Other Topics

Earned Value Management | Integrated Program Management Report (IPMR) XML Electronic Submittals

By / / , , , , , , ,
, , , , , , ,

One of the major changes in the 2012 IPMR Data Item Description (DID) was the requirement to use the DoD-approved XML schemas and guidelines to electronically submit formats 1 through 4, 6, and 7. The DoD-approved XML schemas were developed under the auspices of the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT), a formal international organization for establishing electronic business standards.  The DoD-approved XML guidelines are the Data Exchange Instructions (DEIs) or business rules for using the UN/CEFACT XML schemas to support the data requirements in the IPMR DID.  This XML electronic submittal format replaces the ANSI X12 Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) transaction sets 839 and 806 found in the previous reporting DIDs, the 2005, DI-MGMT-81466A, Contract Performance Report (CPR) and the 2005, DI-MGMT-81650, Integrated Master Schedule (IMS).

The purpose of using a software vendor neutral international standard to submit data to the DoD was to eliminate the need for any specific toolset or proprietary database at either end.  Contractors can use their toolset of choice or internally developed applications to produce the XML instance files and electronically submit the data. For the various DoD end-users, they can use their toolset of choice or internally developed applications to read the XML data for their use and analyses.

The business owner for the DoD IPMR Data Exchange Instructions is the OSD Office of Performance Assessments and Root Cause Analyses (PARCA), Earned Value Management (EVM) Division (https://www.acq.osd.mil/evm). The electronic submittals are designed to support the OSD EVM Central Repository (https://dcarc.cape.osd.mil/EVM/EVMOverview.aspx), a joint effort between the Defense Cost and Resource Center (DCARC) and OUSD/AT&L, managed by PARCA.  The EVM Central Repository provides a secure centralized reporting, data collection and distribution of EVM data environment for the DoD acquisition community.

There are a number of UN/CEFACT XML related resources available to contractors, software vendors, and government users on the DCARC EVM Central Repository web site.

  • Select the UN/CEFACT XML navigation option to download the base UN/CEFACT XML schemas as well as the Data Exchange Instructions for the IPMR formats. There are three primary DEIs. One for Formats 1 through 4 (can include Format 5 data as an option), one for Format 6 (the IMS), and one for Format 7 (time phased historical data). Also on this web page is a link for a digital file signing tool; this works as an outer envelope that contractors can use to digitally sign and secure an XML instance file submission to the EVM Central Repository.
  • Select the EVM Tools navigation option to download the XML instance file IPMR Schema/DEI Checker or XML instance file viewers. The schema/DEI checker can be used to verify a given XML instance file conforms to the basic XML schema requirements as well as the business rules defined in the DEIs.  The XML instance files viewers can be used to read and display the XML data content in a more human friendly format.

A number of the commercial off the shelf (COTS) software vendors have submitted their IPMR outputs for testing to the EVM Central Repository to verify their XML outputs can pass the Central Repository data submission validation process. A number of contractors also tested outputs produced from their internal application systems (no COTS tool was used). This testing was part of the implementation verification process for completing the Data Exchange Instructions. To confirm a software vendor has successfully completed the process to verify their tool-set outputs can be successfully read and uploaded to the Central Repository, send an email to the EVM Contact for PARCA listed on the DCARC EVM Central Repository web site (Contact Us navigation link).

PARCA has also recently taken ownership of the XML schema and DEI Change Control Board (CCB) and related process. The intent is to use the PARCA Issue Resolution process (https://www.acq.osd.mil/evm/ir/index.shtml) for software vendors, contractors, or other end users to submit change requests for the base UN/CEFACT XML schemas or IPMR Data Exchange Instructions.

Earned Value Management | Integrated Program Management Report (IPMR) XML Electronic Submittals Read Post »

Humphreys & Associates Joins Project Management Institute’s Registered Consultant Program

By / / , , , ,
, , , ,

Humphreys & Associates Joins Project Management Institute’s Registered Consultant Program

Online Project Management resource helps organizations connect with consulting firms

IRVINE, Jan. 09, 2015 — Humphreys & Associates today announces that it has joined the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) Registered Consultant Program, an online resource that provides organizations with the convenience of accessing a PMI-maintained list of consulting firms that are able to improve their project, program and portfolio management practices.

As more organizations adopt project management as a strategic competency for achieving business results, many are seeking the advice of consultants to enhance their project management capabilities. The PMI Consultant Registry is complimentary to organizations, as is the PMI-developed A Guide on How to Select a Project Management Consultant.

The guide walks organizations through the necessary steps to best identify a consultancy that meets their requirements. Each firm listed in the directory provides one case study per area of expertise that highlights its previous consulting engagements.This feature gives organizations insight into the consultancy’s engagement style and its ability to meet the unique needs of a project.

Humphreys & Associates’ project management consultants have worked with all branches of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of Energy (DOE), NASA, other U.S. government agencies, and with foreign governments. “Our associates and teams have great admiration for the Project Management Institute’s global advocacy, education, collaboration, and project management research. As PMI is such a comprehensive resource for project managers Humphreys & Associates therefore is quite pleased to join PMI’s Consultant Registry,” asserted Gary C. Humphreys, President and CEO, Humphreys & Associates.

Humphreys & Associates joins more than 140 consulting companies in more than 35 countries that participate in the Program.

About Humphreys & Associates

Humphreys & Associates, led by Gary Humphreys, is the established leader in earned value management consulting and training. H&A has provided EVMS consulting services to over 850 companies and government agencies worldwide and we have trained over 900,000 individuals at all EVMS functional and management levels.

About Project Management Institute (PMI)
Project Management Institute is the world’s leading not-for-profit professional membership association for the project, program and portfolio management profession.  Founded in 1969, PMI delivers value for more than 2.9 million professionals working in nearly every country in the world through global advocacy, collaboration, education and research. PMI advances careers, improves organizational success and further matures the profession of project management through its globally recognized standards, certifications, resources, tools academic research, publications, professional development courses, and networking opportunities. As part of the PMI family, Human Systems International (HSI) provides organizational assessment and benchmarking services to leading businesses and government, while ProjectManagement.com and ProjectsAtWork.com create online global communities that deliver more resources, better tools, larger networks and broader perspectives. Visit us at www.PMI.org, www.facebook.com/PMInstitute, and on Twitter@PMInstitute.

Humphreys & Associates Joins Project Management Institute’s Registered Consultant Program Read Post »

NDIA and Earned Value Management – Humphreys & Associates Marks 35+ Years of Participation

By / / , , , , ,
, , , , ,

NDIA and Earned Value ManagementThe National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), Integrated Program Management Division (IPMD) plays a central role in defining earned value management within the defense contracting community. Earned value management, or EVM, is a project management methodology that measures the technical, cost and scheduling performance of projects and/or programs. EVM systems (EVMS) are widely used and in some cases required by federal government agencies on large and complex contracts. The NDIA IPMD is industry’s opportunity to work closely with the federal government to set policy and provide guidance to its members.

NDIA and Eared Value Management Standards – Their Leadership Role

The NDIA has long taken the lead in setting EVM standards. In the 1990s, it recommended modifications to the 35 Department of Defense Cost Schedule Control Systems Criteria (C/SCSC) and proposed 32 guidelines that included the needs of industry as well as meeting the government requirements. The Defense Contracting Management Agency (DCMA) concurred with the use of the 32 guidelines which became the 748A standard. The NDIA IPMD has since maintained the role of managing the standard.

The NDIA Integrated Program Management Division (IPMD) also provides guidance in the implementation and use of EVM systems (EVMS) to achieve integrated program management. While IPMD membership is limited to industry representatives, government personnel from the various agencies implementing EVMS are regular participants in the IPMD’s quarterly working group meetings. The various IPMD working groups focus on strengthening the understanding and implementation of compliant EVM systems.

NDIA EVM System Guides

The IPMD has published a series of widely used EVMS guides. The Earned Value Management Systems Intent Guide provides an interpretation of the EIA 32 guidelines for  companies seeking to implement a compliant EVM system. The committee revised the Earned Value Management System Intent Guide in 2014 and continues working on further improvements. The Planning and Scheduling Excellence Guide (PASEG) Version 3 was released in 2016 and is used in the development of Integrated Master Plans (IMP) and Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) EVMS compliant processes and artifacts.    Other IPMD documents address specific aspects of the EVM process, such as the Earned Value Management System Acceptance Guide, the Integrated Baseline Review (IBR) Guide and the Surveillance Guide. Other recent additions include a Guide to Managing Programs Using Predictive Measures and an Industry Practice Guide for Agile on EVM Programs.

At set contract value thresholds, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), and Defense Acquisition Regulations (DFAR) requires the government program offices to ensure their supplier’s program management system meets the intent of the Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS) of the EIA 748 standard. In some cases these systems must be validated by the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) as being compliant with the EIA standard.  The NDIA continues to work with government and industry to drive the evolution of standards for Earned Value Management Systems implementation and acceptance in the United States and internationally.

Humphreys & Associates has been an active participant in the NDIA IPMD for more than 35 years. Three of our consultants, including the founder of the company, were part of the eight person committee that developed the EIA 748 Standard for EVMS. We also have three past chairs of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Integrated Program Management Systems Committee (IPMD) on our staff. Our consultants continue to be active participates in the working groups responsible for the system guides and the continuing improvement of the EVMS guidelines.

Humphreys & Associates is the industry leader in Earned Value Management Systems design, implementation and EVMS training.  You can learn more on the Humphreys & Associates website.

NDIA and Earned Value Management – Humphreys & Associates Marks 35+ Years of Participation Read Post »

Control Account Manager – CAM Certification by Humphreys & Associates

By / /

Control Account Manager - CAM certificationControl Account Manager (CAM) Certification. This efficient and intensive certification program is perfect for anyone looking to:

  • Distinguish themselves from their peers with a professional CAM certification
  • Advance his or her earned value management (EVM) expertise

Humphreys & Associates effective and comprehensive certification program is intended to further develop on-the-job skills. It includes wide-ranging course work and concludes with a comprehensive exam requiring the student to establish both analytic and technical Earned Value Management Systems proficiency.

Individuals that complete the Humphreys & Associates CAM Certification program have solid evidence of their ability to execute an EVM System effectively and satisfy job requirements as CAMs in the most challenging project control environments.

The course work spans the five EVMS guideline groupings in the EIA-748 Standard for Earned Value Management Systems including:

  1. Organization
  2. Planning, Scheduling, and Budgeting
  3. Accounting Considerations
  4. Analysis and Management Reports
  5. Revisions and Data Maintenance

Important risk management discussions are part of the course and stress data integrity and trace-ability  Earned Value Management best practices are highlighted to provide insights and to illustrate current methods and approaches. This results in better management and decision-making.

Humphreys & Associates CAM certification uses extensive case studies and exercises that bring the EVM concepts to life and help to refine analytic expertise. Each participant will receive:

  • A binder with all course materials
  • The H&A Project Management Using Earned Value textbook
  • The pocket sized H&A Guide to Project Management Using Earned Value

Humphreys & Associates offer two options for completing the CAM program coursework. Contact us today to learn more about Humphreys & Associates Control Account Manager – CAM Certification program at (714) 685-1730.

Control Account Manager – CAM Certification by Humphreys & Associates Read Post »

Scroll to Top