Federal contracting · answer
What is the difference between suspension and debarment?
Suspension is a temporary exclusion pending an investigation or legal proceeding, usually up to 12 months. Debarment is an exclusion for a fixed term, generally up to three years. Both bar new federal awards under FAR Subpart 9.4.
The facts
Both suspension and debarment are exclusions — official actions that make a party ineligible for new federal awards — and both appear on the SAM.gov exclusions list. They differ in their trigger and their duration.
A suspension is immediate and temporary. It is imposed on adequate evidence of a serious cause, pending the completion of an investigation or legal proceeding, and is generally limited to 12 months (extendable to 18 if legal proceedings have begun) under FAR 9.407. It is a hold, not a final judgment.
A debarment is a final action for a set period. It follows the procedures of FAR 9.406 and is generally limited to three years, though some statutory debarments run longer. While either a suspension or a debarment is in effect, agencies are directed not to award new contracts to the party — the same rule, recorded on the same SAM.gov list, that the Leakage Report tests against the federal award record.
Source: SAM.gov exclusions list (U.S. General Services Administration), the federal system of record. Confirm current status at SAM.gov →
Statutory basis
The regulatory framework for excluding parties from federal contracting; debarment procedures sit at 9.406 and suspension procedures at 9.407.
Suspension is generally limited to 12 months (18 if legal proceedings are initiated); debarment is generally for a period commensurate with the seriousness of the cause, usually not more than three years.
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Related questions
How long does a suspension last?
A suspension is temporary and generally limited to 12 months, extendable to 18 months if legal proceedings have been initiated within that period, per FAR 9.407. It is a hold pending investigation, not a final term.
How long does a debarment last?
A debarment is for a fixed period commensurate with the seriousness of the cause — generally up to three years under FAR 9.406, though certain statutory debarments run longer.