The Period of Performance defines when contractually required work can be performed and when the government will accept deliverables. The PoP is stated in the contract as a start date and end date, often broken into a base period (typically twelve months for services, though variable for development or construction) and one or more option periods. Performance outside the PoP — work performed before the start date or after the end date — is generally not compensable absent a contract modification authorizing the work. The PoP is distinct from the contract's life, which can extend beyond the final option through closeout, audit, and warranty obligations.
PoP modifications fall into several categories. Bilateral extensions add time, sometimes at no cost when the government needs more time without adding scope. Bridge contracts cover gaps when a recompete is delayed and the prior contract's options are exhausted. Stop-work orders under FAR 52.242-15 suspend performance temporarily. Modifications that materially extend the PoP without adding scope can trigger affordability concerns and competition challenges.
For small contractors, PoP awareness drives recompete planning. Recompetes typically begin twelve to eighteen months before the prior contract's final option expires, with sources sought, draft RFP, and final RFP cycles consuming most of that window. Tracking PoP end dates on incumbent contracts identifies recompete pursuit windows; tracking them across the broader market identifies competitor vulnerabilities. Recompete capture starts when the option exercise window opens, not when the RFP drops.