Suspension differs from debarment in that -
| A suspending official . . . | A debarring official . . . |
|---|---|
| (a) Imposes suspension as a temporary status of ineligibility for procurement and nonprocurement transactions, pending completion of an investigation or legal proceedings | Imposes debarment for a specified period as a final determination that a person is not presently responsible. |
| (b) Must - (1) Have adequate evidence that there may be a cause for debarment of a person; and (2) Conclude that immediate action is necessary to protect the Federal interest |
Must conclude, based on a preponderance of the evidence, that the person has engaged in conduct that warrants debarment. |
| (c) Usually imposes the suspension first, and then promptly notifies the suspended person, giving the person an opportunity to contest the suspension and have it lifted | Imposes debarment after giving the respondent notice of the action and an opportunity to contest the proposed debarment. |