D.08A PROCST

Version history

Functional definition

The Project cost reporting message is used in various industry sectors when there is a requirement for all parties involved in a project to formally establish and exchange budget baseline, actual, progress, and estimate to complete cost information; technical performance measurement information; and related funding information. This information exchange is typically going from a contractor performing the work to the end customer.

The purpose of this information exchange is to provide the end customer with data that describes the work that must be completed, who is doing the work, and establishes the cost budget baseline for the project. This information exchange also provides data that describes how the work is progressing against the cost baseline to determine if the project will complete on time and within budget. The work in process measurement data provides key management information to ensure the project is progressing as planned and highlights any problem areas that need correcting. Technical performance measurement data is used to determine if the project is meeting specific design or functional objectives. Periodic funding data reporting is used to track future funding requirements for the work in process.

Field of application

The Project cost reporting message may be used for both national and international applications. It is based on universal practice related to administration, commerce and transport, and is not dependent on the type of business or industry.

The industry sectors that typically exchange project cost information include construction, aerospace, aircraft, defense, and software or support services. Various government entities such as transportation, energy, space, and defense exchange project cost information with their contractors related to construction, software development, research and development, and production. For these various government entities, this project cost information is typically part of the contractual requirements for the preparation, status, and completion of a project, particularly for departments or ministries of defense for weapon system acquisition.

Although various regional and international differences do exist in the business terms used for project cost reporting, the underlying business requirements are similar. Various ministries of defense around the world have formed an international performance measurement council that has established similar policy and principles for project cost performance measurement and reporting. These international policies and principles are the underlying foundation for the data content in the Project cost reporting message.