The Role of Performance Evaluations in Selection

Public agencies are often faced with continuing to use the same contractors and vendors despite poor performance on past contracts, either for the agency or for another organization.

The key to controlling the selection process is to establish an objective performance evaluation program. Important elements of such a program include the following:

1. Define and publish how the program will be used in making selection decisions so all contractors and vendors are aware of it.
2. Evaluate all contractors and vendors, not just the ones with poor performance.
3. Support the ratings with objective and professionally written comments.
4. Provide for an appeal process if a contractor or vendor disagrees with the ratings.
5. Maintain a database of the ratings.
6. Train your personnel in the use of the evaluation program.
7. Monitor the quality and consistency of the evaluations from a management perspective.

Many public agencies have instituted performance evaluation programs. Where some of them fall short is that the personnel charged with evaluating contractors and vendors fail to provide honest evaluations, either because of a sense that it's too much work to document poor performance, or because they don't want to antagonize the contractor or vendor.

The federal government faces similar concerns with their performance evaluation program, according to a recent report from the Government Accountability Office. To read a brief article on this report, visit the FederalTimes.com.