Federal Contractor Readiness Guide
How to Use CPARS
Access Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) to review past performance evaluations and submit contractor comments on draft reports.
What it is
CPARS is the government-wide system for recording contractor past performance evaluations. Contractors receive notifications to comment on draft evaluations before they are finalized.
Who needs it
Contractors with active federal contracts subject to CPARS reporting who must review ratings or submit rebuttals/comments.
Prerequisites
- CPARS user registration approved for your organization
- Contract number and COR/evaluator contact for registration validation
Step-by-step process
- 1. Register for CPARS vendor access
Complete CPARS vendor registration using the official CPARS registration site and await approval.
- 2. Monitor for draft evaluation notices
Respond to email notifications when evaluators release draft CPARS reports for your contracts.
- 3. Review ratings and submit comments
Log in, review narrative ratings, and enter contractor comments within the timeframe specified in the notice.
- 4. Track finalized reports
After finalization, use CPARS reports as past performance evidence in future proposals.
Information and documents you need
- Contract number
- UEI or DUNS legacy references as prompted
- Evaluator contacts
Cost
CPARS access for contractors is free on the official CPARS site.
Typical processing time
Processing time varies; the official source does not publish a guaranteed completion timeframe.
Common mistakes
- Missing comment deadlines on draft reports
- Registering with incorrect contract numbers
- Ignoring poor ratings without documented corrective actions
What happens after approval / completion
Finalized CPARS ratings flow to past performance databases used in source selection—maintain quality to support future bids.
Official sources
- CPARS (primary)