FAR 15.506—Postaward debriefing of offerors.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 15.506 explains how postaward debriefings work for offerors after a contract award. It covers who is entitled to a debriefing, the 3-day written request deadline after award notice, the preferred timing for the debriefing, what happens when an offeror requested a postaward debriefing instead of a preaward debriefing, and how delayed debriefings or untimely requests affect protest timeliness. It also addresses the acceptable formats for debriefings, who should chair and support them, the minimum information the Government must provide, the limits on what may not be disclosed, and the requirement to place an official summary in the contract file. In practice, this section is important because a debriefing is often the first formal explanation an unsuccessful offeror receives about why it lost and how the award decision was made. It also matters because debriefing timing can affect the window for filing a bid protest, so both offerors and contracting officers must track dates carefully and understand when a debriefing is timely, delayed, or merely accommodated. The rule balances transparency and fairness against the need to protect source selection integrity, proprietary information, and other protected data.
Key Rules
Timely written request required
An offeror must submit a written request within 3 days after receiving notice of award under FAR 15.503(b) to be entitled to a postaward debriefing. If the request is not timely, the Government may still accommodate it, but the offeror is not automatically entitled to the debriefing.
Debriefing should be prompt
The debriefing should normally occur within 5 days after the Government receives the written request, to the maximum extent practicable. This timing also applies to offerors who chose a postaward debriefing in lieu of a preaward debriefing, and to those whose debriefings were delayed for compelling reasons beyond award.
No entitlement after missed deadline
An offeror notified of exclusion from the competition under FAR 15.505(a) that failed to make a timely request is not entitled to a debriefing. Untimely requests may be accommodated, but the agency is not required to grant them.
Debriefing format is flexible
Debriefings may be oral, written, or conducted by another method acceptable to the contracting officer. The contracting officer should normally chair the session, with evaluators available to support the discussion.
Minimum required content
At a minimum, the debriefing must cover the Government’s evaluation of significant weaknesses or deficiencies in the offeror’s proposal, the evaluated cost or price and technical rating of both the successful and debriefed offerors, the debriefed offeror’s past performance information, any overall ranking of offerors, the rationale for award, the make and model for commercial products, and reasonable answers about whether source selection procedures were followed.
Protected information may not be disclosed
The debriefing must not include point-by-point comparisons of proposals or information barred by 24.202 or exempt from FOIA, including trade secrets, confidential manufacturing processes, confidential commercial and financial information such as cost breakdowns and profit, indirect cost rates, and the names of individuals who provided past performance references.
Protest timing may be affected
Government accommodation of an untimely request, or a delayed debriefing under FAR 15.505(a)(2), does not automatically extend protest deadlines. However, a delayed debriefing can affect protest timeliness depending on when the debriefing occurs and what information is provided.
File a debriefing summary
The contracting activity must place an official summary of the debriefing in the contract file. This creates a record of what was discussed and helps support later reviews, protests, or audits.
Responsibilities
Offeror
Submit a written request for a postaward debriefing within 3 days after receiving notice of award if it wants to preserve entitlement. If the request is untimely, understand that the agency may still accommodate it, but protest deadlines may not be extended automatically.
Contracting Officer
Ensure timely handling of debriefing requests, normally chair the debriefing, decide the acceptable format, coordinate participation by evaluators, provide the required minimum information, avoid prohibited disclosures, and place an official summary in the contract file.
Source Selection / Evaluation Personnel
Support the contracting officer during the debriefing by explaining the evaluation results, weaknesses, deficiencies, ratings, rankings, and award rationale as appropriate, while staying within disclosure limits.
Agency
Provide debriefings within the required or practicable timeframe, maintain compliance with protest-timing rules, protect proprietary and exempt information, and preserve an official record of the debriefing in the contract file.
Successful Offeror
No direct duty to conduct the debriefing, but its proposal information, pricing, and past performance data may be referenced only to the extent permitted and protected information must remain confidential.
Practical Implications
Offerors should treat the 3-day request deadline as critical; missing it can forfeit the right to a debriefing and complicate any later protest strategy.
Contracting officers should track award notice dates and request dates carefully, because debriefing timing can affect protest timeliness and create disputes if handled inconsistently.
Debriefings are not a chance for a full comparative critique of competitors; agencies must give meaningful explanations without revealing protected proposal details or point-by-point comparisons.
The minimum content requirements mean a debriefing should be substantive, not perfunctory; vague answers can lead to frustration and protest risk.
A written summary in the contract file is important because it documents what was said, helps defend the agency’s actions, and supports later legal or oversight review.
Official Regulatory Text
(a) (1) An offeror, upon its written request received by the agency within 3 days after the date on which that offeror has received notification of contract award in accordance with 15.503 (b), shall be debriefed and furnished the basis for the selection decision and contract award. (2) To the maximum extent practicable, the debriefing should occur within 5 days after receipt of the written request. Offerors that requested a postaward debriefing in lieu of a preaward debriefing, or whose debriefing was delayed for compelling reasons beyond contract award, also should be debriefed within this time period. (3) An offeror that was notified of exclusion from the competition (see 15.505 (a)), but failed to submit a timely request, is not entitled to a debriefing. (4) (i) Untimely debriefing requests may be accommodated. (ii) Government accommodation of a request for delayed debriefing pursuant to 15.505 (a)(2), or any untimely debriefing request, does not automatically extend the deadlines for filing protests. Debriefings delayed pursuant to 15.505 (a)(2) could affect the timeliness of any protest filed subsequent to the debriefing. (b) Debriefings of successful and unsuccessful offerors may be done orally, in writing, or by any other method acceptable to the contracting officer. (c) The contracting officer should normally chair any debriefing session held. Individuals who conducted the evaluations shall provide support. (d) At a minimum, the debriefing information shall include- (1) The Government’s evaluation of the significant weaknesses or deficiencies in the offeror’s proposal, if applicable; (2) The overall evaluated cost or price (including unit prices) and technical rating, if applicable, of the successful offeror and the debriefed offeror, and past performance information on the debriefed offeror; (3) The overall ranking of all offerors, when any ranking was developed by the agency during the source selection; (4) A summary of the rationale for award; (5) For acquisitions of commercial products, the make and model of the product to be delivered by the successful offeror; and (6) Reasonable responses to relevant questions about whether source selection procedures contained in the solicitation, applicable regulations, and other applicable authorities were followed. (e) The debriefing shall not include point-by-point comparisons of the debriefed offeror’s proposal with those of other offerors. Moreover, the debriefing shall not reveal any information prohibited from disclosure by 24.202 or exempt from release under the Freedom of Information Act ( 5 U.S.C. 552 ) including- (1) Trade secrets; (2) Privileged or confidential manufacturing processes and techniques; (3) Commercial and financial information that is privileged or confidential, including cost breakdowns, profit, indirect cost rates, and similar information; and (4) The names of individuals providing reference information about an offeror’s past performance. (f) An official summary of the debriefing shall be included in the contract file.