---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 4511"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "4511"
heading: "Definition and general provisions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/4511"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart C — Employee Performance"
  - "Chapter 45 — Incentive Awards"
  - "Subchapter II — Awards for Cost Savings Disclosures"
---

# §4511. Definition and general provisions

- (a) For purposes of this subchapter, the term “[agency](/usc/5/4501.md?p=1)” means any [Executive agency](/usc/5/6501.md?p=2).
- (b) A cash award under this subchapter is in addition to the regular [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) of the recipient. Acceptance of a cash award under this subchapter constitutes an agreement that the use by the [Government](/usc/5/4501.md?p=3) of an idea, method, or device for which the award is made does not form the basis of a further claim of any nature against the [Government](/usc/5/4501.md?p=3) by the [employee](/usc/5/4501.md?p=2), his heirs, or assigns.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 97–35, title XVII, § 1703(a), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 755.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 1981, see section 1703(c) of Pub. L. 97–35, set out as an Effective Date of 1981 Amendment note under section 4501 of this title.

### Authority To Make Awards

Pub. L. 102–487, § 1(c), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3134, provided that: “Awards may be made under subchapter II of chapter 45 of title 5, United States Code, on and after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 24, 1992].”