I, § 121(c), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3836. |
|  | 41:262. | June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title III, § 312, as added Pub. L. 103–355, title I, § 1553, Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3300. |