---
kind: "range"
citation: "31 U.S.C. §§ 6101–6106"
title: "31"
from: "6101"
to: "6106"
count: 7
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/31/6101..6106"
---

# §6101. Definitions


In this chapter—

- (1) “administering office” means the lowest unit of an [agency](/usc/31/1352.md?p=g-2) responsible for managing a domestic assistance program.
- (2) “[agency](/usc/31/1352.md?p=g-2)” has the same meaning given that term in [section 551(1) of title 5](/usc/5/551.md?p=1).
- (3) “assistance”—
  - (A) means the transfer of anything of value for a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by a law of the United States, including—
    - (i) financial assistance;
    - (ii) United States Government facilities, services, and property; and
    - (iii) expert and technical information; and
  - (B) does not include conventional public information services or procurement of property or services for the direct benefit or use of the Government.
- (4) “domestic assistance program”—
  - (A) means assistance from an [agency](/usc/31/1352.md?p=g-2) for—
    - (i) a State;
    - (ii) the District of Columbia;
    - (iii) a territory or possession of the United States;
    - (iv) a county;
    - (v) a city;
    - (vi) a political subdivision or instrumentality of a governmental authority listed in [subclauses (i)–(v)](#4-A-i..4-A-v) of this clause (A);
    - (vii) a domestic corporation;
    - (viii) a domestic institution; and
    - (ix) an individual of the United States; and
  - (B) does not include assistance from an [agency](/usc/31/1352.md?p=g-2) for an [agency](/usc/31/1352.md?p=g-2).
- (5) “Director” means the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
- (6) “Administrator” means the Administrator of General Services.
- (7) “formula” means any prescribed method employing objective data or statistical estimates for making individual determinations among recipients of Federal funds, either in terms of eligibility or actual funding allocations, that can be written in the form of either—
  - (A) a closed mathematical statement; or
  - (B) an iterative procedure or algorithm which can be written as a computer program;

  and from which the results can be objectively replicated, within reasonable limits due to rounding error, through independent application of such statement, procedures, or algorithm, by different qualified individuals.


# §6102. Program information requirements

- (a) The [Director](/usc/31/6101.md?p=5) shall collect and review information on domestic assistance programs and shall provide such information to the [Administrator](/usc/31/6101.md?p=6). The information on each domestic assistance program shall include the following:
  - (1) identification of the program by—
    - (A) title;
    - (B) authorizing law;
    - (C) [administering office](/usc/31/6101.md?p=1); and
    - (D) an identifying number assigned by the [Director](/usc/31/6101.md?p=5).
  - (2) a description of the—
    - (A) program;
    - (B) objectives of the program;
    - (C) types of activities financed under the program;
    - (D) eligibility requirements;
    - (E) types of assistance;
    - (F) uses, and restrictions on the use, of assistance;
    - (G) uses of core-based statistical area (as defined in section 4 of the MAPS Act of 2021) delineations (as chosen from standardized categories of uses determined by the [Director](/usc/31/6101.md?p=5)), for purposes including prime recipient and subrecipient eligibility for, and distribution of, any Federal service, benefit, or funding; and
    - (H) duties of recipients under the program.
  - (3) a specification of each [formula](/usc/31/6101.md?p=7) governing eligibility for assistance or the distribution of assistance under the program, which shall be described through the use of—
    - (A) the language used to specify each such [formula](/usc/31/6101.md?p=7) in the law authorizing the program;
    - (B) the language used to specify each such [formula](/usc/31/6101.md?p=7) in any Federal rule promulgated pursuant to the law authorizing the program; or
    - (C) a mathematical statement which is derived from the language referred to in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph;
  - (4) a description of all data and statistical estimates used to carry out each [formula](/usc/31/6101.md?p=7) specified pursuant to [paragraph (3)](#a-3), and an identification of the sources of such data and estimates;
  - (5) financial information, including the—
    - (A) amounts appropriated for the current fiscal year or, if unavailable, the amounts requested by the President and the amounts obligated; and
    - (B) average amounts of awards made in past years.
  - (6) identification of information contacts, including the [administering office](/usc/31/6101.md?p=1) and regional and local offices with their addresses and telephone numbers.
  - (7) a general description of—
    - (A) the application requirements and procedures; and
    - (B) to the extent practical, an estimate of the time required to process the application.
- (b) On request of the [Director](/usc/31/6101.md?p=5), an [agency](/usc/31/1352.md?p=g-2) shall give to the [Director](/usc/31/6101.md?p=5) current information on all domestic assistance programs administered by the [agency](/usc/31/1352.md?p=g-2). The [Director](/usc/31/6101.md?p=5) shall be responsible for ensuring that the [Administrator](/usc/31/6101.md?p=6) incorporates all relevant information received on a regular basis.
- (c) The [Administrator](/usc/31/6101.md?p=6)—
  - (1) shall ensure that information and catalogs under this chapter are made available to the public at reasonable prices;
  - (2) may develop information services to assist State and local governments in identifying and obtaining sources of assistance;
  - (3) shall ensure that the information in the computerized system is made current on a regular basis and that the printed catalog and supplements thereto contain the most current data available at the time of printing; and
  - (4) shall transmit annually the information compiled under paragraphs [(3)](#a-3) and [(4)](#a-4) of subsection (a) to the Committee on Government Operations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate.

# §6102a. Assistance awards information system

- (a) The [Director](/usc/31/6101.md?p=5) shall—
  - (1) maintain the United States Government assistance awards information system established as a result of the study conducted under section 9 of the Federal Program Information Act; and
  - (2) update the system on a quarterly basis.
- (b) To carry out [subsection (a)](#a) of this section, the [Director](/usc/31/6101.md?p=5)—
  - (1) may delegate the responsibility for carrying out [subsection (a)](#a) of this section to the head of another executive [agency](/usc/31/1352.md?p=g-2);
  - (2) shall review a report the head of an [agency](/usc/31/1352.md?p=g-2) submits to the [Director](/usc/31/6101.md?p=5) on the method of carrying out [subsection (a)](#a) of this section; and
  - (3) may validate, by appropriate means, the method by which an [agency](/usc/31/1352.md?p=g-2) prepares the report.
- (c) The [Director](/usc/31/6101.md?p=5) shall transmit promptly after the end of each calendar quarter, free of charge, the data in the system required by [subsection (a)](#a) to the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and to the Committee on House Oversight of the House of Representatives.

# §6103. Access to computer information system

- (a) The [Administrator](/usc/31/6101.md?p=6) shall maintain a computerized information system providing access to—
  - (1) the information described in paragraphs (1), (2), (5), (6), and (7) of [section 6102(a) of this title](/usc/31/6102.md?p=a); and
  - (2) such portions or summaries, as the [Administrator](/usc/31/6101.md?p=6) considers appropriate, of the information described in paragraphs (3) and (4) of such section.
- (b) To the greatest extent practicable, the [Administrator](/usc/31/6101.md?p=6) shall provide for the widespread availability of the information by available computer terminals.
- (c) When the [Administrator](/usc/31/6101.md?p=6) decides the efficiency of the information system under [subsection (a)](#a) of this section requires it, the [Administrator](/usc/31/6101.md?p=6) may make contracts with private organizations to obtain computer time-sharing services, including—
  - (1) computer telecommunications networks;
  - (2) computer software; and
  - (3) associated services.

# §6104. Catalog of Federal domestic assistance programs

- (a) The [Administrator](/usc/31/6101.md?p=6) shall prepare and publish each year a catalog of domestic assistance programs.
- (b) In a form selected by the [Administrator](/usc/31/6101.md?p=6), the catalog shall contain—
  - (1)
    - (A) all substantive information on domestic assistance programs that, at the time the catalog is prepared, is in the system under paragraphs (1), (2), (5), (6), and (7) of [section 6102(a) of this title](/usc/31/6102.md?p=a); and
    - (B) such portions or summaries, as the [Administrator](/usc/31/6101.md?p=6) considers appropriate, of the information on domestic assistance programs that, at the time the catalog is prepared, is in the system under paragraphs (3) and (4) of [section 6102(a) of this title](/usc/31/6102.md?p=a);
  - (2) information the [Administrator](/usc/31/6101.md?p=6) decides may be helpful to a potential applicant for or beneficiary of assistance; and
  - (3) a detailed index.
- (c) When the [Administrator](/usc/31/6101.md?p=6) decides it is necessary, the [Administrator](/usc/31/6101.md?p=6) shall prepare and publish—
  - (1) supplements to the catalog; and
  - (2) specialized compilations by function of information in the catalog.
- (d) The [Administrator](/usc/31/6101.md?p=6) may distribute a catalog without cost to each—
  - (1) member of Congress;
  - (2) department, [agency](/usc/31/1352.md?p=g-2), and instrumentality of the United States Government;
  - (3) State;
  - (4) general purpose unit of a local government;
  - (5) Indian tribe recognized by the United States Government;
  - (6) depository library of Government publications; and
  - (7) depository designated by the [Administrator](/usc/31/6101.md?p=6).

# §6105. Oversight responsibility of Director


The [Director](/usc/31/6101.md?p=5) shall have oversight responsibility for the exercise of all authorities and responsibilities in this chapter not specifically assigned to the [Director](/usc/31/6101.md?p=5).


# §6106. Authorization of appropriations


After October 1, 1983, there may be appropriated to the [Administrator](/usc/31/6101.md?p=6) such sums as may be necessary to carry out the responsibilities of this chapter.