PGI 209.105-1  Obtaining Information.

GSA's Excluded Parties List System (EPLS), which is available at https://www.acquisition.gov, identifies entities excluded throughout the U.S. Government (unless otherwise noted) from receiving Federal contracts or certain subcontracts and from certain types of Federal financial and non-financial assistance and benefits.

(1)  Multiple agencies have the authority to suspend or debar entities from "doing business" with the Government. Presently, there are approximately 71 separate cause and treatment codes under which entities can be suspended or debarred or excluded.

(2)  The cause and treatment codes advise readers of the nature of the exclusion, debarment, or suspension and how those listed on the EPLS should be treated. However, the fact that an entity is listed on the EPLS does not necessarily mean the entity is ineligible for contract award. Review of the cause and treatment code is crucial in ensuring that listed entities are not deprived of their "liberty interest" in conducting business with the Government.

(3)  When the Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance debars individuals under 10 U.S.C. 2408, they are placed on the EPLS under cause and treatment code FF (Reciprocal). The individuals currently listed under this treatment code can be found on the EPLS website (https://www.acquisition.gov - Click on the "Cause and Treatment Code" under the "Reports Menu" heading at the top of the right side of the web page; then select "Reciprocal" in the "Exclusion Type" search window and click "OK"; finally, select CT code "FF" in the drop-down list and select MS Excel format, then "OK", to view the information).

(4)  A "Public User's Manual" is available on the EPLS website to assist users in navigating the system. Definitions of Procurement, Nonprocurement, and Reciprocal exclusions can be found in Chapter 4 of the manual.