{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-1-204.51","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 1-204.51","heading":"Special rules regarding certain contracts.","body":"(a)\nNo contract involving expenditures out of an appropriation which is available for more than 1 year shall be made for a period of more than 5 years unless, with respect to a particular contract, the Council, by a two-thirds vote of its members present and voting, authorizes the extension of such period for such contract. Such contracts shall be made pursuant to criteria established by act of the Council.\n\n(b)\n(1)\nNo contract involving expenditures in excess of $1,000,000 during a 12-month period may be made unless the Mayor submits the contract to the Council for its approval and the Council approves the contract (in accordance with criteria established by act of the Council).\n(2)\nFor purposes of paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Council shall be deemed to approve a contract if —\n(A)\nduring the 10-day period beginning on the date the Mayor submits the contract to the Council, no member of the Council introduces a resolution approving or disapproving the contract; or\n(B)\nduring the 45-calendar day period beginning on the date the Mayor submits the contract to the Council, the Council does not disapprove the contract.\n\n(c)\n(1)\nThe District may enter into multiyear contracts to obtain goods and services for which funds would otherwise be available for obligation only within the fiscal year for which appropriated.\n(2)\nIf the funds are not made available for the continuation of such a contract into a subsequent fiscal year, the contract shall be cancelled or terminated, and the cost of cancellation or termination may be paid from —\n(A)\nappropriations originally available for the performance of the contract concerned;\n(B)\nappropriations currently available for procurement of the type of acquisition covered by the contract, and not otherwise obligated; or\n(C)\nfunds appropriated for those payments.\n(3)\nNo contract entered into under this subsection shall be valid unless the Mayor submits the contract to the Council for its approval and the Council approves the contract (in accordance with criteria established by act of the Council). The Council shall be required to take affirmative action to approve the contract within 45 days. If no action is taken to approve the contract within 45 calendar days, the contract shall be deemed disapproved.\n\n(d)\nThe requirements of this section shall not apply with respect to any of the following contracts:\n(1)\nAny contract entered into by the Washington Convention Center Authority for preconstruction activities, project management, design, or construction.\n(2)\nAny contract entered into by the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority established pursuant to the Water and Sewer Authority Establishment and Department of Public Works Reorganization Act of 1996 [D.C. Law 11-111], other than contracts for the sale or lease of the Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant.\n(3)\nAt the option of the Council, any contract for a highway improvement project carried out under title 23, United States Code.","path":["Title 1. Government Organization.","Chapter 2. District of Columbia Home Rule.","Subchapter IV. The District Charter.","Part D. District Budget and Financial Management.","Subpart 1. Budget and Financial Management."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/1-204.51","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"ddb8183f6ef91618e11b45069d8a281d4ba389e8e4a1f5b8b58982866d148b92","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-1-204.50b","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-1-204.52"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}