(a) Federal agency officials use the EPLS to determine whether to enter into a transaction with a person, as required under §1508.430.

(b) Participants also may, but are not required to, use the EPLS to determine if—

(1) Principals of their transactions are excluded or disqualified, as required under §1508.320; or

(2) Persons with whom they are entering into covered transactions at the next lower tier are excluded or disqualified.

(c) The EPLS is available to the general public.