[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 190 (Friday, September 30, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60838-60840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-25228]


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GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE


Debarment, Suspension, and Ineligibility of Contractors

AGENCY: Government Accountability Office.

ACTION: Proposed policy statement with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: 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.

DATE: Comments must be received on or before November 14, 2011.
    GAO will publish the effective date of the proposed policy when 
responding to comments in a future Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this proposed policy to 
Government Accountability Office, Office of the General Counsel, Attn: 
Legal Services, Room 7838, 441 G Street, NW., Washington, DC 20548; or 
e-mail, [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John A. Bielec, Assistant General 
Counsel, 202-512-2846.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: GAO is not subject to the Administrative 
Procedure Act and accordingly, is not required by law to seek comments 
before issuing a policy that has general applicability and legal 
effect. However, GAO has decided to invite interested persons to 
comment on this proposed

[[Page 60839]]

policy by submitting written comments. Application of the 
Administrative Procedure Act to GAO is not to be inferred from this 
invitation for comments.
    GAO will consider all comments received on or before the closing 
date for comments. GAO may change the proposed policy based on the 
comments received.
    Under GAO's proposed policy, GAO will follow FAR Subpart 9.4. GAO's 
Procurement Order, GAO Order 0625.1, states that it is GAO's policy to 
follow the FAR and GAO has long-maintained procedures, consistent with 
FAR Subpart 9.4, that ensure that it contracts only with those entities 
and individuals (hereinafter, contractors) who are responsible. 
However, GAO's Procurement Order has not explicitly referenced the 
debarment and suspension procedures contained in FAR Subpart 9.4. To 
make clear that FAR Subpart 9.4 applies, GAO is amending its 
Procurement Order to formally and explicitly adopt FAR Subpart 9.4.
    Except as provided in FAR Subpart 9.4, GAO will not solicit offers 
from, award contracts to, or consent to subcontracts with, contractors 
who are listed on the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS), which is 
maintained by the General Services Administration. Further, if GAO 
debars, proposes for debarment, or suspends a contractor, GAO will, 
consistent with FAR Subpart 9.4, list that contractor in the EPLS. 
Given that GAO is a legislative branch agency, the listing of a 
contractor in the EPLS by GAO will have mandatory effect only as to 
GAO. Consistent with FAR 9.405-1, GAO may continue an existing contract 
with a contractor despite the fact that the contractor has subsequently 
been debarred, proposed for debarment, or suspended.
    Consistent with the definitions of ``debarring official'' and 
``suspending official'' contained at FAR 9.403, the Comptroller 
General, as the head of GAO, will serve as the debarring official and 
suspending official (hereinafter, debarment/suspension official). The 
Comptroller General may designate another GAO official to serve as the 
debarment/suspension official. The Comptroller General will also be 
responsible for deciding whether to solicit offers from, award 
contracts to, or consent to subcontracts with contractors who have been 
debarred, suspended, or proposed for debarment, and whether to 
terminate a current contract or subcontract in existence at the time 
the contractor was debarred, suspended, or proposed for debarment.
    GAO's Acquisition Management office (AM), which is responsible for 
the majority of GAO's contracting activities, will be designated as the 
GAO unit with primary responsibility for investigating and referring 
potential debarment and suspension actions to the debarment/suspension 
official for his or her consideration. GAO's procurement activities are 
largely centralized in AM, which is staffed by contracting officers and 
other acquisition professionals. As such, AM staff has the required 
technical knowledge to handle debarment and suspension referrals and is 
in the best position to learn of matters that may warrant debarment 
and/or suspension. Moreover, AM is the first point of contact for 
Contracting Officer's Representatives, who have direct knowledge of any 
problems with contractor performance. Thus, individuals--including GAO 
employees and members of the public--who believe that there may be 
grounds to debar or suspend a contractor should contact AM and provide 
them with all relevant information. Whenever AM learns of information 
that indicates there may be grounds for debarring or suspending a 
contractor, AM will gather appropriate information and refer the matter 
to the debarment/suspension official. All such referrals will include a 
recommendation by the Director of AM as to a proposed course of action. 
Likewise, AM will have responsibility for recommending to the 
Comptroller General whether or not to continue current contracts with, 
solicit offers from, award contracts to, or consent to subcontracts 
with a contractor who is debarred, suspended, or proposed for 
debarment.
    Given its central role in GAO's procurement process, AM, in 
consultation with GAO's Office of General Counsel, will also be 
responsible for establishing written procedures that address the key 
aspects of GAO's debarment/suspension program.
    Accordingly, the Government Accountability Office proposes to adopt 
the following policy and incorporate it into GAO's Procurement Order:
    GAO will follow the policies and procedures contained at FAR 
Subpart 9.4--Debarment, Suspension, and Ineligibility. GAO will not 
solicit offers from, award contracts to, or consent to subcontracts 
with contractors who are listed on the Excluded Parties List System 
(EPLS), except as otherwise provided for in FAR Subpart 9.4. GAO will 
report to the EPLS any contractor GAO debars, suspends, or proposes for 
debarment. Such action will have mandatory application only to GAO. 
Notwithstanding the debarment, suspension, or proposed debarment of a 
contractor, GAO may continue contracts or subcontracts in existence at 
the time the contractor was debarred, suspended, or proposed for 
debarment, unless the Comptroller General (CG) directs otherwise.
    The CG or a designee will serve as the debarring official and 
suspending official (debarment/suspension official). The CG will also 
decide whether to solicit offers from, award contracts to, or consent 
to subcontracts with contractors who have been debarred, suspended, or 
proposed for debarment and whether to terminate a current contract or 
subcontract in existence at the time the contractor was debarred, 
suspended, or proposed for debarment.
    Acquisition Management (AM) will have primary responsibility for 
investigating and referring potential debarment/suspension actions to 
the debarment/suspension official for consideration. As such, any 
person who believes that there may be grounds to debar or suspend a 
person or entity from contracting with GAO should contact AM and 
provide them with all relevant information.
    AM will also have responsibility for recommending to the CG whether 
or not to continue current contracts with, solicit offers from, award 
contracts to, or consent to subcontracts with a contractor who is 
debarred, suspended, or proposed for debarment. In consultation with 
the Office of General Counsel, AM will establish and maintain written 
procedures for:
    (1) The prompt reporting, investigation, and referral to the 
debarment/suspension official of matters appropriate for that 
official's consideration. All debarment/suspension referrals shall 
include a recommendation by the Director of AM as to a proposed course 
of action;
    (2) The debarment decisionmaking process, which shall afford the 
contractor (and any specifically named affiliates) an opportunity to 
submit, in person, in writing, or through a representative, information 
and argument in opposition to the proposed debarment;
    (3) The suspension decisionmaking process, which shall afford the 
contractor (and any specifically named affiliates) an opportunity, 
following the imposition of suspension, to submit, in person, in 
writing, or through a representative, information and argument in 
opposition to the suspension;
    (4) Recommending to the CG whether or not to solicit offers from, 
award contracts to, or consent to subcontracts

[[Page 60840]]

with a contractor who is debarred, suspended, or proposed for 
debarment; and
    (5) Recommending to the CG whether or not to continue current 
contracts with a contractor or subcontractor who is debarred, 
suspended, or proposed for debarment.
    OGC will review for legal sufficiency:
    (1) Referrals by AM to the debarment/suspension official;
    (2) Recommendations by AM to the CG that GAO solicit offers from, 
award contracts to, or consent to subcontracts with a contractor who is 
listed in the EPLS debarred, suspended, or proposed for debarment;
    (3) Recommendations by AM to the CG to terminate a current contract 
because a contractor or subcontractor was subsequently debarred, 
suspended, or proposed for debarment; and
    (4) Notices of proposed debarment, notices of suspension, or any 
other communication to a contractor regarding that contractor's 
potential or actual suspension or debarment.

Lynn H. Gibson,
General Counsel, U.S. Government Accountability Office.
[FR Doc. 2011-25228 Filed 9-29-11; 8:45 am]
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