Debrief
Also called: debriefing, post-award debrief, pre-award debrief, written debrief, FAR 15.506 debrief
A debrief is the explanation an agency gives an offeror, after award or after exclusion from the competitive range, of how its proposal was evaluated, its significant weaknesses and deficiencies, and the basis for the award decision.
Pre-award debriefs are FAR 15.505 and post-award debriefs are FAR 15.506; both must be requested in writing within three days of the notice. FAR 15.506(d) lists what you are entitled to hear: the evaluation of significant weaknesses or deficiencies, your overall ranking and ratings, the awardee's total evaluated price and technical ratings, a summary of the rationale, and answers to relevant questions. Task orders above the threshold in FAR 16.505(b)(6) get debriefs too; DoD adds the enhanced debriefing in DFARS 215.506-70. Sealed bids get no debrief because the bid opening is public.
What to check: the request deadline, whether the debrief is written or oral, the questions you will ask (bring them in writing), and the protest clock, which for a required debrief runs from the debrief date under 4 CFR 21.2.
What it is not: a negotiation or a chance to argue. You listen, you take notes, and you decide later what the information is worth.
See also: Bid protest, Section M, Best value tradeoff, Award notice
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