<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.18

                   BOISE CASCADE OFFICE PRODUCTS CORPORATION
                         KEY EXECUTIVE PERFORMANCE PLAN

1996 Payout Criteria Based on Economic Value Added (EVA)

Economic Value Added (EVA(R)) is a registered trademark of Stern
Stewart & Co., and they have assisted Boise Cascade Office Products
in developing this incentive plan.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                        PAYOUT AS A PERCENT OF SALARY
  Improvement                                   PRESIDENT
    in EVA               CEO        COO/CFO     RELIABLE       VP
---------------       -------      --------    --------      -----
<S>                   <C>           <C>         <C>          <C>
  Less than
$(34,054,000)           0.0%          0.0%        0.0%        0.0%
$(26,000,000)          12.6%          9.5%        8.4%        7.4%
$(22,884,000)          17.4%         13.1%       11.6%       10.2%
$(22,883,999)          47.4%         35.6%       31.6%       27.7%
$(13,000,000)          62.4%         46.8%       41.6%       36.4%
$          0          122.4%         91.8%       81.6%       71.4%
$  6,500,000          152.4%        114.3%      101.6%       88.9%
$ 13,000,000          162.4%        121.8%      108.2%       94.7%

</TABLE>

-    For Improvement in EVA in excess of $13 Million, the payout
     increases proportionally to the increase from $6.5 Million
     to $13 Million.

-    The payout is interpolated on a straight line for
     Improvement in EVA not shown in the table.

EVA =                    Net Operating Profit Before Tax -
                         Capital Charge

Net Operating Profit
Before Tax (NOPBT)* =    Income from operating assets
                         +    Imputed interest of capitalized
                              lease obligations
                         -    Amortization of restructuring
                              losses

*  Unusual nonrecurring and nonoperating income or expense items do not affect
   NOPBT

Capital Charge =         EVA Capital x 16%

EVA Capital** =          Operating Capital
                         +    Imputed capital value of lease
                              obligations
                         -    Gain from the sale of assets
                         +    Unamortized restructuring losses

  ** Nonrecurring and nonoperating losses do not affect Operating
     Capital.  There may be adjustments to Operating Capital for
     strategic investments subject to approval by the Compensation 
     Committee of the Board.

<PAGE>   2

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.18


                   BOISE CASCADE OFFICE PRODUCTS CORPORATION
                         KEY EXECUTIVE PERFORMANCE PLAN

1997 Payout Criteria Based on Economic Value Added (EVA)

Economic Value Added (EVA(R)) is a registered trademark of Stern
Stewart & Co., and they have assisted Boise Cascade Office Products
in developing this incentive plan.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                        PAYOUT AS A PERCENT OF SALARY
 Improvement                                    PRESIDENT
   in EVA               CEO         COO/CFO     RELIABLE       VP
--------------        -------       -------     --------      -----
<S>                   <C>            <C>         <C>         <C>
   Less than
$(47,329,996)           0.0%          0.0%        0.0%        0.0%
$(23,729,000)          19.9%         14.9%       13.2%       11.6%
$(23,728,999)          49.9%         37.4%       33.2%       29.1%
$(21,000,000)          52.5%         39.3%       35.0%       30.6%
$          0          112.5%         84.3%       75.0%       65.6%
$ 10,500,000          122.4%         91.8%       81.6%       71.4%

</TABLE>

-    For Improvement in EVA in excess of $10.5 Million, the payout
     increases proportionally to the increase from $0 Million
     to $10.5 Million.

-    The payout is interpolated on a straight line for
     Improvement in EVA not shown in the table.

EVA =                    Net Operating Profit Before Tax -
                         Capital Charge

Net Operating Profit
Before Tax (NOPBT)* =    Income from operating assets
                         +    Imputed interest of capitalized
                              lease obligations
                         -    Amortization of restructuring
                              losses

*  Unusual nonrecurring and nonoperating income or expense
   items do not affect NOPBT

Capital Charge =         EVA Capital x 16%

EVA Capital** =          Operating Capital
                         +    Imputed capital value of lease
                              obligations
                         -    Gain from the sale of assets
                         +    Unamortized restructuring losses



  ** Nonrecurring and nonoperating losses do not affect Operating
     Capital.  There may be adjustments to Operating Capital for
     strategic investments subject to approval by the Compensation 
     Committee of the Board.