What serves as the official source for past performance information?

The Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS), which is now integrated into the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS), serves as the official source for past performance information. It is designed to collect and maintain records of a contractor's past performance, providing valuable data to assist government officials in evaluating contractors for future procurement actions.

CPARS generates assessments based on the work completed by contractors and is an essential tool for agencies to review contractor performance. This system supports informed decision-making by allowing government entities to access consistent and standardized records of contractor performance, ensuring accountability in contracting processes.

Other sources mentioned, such as the Central Contractor Registration (now known as SAM - System for Award Management), provide foundational information regarding contractor qualifications, and Contractor Audit Reports involve financial audits rather than performance evaluations. However, they do not serve as the primary repository for past performance assessments like CPARS does.