Past performance

Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System

CPARS is the government-wide web application used by federal agencies to document and share narrative and scored evaluations of contractor performance on individual contracts and orders. It captures ratings for quality, schedule, cost control, management, and small business utilization, among other factors, and requires contracting officials to prepare evaluations at least annually and at completion above certain dollar thresholds. These evaluations feed into source-selection past performance information systems and are a critical discriminator in best-value competitions, influencing future award decisions. Contractors can review and comment on evaluations, creating a formal record and dialogue. Strong CPARS histories are therefore central to building a competitive track record and are carefully managed by sophisticated GovCon firms.

Past Performance Information Retrieval System

The Past Performance Information Retrieval System is a government database that collects and shares contractor past performance evaluations across federal agencies. PPIRS aggregates data from CPARS and other performance reporting systems to provide source selection officials with comprehensive performance histories. PPIRS reports influence award decisions in negotiated procurements where past performance is an evaluation factor. Contractors should monitor their PPIRS records for accuracy and respond to negative evaluations through official comment periods. Strong past performance documented in PPIRS provides competitive advantage in best-value source selections.

Past Performance Library

A Past Performance Library is a contractor's organized collection of past performance documentation including contracts, CPARS evaluations, references, and project summaries. A well-maintained PPL enables efficient proposal preparation and accurate representation of corporate experience.