---
kind: "section"
citation: "41 U.S.C. § 113"
title: "41"
title_heading: "Public Contracts"
number: "113"
heading: "Responsible source"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/41/113"
units:
  - "Subtitle I — Federal Procurement Policy"
  - "Division A — General"
  - "Chapter 1 — Definitions"
  - "Subchapter I — Subtitle Definitions"
---

# §113. Responsible source


In this subtitle, the term “responsible source” means a prospective contractor that—

- (1) has adequate financial resources to perform the contract or the ability to obtain those resources;
- (2) is able to comply with the required or proposed delivery or performance schedule, taking into consideration all existing commercial and Government business commitments;
- (3) has a satisfactory performance record;
- (4) has a satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics;
- (5) has the necessary organization, experience, accounting and operational controls, and technical skills, or the ability to obtain the organization, experience, controls, and skills;
- (6) has the necessary production, construction, and technical equipment and facilities, or the ability to obtain the equipment and facilities; and
- (7) is otherwise qualified and eligible to receive an award under applicable laws and regulations.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–350, § 3, Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3681.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 113 | 41:259(c)(5). | June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title III, § 309(c)(5), as added Pub. L. 98–369, title VII, § 2711(a)(3), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 1180; Pub. L. 98–577, title V, § 504(a)(4), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 3086; Pub. L. 103–355, title I, § 1551, Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3299. |
|  | 41:403(7). | Pub. L. 93–400, § 4(7), formerly § 4(8), as added Pub. L. 98–369, title VII, § 2731(3), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 1195; Pub. L. 98–577, title I, § 102(2), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 3067; redesignated as § 4(7), Pub. L. 100–679, § 3(c), Nov. 17, 1988, 102 Stat. 4056; Pub. L. 103–355, title VIII, § 8001(b)(1)–(3), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3386. |