41 U.S.C. § 6503 - U.S. Code - Unannotated Title 41. Public Contracts § 6503. Breach or violation of required contract terms

(a) Applicable breach or violation.--This section applies in case of breach or violation of a representation or stipulation included in a contract under section 6502 of this title.

(b) Liquidated damages.--In addition to damages for any other breach of the contract, the party responsible for a breach or violation described in subsection (a) is liable to the Federal Government for the following liquidated damages:

(c) Cancellation and alternative completion.--In addition to the Federal Government being entitled to damages described in subsection (b), the agency of the United States that made the contract may cancel the contract and make open-market purchases or make other contracts for the completion of the original contract, charging any additional cost to the original contractor.

(d) Recovery of amounts due.--An amount due the Federal Government because of a breach or violation described in subsection (a) may be withheld from any amounts owed the contractor under any contract under section 6502 of this title or may be recovered in a suit brought by the Attorney General.

(e) Employee reimbursement for underpayment of wages.--An amount withheld or recovered under subsection (d) that is based on an underpayment of wages as described in subsection (b)(2) shall be held in a special deposit account. On order of the Secretary, the amount shall be paid directly to the underpaid employee on whose account the amount was withheld or recovered. However, an employee's claim for payment under this subsection may be entertained only if made within one year from the date of actual notice to the contractor of the withholding or recovery.