1. U.S. Code
  2. title 31
  3. subtitle II
  4. chapter 15
  5. subchapter IV
  6. § 1551

Collapse to view only § 1551. Definitions; applicability of subchapter

§ 1551. Definitions; applicability of subchapter
(a) In this subchapter—
(1) An obligated balance of an appropriation account as of the end of a fiscal year is the amount of unliquidated obligations applicable to the appropriation less amounts collectible as repayments to the appropriation.
(2) An unobligated balance is the difference between the obligated balance and the total unexpended balance.
(3) A fixed appropriation account is an appropriation account available for obligation for a definite period.
(b) The limitations on the availability for expenditure prescribed in this subchapter apply to all appropriations unless specifically otherwise authorized by a law that specifically—
(1) identifies the appropriate account for which the availability for expenditure is to be extended;
(2) provides that such account shall be available for recording, adjusting, and liquidating obligations properly chargeable to that account; and
(3) extends the availability for expenditure of the obligated balances.
(c) This subchapter does not apply to—
(1) appropriations for the District of Columbia government; or
(2) appropriations to be disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate or the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives.
(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 935; Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XIV, § 1405(a)(1), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1676; Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title X, § 1054(e)(2), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2503; Pub. L. 104–186, title II, § 219(b)(1), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1748.)

CITE AS: 31 USC 1551

§ 1552. Procedure for appropriation accounts available for definite periods
(a) On September 30th of the 5th fiscal year after the period of availability for obligation of a fixed appropriation account ends, the account shall be closed and any remaining balance (whether obligated or unobligated) in the account shall be canceled and thereafter shall not be available for obligation or expenditure for any purpose.
(b) Collections authorized or required to be credited to an appropriation account, but not received before closing of the account under subsection (a) or under section 1555 of this title shall be deposited in the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.
(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 935; Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XIV, § 1405(a)(1), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1676.)

CITE AS: 31 USC 1552

§ 1553. Availability of appropriation accounts to pay obligations
(a) After the end of the period of availability for obligation of a fixed appropriation account and before the closing of that account under section 1552(a) of this title, the account shall retain its fiscal-year identity and remain available for recording, adjusting, and liquidating obligations properly chargeable to that account.
(b)
(1) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2), after the closing of an account under section 1552(a) or 1555 of this title, obligations and adjustments to obligations that would have been properly chargeable to that account, both as to purpose and in amount, before closing and that are not otherwise chargeable to any current appropriation account of the agency may be charged to any current appropriation account of the agency available for the same purpose.
(2) The total amount of charges to an account under paragraph (1) may not exceed an amount equal to 1 percent of the total appropriations for that account.
(c)
(1) In the case of a fixed appropriation account with respect to which the period of availability for obligation has ended, if an obligation of funds from that account to provide funds for a program, project, or activity to cover amounts required for contract changes would cause the total amount of obligations from that appropriation during a fiscal year for contract changes for that program, project, or activity to exceed $4,000,000, the obligation may only be made if the obligation is approved by the head of the agency (or an officer of the agency within the Office of the head of the agency to whom the head of the agency has delegated the authority to approve such an obligation).
(2) In the case of a fixed appropriation account with respect to which the period of availability for obligation has ended, if an obligation of funds from that account to provide funds for a program, project, or activity to cover amounts required for contract changes would cause the total amount obligated from that appropriation during a fiscal year for that program, project, or activity to exceed $25,000,000, the obligation may not be made until—
(A) the head of the agency submits to the appropriate authorizing committees of Congress and the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives a notice in writing of the intent to obligate such funds, together with a description of the legal basis for the proposed obligation and the policy reasons for the proposed obligation; and
(B) a period of 30 days has elapsed after the notice is submitted.
(3) In this subsection, the term “contract change” means a change to a contract under which the contractor is required to perform additional work. Such term does not include adjustments to pay claims or increases under an escalation clause.
(d)
(1) Obligations under this section may be paid without prior action of the Comptroller General.
(2) This subchapter does not—
(A) relieve the Comptroller General of the duty to make decisions requested under law; or
(B) affect the authority of the Comptroller General to settle claims and accounts.
(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 936; Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XIV, § 1405(a)(1), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1676.)

CITE AS: 31 USC 1553

§ 1554. Audit, control, and reporting
(a) Any audit requirement, limitation on obligations, or reporting requirement that is applicable to an appropriation account shall remain applicable to that account after the end of the period of availability for obligation of that account.
(b)
(1) After the close of each fiscal year, the head of each agency shall submit to the President and the Secretary of the Treasury a report regarding the unliquidated obligations, unobligated balances, canceled balances, and adjustments made to appropriation accounts of that agency during the completed fiscal year. The report shall be submitted no later than 15 days after the date on which the President’s budget for the next fiscal year is submitted to Congress under section 1105 of this title.
(2) Each report required by this subsection shall—
(A) provide a description, with reference to the fiscal year of appropriations, of the amount in each account, its source, and an itemization of the appropriations accounts;
(B) describe all current and expired appropriations accounts;
(C) describe any payments made under section 1553 of this title;
(D) describe any adjustment of obligations during that fiscal year pursuant to section 1553 of this title;
(E) contain a certification by the head of the agency that the obligated balances in each appropriation account of the agency reflect proper existing obligations and that expenditures from the account since the preceding review were supported by a proper obligation of funds and otherwise were proper;
(F) describe all balances canceled under sections 1552 and 1555 of this title.
(3) The head of each Federal agency shall provide a copy of each such report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Governmental Affairs, and other appropriate oversight and authorizing committees of the Senate.
(c) The head of each agency shall establish internal controls to assure that an adequate review of obligated balances is performed to support the certification required by section 1108(c) of this title.
(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 936; Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XIV, § 1405(a)(1), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1677; Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title X, § 1004(b), Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1457.)

CITE AS: 31 USC 1554

§ 1555. Closing of appropriation accounts available for indefinite periods
An appropriation account available for obligation for an indefinite period shall be closed, and any remaining balance (whether obligated or unobligated) in that account shall be canceled and thereafter shall not be available for obligation or expenditure for any purpose, if—
(1) the head of the agency concerned or the President determines that the purposes for which the appropriation was made have been carried out; and
(2) no disbursement has been made against the appropriation for two consecutive fiscal years.
(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 937; Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XIV, § 1405(a)(1), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1678.)

CITE AS: 31 USC 1555

§ 1556. Comptroller General: reports on appropriation accounts
(a) In carrying out audit responsibilities, the Comptroller General shall report on operations under this subchapter to—
(1) the head of the agency concerned;
(2) the Secretary of the Treasury; and
(3) the President.
(b) A report under this section shall include an appraisal of unpaid obligations under fixed appropriation accounts for which the period of availability for obligation has ended.
(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 937; Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XIV, § 1405(a)(1), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1678.)

CITE AS: 31 USC 1556

§ 1557. Authority for exemptions in appropriation laws

A provision of an appropriation law may exempt an appropriation from the provisions of this subchapter and fix the period for which the appropriation remains available for expenditure.

(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 937; Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XIV, § 1405(a)(1), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1679.)

CITE AS: 31 USC 1557

§ 1558. Availability of funds following resolution of a formal protest or other challenge
(a) Notwithstanding section 1552 of this title or any other provision of law, funds available to an agency for obligation for a contract at the time a protest or other action referred to in subsection (b) is filed in connection with a solicitation for, proposed award of, or award of such contract shall remain available for obligation for 100 days after the date on which the final ruling is made on the protest or other action. A ruling is considered final on the date on which the time allowed for filing an appeal or request for reconsideration has expired, or the date on which a decision is rendered on such an appeal or request, whichever is later.
(b) Subsection (a) applies with respect to—
(1) any protest filed under subchapter V of chapter 35 of this title; or
(2) an action commenced under administrative procedures or for a judicial remedy if—
(A) the action involves a challenge to—
(i) a solicitation for a contract;
(ii) a proposed award of a contract;
(iii) an award of a contract; or
(iv) the eligibility of an offeror or potential offeror for a contract or of the contractor awarded the contract; and
(B) commencement of the action delays or prevents an executive agency from making an award of a contract or proceeding with a procurement.
(Added Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title VIII, § 813(a), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1494; amended Pub. L. 104–106, div. E, title LV, § 5502(a), (b), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 698, 699.)

CITE AS: 31 USC 1558