The label given to a suite of measures in a contract, which have the effect of defining the level of performance required and create a framework to measure the provider’s actual performance and motivate improved performance. The framework typically has the following elements: the standards in the contract, the metrics used to measure performance, the review mechanisms for feedback and discussion of performance, the incentives and/or sanctions which may motivate better performance, and the termination provisions in the event of sustained poor performance. See also Incentives and Sanctions.