Government Contract Debriefings: Complete Guide to Post-Award Feedback
Learn how to request and leverage government contract debriefings. Understand your rights, maximize the information you receive, and use feedback to win future contracts.
Quick Answer: What is a Contract Debriefing?
A debriefing is an opportunity for unsuccessful offerors to receive feedback on their proposal from the government. It explains why you didn't win, how your proposal was evaluated, and can provide valuable insights for improving future bids.
What is a Contract Debriefing?
A debriefing is a formal or informal session where the government provides feedback to an offeror who was not selected for contract award. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) establishes your right to request a debriefing and specifies what information the government must provide.
Debriefings serve multiple purposes: they promote transparency in the procurement process, help contractors understand evaluation decisions, and provide actionable feedback to improve future proposals.
Why Request a Debriefing?
- ✓Learn Your Weaknesses
Understand where your proposal fell short and what to improve
- ✓Validate Your Pricing
Learn if your price was competitive and how it compared
- ✓Identify Protest Grounds
Uncover potential evaluation errors that may warrant a protest
- ✓Build Relationships
Demonstrate professionalism and interest in future opportunities
Types of Debriefings
Pre-Award Debriefing
Available to offerors excluded from the competitive range before award. Explains why your proposal was not competitive enough to continue.
Post-Award Debriefing
Available to all unsuccessful offerors after contract award. Provides comprehensive feedback including comparison to the winning proposal.
Debriefing Formats
Written Debriefing
Detailed written response to your request—most common format
Oral Debriefing
In-person or virtual meeting with the contracting officer
Combined
Written summary followed by oral discussion—often the most informative
Your Debriefing Rights
FAR 15.506 specifies exactly what information the government must provide in a post-award debriefing:
Required Information
- •The government's evaluation of significant weaknesses or deficiencies in your proposal
- •The overall evaluated cost or price and technical rating of your proposal and the awardee's
- •The overall ranking of all offerors, when ranking was developed
- •A summary of the rationale for award
- •Reasonable responses to relevant questions about procedures used in the source selection
What They Won't Tell You
- • Point-by-point comparisons of your proposal against other offerors
- • Trade secrets, confidential business information, or proprietary data
- • Names of evaluators or evaluation board members
- • Information that would compromise the integrity of the procurement process
How to Request a Debriefing
Timeline and Process
Submit Within 3 Days
You must request a debriefing in writing within 3 days of receiving notification of contract award (or exclusion from competitive range).
Government Response
The government must provide the debriefing within 5 days of your request (to the maximum extent practicable).
Prepare Questions
Before the debriefing, review your proposal and prepare specific questions about areas where you want feedback.
Sample Request Language
"Pursuant to FAR 15.506, [Company Name] hereby requests a debriefing regarding the award decision for [Solicitation Number]. We request both a written summary and an opportunity for oral discussion with the contracting officer."
What to Expect in a Debriefing
Typical Content
- • Your ratings for each evaluation factor
- • Specific strengths identified in your proposal
- • Weaknesses and deficiencies
- • How your price compared to the competitive range
- • Why the winner was selected over you
Typical Format
- • Opening statement from contracting officer
- • Review of evaluation criteria and weights
- • Discussion of your proposal's evaluation
- • Comparison summary (without details)
- • Q&A session
Maximizing the Value of Your Debriefing
Best Practices
- ✓Bring the Right Team
Include your proposal manager, technical lead, and pricing specialist—people who can understand and act on feedback
- ✓Take Detailed Notes
Document everything. Request a written summary if one isn't automatically provided.
- ✓Ask Clarifying Questions
Don't accept vague answers. Push for specifics about how to improve.
- ✓Stay Professional
Even if disappointed, maintain composure. You'll work with these people again.
- ✓Create an Action Plan
After the debriefing, document lessons learned and specific improvements for future bids.
Questions to Ask
- • What were the most significant weaknesses in our technical approach?
- • Was our price competitive? How did it compare to the evaluated range?
- • Were there any areas where our proposal was unclear or insufficient?
- • What could we have done differently to improve our rating?
- • How did our past performance evaluation compare to the winner's?
Debriefings and Bid Protests
Debriefings often reveal information that may form the basis of a bid protest. Understanding this connection is important.
Protest Timeline
Important Note
The debriefing may start your protest clock. If you're considering a protest, consult with legal counsel promptly after receiving your debriefing. Don't wait until the last day to decide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I request a debriefing for any procurement?
Debriefings under FAR 15.5 apply to negotiated procurements. For simplified acquisitions or sealed bidding, procedures differ. However, you can always ask—many contracting officers will provide informal feedback even when not required.
What if I miss the 3-day deadline?
You lose your statutory right to a debriefing. However, you can still request one— the government may provide it at their discretion. It's always worth asking.
Can I bring an attorney to the debriefing?
Generally yes, though some contracting officers may be less forthcoming with counsel present. Consider your goals—if you're primarily seeking improvement feedback rather than protest grounds, you may get more open dialogue without legal representation.
Will requesting a debriefing hurt my chances on future bids?
No. Debriefings are a normal part of the procurement process. Professional behavior during a debriefing can actually strengthen relationships with contracting officers.
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