XL EaglePast Performance Volume
Past Performance Volume. The past performance volume describes your recent, relevant contracts so the government can judge how likely you are to succeed. It usually lists the customer, contract number, dollar value, period, scope and a point of contact for each reference.
Evaluators look at recency (how long ago), relevance (how similar in size and scope) and quality (how well you did). They may also check official records such as CPARS and contact your references directly.
Why it matters to a small contractor
New to federal work? Commercial and state or local jobs often count if they are similar in scope. Some solicitations also let you use the past performance of a subcontractor or key team member. Warn your references that the government may call, and give them a short summary of the work. XL Eagle writes complete proposals for $19.99 at xleagle.com/proposal-writing/.
Example
For an HVAC maintenance RFP, a contractor lists three references: a school district service contract, a hospital chiller contract and a county building maintenance contract, each with dates, value, scope and a reference's phone and email.
Past Performance Volume: common questions
What if I have no past performance?
Under federal rules, an offeror with no relevant record should not be rated favorably or unfavorably on past performance. The solicitation will describe this as a neutral rating.
Do commercial jobs count?
Often yes, if they are relevant. Read Section L and Section M to see what the agency accepts.
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