Researching past performance with permitted records
Distinguish public award information from restricted contractor performance assessments and use only records you are authorized to access.
July 1, 2026 · Winrove Team
Separate award data from assessments
Public award information can help identify an incumbent’s contract history. It does not make the incumbent’s CPARS evaluations public.
Respect access limits
FAR 42.1503 controls past-performance evaluation handling and access. Use only assessments you are authorized to access. Do not treat public award databases as a route to restricted CPARS narratives.
Build a source record
Keep the issuing source, retrieval date, contract identifier, permitted use and limits with each record. Separate an official assessment from a contractor’s own marketing description and from an analyst’s interpretation.
Prepare your own references
Use verified performance evidence and references that your organization may disclose. Match them to the solicitation’s stated evaluation criteria. Do not invent ratings, outcomes or customer experience.