Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP)

Definition

The Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) is a government document that defines how contractor performance will be monitored against a contract's stated standards, most often against a PWS. The QASP specifies performance indicators, measurement methods (100% inspection, random sampling, customer surveys), frequency, and thresholds for satisfactory performance. It is typically prepared by the program office with input from the CO and executed by the COR during performance.

Why It Matters

The QASP is where contract standards meet real-world oversight. Contractors should read the QASP alongside the PWS during proposal development, because the measurement method often reveals how 'performance' will actually be evaluated, which may differ from what the PWS alone implies. During performance, a disciplined response to QASP observations prevents negative CPARS entries and builds trust with the COR.

Example

A services contract's QASP calls for monthly random-sampling of 5% of tickets resolved. The contractor instruments its ticketing system to flag any ticket resolution that misses the 4-hour SLA, conducting internal sampling more rigorous than the QASP. The QASP data over 12 months shows 0 defects, earning 'Exceptional' in CPARS quality.

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