Writing Winning Past Performance Sections

BidStacker Team•January 15, 2026•6 min read

Why Past Performance Matters

Government agencies want to reduce risk. Your past performance section proves you can deliver. It's often weighted 20-30% in evaluation criteria.

The STAR Method for Past Performance

Structure each reference using:

  • **Situation**: What was the contract scope?
  • **Task**: What were you responsible for?
  • **Action**: What specific steps did you take?
  • **Result**: What were the measurable outcomes?

    • Tips for New Contractors

    Don't have government contract experience? Use:

  • **Commercial projects** that mirror the RFP scope
  • **Subcontractor experience** on government contracts
  • **State/local government** work
  • **Pro bono or community** projects

    • Quantify Everything

    Instead of "We completed the project successfully," write "We delivered the IT infrastructure upgrade 2 weeks ahead of schedule and 8% under budget, supporting 450 end users across 3 locations."

    BidStacker's AI Assistance

    Store your past performance details in BidStacker's reference documents. Our AI automatically tailors past performance narratives to each RFP's specific requirements and evaluation criteria.

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