5 CFR § 919.605 - How does suspension differ from debarment?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t5/s919.605"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "5 CFR § 919.605 - How does suspension differ from debarment?"
title_number: 5
title_name: "Administrative Personnel"
section_number: "919.605"
section_name: "How does suspension differ from debarment?"
chapter_name: "OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS"
part_number: "919"
part_name: "GOVERNMENTWIDE DEBARMENT AND SUSPENSION (NONPROCUREMENT)"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "Sec. 2455, Pub. L. 103-355, 108 Stat. 3327; E.O. 12549, 3 CFR, 1986 Comp., p.189; E.O. 12689, 3 CFR, 1989 Comp., p.235."
regulatory_source: "68 FR 66544, 66561, Nov. 26, 2003, unless otherwise noted. Redesignated at 68 FR 74161, Dec. 23, 2003."
cfr_part: "919"
---


# 919.605 How does suspension differ from debarment?

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  that there may be a cause for debarment of a person; and(2) Conclude that  is necessary to protect the Federal interest | Must conclude, based on a  that the person has engaged in conduct that warrants debarment. |
| (c) Usually imposes the suspension  and then promptly notifies the suspended person, giving the person an opportunity to contest the suspension and have it lifted | Imposes debarment  giving the respondent notice of the action and an opportunity to contest the proposed debarment. |