Technical Data Management

About

The Technical Data Management process provides a framework to acquire, manage, maintain and ensure access to the technical data and computer software required to manage and support a system throughout the acquisition life cycle (see Systems Engineering (SE) Guide, Section 5.24 System Security Engineering for information regarding protection of critical program information).

Key Technical Data Management considerations include understanding and protecting Government intellectual property and data rights, achieving competition goals, maximizing options for product support and enabling performance of downstream life-cycle functions. DoDI 5000.85, 3D.2.b.(5)(k) IP and 3D.3.c.(5) IP Strategy contains IP and IP Strategy policy for Major Capability Acquisition programs.

Acquiring the necessary data and data rights, in accordance with Military Standard (MIL-STD)-31000, for acquisition, upgrades, and management of technical data provide:

• Information necessary to understand and evaluate system designs throughout the life cycle.
• Ability to operate and sustain weapon systems under a variety of changing technical, operational, and programmatic environments.
• Ability to re-compete item acquisition, upgrades, and sustainment activities in the interest of achieving cost savings; the lack of technical data and/or data rights often makes it difficult or impossible to award contracts to anyone other than the original manufacturer, thereby taking away much or all of the Government’s ability to reduce total ownership costs (TOC).

Technical Data Management Activities and Products

The Program Manager (PM), Systems Engineer, and Lead Software Engineer, in conjunction with the Product Support Manager, should ensure that life-cycle requirements for weapon system-related data products and data rights are identified early and appropriate contract provisions are put in place to enable deliveries of these products. SE Guidebook Figure 4-12 below shows the activities associated with Technical Data Management.

Identify Data Requirements

• Formulate the program’s Intellectual Property (IP) Strategy and technical data management approach, with an emphasis on technical and product data needed to provide support throughout the acquisition life cycle. (See Intellectual Property (IP) Guidebook (forthcoming) and otehr forthcoming PM guidebooks for more information about Data Rights).
• Consider all opportunities to leverage the system model and WBS structure to capture data rights assertions as the system architecture is being developed and throughout the system life cycle.
• Ensure that data requirements are documented in the IP Strategy; summarized in the Acquisition Strategy (AS) and presented with the Life-Cycle Sustainment Plan (LCSP) during the Operations and Support Phase; and submitted before award of the contract for the next life-cycle phase.
• Special attention needs to be given to acquire or access data and digital artifacts within the digital ecosystem throughout the program’s life cycle, including identifying formats that can be made compatible with Government data systems (program office, T&E, models and simulations, sustainment, etc.).
• Based on the technical baseline, identify assemblies, subassemblies, and parts that are candidates for Government ownership of data rights. Include this information in AoAs, trade studies and as input to RFPs.
• Consider not only the immediate, short-term costs of acquiring the needed technical data and data rights but also the long-term cost savings resulting from the ability to compete production and logistics support activities and reduce TOC. Understand that the Government can possess either Government Purpose or Unlimited Rights to use many types of technical data and data rights, at no additional cost, based on the type of technical data and the source of funding used to generate the data (see DoD Open Systems Architecture Contract Guidebook for Program Managers for more information about data rights).
• Consider any requirements to acquire rights to production and sustainment tooling and facilities, including processes required to use this equipment. Where the government has acquired rights to specific parts, these rights do not necessarily also convey rights to the equipment or processes used to produce the parts.

Acquire Data

• Use explicit contract Statement of Work (SOW) tasks to require the developer to perform the work that generates the required data. The content, format and quality requirements should be specified in the contract.
• Use current, approved Data Item Descriptions (DID) and Contract Data Requirements Lists (CDRL) in each contract to order the delivery of the required technical data and computer software.
• Consider obtaining data through an open business model with emphasis on having open, modular system architectures that can be supported through multiple competitive alternatives. The model may include modular open systems approaches as a part of the design methodology supported by an IP strategy, which may be implemented over the life cycle of a product. (See SE Guidebook, Section 2.2.5 Module Open Systems Approach).

Receive, Verify and Accept Data

• Ensure verification of content, format, and quality of all required product-related data received from originators.
• Inspect contractually ordered data deliverables to ensure markings are in accordance with the relevant data rights agreements and DFARS clauses and contain appropriate distribution statements and/or export control statements.

Caution: Acceptance of delivered data not marked consistent with the contract can result in the Government "losing" legitimate rights to technical data and can incur significant legal liability on the Government and the individual Government employees. Regaining those rights generally requires costly and time-consuming legal actions.

Store, Maintain and Control Data

• Budget for and fund the maintenance and upkeep of product data throughout the life cycle.
• An Integrated Data Environment (IDE) or Product Life-cycle Management (PLM) system allows every activity involved with the program to create, store, access, manipulate and exchange digital data.
• To the greatest extent practical, programs should use existing IDE/PLM infrastructure such as repositories operated by Commodity Commands and other organizations. (Program-unique IDEs are discouraged because of the high infrastructure cost; furthermore, multiple IDEs inhibit access, sharing and reuse of data across programs.)
• Ensure all changes to the data are made in a timely manner and are documented in the program IDE or PLM system.

Use and Exchange Data

Plan for and establish methods for access and reuse of product data by all personnel and organizations that perform life-cycle support activities. In support of the Government’s requirement for a Technical Data Package (TDP), the PM should also consider all product-related data (e.g., technical manuals, repair instructions and design/analysis data) to:

• Allow logistics support activities.
• Better enable sustainment engineering.
• Apply, implement, and manage product upgrades.

Contractually deliverable data should be identified and ordered at the specific "data product" level, (e.g., two-dimensional drawings, three-dimensional Computer-Aided Design (CAD) models, technical manuals, etc.). SE Guidebook, Figure 4-13 below provides a notional representation of different types of product-related data.

Caution: PMs, Systems Engineers and Lead Systems Engineers should be aware that terms such as "technical data," "product data," and "TDP" are imprecise, not equivalent, and often incorrectly used interchangeably.

Resources for establishing and conducting Technical Data Management activities include but are not limited to:

• DoD 5010.12-M, Procedures for the Acquisition and Management of Technical Data
• Change 1, Implementation Guidance for Army Directive 2018-26 (Enabling Modernization through Management of Intellectual Property), 17 Dec 20
• Army Regulation 25-1 Army Information Technology
• Army Pamphlet 25-1-1 Army Information Technology Implementation Instructions
• Air Force Data Rights Guidebook, 2019
• Air Force Product Data Acquisition (PDAQ) guidance (following link requires an Air Force portal account)
• Navy Technical Manual SL150-AA-PRO-010/DMP - Data Management Program
• MIL-HDBK-245 (Preparation of Statement of Work (SOW))
• MIL-STD-963 (Data Item Descriptions)
• MIL-STD-31000 (Technical Data Packages)

Data Protection

The Program Manager is responsible for protecting system data, whether the data is stored and managed by the Government or by contractors. The DoD policy with regard to data protection, marking, and release can be found in:

• DoDD 5230.25, Withholding of Unclassified Technical Data from Public Disclosure
• DoDI 5230.24, Distribution Statements on Technical Documents
• DoDM 5400.07, DoD Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Program
• DoDI 5200.01, DoD Information Security Program and Protection of Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)
• DoDI 5000.83, Technology and Program Protection to Maintain Technological Advantage
• DoDI 5200.39, Critical Program Information (CPI) Identification and Protection Within Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E)

Data containing information subject to restrictions are protected in accordance with the appropriate guidance, contract, or agreement. Guidance on distribution statements, restrictive markings and restrictions on use, release or disclosure of data can be found in the DFARS (Subpart 252.227-7013 and 7014), and DoDI 5230.24.

When digital data are used, the data should display applicable restriction markings, legends and distribution statements clearly and visibly when the data are first opened or accessed. These safeguards not only ensure Government compliance regarding the use of data but also guarantee and safeguard contractor data delivered to the Government and extend responsibilities of data handling and use to parties who subsequently use the data.

P.L. 107-347 (SEC 208 para (b)) and DoDI 5400.16, "DoD Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) Guidance" requires that PIA be conducted before developing or purchasing any DoD information system that collects, maintains, uses or disseminates personally identifiable information about members of the public, federal personnel, DoD contractors and, in some cases, foreign nationals. Available PIA guidance provides procedures for completing and approving PIAs.

All data deliverables should include distribution statements. Processes should be established to protect all data that contain critical technology information, as well as ensure that limited distribution data, intellectual property data or proprietary data are properly handled throughout the life cycle, whether the data are in hard-copy or digital format.

Products and Tasks

Product

Tasks

18-1-1: Verify technical data acquisition, access, management and protection policies and procedures

Assess the technical data needs required for the program. Identify policies and procedures for information technology and technical data applicable to the system / program. Develop statement of work tasks to generate technical data to be acquired for a system, and submit to the decision maker for inclusion in contract documentation. Identify data item descriptions (DIDs) and contract data requirements lists (CDRLs) to acquire technical data for the system from the developer, and submit to the decision maker for inclusions in contract documentation. Document technical data needs, SOW tasks and technical data deliverables, along with associated technical data management processes, and incorporate into the intellectual property (IP) strategy. Receive, verify, and accept contractually ordered technical data. Verify contractually ordered technical data is stored, maintained, and has access controlled in accordance with the configuration management plan and the IP strategy.

Source: AWQI eWorkbook

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Resources

Key terms

• Architecture Data
• Authoritative Data Source
• Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL)
• Contractual Data Requirement
• Data Rights
• Data Rights, Identification and Assertion of Use, Release or Disclosure Restrictions, DFARS 252.227-7017
• Form, Fit, and Function Data
• Integrated Product Support Element - Technical Data
• Intellectual Property Strategy
• Rights in Technical Data
• Technical Data
• Technical Data Package

Source:
DAU ACQuipedia
DAU Glossary

Policy and Guidance

• DoDI 5000.85, 3D.2.b.(5)(k) IP and 3D.3.c.(5) IP Strategy
• DoDI 5000.97 Digital Engineering
• Systems Engineering (SE) Guidebook, Section 4.1.7 Technical Data Management Process
• DoD Data, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence Adoption Strategy
• DoD Digital Engineering Strategy
• DoD Intellectual Property Cadre Office site
• DoD Open Systems Architecture Contract Guidebook for Program Managers, v1.1, June 2013
• IEEE 15288.1 Application of SE on Defense Programs Section 6.3.6 Information Management process
• Life Cycle Sustainment Plan (LCSP) Outline Section 4.5 Technical Data
• MIL-STD-31000, Technical Data Packages
• OUSD(R&E) SE&A Digital Engineering, Modeling and Simulation page
• SEBoK – Information Management
• Systems Engineering Plan (SEP) Outline Section 3.2.11 Technical Data Management

Other

OUSD R&E Digital Engineering, Modeling and Simulation

DAU Training Courses

• CLCL 010: Technical Data
• ETM 1040: Technical Management Foundations, Module 7
• CLE 001: Value Engineering
• CLE 068: Intellectual Property and Data Rights
• CLE 084: Models, Simulations, and Digital Engineering
• CLM 002: Intellectual Property (IP) Valuation
• CLM 071: Introduction to Intellectual Property Strategy
• CLM 072: Intellectual Property (IP) Strategy Development
• CLM 073: Data Management Planning
• CLM 075: Data Acquisition
• CLM 076: Data Marking
• CLM 077: Data Management Protection and Storage
• LOG 2150: Technical Data Management
• CON 0180: Data Rights
• CACQ 008: Foundational Intellectual Property (IP) Credential
• CENG 001: Digital Engineering for DoD Consumers Credential

Media

• Striking the Balance - Price and Data Rights
• Digital Readiness: Data and the World: State of Practice
• Digital Readiness: The World of Data

Communities of Practice

• Data Management
• Intellectual Property (IP) & Data Rights