Past Performance is the evaluation of your company's track record on previous federal contracts. Contracting Officers use past performance to assess your company's capability, reliability, quality, schedule adherence, and overall suitability for future federal awards. Past performance evaluations are documented in CPARS and are visible to all federal agencies during source selection. Agencies often weight past performance heavily in their evaluation criteria—sometimes 30-50% of the evaluation score depends on your past performance record. For tech companies, a strong past performance history significantly improves competitiveness.
Opening Definition
Past Performance is the government's evaluation of your contractor's prior federal contract performance. Documented in CPARS and visible to all agencies, past performance significantly impacts future contract competitiveness and award decisions.
Why It Matters for Tech Companies
Your past performance record is your competitive advantage or disadvantage. Agencies use past performance to de-risk their procurement decisions. Companies with strong past performance records win contracts more easily; companies with poor records struggle. Building a strong past performance record is arguably as important as having technical capability. For tech companies, past performance evaluation begins on your first federal contract. Perform excellently on early contracts, build strong COR relationships, deliver on schedule and budget, and your past performance record becomes your strongest asset in future competitions.
How It Works in Practice
CPARS Evaluation and Documentation: At contract end, the Contracting Officer completes CPARS evaluation rating your performance on five dimensions: Cost Control, Schedule, Quality, Business Relations, and Contract Compliance. Past Performance in Source Selection: When you bid future contracts, agencies review your CPARS ratings and past performance narratives. A strong CPARS record improves evaluation scores. Negative Impact: Poor CPARS ratings or negative narratives can be evaluation "killers." Example: You bid a $5M IT services contract. RFP evaluation criteria weight past performance at 40 points out of 100. Agencies review your CPARS record: two prior contracts with 3.8/4.0 ratings (excellent). Your past performance score: 38/40 points. A competitor with 2.5/4.0 scores only 15/40. Your past performance advantage wins the contract.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Poor performance on early contracts: Your first federal contract is the foundation. Invest in doing it excellently.
- Not managing COR relationships: COR writes your CPARS evaluation. Invest in strong relationships.
- Ignoring poor CPARS ratings: Submit rebuttal. Don't accept poor ratings passively.
- Not building on successes: Use strong past performance records in future proposals. Highlight them.
- Assuming past performance doesn't matter for first contract: It does. Protect future competitiveness.
Key Facts and Numbers
- Past performance often weighted 30-50% in RFP evaluations
- Documented in CPARS (visible 3 years)
- 5 evaluation dimensions: Cost, Schedule, Quality, Business Relations, Compliance
- CPARS rating scale: 1-4 with half-point increments
- Agencies can request specific past performance examples in RFPs
- Poor past performance can disqualify companies from competitions
Related Terms
CPARS • Contracting Officer • COR
Related Guides
Building Strong Federal Past Performance • Past Performance Strategy Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
How important is past performance in federal contract awards?
Critical. Agencies often weight past performance 30-50% in evaluation. A strong record can win close competitions. Poor record can result in exclusion.
Can I win federal contracts without past performance?
Yes. Your first federal contract has no past performance record. Agencies evaluate first-time contractors on capability and proposal quality.
How long does my past performance record last?
CPARS ratings visible for 3 years from contract end. After 3 years, ratings fall off.
Can I include past performance from non-federal work?
RFPs typically request federal past performance. Commercial work can supplement but doesn't replace federal CPARS history.