IND-01:

DCMA Tech Solutions and the DECM Metrics

Anthony Presley, DCMA

Topics

2

• Understand what tools DCMA uses

• Open Plan

• Acumen

• Cobra

• How DCMA uses direct tool outputs

• Acumen Outputs

• DCMA Master Data Sets

• Initial Plan

• Getting Data from Contractors

Understand what tools DCMA uses – Open Plan

3

• Use the native Open Plan backups (BK3) to load the schedules for analysis.

• Open Plan is used to run Critical Path in the tool.

• Open Plan used to run some cost and schedule metrics and verify results. .

• Use the Open Plan SQL database to extract data for use in other DCMA

Analysis tools.

Open Plan – Critical Path

4

Metric 06A401a – DCMA Critical Path

• For sites that uses Open Plan, DCMA has an internal work instruction on

verifying the contractor provided program critical path with the DCMA

constraint method critical path.

• Concerns were identified when the contractors Open Plan schedule used multiple

calendars. Sometimes these calendars were causing differences with the constraint

method critical path.

• DCMA worked with various parties to identify a way to verify the provided critical path is

valid. The following will show the concept DCMA is using to ensure the critical path is

valid.

Open Plan – Critical Path continued

5

Step 1 – Run the DCMA Constraint Method critical path

Step 2 – Compare the DCMA Constraint Method critical path to the Contractor

provided critical path.

Step 3 – If these match the test is complete, if not proceed to Step 4.

Step 4 – Verify if multiple calendars are used in the schedule, if so, proceed to

step 5. If no multiple calendars, document the results from step 2 for follow-up.

Step 5 – Change the calendars in the schedule to just one. Use the most

common calendar in schedule.When starting Step 4 ensure you have

the originally provided schedule open.

Open Plan – Critical Path continued

6

Step 6 – Run the Open Plan Driver Analysis and save the results.

Step 7 – Run the DCMA Constraint Method Critical Path and save the results.

Step 8 – Compare the results of Step 6 and Step 7. If they match move to step

9. If they did not match, document the results for follow-up.

Step 9 – This is a final verification step, run the Open Plan Driver Analysis on

the original schedule and compare it to the Contractor provided critical path. If

these match then it ensures they are using the Open Plan generated critical

path.

Identifying Need for the IMS in Metrics

7

The DCMA EVMS Compliance Metrics (DECM) identifies the IMS as Artifact 11. This is identified

in column N of the Metrics Tracking and Data Artifacts List, found on the DCMA website.

https://www.dcma.mil/HQ/EVMS/

Identifying Need for the IMS in Metrics

8

Each metric specification

sheet also identifies the

artifact, along with

specific data

requirements. For

instance, when reviewing

a metric specification

sheet, review section 10 to

identify data elements for

this specific metric under

analysis.

Open Plan Data in the SQL Database

9

When configuring OPP, there is an option to use Microsoft SQL Server as the data store. DCMA

uses this option and is able to write queries to the database and extract data for use in other

analysis tools or to pull data into Excel for manual analysis.

SQL to Excel

Understand what tools DCMA uses – Acumen

10

• Import schedules into Acumen to provide an easy way to export the entire

schedule for manual analysis

• DCMA Tools IPT is working Acumen schedule and cost imports. They are

also working on DECM metrics verification.

Acumen - Exports

11

• The export of the entire schedule can be used to help manually do some

metrics easier then in the native file.

• Like metric 06A204b

Understand what tools DCMA uses – Cobra

12

• DCMA has Cobra but at this point in time the use is limited. This is mainly

because contractors do not want to provide DCMA the Cobra backup file.

• Contractors are starting to provide the DCDE Cobra files for import into Acumen.

• DCMA Tools IPT is working to understand these files and what they provide.

DCMA Master Data Sets

13

• DCMA established a Tools IPT to focus on integrating automation methods

for metric Data Analysis.

• The Team will be working on creating a Master Data Set

• Data sets will be published on the DCMA website for use in Tool/Automation testing

• The data set will consist of an Excel cost file and an IMS (MS Project, OPP, P6)

• Data will be at the Control Account and Work Package level

• Expected results will be available for each data set

DCMA Master Data Sets - Initial Plan

14

• DCMA Green Set

• This set will show pass/green for each tested metric

• Target publication: January 2020

• DCMA Red Set

• This set will show trip/red for each tested metric

• Target published January 2020

• DCMA Yellow Set

• This set will show results above threshold, not tripped

• Target published early 2020

DCMA: Getting Data from Contractors

15

• In assessing a system, raw data is used as much as possible for metric

calculation and guideline evaluation

• DCMA is delivered schedules in the same format used for planning by the contractor

(Open Plan, Microsoft Project, Oracle Primavera P6, etc.)

• Cost Exports are provided as outputs of the EVMS Cost System

• DCMA possesses the software to utilize MPM/Cobra backup files to help minimize the back and

forth with contractors when analyzing data

• Recent updates with DCMA’s Deltek Acumen software allow the import of DCDE files for

importing Cobra cost data into Acumen

• DCMA does not prescribe any specific method or template for delivering cost

data for analysis though a certain minimum amount of information is

required for allow for analysis.

Questions

16