This guide provides a deep dive into Performance Work Statements (PWS), which are essential for performance-based acquisitions. Discover how to define requirements, set measurable standards, and ensure quality assurance. Learn from actionable steps to improve your service contracting processes and achieve better outcomes.
This lesson is a preview from Graduate School USA's Performance Work Statements course.
A Performance Work Statement (PWS) is a critical document for any performance-based acquisition. It serves as a statement of work that outlines the required results in clear, specific, and objective terms, complete with measurable outcomes. Writing an effective PWS is an analytical process, and this guide provides systematic instructions to help you master each stage. The core principle of a PWS is to describe what needs to be done, placing the responsibility on the contractor to determine how it will be accomplished.
Key Elements of a PWS
To build a robust PWS, you must include several essential components. Clarity is the most important concern, so using simple, well-recognized words is the goal.
- Clear Objectives: Start by defining the procuring agency, its organizational unit, and the specific program involved. Follow this with a brief but clear statement of what is being purchased.
- Contractor Tasks: Clearly specify the outcomes the contractor is required to perform. This section should focus on the results, not the methods.
- Deliverables: Define all products that must be provided to the government. This can include items delivered during the contract period or upon completion of the tasks.
- Schedules: Every task must have an associated delivery date or schedule. This ensures timely completion and helps in monitoring progress.
- Performance Standards: This is where you define the indicators, standards, acceptable quality levels (AQLs), and any incentives or deductions related to performance. These standards must be measurable.
- Quality Control: Detail the government's requirements for the contractor's quality control processes. This ensures the contractor has a system in place to meet the specified standards.
- Special Requirements: Include any other necessary information, such as details on Government Furnished Property (GFP) or Equipment (GFE), security protocols, safety measures, environmental requirements, special work hours, or contingency plans.
For example, when drafting a PWS for window cleaning, a performance-based requirement would be: "The windows shall be free of dust, streaks, and smears." This contrasts with a detailed, design-oriented document that would specify how to clean them, such as: "The contractor shall clean the windows by hand using a cotton cloth and vinegar solution." The PWS focuses on the result.
Benefits of Using a PWS
Adopting a performance-based approach with a PWS offers significant advantages for government acquisitions.
- Maximizes Performance: It allows contractors the flexibility to use their own best practices and innovative methods to deliver the required service, which often leads to better performance.
- Maximizes Competition and Innovation: By focusing on performance requirements instead of government-directed solutions, you encourage a wider range of competitive alternatives from suppliers.
- Encourages Commercial Services: A PWS typically minimizes the reporting burden and reduces the use of government-unique contract clauses. This simplicity can attract a broader industry base, including more commercial service providers.
- Shifts Risk: A significant benefit is the transfer of risk from the government to the contractor. The contractor becomes responsible for achieving the objectives outlined in the work statement using their own processes.
- Achieves Savings: The combination of increased competition, innovation, and efficient processes often results in cost savings for the government.
The foundation for a strong PWS is often the Performance Requirements Summary (PRS), which helps define the baseline for expected outcomes. By focusing on these core principles and elements, you can create effective Performance Work Statements that improve service contracting and deliver superior results.
