Product context is educational relevance, not a feature-status or compliance claim.

Federal Exclusions

Screening

Compliance Manager

Admin

What is the SAM.gov exclusions list (formerly EPLS)?

SAM.gov records federal procurement and nonprocurement exclusions, including the legacy GSA Excluded Parties List System (EPLS). The effect of a hit depends on the exclusion authority, record, and contemplated federal transaction.

Last Reviewed: 2026-09-19Plain-English reference · not legal advice

Plain-English Summary

SAM.gov contains exclusion records entered by federal agencies and other authorities. FAR Subpart 9.4 governs procurement debarment and suspension effects, while other statutory, regulatory, or nonprocurement authorities can create different exclusion effects. A SAM hit is therefore not an OFAC sanctions hit and should be interpreted from the exclusion record and the rule that created it.

Why This Matters

An active procurement exclusion can prevent federal agencies from awarding contracts or consenting to certain subcontracts, subject to the FAR’s exceptions and the particular record. Nonprocurement exclusions can affect federal assistance or other covered transactions under their own rules. The reviewer needs to know which authority and effect apply before deciding relevance.

Visual Guide

How a SAM exclusion reaches a disposition

1Debarment / suspension
Agency excludes a party
2Listed in SAM.gov
Formerly EPLS
3Screening hit
Appears alongside other lists
4Federal-award nexus?
Do we contract with them?
5Read exclusion effect
Apply the source authority and transaction nexus

A federal exclusion record whose effect depends on the authority and covered transaction.

Explanation Depth

Concept Explanation

SAM.gov lists people and organizations that federal agencies have excluded for different reasons. The record tells you who took the action, why, how long it lasts, and what it affects. It is different from a sanctions list, so you read the exclusion record before deciding what it means for your transaction.

When You'll See This in SecurePoint

SecurePoint can surface a SAM exclusion result and record the reviewer’s nexus analysis and disposition. The product does not itself determine federal award eligibility, and an internal code such as 'exclusion not relevant' is not a government eligibility determination.

What You Should Do Next

Open the SAM exclusion record, confirm the party, identify the agency or authority, read the effect and termination date, and determine whether the contemplated federal procurement, subcontract, assistance, or other covered transaction falls within that effect. Route material federal-award questions to the responsible contracts or compliance function.

What Can Go Wrong

Calling every SAM hit a sanctions block is wrong, but so is assuming a SAM exclusion never matters outside a direct prime-contract award. The effect can extend to subcontracts or nonprocurement transactions depending on the authority. An internal 'not relevant' disposition should reflect an actual nexus analysis, not a default assumption.

Sources & References

Related Terms

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Legal Disclaimer

This glossary entry is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. SecurePoint USA is not a law firm, does not provide legal representation, and this system is not a replacement for qualified sanctions or export control counsel. While we strive to present accurate, up-to-date summaries of regulatory terms, regulations are complex and subject to change. Always consult with your institution's legal team or a certified compliance professional before making legal or operational determinations.