SOW
Statement of Work
Acronyms & AbbreviationsDefinition
A Statement of Work (SOW) is the section of a government solicitation that describes exactly what the contractor must deliver. It specifies tasks, deliverables, timelines, performance standards, and acceptance criteria. The SOW is the contractual document against which your performance will be measured.
There are two main types: a traditional SOW (prescriptive — tells the contractor exactly how to do the work) and a Performance Work Statement (PWS), which describes desired outcomes and lets the contractor determine the approach. The government has been trending toward PWS-based contracts because they encourage innovation.
When reading an RFP, the SOW/PWS is the most important section. Your technical proposal must demonstrate that you understand every requirement and have a credible plan to deliver. Missing a SOW requirement in your proposal is one of the most common reasons bids are scored poorly.
During contract performance, the SOW is the standard for acceptance. Deliverables must meet SOW specifications or the government can reject them.
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