Principles of Public Contracts in the United States of America

Abstract

This essay was written for inclusion in a volume about various European nations’ sources of authority and principles of procurement law (Les Principes des Contrats Publics en Europe, edited by Stephane de La Rosa and Patricia Valcarcel). It is not, however, an essay on comparative law. Rather, it is almost entirely devoted to giving a description of U.S. federal procurement law -- specifically, its sources of authority and foundational principles -- to a foreign audience.

Keywords: government contracts, public procurement

JEL Classification: H57, P44, P48