Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL)

Definition

The Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL), captured on DD Form 1423, is the authoritative list of every data item the contractor must deliver under a contract. Each CDRL line item points to a Data Item Description (DID) that specifies content and format, and includes fields for frequency, due date, number of copies, distribution statement, and recipient. Technical data, software documentation, progress reports, and test plans all appear as CDRLs. On DoW programs the CDRL is a contract attachment and changes to it require a formal modification.

Why It Matters

CDRLs are often the largest source of hidden cost on a program. A single overlooked CDRL can require unplanned engineering hours, specialized reviewers, or classified-network delivery. Successful capture teams comb the CDRL line by line during proposal development, estimate each deliverable's true cost, and either propose a change or price the risk. During performance, missed CDRLs are a leading cause of negative CPARS ratings and cure notices.

Example

A program has 47 CDRLs. The contractor's proposal team assumed CDRL A012 (a Software Version Description) was a 5-page document, but the DID specifies detailed configuration-item tracing that requires 80 engineering hours per quarterly delivery. The cost mistake is caught in red-team review and priced correctly before submission.

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