CPARS Risks Emerge During (and After) Government Shutdowns Creating Potential CPARS Landmines - What You Can Do to Navigate and Mitigate the Risks
November 6, 2025
The Government Was Shut Down But Your CPARS Were Not - The CPARS Time Clock Is Still Ticking on Your Contracts! Here’s What to Do to Help The Government Help You Ensure You Get the Highest Accurate CPARS Ratings You Deserve.
Even though a shutdown is a Government-caused disruption, contractor performance is still evaluated. Performance gaps and associated lapses in documenting contractor performance create CPARS risks during and after shutdowns to include:
1. Interruptions in COR/CO Oversight of Contractor Performance
Cause: CORs are furloughed and approvals, inspections, interpretations stop
CPARS Risk: Late milestones, incomplete deliverables, undocumented achievements leading to CPARS citing issues without full context
2. Lack of Performance Artifacts
Cause: No one available to receive/accept deliverables and acknowledge performance accomplishments in a timely manner
CPARS Risk: No detailed records of success or Government may forget notable achievements = “Satisfactory by default”
3. Disruptions in Timely Contractor-Government Communications
Cause: Government personnel not working/not accessible in facilities or on networks
CPARS Risk: Restricted opportunity for proactive, timely notifications/feedback leads to undesirable reactive, latent “course-correction” and potentially negative outcomes
4. Ongoing Staff Turnover/Reductions and Memory Loss Post-Shutdown
Cause: When the Government returns (an ongoing), new/unfamiliar people step in
CPARS Risk: People writing CPARS weren’t present during impacts — performance coverage gaps filled with neutral or negative assumptions
5. Return to Work Duties Result in CPARS Backlogs and Workforce Burdens
Cause: COs/CORs will be issued a backlog of CPARS reminders to complete many (potentially late) CPARS
CPARS Risk: Quality and accuracy of CPARS ratings and supporting narratives suffer in order to get CPARS “out the door”
OVERALL CPARS IMPACT – The level of accuracy, detail, and timeliness of your CPARS ratings and associated narratives will be downgraded and may have long-term negative impacts on your future federal business unless you take prompt action.
So here’s a quick summary on what all federal contractors should do now to not only navigate post-shutdown CPARS minefields but also smartly mitigate future CPARS risks on an on-going basis:
1. Diligently document all performance accomplishments and challenges (emphasizing recovery and successful resolution details)
2. Proactively communicate before, during and after performance incidents by:
a. sending notifications of anticipated performance impacts in a timely manner
b. asking for performance acknowledgments or direction/confirmation of course correction measures and benefits derived
c. following up to reconfirm and document performance accomplishments, share lessons learned, and any new processes agreed on
3. Regularly submit Contractor Self-Assessments to gauge, document and confirm performance impacts to support the COR/CO in completing annual CPARS evaluations
THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF IS TELLING YOU – Help us to help you ensure you get the highest, accurate, detailed CPARS ratings and narratives you deserve. As I wrote in my recent CPARS article “New FAR Overhaul Part 42.11: CPARS Changes That Will Impact Your Federal Business”, the FAR Overhaul Part 42 Practitioner Album/Smart Accelerator references explicitly call for consistent collecting and documenting of key past performance information and confirmed Contractor Self Assessments are a best-practice that derive benefits for both the Government and federal contractors alike. All federal contractors are advised to heed and act on this official guidance without haste.
So, in summary:
Proactively manage your CPARS ratings by consistently and effectively documenting and communicating with your government customer using Contractor Self-Assessments with compelling and convincing performance narratives. WE CAN HELP YOU MAKE THAT HAPPEN!
CPARS ISSUES? Let our trusted (and discreet) CPARS experts and former federal respected contracting officials help. We offer unique customized CPARS ratings management solutions through GovConRx (CPARS Urgent Care) and CPARSradar (Enterprise CPARS Ratings Management). Contact us for more info or Schedule a free CPARS Risk Review Session here.
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