Contract Deliverables Data Management Software

Inside Contract Deliverables Data Management Software Solutions :

What is Contract Deliverables Data Management (CDDM)?
How are CDDM solutions and CDRL software used?
Who uses CDDM solutions for CDRL data management?
What are the important functions of CDDM solutions?
What are the benefits of CDDM solutions?

What is Contract Deliverables Data Management (CDDM)?

In performance-based contracting, the contract-specified deliverables of supporting documentation and data are often just as important as delivering the final physical product or service to a customer. In the aerospace and defense industry where contracts are often with government agencies, the very important Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) management function is often provided by CDRL software solutions.

Contract Deliverables Data Management (CDDM) is the management of all the data deliverables and processes associated with contracts between program and product partners such as procurement organizations, prime contractors, OEMs and subcontractors. This data has historically been specified and delivered in the DoD Form 1423.

In CDRL data management it is understood that the “data” being referred to and managed is specifically that data related to contract-specified deliverables, and not general product engineering data, manufacturing data, customer data, or IT data. These other types of data and associated processes are typically managed by different software applications — such as PDM, ERP, CRM, and SCM — that do not provide standards-based CDDM capabilities. These applications, including CDDM, do interoperate and often collectively form a Product Innovation Platform (PIP) as part of an enterprise Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) business strategy.

To learn more about the role of Contract Deliverables Data Management, including the types of data and processes managed by CDDM solutions, please download CMstat’s comprehensive paper at CDDM Whitepaper.

How are CDDM solutions and CDRL software used?

In the U.S. A&D industry, contract deliverables are typically spelled out as CDRLs and SDRLs — Contract Data Requirements Lists and Subcontract Data Requirements Lists respectively. These documents span the lifecycle of discrete products, complete systems, individual projects, and entire programs over a period that can last many years.

Contracts may have dozens or even hundreds of CDRLs and SDRLs requiring the collection, verification, reconciliation, submission, auditing, and archiving of thousands of contract-related data objects and data item descriptions (e.g., DIDs as defined in DD1664). This data typically originates from numerous disconnected systems of record which span multiple internal departments and external suppliers. The data may also include confidential, proprietary, or ITAR controlled data sets.

The use of CDDM solutions and CDRL software, for small or large contractors alike, is critically important to simplifying, automating, integrating, and securing all the disparate contract data management functions across an organization. Additional information on the role of CDDM can be found in the whitepaper “Improving Program Profitability with Contract Deliverables Data Management using CMstat’s EPOCH DM Solution.”

Who uses CDDM solutions for CDRL data management?

CDDM solutions – the processes they enable and the information they provide – are used by professionals in many different groups across the enterprise and extended supply chain. These groups can include the program office, procurement, contracts, finance, engineering services, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance.

Specific user roles of CDDM may include program managers, CDRL data managers, contract managers, finance directors, logistics engineers, compliance paralegals, and supply chain managers. Anyone whose job may require them to routinely or occasionally find, review, track, report, submit, approve, audit, secure, or archive contract-related data will benefit from the use of CDDM solutions.

To see how a CDDM solution like CMstat’s EPOCH DM can be used CLICK HERE to view a short video overview.

What are the important functions of CDDM solutions?

The role of a CDDM solution is first to standardize, then automate, next secure, and finally optimize the data deliverables process to improve contractor financial performance at the product, project and program levels. To perform these functions there are five high-level capabilities or pillars that any CDDM solution must deliver upon:

Collect, maintain, and secure all contract data deliverables along with their interdependent relationships and history preserved.
Provide the capabilities such that data deliverables can upon demand be accessed, shared, tracked, verified, and audited across the organization as well as with external parties.
Offer real-time visibility to monitor the status of deliverables and document their transmittal through the contract chain to the final customer, all using contract-specified formats and schedules.
Capture metrics and report on the performance associated with internal departments, external sub-contractors, and customer-provided deliverables.
Support the specific role-based needs and accommodate the preferences of the Program Manager, Contract Manager, Data Manager, and Data Clerk.

CMstat’s solution for CDDM is EPOCH DM. LEARN MORE about EPOCH DM’s explicit capabilities that satisfy each of these fundamental CDDM requirements.

What are the benefits of CDDM solutions?

CDDM CDRL management software solutions benefit user organizations by standardizing, automating, securing, and optimizing the data deliverables process. This improves the accuracy, efficiency, timeliness, and accountability of the work these organizations perform. Contractors will then have the tools and data to maximize contract value, avoid penalties, earn incentive rewards, and leverage subcontractor contributions while minimizing delays.

CDDM solutions like EPOCH DM help to reduce internal costs, contain execution risks, and maximize contract revenues, all which will enhance overall program profitability. Contractors will also be more capable of demonstrating regulatory compliance with protection of data related to ITAR, controlled goods and their own intellectual property or that of subcontractors and customers.

To learn more about the benefits of CDDM solutions check out CMstat’s EPOCH DM solution.