I don’t think I’ve ever blogged about a DID (Data Item Description) before. However I noticed that our customers at Document Center are particularly interested in DI-MGMT-81861. So this is a good opportunity to discuss what a DID is and what this particular one is used for.
The DoD Defense Standardization Program defines a DID this way: “It is a completed document that defines the data required of a contractor. The document specifically defines the data content, format, and intended use.” What this means is that a DID is used in a government contract to define the reporting data required of the contractor. This data is expected to be delivered in a specific format, which may or may not be fulfilled by the use of a form. The DID tells the contractor what data to gather and how and when to present it to the government.
This particular DID, DI-MGMT-81861 “Integrated Program Management Report (IPMR),” is used to measure cost and schedule performance on Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition contracts. It replaces both DI-MGMT-81650, “Integrated Master Schedule (IMS)” and DI-MGMT-81466 (Revision A), “Cost Performance Report (CPR).”
You’ll use this DID on contracts that specify meeting the requirements of ANSI/EIA 748, “Earned Value Management Systems.” And your contract will need to be $20 million or more to meet the criteria for use.
The data from the two superseded documents above is merged in the DI-MGMT-81861. So five of the reports (IMPR Formats 1 through 5) are very similar to the previous CPR formats. Format 3 is extended, though, to provide the ability to modify block 6.b for change content. Format 6 is the old IMS report. And the new Format 7, the Electronic History and Forecast File, is an annual report that allows for both historical and forcasting information to be transmitted in XML format.
Like all DID’s, the 33-page document is called out in your contract. So it is uniquely specific to U.S. government contract work. It supports EVM (Earned Value Management) but was developed to allow for a more integrated approach. And it has the support of software vendors who cater to the defense community.
If you’d like to review a draft that was released to help make the use of the DI-MGMT-81861 more transparent, please see the IPMR Implementation Guide.
If you need a copy of the DID itself, or need any assistance with this or any other DID, please use our webstore, www.document-center.com. Or contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com). We’ve been supporting the defense contracting community since 1982. We’re your Standards Experts.
