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

1. Identify the object(s) you want the contractor to
   change
2. State what you want the contractor to do to the
   object(s)
3. Analyze each service object to identify the
   object parts that require separate treatment (NO
   VERBS)
4. Develop performance standards
5. Write and organize the list of service tasks
6. Write the performance requirements summary
7. Write the other sections of the work statement
   (Scope, References, Deliverables)
8. Prepare a table of contents, if PWS is more than
   10 pages
9. Prepare document cover, if PWS is attachment to
   contract
10. 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
Performance Requirements Summary Performance Requirements Summary Performance Requirements Summary Performance Requirements Summary
Sample Performance Standards Sample Performance Standards Sample Performance Standards Sample Performance Standards
Task Task Description Performance Indicator Required Performance Measurements
3.1 Clean floors daily State of Cleanliness Floors must be free of all visible dirt and refuse
3.2 Empty wastebaskets daily Contents Each wastebasket must contain a clean plastic liner and be empty of refuse.
4.1 Teach monthly class on how to write a PWS of students who pass course 98 of students must pass the PWS course
5.1 Keep the system in an operational state System availability The system availability shall be greater than or equal to 99.5
5.2 Install virus definition updates to all computers on the network Timeliness Upon receipt of virus definition updates from the vendor, install those updates to all computers on the network within 24 hours