US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

10 U.S.C. § 3905

Products of Federal Prison Industries: procedural requirements

(a)

Products for Which Federal Prison Industries Does Not Have Significant Market Share .—

(1)
section 4124(d) of title 18 Before purchasing a product listed in the latest edition of the Federal Prison Industries catalog under for which Federal Prison Industries does not have a significant market share, the Secretary of Defense shall conduct market research to determine whether the product is comparable to products available from the private sector that best meet the needs of the Department in terms of price, quality, and time of delivery.
(2)
If the Secretary determines that a Federal Prison Industries product described in paragraph (1) is not comparable in price, quality, or time of delivery to products of the private sector that best meets the needs of the Department in terms of price, quality, and time of delivery, the Secretary shall use competitive procedures for the procurement of the product, or shall make an individual purchase under a multiple award contract in accordance with the competition requirements applicable to such contract. In conducting such a competition, the Secretary shall consider a timely offer from Federal Prison Industries.
(b)

Products for Which Federal Prison Industries Has Significant Market Share .—

(1)
The Secretary of Defense may purchase a product listed in the latest edition of the Federal Prison Industries catalog for which Federal Prison Industries has a significant market share only if the Secretary uses competitive procedures for the procurement of the product or makes an individual purchase under a multiple award contract in accordance with the competition requirements applicable to such contract. In conducting such a competition, the Secretary shall consider a timely offer from Federal Prison Industries.
(2)
For purposes of this subsection, Federal Prison Industries shall be treated as having a significant share of the market for a product if the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of Federal Procurement Policy, determines that the Federal Prison Industries share of the Department of Defense market for the category of products including such product is greater than 5 percent.
(c)

Implementation by Secretary of Defense .—

The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that—
(1)
the Department of Defense does not purchase a Federal Prison Industries product or service unless a contracting officer of the Department determines that the product or service is comparable to products or services available from the private sector that best meet the Department’s needs in terms of price, quality, and time of delivery; and
(2)
Federal Prison Industries performs its contractual obligations to the same extent as any other contractor for the Department of Defense.
(d)

Market Research Determination Not Subject to Review .—

section 4124(b) of title 18A determination by a contracting officer regarding whether a product or service offered by Federal Prison Industries is comparable to products or services available from the private sector that best meet the Department’s needs in terms of price, quality, and time of delivery shall not be subject to review pursuant to .
(e)

Performance as a Subcontractor .—

(1)
A contractor or potential contractor of the Department of Defense may not be required to use Federal Prison Industries as a subcontractor or supplier of products or provider of services for the performance of a Department of Defense contract by any means, including means such as—
(A)
a contract solicitation provision requiring a contractor to offer to make use of products or services of Federal Prison Industries in the performance of the contract;
(B)
a contract specification requiring the contractor to use specific products or services (or classes of products or services) offered by Federal Prison Industries in the performance of the contract; or
(C)
any contract modification directing the use of products or services of Federal Prison Industries in the performance of the contract.
(2)
In this subsection, the term “contractor”, with respect to a contract, includes a subcontractor at any tier under the contract.
(f)

Protection of Classified and Sensitive Information .—

The Secretary of Defense may not enter into any contract with Federal Prison Industries under which an inmate worker would have access to—
(1)
any data that is classified;
(2)
any geographic data regarding the location of—
(A)
surface and subsurface infrastructure providing communications or water or electrical power distribution;
(B)
pipelines for the distribution of natural gas, bulk petroleum products, or other commodities; or
(C)
other utilities; or
(3)
any personal or financial information about any individual private citizen, including information relating to such person’s real property however described, without the prior consent of the individual.
(g)

Definitions .—

In this section:
(1)
section 3012 of this title The term “competitive procedures” has the meaning given such term in .
(2)
The term “market research” means obtaining specific information about the price, quality, and time of delivery of products available in the private sector through a variety of means, which may include—
(A)
contacting knowledgeable individuals in government and industry;
(B)
interactive communication among industry, acquisition personnel, and customers; and
(C)
interchange meetings or pre-solicitation conferences with potential offerors.

Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title VIII, § 811(a)(1)115 Stat. 1180Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title VIII, § 819(a)(1)116 Stat. 2612Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title X, § 1056(c)(4)119 Stat. 3439Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title VIII, § 827(a)(1)122 Stat. 228Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII134 Stat. 4242Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, § 1701(v)(2)(A)135 Stat. 2154(Added , , , § 2410n; amended , , ; , , ; , , ; renumbered § 3905 and amended , §§ 1838(b), 1883(b)(2), , , 4294; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

section 7311 of this titleA prior section 3911 was renumbered .

act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 104170A Stat. 225section 3928 of this titlePub. L. 85–155, title IV, § 401(1)71 Stat. 390A prior section 3912, , , permitted the Secretary of the Army, upon the officer’s request, to retire a commissioned officer of the Regular Army in the Army Nurse Corps or Women’s Medical Specialist Corps who has at least 20 years of service computed under former , prior to repeal by , , .

Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 104170A Stat. 225Pub. L. 86–616, § 474 Stat. 390Pub. L. 89–718, § 380 Stat. 1115section 8301 of title 5Pub. L. 96–513, title II, § 217(a)94 Stat. 2886A prior section 3913, acts , ; , , ; , , , provided for retirement of deferred officers not recommended for promotion after twenty years or more of service, except as provided in , prior to repeal by , title VII, § 701, , , 2955, effective . See section 627 et seq. of this title.

section 7314 of this titleA prior section 3914 was renumbered .

Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 104170A Stat. 225Pub. L. 85–155, title I, § 101(19)71 Stat. 379Pub. L. 89–609, § 1(5)80 Stat. 852Pub. L. 89–718, § 380 Stat. 1115Pub. L. 90–130, § 1(13)81 Stat. 376A prior section 3915, acts , ; , , ; , , ; , , , provided for retirement after 25 years’ service of regular majors in Women’s Army Corps, Army Nurse Corps, and Army Medical Specialist Corps, prior to repeal by , , .

Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 104170A Stat. 226Pub. L. 85–155, title I, § 101(21)71 Stat. 380Pub. L. 89–718, § 380 Stat. 1115Pub. L. 95–485, title VIII, § 820(i)92 Stat. 1628section 8301 of title 5Pub. L. 96–513, title II, § 217(a)94 Stat. 2886section 633 of this titleA prior section 3916, acts , ; , , ; , , ; , , , provided for retirement of a promotion-list lieutenant colonel, except as provided by , on 30th day after he completes 28 years of service, with authority for Secretary of the Army to defer retirement in certain cases, prior to repeal by , title VII, § 701, , , 2955, effective . See .

Prior sections 3917 and 3918 were renumbered sections 7317 and 7318 of this title, respectively.

act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 104170A Stat. 226Pub. L. 96–513, title II, § 217(a)94 Stat. 2886A prior section 3919, , , authorized Secretary of the Army, when he determined that there were too many commissioned officers on active list of Regular Army in any grade who have at least 30 years of service, to convene a board of at least five general officers of Regular Army to make recommendations for retirement and to retire any officer so recommended, prior to repeal by , title VII, § 701, , , 2955, effective .

section 7320 of this titleA prior section 3920 was renumbered .

section 7321 of this titleA prior section 3921 was renumbered .

Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 104170A Stat. 226Pub. L. 89–718, § 380 Stat. 1115section 8301 of title 5Pub. L. 96–513, title II, § 217(a)94 Stat. 2886section 634 of this titleAnother prior section 3921, acts , ; , , , provided for retirement of a promotion-list colonel, except as provided by , on the 30th day after he completes 30 years of service or the 5th anniversary of the date of his appointment in that regular grade, whichever is later, with authority for the Secretary of the Army to defer retirement in certain cases, prior to repeal by , title VII, § 701, , , 2955, effective . See .

Pub. L. 96–513, title II, § 217(a)94 Stat. 2886Prior sections 3922 and 3923 were repealed by , title VII, § 701, , , 2955, effective .

Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 104170A Stat. 227Pub. L. 89–718, § 380 Stat. 1115section 8301 of title 5section 635 of this titleSection 3922, acts , ; , , , provided for retirement of a regular grade brigadier general, other than a professor of the United States Military Academy, except as provided by , on the 30th day after he completes 30 years of service or the 5th anniversary of the date of his appointment in that regular grade, whichever is later, with authority for the Secretary of the Army to defer retirement in certain cases. See .

Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 104170A Stat. 227Pub. L. 89–718, § 380 Stat. 1115section 8301 of title 5section 636 of this titleSection 3923, acts , ; , , , provided for retirement of a regular grade major general, except as provided by , on the 30th day after he completes 35 years of service or the 5th anniversary of his appointment in that regular grade, whichever is later, with authority for the Secretary of the Army to defer retirement in certain cases. See .

Prior sections 3924 to 3926 were renumbered sections 7324 to 7326 of this title, respectively.

Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 104170A Stat. 228Pub. L. 85–155, title I, § 101(22)71 Stat. 380Pub. L. 85–422, § 11(a)(4)72 Stat. 131Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(98)72 Stat. 1488Pub. L. 96–513, title II, § 217(a)94 Stat. 2886section 1405 of this titleA prior section 3927, acts , ; , , ; , , ; , , , related to computation of years of service for determining whether a regular commissioned officer should be retired under section 3913, 3915, 3916, 3919, 3921, 3922, or 3923 of this title and for determining the retired pay of officers of the Regular Army retired under section 3913, 3915, 3916, 3919, 3921, 3922, or 3923 of this title, prior to repeal by , title VII, § 701, , , 2955, effective . See .

act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 104170A Stat. 229section 3912 of this titlesection 3991 of this titlePub. L. 85–155, title IV, § 401(1)71 Stat. 390A prior section 3928, , , related to computation of years of service of commissioned officers of the Army Nurse Corps or Women’s Medical Specialist Corps for the purposes of retirement under former , or retirement pay under , prior to repeal by , , .

section 7329 of this titleA prior section 3929 was renumbered .

Prior sections 3961 and 3962 were renumbered sections 7341 and 7342 of this title, respectively.

section 7343 of this titleA prior section 3963 was renumbered .

Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 104170A Stat. 230Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(60)72 Stat. 1462Pub. L. 96–513, title V, § 502(20)94 Stat. 2910Pub. L. 99–145, title XIII, § 1301(b)(2)(A)99 Stat. 735section 3963 of this titleAnother prior section 3963, acts , ; , , (100), , 1489; , , , related to higher grade for service during certain periods for regular and reserve commissioned officers, prior to repeal by , (C), , , with such repeal not applicable in the case of a member of the Regular Army described in , as such section was in effect on the day before .

Prior sections 3964 to 3966, 3991, and 3992 were renumbered sections 7344 to 7346, 7361, and 7362 of this title, respectively.

Amendments

Pub. L. 116–283, § 1838(b)Pub. L. 117–81, § 1701(v)(2)(A)section 2410n of this title2021—, as amended by , renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 116–283, § 1883(b)(2)Subsec. (g)(1). , substituted “section 3012” for “section 2302(2)”.

Pub. L. 110–1812008—Subsecs. (a), (b). added subsecs. (a) and (b) and struck out former subsecs. (a) and (b) which read as follows:

Market Researchsection 4124(d) of title 18“(a) .—Before purchasing a product listed in the latest edition of the Federal Prison Industries catalog under , the Secretary of Defense shall conduct market research to determine whether the Federal Prison Industries product is comparable to products available from the private sector that best meet the Department’s needs in terms of price, quality, and time of delivery.

Competition Requirement“(b) .—If the Secretary determines that a Federal Prison Industries product is not comparable in price, quality, or time of delivery to products available from the private sector that best meet the Department’s needs in terms of price, quality, and time of delivery, the Secretary shall use competitive procedures for the procurement of the product or shall make an individual purchase under a multiple award contract. In conducting such a competition or making such a purchase, the Secretary shall consider a timely offer from Federal Prison Industries.”

Pub. L. 109–1632006—Subsec. (b). substituted “competition” for “compeititon” in text.

Pub. L. 107–314, § 819(a)(1)(A)2002—Subsec. (a). , substituted “Market Research” for “Market Research Before Purchase” in heading and “comparable to products available from the private sector that best meet the Department’s needs in terms of price, quality, and time of delivery” for “comparable in price, quality, and time of delivery to products available from the private sector”.

Pub. L. 107–314, § 819(a)(1)(B)Subsec. (b). , added subsec. (b) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (b). Text read as follows: “If the Secretary determines that a Federal Prison Industries product is not comparable in price, quality, and time of delivery to products available from the private sector, the Secretary shall use competitive procedures for the procurement of the product. In conducting such a competition, the Secretary shall consider a timely offer from Federal Prison Industries for award in accordance with the specifications and evaluation factors specified in the solicitation.”

Pub. L. 107–314, § 819(a)(1)(C)Subsecs. (c) to (g). , added subsecs. (c) to (g).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2021 Amendment

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

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

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title VIII, § 827(a)(2)122 Stat. 228Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title X, § 1075(f)(4)124 Stat. 4376

“The amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall take effect 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [].”
, , , as amended by , , , provided that:

Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title VIII, § 819(a)(2)116 Stat. 2613

“Paragraph (1) [amending this section] and the amendments made by such paragraph shall take effect as of .”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date

Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title VIII, § 811(b)115 Stat. 1181

Section 2410n of title 1010 U.S.C. 3905“, United States Code [now ] (as added by subsection (a)), shall apply to purchases initiated on or after .”
, , , provided that:

Regulatory Implementation

Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title VIII, § 819(b)116 Stat. 2613

“(1)
Proposed revisions to the Department of Defense Supplement to the Federal Acquisition Regulation to implement this section shall be published not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [], and not less than 60 days shall be provided for public comment on the proposed revisions.
“(2)
Final regulations shall be published not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall be effective on the date that is 30 days after the date of the publication.”
, , , provided that:

List of Products for Which Federal Prison Industries Has Significant Market Share

Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title VIII, § 827(b)122 Stat. 228

“(1)

Initial list .—

Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [], the Secretary of Defense shall publish a list of product categories for which Federal Prison Industries’ share of the Department of Defense market is greater than 5 percent, based on the most recent fiscal year for which data is available.
“(2)

Modification .—

The Secretary may modify the list published under paragraph (1) at any time if the Secretary determines that new data require adding a product category to the list or omitting a product category from the list.
“(3)

Consultation .—

The Secretary shall carry out this subsection in consultation with the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy.”
, , , provided that: