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FAR and DFARS › DFARS Part 215: Contracting by Negotiation › Subpart 215.5

DFARS 215.506 Postaward debriefing of offerors.

The codified text (eCFR, as of 2026-10-02). Under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul ↗, agencies follow class deviations with new text for many parts while the formal rules go through the Federal Register: check the solicitation and your contract's clauses, which rule.

In plain English

This DFARS section requires postaward debriefings for certain DoD contract awards when a successful or unsuccessful offeror asks for one. For awards valued at $15 million or more, a written or oral debriefing is required, and additional minimum debriefing information must be provided depending on the award value. It matters because it sets specific debriefing obligations and disclosure requirements for larger DoD awards.

Applies to: DoD contracting officers and offerors on contract awards valued at $15 million or more

What it requires

  • Provide a written or oral debriefing when requested by a successful or unsuccessful offeror for contract awards valued at $15 million or more
  • Include the minimum debriefing information required by FAR 15.506(d) plus the additional information specified in this section
  • For awards over $15 million and not over $150 million to a small business or nontraditional defense contractor, provide an option to request disclosure of the agency's written source selection decision document, redacted to protect other offerors' confidential and proprietary information
  • For awards over $150 million, disclose the agency's written source selection decision document, redacted to protect other offerors' confidential and proprietary information

Key terms: postaward debriefing · successful or unsuccessful offeror · small business · nontraditional defense contractor · written source selection decision document

Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.

The text

(b) Notwithstanding FAR 15.506(b), when requested by a successful or unsuccessful offeror, a written or oral debriefing is required for contract awards valued at $15 million or more (section 818 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Pub. L. 115-91)).

(c) [Reserved]

(d) In addition to the requirements of FAR 15.506(d), the minimum debriefing information shall include the following:

(i) For award of a contract in excess of $15 million and not in excess of $150 million with a small business or nontraditional defense contractor, an option for the small business or nontraditional defense contractor to request disclosure of the agency's written source selection decision document, redacted to protect the confidential and proprietary information of other offerors for the contract award.

(ii) For award of a contract in excess of $150 million, disclosure of the agency's written source selection decision document, redacted to protect the confidential and proprietary information of other offerors for the contract award.

(e) If the Government exercises the authority provided in 239.7305(d), the debriefing shall not reveal any information that is determined to be withheld from disclosure in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 3252 (see subpart 239.73).

Sections it refers to

  • 15.506 Postaward debriefing of offerors.
  • 239.7305 Exclusion and limitation on disclosure.

Sections that refer to it

← 215.503 Notifications to unsuccessful offerors. · 215.506-70 Opportunity for follow-up questions. →

Rule changes for DFARS Part 215

Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.

DFARS 215.506 Postaward debriefing of offerors · SpendQuery