---
kind: "section"
citation: "40 U.S.C. § 3171"
title: "40"
title_heading: "Public Buildings, Property, and Works"
number: "3171"
heading: "Contract authority when appropriation is for less than full amount"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/40/3171"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Public Buildings and Works"
  - "Part A — General"
  - "Chapter 31 — General"
  - "Subchapter VI — Miscellaneous"
---

# §3171. Contract authority when appropriation is for less than full amount


Unless specifically directed otherwise, the Administrator of General Services may make a contract within the full limit of the cost fixed by Congress for the acquisition of land for sites, or for the enlargement of sites, for [public buildings](/usc/40/3301.md?p=a-5), or for the erection, remodeling, extension, alteration, and repairs of [public buildings](/usc/40/3301.md?p=a-5), even though an appropriation is made for only part of the amount necessary to carry out legislation authorizing that purpose.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–217, Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1154.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 3171 | 40:261. | May 30, 1908, ch. 228, § 34, 35 Stat. 545. |

The words “On and after May 30, 1908” are omitted as obsolete. The words “Administrator of General Services” are substituted for “Secretary of the Treasury” [subsequently changed to “Federal Works Administrator” because of section 303 of Reorganization Plan No. I of 1939 (eff. July 1, 1939, 53 Stat. 1427)] because of section 103(a) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (ch. 288, 63 Stat. 380), which is restated as section 303(c) [303(b)] of the revised title.