42.1501 General
Source: FAR 42.1501 on acquisition.gov
Past performance information, officially recorded in CPARS, is essential for source selection and must be accurately reported and monitored by agencies and contractors.
Overview
FAR 42.1501 outlines the general principles and requirements for collecting and using past performance information in federal contracting. This information, including ratings and narratives, is critical for future source selection decisions and reflects a contractor’s performance on previous contracts or orders. Key performance areas include compliance with requirements, cost control, schedule adherence, cooperation, small business subcontracting, required reporting, integrity, and customer focus. Agencies are required to monitor their compliance with these evaluation requirements and utilize the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) as the official repository and metric tool for past performance data. CPARS is used to ensure quality and timely reporting of contractor performance, which directly impacts future contract opportunities for contractors.
Key Rules
- Past Performance Information
- Must be collected and used for future source selection, covering workmanship, cost control, schedule, cooperation, small business subcontracting, reporting, ethics, and customer concern.
- Agency Monitoring and Reporting
- Agencies must monitor compliance with evaluation requirements and use CPARS to measure and report on contractor performance.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: Ensure accurate and timely collection, evaluation, and reporting of contractor past performance in CPARS.
- Contractors: Perform to contract requirements, maintain good business practices, comply with small business subcontracting plans, and ensure accurate reporting.
- Agencies: Oversee compliance with past performance evaluation requirements and use CPARS for official reporting and metrics.
Practical Implications
- Past performance ratings directly affect a contractor’s ability to win future contracts.
- Accurate and timely reporting in CPARS is essential for both agencies and contractors.
- Failure to comply with reporting or performance requirements can negatively impact a contractor’s reputation and eligibility for future awards.
(a) Past performance information (including the ratings and supporting narratives) is relevant information, for future source selection purposes, regarding a contractor’s actions under previously awarded contracts or orders. It includes, for example, the contractor’s record of-
(1) Conforming to requirements and to standards of good workmanship;
(2) Forecasting and controlling costs;
(3) Adherence to schedules, including the administrative aspects of performance;
(4) Reasonable and cooperative behavior and commitment to customer satisfaction;
(5) Complying with the requirements of the small business subcontracting plan (see 19.705-7(b)), including favorable consideration of a mentor with an SBA-approved mentor-protégé agreement (see https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/section-125.9" target="_blank">13 CFR 125.9) that subcontracts to its protégé, and that protégé is a covered territory business or that protégé's principal office is located in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (see https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/15/657r" target="_blank">15 U.S.C. 657r(a));
(6) Reporting into databases (see subpart 4.14, and reporting requirements in the solicitation provisions and clauses referenced in 9.104-7);
(7) Integrity and business ethics; and
(8) Business-like concern for the interest of the customer.
(b) Agencies shall monitor their compliance with the past performance evaluation requirements (see 42.1502), and use the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) metric tools to measure the quality and timely reporting of past performance information. CPARS is the official source for past performance information.