FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 9: Contractor Qualifications › Subpart 9.4
FAR 9.404 Exclusions in the System for Award Management.
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
FAR 9.404 describes the System for Award Management (SAM) exclusion records, including what information they contain and how agencies must manage them. It matters to contractors because agencies must check SAM and generally cannot award contracts to or consent to subcontracts with contractors that have an active exclusion record.
Applies to: Federal agencies and contractors
What it requires
- Identify individuals responsible for entering and updating exclusions data in SAM and assign appropriate roles.
- Remove exclusion roles in SAM when individuals leave or change functions.
- Enter required exclusion information in SAM within 3 working days after the action becomes effective.
- Update exclusion records in SAM generally within 5 working days after modifying or rescinding an action.
Key terms: System for Award Management (SAM) · exclusion record · debarred · suspended · voluntarily excluded
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
(a) The General Services Administration (GSA)—
(1) Operates the web-based System for Award Management (SAM), which contains exclusion records; and
(2) Provides technical assistance to Federal agencies in the use of SAM.
(b) An exclusion record in SAM contains the—
(1) Names and addresses of the entities debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, voluntarily excluded, declared ineligible, or excluded or disqualified under the nonprocurement common rule, with cross-references when more than one name is involved in a single action;
(2) Name of the agency or other authority taking the action;
(3) Cause for the action (see 9.406-2 and 9.407-2 for causes authorized under this subpart) or other statutory or regulatory authority;
(4) Effect of the action;
(5) Termination date for each listing;
(6) Unique Entity Identifier;
(7) Social Security Number (SSN), Employer Identification Number (EIN), or other Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), if available; and
(8) Name and telephone number of the agency point of contact for the action.
(c) Each agency shall—
(1) Identify the individual(s) responsible for entering and updating exclusions data in SAM and assign the appropriate roles;
(2) Remove the exclusion roles in SAM when the individual leaves the organization or changes functions;
(3) For each exclusion, including each voluntary exclusion, accomplished by the agency—
(i) Enter the information required by paragraph (b) of this section within 3 working days after the action becomes effective;
(ii) Determine whether it is legally permitted to enter the SSN, EIN, or other TIN, under agency authority to suspend or debar; and
(iii) Update the exclusion record in SAM, generally within 5 working days after modifying or rescinding an action;
(4) In accordance with internal retention procedures, maintain records relating to each debarment, suspension, proposed debarment, or voluntary exclusion taken or entered into by the agency;
(5) Establish procedures to ensure that the agency does not solicit offers from, award contracts to, or consent to subcontracts with contractors who have an active exclusion record in SAM, except as otherwise provided in this subpart;
(6) Direct inquiries concerning listed contractors and other entities to the agency or other authority that took the action; and
(7) Contact GSA for technical assistance with SAM, via the support email address or on the technical support phone line.
(d) SAM is available via https://www.sam.gov
Sections that refer to it
- 4.2102 Prohibition.
- 9.400 Scope of subpart.
- 9.405-2 Restrictions on subcontracting.
- 9.406-3 Procedures.
- 9.407-3 Procedures.
- 22.1025 Ineligibility of violators.
- 28.203-5 Exclusion of individual sureties.
- 44.303 Extent of review.
- 52.209-6 Protecting the Government's Interest When Subcontracting With Contractors Debarred, Suspended, Proposed for Debarment, or Voluntarily Excluded.
← 9.403 Definitions. · 9.405 Effect of listing. →
Rule changes for FAR Part 9
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 9, 27, and 47 ↗ · proposed 2026-09-18 · comments due 2026-10-19
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Prohibition on Certain Semiconductor Products and Services ↗ · proposed 2026-02-17 · comments due 2026-04-20
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds ↗ · final rule 2025-08-27 · effective 2025-10-01
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition ↗ · proposed 2025-01-15 · comments due 2025-03-17
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Controlled Unclassified Information ↗ · proposed 2025-01-15 · comments due 2025-03-17
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate-Related Financial Risk ↗ · proposed 2025-01-13
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Improving Consistency Between Procurement and Nonprocurement Procedures on Suspension and Debarment ↗ · final rule 2025-01-03 · effective 2025-01-17
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Certification of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses ↗ · final rule 2024-12-16 · effective 2024-12-16
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.