Federal agencies grade contractors during and at the end of most larger contracts. The rules list the factors. One is “Technical (quality of product or service).” Another is “Schedule/timeliness,” graded on its own. Each factor gets one of five ratings, from “exceptional” to “unsatisfactory.”
The grades go into a government system called CPARS. Agencies must use them when they choose contractors for new work. A grade counts for three years after the work ends. On construction and architect-engineer contracts, it counts for six years.