121 
in 3 days after the date on which the excluded offeror receives notice of its 
exclusion, a debriefing prior to award. 
(b) WHEN DEBRIEFING TO BE CONDUCTED.—The contracting officer 
shall make every effort to debrief the unsuccessful offeror as soon as prac-
ticable but may refuse the request for a debriefing if it is not in the best 
interests of the Federal Government to conduct a debriefing at that time. 
(c) PRECONDITION FOR POST-AWARD DEBRIEFING.—The contracting of-
ficer is required to debrief an excluded offeror in accordance with section 
3704 of this title only if that offeror requested and was refused a pre-award 
debriefing under subsections (a) and (b). 
(d) INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED.—The debriefing conducted under 
this section shall include— 
(1) the executive agency’s evaluation of the significant elements in 
the offeror’s offer; 
(2) a summary of the rationale for the offeror’s exclusion; and 
(3) reasonable responses to relevant questions posed by the debriefed 
offeror as to whether source selection procedures set forth in the solici-
tation, applicable regulations, and other applicable authorities were fol-
lowed by the executive agency. 
(e) INFORMATION NOT TO BE DISCLOSED.—The debriefing conducted 
pursuant to this section may not disclose the number or identity of other 
offerors and shall not disclose information about the content, ranking, or 
evaluation of other offerors’ proposals. 
(f) SUMMARY TO BE INCLUDED IN FILE.—The contracting officer shall 
include a summary of the debriefing in the contract file. 
§ 3706. Encouragement of alternative dispute resolution 
The Federal Acquisition Regulation shall include a provision encouraging 
the use of alternative dispute resolution techniques to provide informal, ex-
peditious, and inexpensive procedures for an offeror to consider using before 
filing a protest, prior to the award of a contract, of the exclusion of the 
offeror from the competitive range (or otherwise from further consideration) 
for that contract. 
§ 3707. Antitrust violations 
If the agency head considers that a bid or proposal evidences a violation 
of the antitrust laws, the agency head shall refer the bid or proposal to the 
Attorney General for appropriate action. 
§ 3708. Protests 
(a) PROTEST FILE.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT AND ACCESS.—If, in the case of a solicitation 
for a contract issued by, or an award or proposed award of a contract 
by, the head of an executive agency, a protest is filed pursuant to the
122 
procedures in subchapter V of chapter 35 of title 31, and an actual 
or prospective offeror requests, a file of the protest shall be established 
by the procuring activity and reasonable access shall be provided to ac-
tual or prospective offerors. 
(2) REDACTED INFORMATION.—Information exempt from disclosure 
under section 552 of title 5 may be redacted in a file established pursu-
ant to paragraph (1) unless an applicable protective order provides oth-
erwise. 
(b) AGENCY ACTIONS ON PROTESTS.—If, in connection with a protest, 
the head of an executive agency determines that a solicitation, proposed 
award, or award does not comply with the requirements of law or regula-
tion, the head of the executive agency may— 
(1) take any action set out in subparagraphs (A) to (F) of subsection 
(b)(1) of section 3554 of title 31; and 
(2) pay costs described in paragraph (1) of section 3554(c) of title 
31 within the limits referred to in paragraph (2) of section 3554(c). 
CHAPTER 39—SPECIFIC TYPES OF CONTRACTS 
Sec. 
3901.
Contracts awarded using procedures other than sealed-bid procedures. 
3902.
Severable services contracts for periods crossing fiscal years. 
3903.
Multiyear contracts. 
3904.
Contract authority for severable services contracts and multiyear contracts. 
3905.
Cost contracts. 
3906.
Cost-reimbursement contracts. 
§ 3901. Contracts awarded using procedures other than 
sealed-bid procedures 
(a) AUTHORIZED TYPES.—Except as provided in section 3905 of this 
title, contracts awarded after using procedures other than sealed-bid proce-
dures may be of any type which in the opinion of the agency head will pro-
mote the best interests of the Federal Government. 
(b) REQUIRED WARRANTY.— 
(1) CONTENT.—Every contract awarded after using procedures other 
than sealed-bid procedures shall contain a suitable warranty, as deter-
mined by the agency head, by the contractor that no person or selling 
agency has been employed or retained to solicit or secure the contract 
on an agreement or understanding for a commission, percentage, bro-
kerage, or contingent fee, except for bona fide employees or bona fide 
established commercial or selling agencies the contractor maintains to 
secure business. 
(2) REMEDY FOR BREACH OR VIOLATION.—For the breach or viola-
tion of the warranty, the Federal Government may annul the contract 
without liability or deduct from the contract price or consideration the 
full amount of the commission, percentage, brokerage, or contingent 
fee.