The EPLS exclusion list is a federal database that identifies individuals and organizations that are not allowed to receive federal contracts, grants, or certain types of government funding. EPLS stands for Excluded Parties List System.
The database was originally maintained by the U.S. General Services Administration to track parties that had been restricted from federal transactions due to violations such as fraud, misconduct, or regulatory noncompliance.
Today, the EPLS exclusion list has been incorporated into the System for Award Management. Many organizations now refer to the sam EPLS exclusion list because the information that once lived in EPLS is now maintained within the SAM system.
Why the EPLS exclusion list exists
The purpose of the EPLS exclusion list is to protect federal programs from working with individuals or companies that present a compliance or financial risk.
When a party is suspended or debarred from federal programs, its name is recorded in the federal exclusion list so agencies and organizations can identify the restriction before awarding contracts or funding.
These exclusions may result from fraud, criminal activity, violations of federal regulations, or misconduct related to government contracts. Once an entity appears in the EPLS exclusion database, it is generally restricted from participating in federal transactions for a defined period.
Organizations that receive federal funding are often required to perform EPLS exclusion screening to ensure vendors, contractors, and partners are eligible to participate in federally funded work.
How the EPLS exclusion list is used
The EPLS exclusion list is used during due diligence checks before entering into contracts, issuing payments, or awarding grants tied to federal programs. Screening against the EPLS exclusion database helps organizations identify restricted parties before engaging in a transaction.
Although the database originated in federal procurement, it is also relevant to healthcare organizations that participate in federally funded programs. Hospitals, health systems, and medical vendors may conduct EPLS exclusion screening as part of broader compliance monitoring.
Many compliance programs combine federal exclusion checks with other screening sources such as the OIG List of Excluded Individuals and Entities. This layered screening approach helps organizations identify risks across multiple regulatory databases.
Screening against the EPLS exclusion database helps organizations identify restricted parties before engaging in a transaction.
EPLS exclusion screening and compliance monitoring
Organizations that rely on federal programs often perform routine EPLS exclusion screening to verify that vendors, contractors, and partners remain eligible to participate in federal transactions.
Because enforcement actions and exclusions can change over time, screening must occur regularly rather than as a one-time check. Continuous monitoring helps organizations detect when a previously eligible entity becomes restricted.
Documenting these screening activities is also important. Compliance teams must be able to demonstrate that proper screening procedures were followed and that potential matches were reviewed.
How Streamline Verify supports exclusion screening
Streamline Verify helps organizations manage exclusion screening workflows by supporting consistent monitoring and documentation across multiple compliance sources. The platform helps compliance teams track screening activity, investigate potential matches, and maintain clear records for audits.
By supporting continuous screening, documentation, and oversight, Streamline Verify helps organizations manage federal exclusion checks without adding manual burden.
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