Evaluating and Improving Contractor Performance in Construction Projects for Sustainable Infrastructure
: Contractor performance evaluation is an important criterion for mitigating risks and ensuring successful delivery of construction project, which often suffers from delays, cost overruns, and quality deficiencies. In Traditional evaluations system emphasize on the efficiency and effectiveness, but the modern approaches incorporate broader dimensions such as quality management, safety, sustainability, and stakeholder satisfaction. Despite these advancements, performance gaps persist, keeping construction projects high-risk. This study develops a structured performance assessment framework to evaluate and enhance contractor performance. A comprehensive questionnaire that covers 16 key areas including Project Background, Managerial Quality, Quality Control Measures, Execution, Safety Performance, and Construction Schedule was administered to 36 industry stakeholders using a Likert-scale survey. Data analysis is done through SPSS identified and prioritized Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Findings reveal that Execution, Quality Tools, Design Quality Management, and Safety Performance are the most influential KPIs, significantly impacting contractor performance. Conversely, Training & Education, Equipment Maintenance, and Construction Schedule were rated less critical. The study emphases the importance of prioritizing the high-impact factors, integrating advanced project management tools, and adopting sustainable practices to optimize the contractor performance. By categorizing and ranking critical success factors, the research provides recommendations for construction industry practitioners to refine evaluation systems, reducing risks, and improve the overall construction quality and outcomes.