US Code

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

41 U.S.C. § 8704

Inspection authority

(a)

In General .—

section 8702 of this titleTo ascertain whether there has been a violation of with respect to a prime contract, the Comptroller General and the inspector general of the contracting agency, or a representative of the contracting agency designated by the head of the agency if the agency does not have an inspector general, shall have access to and may inspect the facilities and audit the books and records, including electronic data or records, of a prime contractor or subcontractor under a prime contract awarded by the agency.
(b)

Exception .—

This section does not apply to a prime contract for the acquisition of commercial products or commercial services (as defined in sections 103 and 103a, respectively, of this title).

Pub. L. 111–350, § 3124 Stat. 3839Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 836(b)(20)132 Stat. 1864(, , ; , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised

Section

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

8704

41:58.

Mar. 8, 1946, ch. 80, § 8, 60 Stat. 37; Pub. L. 86–695, Sept. 2, 1960, 74 Stat. 740; Pub. L. 99–634, § 2(a), Nov. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 3525; Pub. L. 103–355, title VIII, § 8301(c)(2), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3397.

In subsection (a), the words “Comptroller General” are substituted for “General Accounting Office” because of 31:702.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 115–232section 103 of this title2018—Subsec. (b). substituted “commercial products or commercial services (as defined in sections 103 and 103a, respectively, of this title)” for “commercial items (as defined in )”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Pub. L. 115–232section 836(h) of Pub. L. 115–232section 453b of Title 6Amendment by effective , subject to a savings provision, see , set out as an Effective Date of 2018 Amendment; Savings Provision note under , Domestic Security.