---
kind: "section"
citation: "41 U.S.C. § 8702"
title: "41"
title_heading: "Public Contracts"
number: "8702"
heading: "Prohibited conduct"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/41/8702"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Miscellaneous"
  - "Chapter 87 — Kickbacks"
---

# §8702. Prohibited conduct


A [person](/usc/41/8701.md?p=3) may not—

- (1) provide, attempt to provide, or offer to provide a [kickback](/usc/41/8701.md?p=2);
- (2) solicit, accept, or attempt to accept a [kickback](/usc/41/8701.md?p=2); or
- (3) include the amount of a [kickback](/usc/41/8701.md?p=2) prohibited by paragraph [(1)](#1) or [(2)](#2) in the contract price—
  - (A) a [subcontractor](/usc/41/8701.md?p=8) charges a [prime contractor](/usc/41/8701.md?p=5) or a higher tier [subcontractor](/usc/41/8701.md?p=8); or
  - (B) a [prime contractor](/usc/41/8701.md?p=5) charges the [Federal Government](/usc/41/8501.md?p=4).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–350, § 3, Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3839.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 8702 | 41:53. | Mar. 8, 1946, ch. 80, § 3, 60 Stat. 37; Pub. L. 86–695, Sept. 2, 1960, 74 Stat. 740; Pub. L. 99–634, § 2(a), Nov. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 3524. |

In paragraph (3), before subparagraph (A), the words “directly or indirectly” are omitted as unnecessary.