The Contract Performance Index (CPI) is a metric used to measure the performance of a contract. It measures the dollar cost per unit-of-work under the contract, and compares it to a standard estimate or benchmark. A CPI of 1 indicates that the contractor is performing exactly at target, while values greater than 1 indicate that the contractor is performing better than expected, and values lower than 1 indicate performance is worse than expected. The CPI is an integral part of any procurement process; it allows for more accurate bidding, more reliable contracts and more efficient delivery – ultimately helping to maximize value from a contracting business relationship.