---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 513"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "513"
heading: "Contracts and personal services"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/513"
units:
  - "Part I — General Provisions"
  - "Chapter 5 — Authority and Duties of the Secretary"
  - "Subchapter I — General Authorities"
---

# §513. Contracts and personal services


The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may, for purposes of all laws administered by the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1), accept uncompensated services, and enter into contracts or agreements with private or public agencies or persons (including contracts for services of translators without regard to any other law), for such necessary services (including personal services) as the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may consider practicable. The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may also enter into contracts or agreements with private concerns or public agencies for the hiring of passenger motor vehicles or aircraft for official travel whenever, in the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1)’s judgment, such arrangements are in the interest of efficiency or economy.


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 102–83, § 2(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 389.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 213 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 102–83, § 2(a).