(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.