ACAP Data Collection and Management 2

Question 1

Which Army regulation governs the collection, management, and reporting of cost data for Army acquisition programs?

Accepted Answer

AR 70-13 (Management and Oversight of Defense Acquisition Programs)

Answer

AR 25-1 (Army Information Technology)

Answer

AR 37-1 (Army Financial Management and Accounting)

Answer

AR 700-127 (Integrated Logistics Support)

Question 2

What is the purpose of Technical Performance Measures (TPMs) in the context of data collection for cost analysis?

Accepted Answer

To track technical parameters that drive cost, allowing analysts to correlate technical progress with cost growth

Answer

To set contract performance incentives for the contractor

Answer

To document the required operational capabilities of the system

Answer

To measure the contractor's manufacturing quality rates

Question 3

What is a 'data call' in Army cost analysis?

Accepted Answer

A formal request sent to program offices or contractors to collect specific cost and technical data needed for an estimate

Answer

A teleconference held to discuss cost estimate assumptions

Answer

An automated query run against DACIMS to extract historical data

Answer

A notification to Congress requesting cost data for oversight

Question 4

Why is 'actual cost data' preferred over 'budgeted cost data' when developing cost estimating relationships (CERs)?

Accepted Answer

Actual costs reflect what was truly spent, avoiding budget optimism or political adjustments that distort real cost drivers

Answer

Actual data is always available from DACIMS without normalization

Answer

Budgeted data is classified and cannot be used in unclassified estimates

Answer

Actual data requires no inflation adjustments before use

Question 5

What is a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and why is it critical to cost data collection?

Accepted Answer

A hierarchical decomposition of program scope used to organize and collect costs at consistent, comparable levels across programs

Answer

A schedule showing when each task will be completed

Answer

A breakdown of the contractor's labor categories

Answer

A list of contract line items for billing purposes

Question 6

What does 'data maturity' mean when assessing historical cost data for use in an Army estimate?

Accepted Answer

How complete and final the data is—early-phase data is less mature and more subject to revision than data from completed programs

Answer

The age of the data in years since it was collected

Answer

Whether the data has been approved by the Army Cost Review Board

Answer

The number of data points available in the historical database