Past performance
Also called: past performance references, PPQ, past performance questionnaire, relevant experience
Past performance is the record of how well a firm performed on recent, relevant contracts, used as an evaluation factor in most negotiated federal buys and as a reference check in state and local work.
FAR 15.304(c)(3) makes past performance a required factor in negotiated acquisitions above the simplified acquisition threshold unless the CO documents why not, and FAR 15.305(a)(2) says a firm with no record must be rated neutral, neither favorably nor unfavorably. Evaluators look at CPARS, the references you submit, and past performance questionnaires your customers return. Relevance (size, scope, complexity, how recent) counts as much as quality.
What to check: what Section M says it will consider relevant, how many references Section L allows and how old they may be, whether subcontractor or key personnel experience counts, and whether questionnaires go straight from the customer to the CO. Start asking references early; the questionnaire deadline is usually the proposal deadline.
What it is not: a list of logos. A past performance write-up describes the work, the result and the customer contact who will confirm it. Commercial work counts if it is relevant.
See also: Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS), Section M, Technical volume, Capability statement
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