Overview
This section prescribes the requirements and timing for public and local announcements of significant contract awards, ensuring transparency and a uniform release schedule for high-value government spending.
Key Rules
- Public Announcement Threshold: Contracting officers must provide information for public announcement on awards exceeding $5.5 million (unless agency-specific regulations dictate a different amount).
- Release Timing: Information cannot be released before 5:00 p.m. Washington, DC, time on the day of the award.
- Exemptions: Reporting is not required for 8(a) contracts placed with the SBA, contracts with foreign firms performed outside the U.S., or classified/exempt synopses under FAR 5.202(a)(1).
- Local Announcements: If an agency chooses to notify local media for awards exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT), they must disclose specific details including the number of offers received and the general basis for selection (e.g., lowest responsible bidder or competitive negotiation).
Practical Implications
- Embargoed Information: Contractors should be aware that high-value award information is strictly embargoed until the 5:00 p.m. ET deadline, and they should coordinate their own corporate press releases to align with this official government timeline.
- Transparency Requirements: The rule ensures that for large-scale taxpayer expenditures, the public is informed not just of the winner, but also of the level of competition (number of offers) and the method used to select the contractor.