Definition
A debriefing is a meeting between the contracting officer and an unsuccessful offeror to discuss the evaluation of their proposal and explain why they were not selected for award. FAR 15.506 requires agencies to provide debriefings to unsuccessful offerors upon request for negotiated procurements. Pre-award debriefings are available when proposals are eliminated from the competitive range. Post-award debriefings occur after contract award and must be requested within 3 days of notification. Debriefings cover the offeror's proposal strengths and weaknesses, the awardee's overall evaluated rating (not point-by-point comparison), and rationale for award. Debriefings cannot disclose proprietary information, cost breakdowns of competitors, or other sensitive information.
Also Known As
- Proposal Debriefing
- Award Debriefing
Examples
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✕Missing the 3-day deadline to request post-award debriefing
- ✕Expecting to receive proprietary competitor information
- ✕Not preparing questions in advance to maximize debriefing value
Who Should Know This Term
Proposal managers, capture managers, business development, contracts professionals
Official Source
FAR 15.506