---
kind: "section"
citation: "14 U.S.C. § 1137"
title: "14"
title_heading: "Coast Guard"
number: "1137"
heading: "Contracting for major acquisitions programs"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/14/1137"
units:
  - "Subtitle I — Establishment, Powers, Duties, and Administration"
  - "Chapter 11 — Acquisitions"
  - "Subchapter II — Improved Acquisition Process and Procedures"
---

# §1137. Contracting for major acquisitions programs

- (a) **In General.—** In carrying out authorities provided to the Secretary to design, construct, accept, or otherwise acquire assets and systems under [section 501(d)](/usc/14/501.md?p=d), the Secretary, acting through the Commandant or the head of an integrated program office established for a [major acquisition program](/usc/14/1171.md?p=7), may enter into contracts for a [major acquisition program](/usc/14/1171.md?p=7) and 3 Polar Security Cutters in addition to those approved as part of a [major acquisition program](/usc/14/1171.md?p=7) on November 1, 2019.
- (b) **Authorized Methods.—** Contracts entered into under [subsection (a)](#a)—
  - (1) may be block buy contracts;
  - (2) may be incrementally funded;
  - (3) may include combined purchases, also known as economic order quantity purchases, of—
    - (A) materials and components; and
    - (B) long lead time materials; and
  - (4) as provided in [section 3501 of title 10](/usc/10/3501.md), may be multiyear contracts.
- (c) **Subject to Appropriations.—** Any contract entered into under [subsection (a)](#a) shall provide that any obligation of the United States to make a payment under the contract is subject to the availability of amounts specifically provided in advance for that purpose in subsequent appropriations Acts.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 115–282, title III, § 311(b), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4249; amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. G, title LVXXXI [LXXXI], § 8111(b), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4639; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, § 1702(d)(2), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2156.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–283 inserted “and 3 Polar Security Cutters in addition to those approved as part of a major acquisition program on November 1, 2019” before period at end.

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 117–81 substituted “section 3501” for “section 2306b”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Internal Regulations and Policy

Pub. L. 115–282, title III, § 311(e), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4249, provided that: “Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 4, 2018], the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall establish the internal regulations and policies necessary to exercise the authorities provided under this section [enacting this section, amending section 501 of this title, enacting provisions set out as a note under section 1133 of this title, amending provisions formerly set out as a note under former section 573 of this title, and repealing provisions set out as notes under former sections 87 and 577 of this title], including the amendments made in this section.”