(a) Debarment shall be for a period commensurate with the
seriousness of the cause(s). If a suspension precedes a debarment, the
suspension period shall be considered in determining the debarment
period.
(1) Debarment for causes other than those related to a violation of
the requirements of subpart F of this part generally should not exceed
three years. Where circumstances warrant, a longer period of debarment
may be imposed.
(2) In the case of a debarment for a violation of the requirements
of subpart F of this part (see 98.305(c)(5)), the period of debarment
shall not exceed five years.
(b) The debarring official may extend an existing debarment for an
additional period, if that official determines that an extension is
necessary to protect the public interest. However, a debarment may not
be extended solely on the basis of the facts and circumstances upon
which the initial debarment action was based. If debarment for an
additional period is determined to be necessary, the procedures of
Secs. 98.311 through 98.314 shall be followed to extend the debarment.
(c) The respondent may request the debarring official to reverse the
debarment decision or to reduce the period or scope of debarment. Such a
request shall be in writing and supported by documentation. The
debarring official may grant such a request for reasons including, but
not limited to:
(1) Newly discovered material evidence;
(2) Reversal of the conviction or civil judgment upon which the
debarment was based;
(3) Bona fide change in ownership or management;
(4) Elimination of other causes for which the debarment was imposed;
or
(5) Other reasons the debarring official deems appropriate.
[53 FR 19188, 19189, 19204, May 26, 1988, as amended at 54 FR 4950,
4959, Jan. 31, 1989]
