Past Performance (Past Performance)
Your documented record of completing similar prior contracts — a key evaluation factor in federal best-value source selection.
Definition
Past performance is one of the standard evaluation factors in federal RFPs above the SAT. Agencies assess past performance through CPARS ratings on prior contracts, past-performance questionnaires submitted with the proposal, contracting officer interviews, and public records (court cases, SAM.gov exclusions list). The evaluation considers relevance, recency, and quality.
When it applies
For new contractors with no past performance, the path is: (1) start with simplified-acquisition contracts where past performance is pass/fail, (2) subcontract to established primes and ask for past-performance reference letters, (3) use commercial-sector references if similar in scope, and (4) leverage SBA Mentor-Protege relationships to access the mentor's past performance through joint ventures.