(a)
To protect the public interest, the Federal Government ensures the integrity of Federal programs by conducting business only with responsible persons.
(b)
A Federal agency uses the nonprocurement debarment and suspension system to exclude from Federal programs persons who are not presently responsible.
(c)
An exclusion is a serious action that a Federal agency may take only to protect the public interest. A Federal agency may not exclude a person or commodity for the purposes of punishment.
Code of Federal Regulations
(Authority: E.O. 12549 (3 CFR, 1986 Comp., p. 189); E.O 12689 (3 CFR, 1989 Comp., p. 235);
20 U.S.C. 1082, 1094, 1221e-3 and 3474
; and Sec. 2455, Pub. L. 103-355, 108 Stat. 3243 at 3327)