After Proposal Submission, What Notifications and Debriefing Rights Apply?

What happens after proposal submission?

According to FAR Subpart 15.5, the post-submission process depends on whether the procurement uses competitive proposals or a covered combination of competitive procedures. In those cases, the contracting officer must promptly notify offerors when their proposals are excluded from the competitive range or otherwise removed from the competition, and the notice must state the basis for that decision and that proposal revisions will not be considered. For certain small-business programs, the contracting officer must also provide written preaward notice before award, after negotiations and responsibility determinations are complete, unless the urgency of the requirement requires award without delay or the contract is entered under the 8(a) program. After award, unsuccessful offerors in the competitive range must receive written notification within 3 days. That postaward notice includes basic award and competition information, but it cannot reveal protected cost or trade-secret information. If an offeror wants a postaward debriefing, it must submit a written request within 3 days after receiving award notice, and the debriefing should normally occur within 5 days of the request. The debriefing may explain the basis for the selection decision and award, but it cannot include point-by-point comparisons or prohibited information.