FAR 5.303—Announcement of contract awards.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 5.303 governs when and how agencies publicly announce contract awards. It covers two related topics: the mandatory public release of award information for certain larger awards, and optional local announcements to the press or other media. The rule is designed to promote transparency while controlling the timing of release so the government can make a coordinated public announcement, typically at 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on the day of award. It also identifies specific exclusions from the mandatory reporting requirement, including certain SBA 8(a) awards, awards to foreign firms for performance or delivery outside the United States and its outlying areas, and awards exempt from synopsis under FAR 5.202(a)(1). For local announcements, the section requires agencies to include specific information depending on whether the award followed sealed bidding or negotiation, so the public receives a meaningful and accurate summary of the basis for award. In practice, this section affects contracting officers’ award-day workflow, agency public affairs coordination, and the content of any press release or local media notice.
Key Rules
Mandatory public release
Contracting officers must make award information available for awards over $5.5 million, unless agency acquisition regulations set a different threshold. The information must be provided in time for the agency to announce the award by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on the day of award.
No early disclosure
Agencies may not release award information before the designated public release time of 5 p.m. Washington, DC time. This creates a uniform release point and prevents premature disclosure of award results.
Excluded awards
Certain awards are not subject to the mandatory reporting requirement: awards placed with SBA under Section 8(a), awards to foreign firms when delivery or performance is outside the United States and its outlying areas, and awards for which synopsis was exempted under FAR 5.202(a)(1).
Optional local announcements
Agencies may release award information to local press or other media. This is discretionary, but if the agency chooses to do so, the announcement must follow the content rules in paragraph (b).
Sealed bidding content
For awards over the simplified acquisition threshold made after sealed bidding, local announcements must state that the contract was awarded after competition by sealed bidding, identify the number of offers solicited and received, and explain the basis for selection, such as lowest responsible bidder.
Negotiated award content
For awards over the simplified acquisition threshold made after negotiation, local announcements must include the information required by FAR 15.503(b). For competitive negotiated awards, the announcement must also state that the award resulted from competitive negotiation and describe the basis for selection in general terms.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Provide award information in time for the agency’s public announcement by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on the day of award. Ensure that awards subject to the rule are identified correctly, that excluded awards are not treated as reportable, and that any local announcement information is accurate and complete.
Agency
Coordinate and issue the public announcement at the prescribed time, and ensure no award information is released before 5 p.m. Washington, DC time. If the agency chooses to make local announcements, it must ensure the content complies with the required format and level of detail.
Public Affairs or Media Relations Staff
If involved in local or public announcements, prepare and release the announcement in coordination with the contracting office, using the correct timing and required content for the procurement method used.
Contractor
No direct duty is imposed by this section, but contractors should understand that award information may be publicly released on the day of award and that local announcements may describe the basis for selection and the number of offers received.
Practical Implications
Award-day coordination matters: contracting officers must get information to the right agency personnel early enough to meet the 5 p.m. release deadline.
The release restriction is strict: agencies should not leak award information before the official public announcement time, even if the award has already been made internally.
Local announcements are optional, but if an agency uses them, the content must match the procurement method; using the wrong template or omitting required details is a common mistake.
Not every large award is reportable under this section, so teams must check the exclusions carefully, especially 8(a) awards and foreign awards outside the United States and its outlying areas.
For negotiated awards, the announcement must align with FAR 15.503(b), so contracting staff should coordinate with procurement records to avoid inconsistent or incomplete public statements.
Official Regulatory Text
(a) Public announcement . Contracting officers shall make information available on awards over $5.5 million (unless another dollar amount is specified in agency acquisition regulations) in sufficient time for the agency concerned to announce it by 5 p.m. Washington, DC, time on the day of award. Agencies shall not release information on awards before the public release time of 5 p.m. Washington, DC time. Contracts excluded from this reporting requirement include- (1) Those placed with the Small Business Administration under Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act; (2) Those placed with foreign firms when the place of delivery or performance is outside the United States and its outlying areas; and (3) Those for which synopsis was exempted under 5.202 (a)(1). (b) Local announcement . Agencies may also release information on contract awards to the local press or other media. When local announcements are made for contract awards in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold, they shall include- (1) For awards after sealed bidding, a statement that the contract was awarded after competition by sealed bidding, the number of offers solicited and received, and the basis for selection ( e.g., the lowest responsible bidder); or (2) For awards after negotiation, the information prescribed by 15.503 (b), and after competitive negotiation (either price or design competition), a statement to this effect, and in general terms the basis for selection.