A proposed rule published recently would update the Federal Acquisition Regulation to help agencies consider past performance of contractors in awarding new contracts. The rule would also while shorten the period affected firms are allowed to comment.

As required by the fiscal 2013 National Defense Authorization Act President Obama signed on Jan. 2, the Defense Department, the General Services Administration and NASA drafted a rule to allow data on contractor past performance to be added to two databases, the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System and the Past Performance Information Retrieval System. The rule would also give contractors 14 days to submit comments, rebuttals or additional information in the database, rather than the current 30 days.

“It is important for past performance information to be shared with source selection officials immediately, so that award decisions can be better informed and made in a more timely manner,” the proposed rule states.

“Expediting the time allotted to contractors to respond to performance evaluations should improve communication between the contractor and the government, enable current information to be shared quickly throughout the government, and ultimately ensure the government does business with high performing contractors.”

The effort is currently being coordinated by the White House Office of Federal Procurement Policy.
-Simon Brody, NAGC News