US Code

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

10 U.S.C. § 4143

Research and development laboratories: contracts for services of university students

(a)
Subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose, the Secretary of Defense may procure by contract under the authority of this section the temporary or intermittent services of students at institutions of higher learning for the purpose of providing technical support at defense research and development laboratories. Such contracts may be made directly with such students or with nonprofit organizations employing such students.
(b)
Students providing services pursuant to a contract made under subsection (a) shall be considered to be employees for the purposes of chapter 81 of title 5, relating to compensation for work injuries, and to be employees of the government for the purposes of chapter 171 of title 28, relating to tort claims. Such students who are not otherwise employed by the Federal Government shall not be considered to be Federal employees for any other purpose.
(c)
The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section. Such regulations shall include definitions for the purposes of this section of the terms “student”, “institution of higher learning”, and “nonprofit organization”.

Pub. L. 97–86, title VI, § 603(a)95 Stat. 1110Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, § 1844(b)Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, § 1701(u)(5)(B)135 Stat. 2154Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, § 1843(b)(2)134 Stat. 4245Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, § 1701(u)(4)(A)135 Stat. 2153(Added , , , § 2360; renumbered § 4143, , as added , , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 116–283, § 1844(b)Pub. L. 117–81, § 1701(u)(5)(B)section 2360 of this title2021—, as added by , renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 116–283, § 1843(b)(2)section 2360 of this titlePub. L. 117–81, § 1701(u)(4)(A), which directed the renumbering of as section 4112 instead of this section, was repealed by , effective as if included therein, so that such renumbering was no longer directed.

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 .