Glossary
Place of Performance
The geographic location where contracted work or services are performed or delivered.
Also known as
Definition
Place of Performance refers to the specific physical address, city, state, or country where the primary work under a federal contract is carried out. In federal procurement, this term helps identify where goods are delivered or services are rendered, which may differ from the contractor's business location. Accurate reporting of Place of Performance is required for transparency, oversight, and compliance purposes. It is a key data element in contract reporting systems such as FPDS.
Why it matters
Understanding Place of Performance is essential for analyzing regional spending patterns, assessing local economic impact, and ensuring compliance with location-based regulations or set-asides. It enables agencies and analysts to track where federal dollars are being invested geographically, which supports policy decisions and market research. Place of Performance data also helps identify opportunities for local businesses and supports socio-economic program goals.
How it appears in FPDS
In FPDS, Place of Performance is captured as a set of data fields, including country, state, city, congressional district, and zip code. These fields are searchable and filterable, allowing users to analyze contract awards by geographic location. The data is commonly used in reports, dashboards, and advanced queries to map federal contract activity.
Common misunderstanding
A common misunderstanding is confusing Place of Performance with the contractor's business address or headquarters. In reality, the work may be performed at a different site, sometimes even in a different state or country.
Example
A contract awarded to a company headquartered in Virginia for IT services performed at a federal facility in Texas would list Texas as the Place of Performance. This distinction is important for regional analysis and reporting.
Use in FPDS Query
Analysts often filter or group FPDS records by Place of Performance fields to identify contract activity within specific geographic areas, such as states, cities, or congressional districts. This is useful for market research, compliance reviews, and economic impact studies.
Related search intent
Related terms
Updated: Mar 17, 2026