FAR 5.402—General public.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 5.402 is a short but important cross-reference rule about how contracting officers handle requests from the general public for specific information, including requests from suppliers. It does not create a separate disclosure standard; instead, it tells contracting officers to route and process those requests under the Freedom of Information Act and related public-information procedures in FAR subpart 24.1 or 24.2, as appropriate. In practice, this means public requests for contract-related information must be evaluated under the government’s information-release rules, including any applicable exemptions, rather than handled informally or on a case-by-case personal judgment basis. The section matters because it helps ensure consistent treatment of public requests, protects sensitive procurement information, and reduces the risk of improper disclosure. It also signals that suppliers are part of the general public for this purpose, so they do not get special access simply because they are market participants. For contracting officers, the practical significance is that they must know when to refer, coordinate, or process a request under the correct public-information framework instead of answering directly.
Key Rules
Use FOIA procedures
Requests from the general public for specific information must be processed under the public-information rules in FAR subpart 24.1 or 24.2, as appropriate. The contracting officer should not invent a separate disclosure process for these requests.
Suppliers are included
The term "general public" expressly includes suppliers. A supplier’s request for information is handled under the same public-disclosure framework as any other member of the public, subject to the applicable rules and exemptions.
Choose the right subpart
The contracting officer must determine whether subpart 24.1 or 24.2 applies based on the nature of the request and the information sought. The section requires correct routing and processing, not ad hoc release decisions.
Protect sensitive information
Because requests are processed under public-information rules, the agency must consider whether the requested material is releasable or protected by an exemption. This helps prevent disclosure of information that should not be released.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Process requests for specific information from the general public, including suppliers, under FAR subpart 24.1 or 24.2 as appropriate. The contracting officer must ensure the request is handled through the proper public-information channel and not released outside the governing disclosure rules.
Agency
Support the contracting officer by applying the agency’s public-information procedures and ensuring requests are evaluated consistently under the applicable FAR subpart and related disclosure requirements.
General Public / Suppliers
Submit requests for information through the public-information process and understand that access is governed by the applicable disclosure rules, not by the requester’s status as a supplier or market participant.
Practical Implications
Contracting officers should treat public requests for information as disclosure matters, not routine customer-service questions.
A supplier asking for information does not get special access just because it may have a business interest in the procurement.
The main pitfall is releasing information informally without checking the applicable public-information rules and exemptions.
Another common issue is using the wrong FAR subpart or failing to route the request to the office that handles public disclosures.
In day-to-day practice, this section is a reminder to pause, classify the request correctly, and follow the agency’s FOIA/public-information process before responding.
Official Regulatory Text
Contracting officers shall process requests for specific information from the general public, including suppliers, in accordance with subpart 24.1 or 24.2 , as appropriate.