Certification Debarment Form – Fill Out and Use This PDF

Certification Debarment Form PDF Details

The Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility, and Voluntary Exclusion for Lower Tier Covered Transactions protects the integrity of federal spending. It requires every participant in a government-funded contract or subcontract to declare they are not debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded from doing business with federal agencies.

Who Needs to File This Form

Any entity entering a lower-tier covered transaction must submit this certification. Common filers include subcontractors on federal projects, grant sub-recipients, and vendors supplying goods or services under a federal prime contract. Organizations that handle a contractor affidavit or related federal paperwork often need this document as well. Principal officers, directors, and owners with significant control over the organization are also covered by the filing requirement.

Key Requirements of the Certification

The signer must confirm three things. First, neither the entity nor its principals are currently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, or declared ineligible by any federal department or agency. Second, the signer agrees to notify the contracting party immediately if that eligibility status changes after submission. Third, the entity will not knowingly enter into transactions with any excluded party unless authorized by the responsible federal official. These obligations trace back to regulations published in the Federal Register on May 26, 1988.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Filing a false certification can lead to civil penalties, criminal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. 1001, and permanent exclusion from future government transactions. Agencies may also terminate existing contracts and demand repayment of funds already disbursed. Organizations that depend on federal revenue should maintain accurate records, monitor the SAM exclusions database regularly, and submit truthful certifications on every covered transaction. For related compliance paperwork, see the certificate of compliance form available on FormsPal.

How This Certification Fits Into Federal Procurement

Federal acquisition regulations require prime contractors to collect debarment certifications from every lower-tier participant before awarding a subcontract or purchase order above $25,000. The process works as a cascading chain of assurance: the prime contractor certifies to the federal agency, and each subcontractor certifies to the prime. This layered approach keeps excluded parties out at every spending level. Contracting officers may also verify a participant's status directly through SAM.gov before finalizing an award. If your organization is dealing with a suspension form, contact the relevant agency to understand the reinstatement process before attempting to certify.