Subcontractor plans may be added to past FAR performance evaluations

Government contractors would be evaluated on past performance as well as on how they handled subcontracts, under a proposed amendment to the Federal Acquisition Regulation announced in the Federal Register today.

The Civilian Agency Acquisition and the Defense Acquisition Regulations councils are seeking the change.

The new rule would authorize an evaluation of a contractor's management of subcontracts, including whether it met small-business subcontracting plans, and evaluate past performance on orders exceeding $100,000 for certain types of contracts and task orders.

Currently, the acquisition regulation does not require a review of subcontract management. "The effect of this amendment is that subcontract management efforts will be recorded for use in past performance evaluations during source selection," the notice states.

Comments are due Aug. 22. All comments received will be posted on AcqNet.gov without change, and include any personal information provided.