US Code

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

29 U.S.C. § 793

Employment under Federal contracts

(a)

Amount of contracts or subcontracts; provision for employment and advancement of qualified individuals with disabilities; regulations

Any contract in excess of $10,000 entered into by any Federal department or agency for the procurement of personal property and nonpersonal services (including construction) for the United States shall contain a provision requiring that the party contracting with the United States shall take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities. The provisions of this section shall apply to any subcontract in excess of $10,000 entered into by a prime contractor in carrying out any contract for the procurement of personal property and nonpersonal services (including construction) for the United States. The President shall implement the provisions of this section by promulgating regulations within ninety days after .

(b)

Administrative enforcement; complaints; investigations; departmental action

If any individual with a disability believes any contractor has failed or refused to comply with the provisions of a contract with the United States, relating to employment of individuals with disabilities, such individual may file a complaint with the Department of Labor. The Department shall promptly investigate such complaint and shall take such action thereon as the facts and circumstances warrant, consistent with the terms of such contract and the laws and regulations applicable thereto.

(c)

Waiver by President; national interest special circumstances for waiver of particular agreements; waiver by Secretary of Labor of affirmative action requirements

(1)
The requirements of this section may be waived, in whole or in part, by the President with respect to a particular contract or subcontract, in accordance with guidelines set forth in regulations which the President shall prescribe, when the President determines that special circumstances in the national interest so require and states in writing the reasons for such determination.
(2)
(A)
The Secretary of Labor may waive the requirements of the affirmative action clause required by regulations promulgated under subsection (a) with respect to any of a prime contractor’s or subcontractor’s facilities that are found to be in all respects separate and distinct from activities of the prime contractor or subcontractor related to the performance of the contract or subcontract, if the Secretary of Labor also finds that such a waiver will not interfere with or impede the effectuation of this chapter.
(B)
Such waivers shall be considered only upon the request of the contractor or subcontractor. The Secretary of Labor shall promulgate regulations that set forth the standards used for granting such a waiver.
(d)

Standards used in determining violation of section

42 U.S.C. 121111

1 See References in Text note below.
42 U.S.C. 12201–122The standards used to determine whether this section has been violated in a complaint alleging nonaffirmative action employment discrimination under this section shall be the standards applied under title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( et seq.) and the provisions of sections 501 through 504, and 510, of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (04 and 12210), as such sections relate to employment.

(e)

Avoidance of duplicative efforts and inconsistencies

42 U.S.C. 12101The Secretary shall develop procedures to ensure that administrative complaints filed under this section and under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 [ et seq.] are dealt with in a manner that avoids duplication of effort and prevents imposition of inconsistent or conflicting standards for the same requirements under this section and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Pub. L. 93–112, title V, § 50387 Stat. 393Pub. L. 95–602, title I, § 122(d)(1)92 Stat. 2987Pub. L. 99–506, title I, § 103(d)(2)(B)100 Stat. 1810Pub. L. 100–630, title II, § 206(c)102 Stat. 3312Pub. L. 102–569, title I, § 102(p)(31)106 Stat. 4360(, , ; , , ; , (C), title X, §§ 1001(f)(2), (3), 1002(e)(3), , , 1843, 1844; , , ; , title V, § 505, , , 4427.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 101–336104 Stat. 327Pub. L. 110–325, § 6(a)(2)122 Stat. 3558section 12101 of Title 42The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, referred to in subsecs. (d) and (e), is , , , which is classified principally to chapter 126 (§ 12101 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. Title I of the Act is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 12111 et seq.) of chapter 126 of Title 42. Section 510 of the Act was renumbered section 511 by , , . For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Amendments

Pub. L. 102–569section 706(8) of this title1992—Subsec. (a). , §§ 102(p)(31)(A), 505(a), substituted “$10,000” for “$2,500” in two places, struck out “, in employing persons to carry out such contract,” after “contain a provision requiring that”, and substituted “individuals with disabilities” for “individuals with handicaps as defined in ”.

Pub. L. 102–569, § 102(p)(31)(B)Subsec. (b). , substituted “individual with a disability” for “individual with handicaps” and “individuals with disabilities” for “individuals with handicaps”.

Pub. L. 102–569, § 505(b)Subsec. (c). , designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).

Pub. L. 102–569, § 505(c)Subsecs. (d), (e). , added subsecs. (d) and (e).

Pub. L. 100–630, § 206(c)(1)1988—Subsec. (a). , inserted a comma after “to carry out such contract”.

Pub. L. 100–630, § 206(c)(2)Subsec. (b). , substituted “refused” for “refuses”.

Pub. L. 100–630, § 206(c)(3)Subsec. (c). , substituted “which the President” for “which The President” and “when the President” for “when The President”.

Pub. L. 99–506section 706(8) of this titlesection 706(7) of this title1986—Subsec. (a). , §§ 103(d)(2)(C), 1002(e)(3), substituted “individuals with handicaps” for “handicapped individuals” and “” for “”.

Pub. L. 99–506Subsec. (b). , §§ 103(d)(2)(B), (C), 1001(f)(2), substituted “individual with handicaps” for “handicapped individual”, “individuals with handicaps” for “handicapped individuals”, and “a contract” for “his contract”.

Pub. L. 99–506, § 1001(f)(3)Subsec. (c). , substituted “The President” for “he” in two places and substituted “the reasons” for “his reasons”.

Pub. L. 95–602section 706(7) of this titlesection 706(6) of this title1978—Subsec. (a). substituted “” for “”.