Past performance when you have little or none
Can I win a government contract with no past performance?
Yes. Under FAR 15.305(a)(2)(iv), an offeror without a record of relevant past performance may not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on past performance. The same section says evaluators should take into account the relevant records of your key personnel, predecessor companies and subcontractors that will perform major or critical parts of the work. Build your record from those sources and from commercial jobs.
Last reviewed October 12, 2026.
Records you can put forward
From FAR 15.305(a)(2), on acquisition.gov. Each solicitation’s Section M says how it weighs past performance.
- Key personnel
- The people who will run the work may have done it before at another employer. FAR 15.305(a)(2)(iii) lets evaluators consider key personnel who have relevant experience.
- Predecessor companies
- If your firm grew out of an earlier business, that company’s relevant record can count under the same paragraph.
- Subcontractors
- A teammate who will perform a major or critical part of the requirement brings its record with it. Teaming with an established firm is a common way to start.
- Commercial and subcontract work
- Private-sector jobs similar in scope and size are relevant experience. Describe each one with the customer, scope, value and dates.
Then build a federal record
Smaller buys are the usual first step. FAR 2.101 sets the simplified acquisition threshold at $350,000 and the micro-purchase threshold at $15,000, with exceptions. Purchases under those lines use simpler procedures. State and local contracts build a record too. Where to find them.
Quillify searches federal, state and local solicitations together. When you draft a response, Quillify writes from your own documents. The commercial jobs and team résumés you upload become the past performance section. A contracting officer reading a new firm's proposal wants evidence that the people doing the work have done something like it before, whether that was for a government agency, a commercial client or a previous employer. Put the same record on your capability statement.
Who asks this most
The answer above is the same whoever you are. What Quillify does about it is not.
Related
- How to write a capability statement, one agency at a timeHow do I write a capability statement?
- Government contracts for startupsCan a startup win government contracts?
- How to respond to an RFP and stay compliantHow do I respond to an RFP and make sure it is compliant?
- Grants and government contracts are not the same thingWhat is the difference between a grant and a government contract?
All guides, or the glossary.
Stop researching and see what you are eligible for.
Browsing and keyword search are free, and there is no card required.