---
kind: "section"
citation: "41 U.S.C. § 6505"
title: "41"
title_heading: "Public Contracts"
number: "6505"
heading: "Exclusions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/41/6505"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Other Advertising and Contract Provisions"
  - "Chapter 65 — Contracts for Materials, Supplies, Articles, and Equipment Exceeding $10,000"
---

# §6505. Exclusions

- (a) **Items Available in the Open Market.—** This chapter does not apply to the purchase of materials, supplies, articles, or equipment that may usually be bought in the open market.
- (b) **Perishables and Agricultural Products.—** This chapter does not apply to any of the following:
  - (1) Perishables, including dairy, livestock and nursery products.
  - (2) Agricultural or farm products processed for first sale by the original producers.
  - (3) Contracts made by the [Secretary](/usc/41/6501.md?p=3) of Agriculture for the purchase of agricultural commodities or products of agricultural commodities.
- (c) **Carriage of Freight or Personnel.—** This chapter may not be construed to apply to—
  - (1) the carriage of freight or personnel by vessel, airplane, bus, truck, express, or railway line where published tariff rates are in effect; or
  - (2) common carriers subject to the Communications Act of 1934 ([47 U.S.C. 151](/usc/47/151.md) et seq.).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–350, § 3, Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3809.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 6505 | 41:43. | June 30, 1936, ch. 881, § 9, 49 Stat. 2039. |

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Communications Act of 1934, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), is act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, which is classified principally to chapter 5 (§ 151 et seq.) of Title 47, Telecommunications. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of Title 47 and Tables.