Debarment, Suspension, and Ineligibility of Contractors

Résumé

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is providing notice of its intent to adopt the policies and procedures contained in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) regarding the debarment, suspension, and ineligibility of government contractors. As a legislative branch agency, GAO is not subject to the requirements of the FAR. However, it is GAO's general policy to follow the FAR, as appropriate and applicable. Mandatory application of the FAR is not to be inferred from GAO's adoption of this policy. GAO's procurement rules are not contained in the Code of Federal Regulations, but instead are contained in an internal GAO document referred to as "Government Accountability Office Procurement Guidelines" (hereinafter, GAO's Procurement Order). As such, the proposed policy regarding debarment and suspension will be added as a chapter to GAO's Procurement Order. However, persons or entities seeking government contracts could potentially be adversely affected if, pursuant to the proposed policy, they were debarred, suspended, or proposed for debarment by GAO. As such, GAO is providing interested persons an opportunity for notice and comment on this proposed policy.