Renegotiation Act of 1951 as amended through August 1, 1956

[Public Law 9, 82d Cong., approved March 23, 1951, as amended by Public Law 764, 83d Cong., approved September 1, 1954, Public Law 216, 84th Cong., approved August 3, 1955, and Public Law 870, 84th Cong., approved August 1, 1956]

To provide for the renegotiation of 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 "Renegotiation Act of 1951".

TITLE I-RENEGOTIATION OF CONTRACTS

SEC. 101. DECLARATION OF POLICY.

It is hereby recognized and declared that the Congress has made available for the execution of the national defense program extensive funds, by appropriation and otherwise, for the procurement of property, processes, and services, and the construction of facilities necessary for the national defense; that sound execution of the national defense program requires the elimination of excessive profits from contracts made with the United States, and from related subcontracts, in the course of said program; and that the considered policy of the Congress, in the interests of the national defense and the general welfare of the Nation, requires that such excessive profits be eliminated as provided in this title.

SEC. 102. CONTRACTS SUBJECT TO RENEGOTIATION.

(a) IN GENERAL. The provisions of this title shall be applicable (1) to all contracts with the Departments specifically named in section 103 (a), and related subcontracts, to the extent of the amounts received or accrued by a contractor or subcontractor on or after the first day of January 1951, whether such contracts or subcontracts were made on, before, or after such first day, and (2) to all contracts with the Departments designated by the President under section 103 (a), and related subcontracts, to the extent of the amounts received or accrued by a contractor or subcontractor on or after the first day of the first month beginning after the date of such designation, whether such contracts or subcontracts were made on, before, or after such first day.1

(b) PERFORMANCE PRIOR TO JULY 1, 1950.-Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), the provisions of this title shall not apply to contracts with the Departments, or related subcontracts, to the extent of the amounts received or accrued by a contractor or sub

1 Pub. Law 870, 84th Cong., approved August 1, 1956, struck out at this point "; but provisions of this title shall not be applicable to receipts or accruals attributable to performance, under contracts, or subcontracts, after December 31, 1956". The last date was changed from "1953" to "1954" by Pub. Law 764, 83d Cong., approved September 1, 1954, and changed to "1956" by Pub. Law 216, 84th Cong., approved August 3, 1955.

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contractor on or after the 1st day of January 1951, which are attributable to performance, under such contracts or subcontracts, prior to July 1, 1950. This subsection shall have no application in the case of contracts, or related subcontracts, which, but for subsection (c), would be subject to the Renegotiation Act of 1948.

(c) TERMINATION.

(1) IN GENERAL.-The provisions of this title shall apply only with respect to receipts and accruals, under contracts with the Departments and related subcontracts, which are determined under regulations prescribed by the Board to be reasonably attributable to performance prior to the close of the termination date. Notwithstanding the method of accounting employed by the contractor or subcontractor in keeping his records, receipts or accruals determined to be so attributable, even if received or accrued after the termination date, shall be considered as having been received or accrued not later than the termination date. For the purposes of this title, the term "termination date" means December 31, 1958.

(2) TERMINATION OF STATUS AS DEPARTMENT.-When the status of any agency of the Government as a Department within the meaning of section 103 (a) is terminated, the provisions of this title shall apply only with respect to receipts and accruals, under contracts with such agency and related subcontracts, which are determined under regulations prescribed by the Board to be reasonably attributable to performance prior to the close of the status termination date. Notwithstanding the method of accounting employed by the contractor or subcontractor in keeping his records, receipts or accruals determined to be so attributable, even if received or accrued after the status termination date, shall be considered as having been received or accrued not later than the status termination date. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term "status termination date" means, with respect to any agency, the date on which the status of such agency as a Department within the meaning of section 103 (a) is terminated.2

(d) RENEGOTIATION ACT OF 1948. The Renegotiation Act of 1948 shall not be applicable to any contract or subcontract to the extent of the amounts received or accrued by a contractor or subcontractor on or after the 1st day of January 1951, whether such contract or subcontract was made on, before, or after such first day. In the case of a fiscal year beginning in 1950 and ending in 1951, if a contractor or subcontractor has receipts or accruals prior to January 1, 1951, from contracts or subcontracts subject to the Renegotiation Act of 1948, and also has receipts or accruals after December 31, 1950, to which the provisions of this title are applicable, the provisions of this title shall, notwithstanding subsection (a), apply to such receipts and accruals prior to January 1, 1951, if the Board and such contractor or subcontractor agree to such application of this title; and in the case of such an agreement the provisions of the Renegotiation Act of 1948 shall not apply to any of the receipts or accruals for such fiscal year.

(e) SUSPENSION OF CERTAIN PROFIT LIMITATIONS.-Notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary, the profit-limitation provisions of the Act of March 27, 1934 (48 Stat. 508, 505), as amended and

2 Subsection (c) of section 102 was added by Pub. Law 870, 84th Cong., approved August 1, 1956, which also relettered former subsections (c) and (d) as (d) and (e), respectively.

supplemented, and of section 505 (b) of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended and supplemented (46 U. S. C. 1155 (b)), shall not apply, in the case of such Act of March 27, 1934, to any contract or subcontract if any of the receipts or accruals therefrom are subject to this title or would be subject to this title except for the provisions of section 106 (e), and, in the case of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, to any contract or subcontract entered into after December 31, 1950, if any of the receipts or accruals therefrom are subject to this title or would be subject to this title except for the provisions of section 106 (e).3

SEC. 103. DEFINITIONS.

For the purposes of this title

(a) DEPARTMENT.-The term "Department" means the Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, the Department of the Air Force, the Maritime Administration, the General Services Administration, and the Atomic Energy Commission. Such term also includes any other agency of the Government exercising functions having a direct and immediate connection with the national defense which is designated by the President during a national emergency proclaimed by the President, or declared by the Congress, after the date of the enactment of the Renegotiation Amendments Act of 1956; but such designation shall cease to be in effect on the last day of the month during which such national emergency is terminated.*

(b) SECRETARY.-The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy, the Secretary of the Air Force, the Secretary of Commerce (with respect to the Maritime Administration), the Federal Maritime Board, the Administrator of General Services, the Atomic Energy Commission, and the head of any other agency of the Government which the President shall designate as a Department pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.5

(c) BOARD.-The term "Board" means the Renegotiation Board created by section 107 (a) of this Act.

(d) RENEGOTIATE AND RENEGOTIATION. The terms "renegotiate" and "renegotiation" include a determination by agreement or order under this title of the amount of any excessive profits.

(e) EXCESSIVE PROFITS. The term "excessive profits" means the portion of the profits derived from contracts with the Departments

Matter in italics in section 102 (e) was added by Pub. Law 216, 84th Cong., approved August 3, 1955, as amended by Pub. Law 870, 84th Cong., approved August 1, 1956, and applies only to the extent of amounts received or accrued after December 31, 1953. Pub. Law 870 changed "section 106 (a) (8)" to "section 106 (e)" with respect to fiscal years ending after June 30, 1956.

Section 103 (a) was amended as shown by Pub. Law 870, 84th Cong., approved August 1, 1956. The amendment, effective December 31, 1956, struck out the Department of Commerce, the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, the Canal Zone Government, the Panama Canal. Company, the Housing and Home Finance Agency, and such other agencies of the Government as were designated by the President under the former subsection (a). Federal Civil Defense Administration, National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, Tennessee Valley Authority, and U. S. Coast Guard were designated by Executive Order 10260, dated June 27, 1951; Defense Materials Procurement Agency, Bureau of Mines, and (United States) Geological Survey by Executive Order 10294, September 28, 1951; Bonneville Power Administration by Executive Order 10299, October 31, 1951; Bureau of Reclamation by Executive Order 10369, June 30, 1952; and Federal Facilities Corporation by Executive Order 10567, September 29, 1954.

Matter in italics in section 103 (b) was added by Pub. Law 870, 84th Cong., approved August 1, 1956, which also changed "the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission" to "the Atomic Energy Commission" and struck out the Board of Directors of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, the Governor of the Canal Zone, the President of the Panama Canal Company, and the Housing and Home Finance Administrator, all effective on December 31, 1956.

and subcontracts which is determined in accordance with this title to be excessive. In determining excessive profits favorable recognition must be given to the efficiency of the contractor or subcontractor, with particular regard to attainment of quantity and quality production, reduction of costs, and economy in the use of materials, facilities, and manpower; and in addition, there shall be taken into consideration the following factors:

(1) Reasonableness of costs and profits, with particular regard to volume of production, normal earnings, and comparison of war and peacetime products;

(2) The net worth, with particular regard to the amount and source of public and private capital employed;

(3) Extent of risk assumed, including the risk incident to reasonable pricing policies;

(4) Nature and extent of contribution to the defense effort, including inventive and developmental contribution and cooperation with the Government and other contractors in supplying

technical assistance:

(5) Character of business, including source and nature of materials, complexity of manufacturing technique, character and extent of subcontracting, and rate of turn-over;

(6) Such other factors the consideration of which the public interest and fair and equitable dealing may require, which factors shall be published in the regulations of the Board from time to time as adopted.

(f) PROFITS DERIVED FROM CONTRACTS WITH THE DEPARTMENTS AND SUBCONTRACTS.-The term "profits derived from contracts with the Departments and subcontracts" means the excess of the amount received or accrued under such contracts and subcontracts over the costs paid or incurred with respect thereto and determined to be allocable thereto. All items estimated to be allowed as deductions and exclusions under chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code (excluding taxes measured by income) shall, to the extent allocable to such contracts and subcontracts, be allowed as items of cost, except that no amount shall be allowed as an item of cost by reason of the application of a carry-over or carry-back. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, there shall be allowed as an item of cost in any fiscal year ending before December 31, 1956, subject to regulations of the Board, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of costs (computed without the application of this sentence) paid or incurred in the preceding fiscal year with respect to receipts or accruals subject to the provisions of this title over the amount of receipts or accruals subject to the provisions of this title which were received or accrued in such preceding fiscal year, but only to the extent that such excess did not result from gross inefficiency of the contractor or subcontractor. For the purposes of the preceding sentence, the term "preceding fiscal year" does not include any fiscal year ending prior to January 1, 1951. Costs shall be determined in accordance with the method of accounting regularly employed by the contractor or subcontractor in keeping his records, but, if no such method of accounting has been employed, or if the method so employed does not, in the opinion of the Board, or, upon redetermination, in the opinion of The Tax Court of the

• Matter in italics in section 103 (f) was added by Pub. Law 870, 84th Cong., approved August 1, 1956.

United States, properly reflect such costs, such costs shall be determined in accordance with such method as in the opinion of the Board, or, upon redetermination, in the opinion of The Tax Court of the United States, does properly reflect such costs. In determining the amount of excessive profits to be eliminated, proper adjustment shall be made on account of the taxes measured by income, other than Federal taxes, which are attributable to the portion of the profits which are not excessive.

(g) SUBCONTRACT.-The term "subcontract" means

(1) any purchase order or agreement (including purchase orders or agreements antedating the related prime contract or higher tier subcontract) to perform all or any part of the work, or to make or furnish any materials, required for the performance of any other contract or subcontract, but such term does not include any purchase order or agreement to furnish office supplies;

(2) any contract or arrangement covering the right to use any patented or secret method, formula, or device for the performance of a contract or subcontract; and

(3) any contract or arrangement (other than a contract or arrangement between two contracting parties, one of whom is found by the Board to be a bona fide executive officer, partner, or full-time employee of the other contracting party) under

which

(A) any amount payable is contingent upon the procurement of a contract or contracts with a Department or of a subcontract or subcontracts; or

(B) any amount payable is determined with reference to the amount of a contract or contracts with a Department or of a subcontract or subcontracts; or

(C) any part of the services performed or to be performed consists of the soliciting, attempting to procure, or procuring a contract or contracts with a Department or a subcontract or subcontracts.

Nothing in this subsection shall be construed (i) to affect in any way the validity or construction of provisions in any contract with a Department or any subcontract, heretofore at any time or hereafter made, prohibiting the payment of contingent fees or commissions; or (ii) to restrict in any way the authority of the Board to determine the nature or amount of selling expense under subcontracts as defined in this subsection, as a proper element of the contract price or as a reimbursable item of cost, under a contract with a Department or a subcontract.

(h) FISCAL YEAR. The term "fiscal year" means the taxable year of the contractor or subcontractor under chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code, except that where any readjustment of interests occurs in a partnership as defined in section 3797 (a) (2) of such code, the fiscal year of the partnership or partnerships involved in such readjustment shall be determined in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Board.

(i) RECEIVED OR ACCRUED AND PAID OR INCURRED. The terms "received or accrued" and "paid or incurred" shall be construed according to the method of accounting employed by the contractor or subcontractor in keeping his records, but if no such method of accounting

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