As part of GTSC’s Capacity Building Series, we are pleased to invite you to Capacity Building: DHS Acquisition Leaders Discuss CPARS. Join us to understand the reliance by Federal agencies on Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) past performance ratings and supporting information.  Hear from DHS acquisition officials how CPARS past performance ratings and information will impact the ability of contractors to keep existing and win new, Federal contracts.

Gain Valuable and Unique Insights Why CPARS Really Matter in the Federal Market

Government acquisition officials and industry leaders will share their perspectives on the “as-is” and “to-be” state of CPARS ratings, and what all government contractors need to know to position themselves competitively in the Federal marketplace.  Learn the facts about CPARS ratings and why:

• The Government is increasingly using CPARS performance ratings as the primary means to evaluate past performance
• Large contract competitions are increasingly using self-scoring as a means to evaluate contractors, with CPARS ratings at their core
• Recent policy and process changes to the CPARS rating process make it harder for contractors to receive “Exceptional” CPARS ratings
• Poor CPARS ratings put existing contracts at risk and jeopardize future award potential
• Final CPARS ratings remain on a contractor’s performance record for at least 3 years and are treated by acquisition officials like a Federal business “FICO” score

Panelists

• Thomas Thompson, Unit Chief, Information Technology Division, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• Diane Sahakian, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Acquisitions, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• Bobby McCane, Chief Procurement Officer, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• Katrina Brisbon, Assistant Administrator, Office of Contracting and Procurement, Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

CPARS in 2019
How Did We Get Here and Why it’s Important to Government Contractors

The Federal Government is requiring acquisition officials to provide a more detailed justification for CPARS ratings higher than “satisfactory”.  In many new contract competitions, the difference between Satisfactory and Very Good, or Very Good and Exceptional CPARS ratings can be the difference between winning or losing an important bid.

In an effort to make CPARS ratings more accurate and meaningful, the Federal Government began tracking CPARS compliance rates and stressing the additional justification requirement for Very Good and Exceptional CPARS ratings.  This has resulted in fewer exceptional and very good ratings over the past few years. And those less than optimum evaluations remain in the CPARS system for at least three years.  Obtaining good ratings on CPARS evaluations has become more critical to obtaining future government contracts and understanding CPARS performance evaluations has become increasingly important.

THIS IS A SESSION OPEN TO THE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING COMMUNITY, THOSE SERVING IT, AND GOVERNMENT ONLY – NO PRESS.

More information on government contracting in homeland and national security:

Recommendation Poised to hurt DoD Small-Business Contracts 
Report recommends “revising statutory guidance to clarify that the acquisition of commercial products and services has precedence over small-business set-asides.”