What is the written debriefing request due after notice for Debriefing?

3 days, per FAR 15.506. Measured from the date the offeror received notification of contract award. FAR 15.506(a)(4)(i) says untimely requests MAY be accommodated — the agency has discretion, not an obligation, so do not rely on it. This figure was read from that source on 2026-08-04; thresholds are revised, so check the citation before relying on it in a bid.

After you bid

What is a debriefing on a government contract?

A debriefing is the agency's explanation of how your proposal was evaluated and why it did not win, available on request in negotiated procurements, and the timing of a required debriefing also controls the deadline for a protest that stops performance.

Also written as: post-award debriefing, preaward debriefing, why did I lose.

FAR 15.506 governs post-award debriefings: an offeror who makes a written request within three days after receiving notice of exclusion or award is entitled to one. FAR 15.505 covers the preaward version, for offerors excluded before award. The debriefing must cover the evaluation of your own proposal — significant weaknesses and deficiencies, the overall rating, the rationale for award — and must not disclose a competitor's proprietary information or a point-by-point comparison against other offers.

Two reasons to always request one. The first is straightforward: it is the only authoritative account of why you lost, and the same weaknesses will otherwise reappear in your next three proposals.

The second is procedural and time-critical. A protest filed at GAO within five days after the date of a required debriefing — or within ten days after award, whichever is later — triggers the statutory suspension of performance. Skipping the debriefing does not extend that clock; it removes the later of the two dates you could have used.

What this means when you bid

Request the debriefing in writing within three days of the award notice, every time. It costs nothing and it preserves the protest timing you may not yet know you need.

Debriefing: the published figures

Each figure below was read from the regulation cited beside it on 2026-08-04. Thresholds are adjusted for inflation and changed by statute — follow the citation and confirm the figure in effect on your solicitation's date before you rely on it.

Written debriefing request due after notice: 3 days
GAO protest that suspends performance must be filed within: 10 days after award, or 5 days after a required debriefing, whichever is later

Where this definition comes from

Federal contracting is one of the few fields where the authoritative answer is free, public and one click away. These are the sources this page is built from — go and read them.

FAR 15.506→
Postaward debriefing of offerors.
FAR 15.505→
Preaward debriefing of offerors.
FAR 33.104→
Protests to GAO.

This page explains a term in plain English and cites the authority it comes from. It is not legal advice, and the regulation governs where this page and the regulation differ.

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Debriefing— common questions

What is a debriefing on a government contract?: A debriefing is the agency's explanation of how your proposal was evaluated and why it did not win, available on request in negotiated procurements, and the timing of a required debriefing also controls the deadline for a protest that stops performance.
What is the written debriefing request due after notice for Debriefing?: 3 days, per FAR 15.506. Measured from the date the offeror received notification of contract award. FAR 15.506(a)(4)(i) says untimely requests MAY be accommodated — the agency has discretion, not an obligation, so do not rely on it. This figure was read from that source on 2026-08-04; thresholds are revised, so check the citation before relying on it in a bid.
Why does a debriefing matter when you are bidding?: Request the debriefing in writing within three days of the award notice, every time. It costs nothing and it preserves the protest timing you may not yet know you need.

Related terms

GAO protest
Bid protest
Past performance
CPARS — Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System