How To Write a Performance Work Statement PWS

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How To Write a Performance Work Statement(PWS)
For Official Use Only
Paula Ireland Chuck Beatty NGA Acquisition
Center (NAC) 26 Jan 05
For Official Use Only
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Intro - Performance-Based Contracting

• Structure all aspects of the acquisition around
  the purpose of the work
• Set forth contract requirements in clear,
  specific, and objective terms with measurable
  outcomes
• Stay away from
• Specifying manner by which the work should be
  performed
• Broad and imprecise statements of work

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Intro - Performance-Based Contracting

• Describe requirements in terms of results
  required
• Service result change in state of affairs
• condition you want to
  exist after the contractor has done the work
• Use measurable performance standards
• Quality, timeliness, quantity, etc.
• Deducts - Specify procedures for reductions of
  fee or reductions price of FP contract when
  services are not performed or do not meet
  contract requirements
• Incentives Use where appropriate, when they
  offer significant advantages

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Important Term

• Service Object The thing that the contractor
  works on
• A system, an individual thing, a person (e.g.,
  student), an organization, a process, or
  information

Student knows nothing about PBC
Teach student about PBC
Student gains new knowledge of PBC
System is not functioning properly
Repair the system
System functions as it should
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Developing a Performance Work Statement 10 Steps

• Identify the object(s) you want the contractor to
  change
• State what you want the contractor to do to the
  object(s)
• Analyze each service object to identify the
  object parts that require separate treatment (NO
  VERBS)
• Develop performance standards
• Write and organize the list of service tasks
• Write the performance requirements summary
• Write the other sections of the work statement
  (Scope, References, Deliverables)
• Prepare a table of contents, if PWS is more than
  10 pages
• Prepare document cover, if PWS is attachment to
  contract
• Publish the PWS

the challenge !
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Step 3 Work Breakdown AnalysisThe Most
Important Step
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Product of Step 3 Work Breakdown Structure or
WBS
The WBS is the underlying framework of a PWS
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Result of Work Breakdown Analysis
For Official Use Only
For Official Use Only
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Step 4 Develop Performance StandardsThe Most
Difficult Step!

• Performance standard (Attribute of the service
  object that you want the contractor to change)
  (a specific attribute description or measurement)
• Floors must be free of all visible dirt and
  refuse
• Each wastebasket must contain a clean plastic
  liner and be empty of refuse
• 90 of all incoming calls must be answered within
  three rings

Develop a performance standard for each element
at the lowest of work breakdown
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Step 4 Develop Performance Standards

• For each of the WBS lowest level elements, begin
  the performance standard with
• The performance standard is met when . . .
• Then continue the standard with one or more of
  the following methods of evaluation
• -What you SEE, SMELL, HEAR, TASTE or FEEL is the
  determinant of acceptability
• Maintain Objectivity of Evaluation Standards!

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Step 5 Write the List of Tasks

• Each task statement begins with a verb and says
  Do this to this . . .
• Two parts
• Verb describing what the contractor must do.
• Noun phrase describing the service object

ENSURE THAT YOU CAN EXPLAIN WHAT THE VERB MEANS
AND NEVER INCLUDE MORE THAN ONE VERB IN A TASK
STATEMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Step 6 Write the Performance
Requirements Summary