[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 13, Volume 1] [Revised as of January 1, 2007] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 13CFR145.110] [Page 556-557] TITLE 13--BUSINESS CREDIT AND ASSISTANCE CHAPTER I--SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION PART 145_GOVERNMENTWIDE DEBARMENT AND SUSPENSION (NONPROCUREMENT)--Table of Subpart A_General Sec. 145.110 What is the purpose of the nonprocurement debarment and suspension system? (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 [[Page 557]] or commodity for the purposes of punishment.