AFFECTING GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS HEARING BEFORE A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY UNITED STATES SENATE SEVENTY-FOURTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON S. 215 A BILL TO ESTABLISH UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS 135635 MAY 7, 1935 Printed for the use of the Committee on the Judiciary THE THE J: UNIVER UNITED STATES WASHINGTON: 1935 J 9 2 te Page 8 Statement of Admiral C. C. Bloch, Judge Advocate, United States Navy.. Statement of Capt. Henry de F. Mel, Acting Chief Bureau of Supplies and Statement of Mr. Frank Healy, National Recovery Administration.. Statement of Mr. H. A. Smith, Panama Canal_ SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY, Washington, D. C. The subcommittee met at 10:30 a. m. in the committee room, Capitol, Senator M. M. Logan (chairman of subcommittee) presiding. Present: Senators Logan (presiding) and Austin. The subcommittee had under consideration S. 215, a bill to establish uniform requirements affecting Government contracts, and for other purposes. Said S. 215 is here printed in full, as follows: [S. 215, 74th Cong., 1st sess., Rept. No. 433.] [Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic] A BILL To establish uniform requirements affecting Government contracts, and for other purposes Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "Public Contract Act, 1932 1935.” DEFINITIONS SEO. 2. When used in this Act, unless the text indicates otherwise(a) The terms "United States" and "Government are synonymous and include the District of Columbia and all departments of the Government; (b) The term "department" means any executive department, independent establishment, commission, board, or other Government agency having authority to make contracts involving the expenditure of public funds, and shall include the District of Columbia; (c) The term "formal contract" means an agreement reduced to writing in one instrument and signed by all the contracting parties at the end thereof: Provided, That drawings, specifications, conditions, and other relevant papers may be incorporated in the contract by appropriate reference. The term "informal contract means an agreement in any other form; (d) The term "advertising" means inviting competitive bids by notice in printed publications or posted in public places, by circular letters or otherwise; (e) The term "personal services" means services rendered at a specified rate in person by the party or parties who contract to perform them; (f) The term "contractor" means any person, partnership, company, or corporation, party to a contract with the United States; (g) The terms "purchase" and "procurement are synonymous and mean the acquisition of services, materials, or supplies pursuant to contract. AUTHORITY SEC. 3. Contracts on behalf of the United States may be entered into only by the head of the department having administrative supervision of the subject 1 |