Overview
FAR 15.506 establishes the procedures and requirements for agencies to provide debriefings to offerors after a contract award. It ensures transparency in the procurement process by requiring the government to explain the basis for its selection decision and the evaluation of the offeror's proposal.
Key Rules
- Request Timeline: Offerors must submit a written request for a debriefing within 3 days of receiving the notice of contract award to be entitled to the debriefing.
- Execution Timeline: To the maximum extent practicable, the agency should conduct the debriefing within 5 days of receiving the request.
- Mandatory Content: The debriefing must include the offeror's significant weaknesses/deficiencies, technical ratings and costs of both the successful and debriefed offeror, the ranking of offerors (if applicable), and a summary of the award rationale.
- Prohibited Information: Agencies are strictly prohibited from providing point-by-point comparisons with other proposals or disclosing trade secrets, confidential manufacturing processes, or privileged financial information.
- Past Performance: While past performance information of the debriefed offeror is shared, the names of individuals who provided that reference information must remain confidential.
- Protest Impacts: Accommodating an untimely debriefing request does not automatically extend the legal deadlines for filing a protest with the GAO.
Practical Implications
- CICA Stay: Meeting the 3-day request deadline is critical for contractors because a timely requested "required" debriefing is often a prerequisite for obtaining an automatic stay of contract performance under the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) if a protest is filed.
- Business Intelligence: For contractors, these sessions serve as a vital feedback loop to understand specific proposal failings and improve the competitiveness of future bids.
- Administrative Record: The requirement for an "official summary" in the contract file ensures that there is a documented record of what the government disclosed, which serves as a baseline if the procurement is later challenged in court or at the GAO.