What is the SAM.gov / GSA Excluded Parties list?

The federal government's list of parties barred from federal contracts and assistance (SAM.gov Exclusions, formerly EPLS) — often "exclusion not relevant" to export/visitor screening.

Last Reviewed: 2026-06-02Plain-English reference · not legal advice

Plain-English Summary

SAM.gov Exclusions — historically the GSA "Excluded Parties List System" (EPLS) — identifies individuals and entities that have been suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded from receiving federal contracts or assistance. It is a federal-procurement integrity list, not an export or sanctions list. A screening hit matters mainly if your organization seeks federal awards; for many export and visitor-management contexts it is dispositioned as "exclusion not relevant" (code 59).

Why This Matters

Because screening tools aggregate many lists, reviewers encounter procurement-debarment hits next to sanctions hits, and the two mean very different things. Knowing that a SAM exclusion is about federal-contract eligibility — not a trade or access prohibition — lets a reviewer disposition it correctly instead of treating it as a sanctions block (over-reaction) or ignoring it when federal awards are actually in scope (under-reaction).

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?
5Else: not relevant
Code 59 with rationale

A federal-contract integrity list — not a trade or access prohibition.

Explanation Depth

Concept Explanation

The U.S. government keeps a list of people and companies that are banned from getting federal contracts or grants — usually because of misconduct. It is on SAM.gov (it used to be called the EPLS). This is about government contracting, not trade sanctions. If your business is not seeking federal contracts with that party, a hit here is normally "exclusion not relevant." If you are, it matters and goes to the contracts team.

When You'll See This in SecurePoint

In SecurePoint, a SAM/GSA exclusion match (code 59) is shown with its source so reviewers can separate it from sanctions/export hits. The disposition and rationale are recorded; matters with a federal-award nexus are escalated to the responsible owner. The platform documents the review; eligibility determinations for federal awards rest with the customer.

What You Should Do Next

Confirm the hit is a SAM.gov / GSA exclusion (federal debarment or suspension), not a sanctions or export designation. Ask whether your organization is pursuing or performing federal contracts or assistance with this party. If not, record it as "exclusion not relevant" (code 59) with that rationale. If federal awards are involved, treat the exclusion as material and escalate to the appropriate contracts/compliance owner.

What Can Go Wrong

Mistaking a procurement debarment for a sanctions designation leads to over-blocking lawful business; ignoring a SAM exclusion when your organization actually contracts with the federal government can jeopardize awards and create liability. As with any disposition, "not relevant" requires a recorded basis tied to the absence of a federal-award nexus.

Sources & References

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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.