Past Performance

Past performance refers to a contractor's track record on previous contracts, used by evaluators to predict future performance. It is one of the most important evaluation factors in federal procurement and is often weighted as heavily as technical approach.

Evaluators assess past performance based on factors such as quality of work, timeliness, cost control, customer satisfaction, and management effectiveness. Information is gathered from past performance databases like the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) and from references provided in the proposal.

A strong past performance narrative goes beyond listing previous contracts. It tells the story of challenges faced and overcome, results achieved, and lessons learned. For companies without extensive federal experience, relevant commercial work and subcontracting experience can be used to demonstrate capability.