Past Performance

Typical Content

• Past performance questionnaire responses or references
• Contract reference information (agency, contract number, value, period)
• Description of work performed and relevance to current requirement
• Performance metrics and outcomes achieved
• CPARS ratings summary (if available and favorable)
• Awards, commendations, and recognition received
• Problems encountered and corrective actions taken
• Subcontractor past performance for significant team members

Common Mistakes

• Selecting references that are not relevant to the current solicitation
• Not contacting references in advance to confirm willingness and accuracy
• Providing too few references or references that are too old (beyond recency limits)
• Failing to explain the relevance of each reference to the evaluation criteria
• Not addressing negative past performance proactively with context and corrective actions
• Omitting subcontractor past performance when teaming arrangements are proposed

Best Practices

• Select references that are most similar in scope, size, complexity, and contract type
• Contact each reference before submission to confirm accuracy and willingness to respond
• Clearly articulate the relevance of each contract to the current requirement
• Quantify performance outcomes with specific metrics (on-time delivery %, cost savings, etc.)
• Address any negative CPARS ratings directly with explanation and corrective actions taken
• Include recent contracts (within 3-5 years) that demonstrate current capabilities

Evaluation Weight

Typically weighted 20-30% and is often the second most important factor after technical approach. Evaluated on a confidence scale: Substantial Confidence, Satisfactory Confidence, Limited Confidence, No Confidence, or Neutral (no record). Past performance is treated as a predictor of future performance per FAR 15.305(a)(2).

Other Proposal Sections