What Is a Period of Performance?
The period of performance is the time during which a contractor must do the work under a contract, often a base period plus option periods.
Period of performance in plain English
The solicitation and the contract state the period of performance. A service contract might run a base year plus several option years, but the option periods only happen if the government exercises them.
Price every period, not just the first year, and check whether wage rates or other costs will change over time.
In award data, the period of performance tells you when a contract is likely to end, which is when its recompete usually comes up.
Related terms
- Option year: An option year is an extra year of work the government can add to a contract at its choice. Many service contracts have a base year plus option years.
- Recompete: A recompete is a new competition for work already under contract, held as the current contract ends. It's your chance to take work from the incumbent.
- Incumbent: The incumbent is the company doing the work under the current contract. When the agency competes the work again, the incumbent usually bids to keep it.
Put it to work
Looking for another term? Browse the full glossary or the government contracting glossary guide.