Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan(QASP)
The government's plan for monitoring and evaluating contractor performance against the standards defined in the contract.
Overview
A Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) is the government's roadmap for overseeing contractor performance on a service contract. It defines what will be monitored, how it will be measured, how often evaluations will occur, and what happens when performance falls below acceptable levels. The QASP translates the Performance Work Statement into actionable oversight procedures.
Why It Matters in GovCon
The QASP tells you exactly how the government will judge your performance. Smart contractors study the QASP carefully during proposal preparation and build their quality control plans to align with it. During execution, the QASP determines what gets measured — and what gets measured gets managed.
Key Details
- Surveillance Methods: Random sampling, periodic inspections, 100% inspection, customer complaints, and automated monitoring.
- Performance Standards: Linked to the PWS, specifying acceptable quality levels (e.g., "95% of help desk tickets resolved within 4 hours").
- Remedies: Graduated responses to poor performance — from re-performance and deductions to cure notices and termination.
- COR Role: The Contracting Officer's Representative typically executes the QASP on a day-to-day basis.
Related Terms
- Performance Work Statement (PWS)
- Contracting Officer's Representative (COR)
- Performance-Based Contracting
- Acceptable Quality Level (AQL)
More Management Terms
A project management methodology that integrates scope, schedule, and cost data to measure project performance and progress objectively.
Integrated software systems that manage business processes such as finance, procurement, HR, and project management.
The 12-month period used by the government for budgeting and appropriations; the federal fiscal year runs October 1–September 30.
A measurable value used to evaluate how effectively a contractor or program is achieving strategic objectives and contract requirements.
The PMI-published guide that defines best practices and processes for project management, widely referenced in government contract management.
A contractor-developed plan describing how quality will be assured during contract performance, often required in solicitations.
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