---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 4508"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "4508"
heading: "Contractor performance of acquisition functions closely associated with inherently governmental functions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/4508"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part V — Acquisition"
  - "Subpart G — Other Special Categories Of Contracting"
  - "Chapter 341 — Acquisition of Services Generally"
---

# §4508. Contractor performance of acquisition functions closely associated with inherently governmental functions

- (a) **Limitation.—** The [head of an agency](/usc/10/3451.md?p=2) may enter into a contract for the performance of acquisition [functions](/usc/10/467.md?p=1) closely associated with inherently governmental [functions](/usc/10/467.md?p=1) only if the contracting [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) for the contract ensures that—
  - (1) appropriate [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) or civilian personnel of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense cannot reasonably be made available to perform the [functions](/usc/10/467.md?p=1);
  - (2) appropriate [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) or civilian personnel of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense are—
    - (A) to supervise contractor performance of the contract; and
    - (B) to perform all inherently governmental [functions](/usc/10/467.md?p=1) associated with the [functions](/usc/10/467.md?p=1) to be performed under the contract; and
  - (3) the [agency](/usc/10/3451.md?p=3) addresses any potential organizational conflict of interest of the contractor in the performance of the [functions](/usc/10/467.md?p=1) under the contract, consistent with subpart 9.5 of part 9 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation and the best interests of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense.
- (b) **Definitions.—** In this section:
  - (1) The term “[head of an agency](/usc/10/3451.md?p=2)” does not include the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Homeland Security or the [Administrator](/usc/10/2700.md?p=3) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
  - (2) The term “inherently governmental [functions](/usc/10/467.md?p=1)” has the meaning given such term in subpart 7.5 of part 7 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
  - (3) The term “[functions](/usc/10/467.md?p=1) closely associated with inherently governmental [functions](/usc/10/467.md?p=1)” means the [functions](/usc/10/467.md?p=1) described in section 7.503(d) of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
  - (4) The term “organizational conflict of interest” has the meaning given such term in subpart 9.5 of part 9 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title VIII, § 804(a)(1), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2007, § 2383; renumbered § 4508 and amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, § 1856(g), (i), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4275.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 4508, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 253; Nov. 2, 1966, Pub. L. 89–718, § 27, 80 Stat. 1119, which related tests of iron, steel, and other materials, was repealed by Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title VIII, § 822(b)(3), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1706.

### Amendments

2021—Pub. L. 116–283 renumbered section 2383 of this title as this section.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 116–283, § 1856(i), which directed striking out “has the meaning given in section 2302(1) of this title, except that such term”, was executed by striking out “has the meaning given such term in section 2302(1) of this title, except that such term” before “does not include”, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2021 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 116–283 effective Jan. 1, 2022, with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see section 1801(d) of Pub. L. 116–283, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

### Effective Date

Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title VIII, § 804(b), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2008, provided that: “Section 2383 of title 10, United States Code [now 10 U.S.C. 4508] (as added by subsection (a)), shall apply to contracts entered into on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 28, 2004].”