ACAP Data Collection and Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a Cost Data Requirements (CDR) clause in a DoD contract?
- To require contractors to submit actual cost data so the government can validate estimates and track performance (Correct answer)
- To establish the contractor's ceiling price on a cost-plus contract
- To define the contractor's accounting system requirements
- To authorize access to contractor facilities for audits
Correct answer: To require contractors to submit actual cost data so the government can validate estimates and track performance
CDR clauses obligate contractors to provide actual cost data in a standardized format, giving the government visibility into incurred costs for future estimating and oversight.
Question 2: Which DoD database is the primary repository for contractor cost and software data collected under CSDR reporting requirements?
- DACIMS (Defense Automated Cost Information Management System) (Correct answer)
- DAES (Defense Acquisition Executive Summary)
- EVM Central Repository
- PMRT (Program Manager's Resource Tool)
Correct answer: DACIMS (Defense Automated Cost Information Management System)
DACIMS stores Cost and Software Data Reporting (CSDR) submissions from contractors, making them available to cost analysts government-wide for historical reference.
Question 3: What does CSDR stand for in DoD cost data reporting?
- Cost and Software Data Reporting (Correct answer)
- Contractor Submission and Data Review
- Cost Summary and Documentation Report
- Central System Data Repository
Correct answer: Cost and Software Data Reporting
CSDR is the DoD framework requiring contractors on major programs to submit standardized actual cost, software metrics, and technical data to support future estimates.
Question 4: Which type of CSDR report captures recurring and non-recurring costs broken down by cost element and work breakdown structure?
- Contractor Cost Data Report (CCDR) (Correct answer)
- Software Resources Data Report (SRDR)
- Earned Value Management System (EVMS) report
- Should-Cost Review report
Correct answer: Contractor Cost Data Report (CCDR)
The CCDR (DD Form 1921 series) provides a detailed WBS-based breakdown of actual contractor costs and is the cornerstone of DoD cost data collection.
Question 5: What is 'data normalization' when building a historical cost database for Army programs?
- The process of adjusting historical cost data to a common basis (base year, quantity, scope) for valid cross-program comparison (Correct answer)
- Organizing data records into relational database tables
- Removing duplicate records from the database
- Converting costs from foreign currencies to US dollars
Correct answer: The process of adjusting historical cost data to a common basis (base year, quantity, scope) for valid cross-program comparison
Normalization removes extraneous factors—inflation, quantity differences, scope variations—so that data points from different programs can be compared and used in cost models.
Question 6: What is the main challenge of using 'analogous data' from a prior program for a new Army cost estimate?
- Differences in technical complexity, quantity, schedule, and inflation require extensive adjustments to make the analogy valid (Correct answer)
- Analogous data is classified and cannot be accessed by program office analysts
- Prior program data is always more expensive than the new program
- The WBS structure from old programs never matches the new program
Correct answer: Differences in technical complexity, quantity, schedule, and inflation require extensive adjustments to make the analogy valid
Analogous data must be carefully scrubbed and adjusted for differences in scope, technology, schedule, and time period before it is a reliable basis for a new estimate.
ACAP Data Collection and Management 1
What is the primary purpose of a Cost Data Requirements (CDR) clause in a DoD contract?