Data Item Description (DID)

A Data Item Description (DID) is a standardized DoD document that defines the required content, format, preparation instructions, and intended use of a specific category of technical data or management data deliverable that a contractor must produce and deliver under a government contract.

What is a Data Item Description?

DIDs provide the government and contractors with a common, standardized definition of what each type of data deliverable must contain. Without standardization, contractors and government program offices would need to negotiate the content of every data deliverable individually, creating inefficiency and inconsistency across programs.

DIDs are approved by the DoD Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (AT&L) and cataloged in the Acquisition Streamlining and Standardization Information System (ASSIST). Each DID has a unique identifier (e.g., DI-MGMT-81466 for the Integrated Master Plan) and defines: the title and purpose of the deliverable, applicable document references, the content and format requirements, the intended use, and any preparation instructions.

Contract data requirements are documented in Contract Data Requirements Lists (CDRLs, DD Form 1423), which identify each required deliverable, the applicable DID, the frequency of delivery, and the recipient. The CDRL is the contractual binding between the required deliverables and the contract. Common DID families in defense contracting include management DIDs (plans, reports, schedules), engineering DIDs (technical data packages, specifications), test DIDs (test plans, test reports), and software DIDs (software design documents, test descriptions).

Why DIDs matter for government contractors

Understanding DID requirements prevents deliverable rejection and the costly rework of submitting non-compliant data items. Proposal teams must review all CDRLs and their applicable DIDs when pricing contract proposals, data deliverables represent real labor cost, and underestimating DID compliance effort is a common source of proposal cost risk.

Example

A defense systems contractor is required to deliver an Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) monthly under CDRL DD-MGMT-81650. The DID specifies required fields (task names, durations, predecessors, successors, baseline dates, resource names) and the file format (Primavera P6 XER or Microsoft Project MPP). The contractor's scheduler formats the monthly IMS submission according to the DID, resulting in first-time acceptance by the government's schedule analyst without revision requests.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can contractors access DIDs?

All approved DIDs are publicly available through the ASSIST database at assist.dla.mil. Contractors can search by DID number, title, or keyword. ASSIST also provides the current status of each DID (active, cancelled, or superseded) and the history of revisions.

What is a CDRL and how does it relate to a DID?

A CDRL (Contract Data Requirements List, DD Form 1423) identifies the specific data deliverables required by a contract. Each CDRL line references a DID that defines the deliverable's content and format. The CDRL specifies when the deliverable is due and to whom it is submitted; the DID specifies what it must contain.

Can a contractor use a DID that is cancelled or superseded?

Cancelled DIDs should not be used on new contracts. If a CDRL references a cancelled DID, the contractor should seek clarification from the contracting officer. Superseded DIDs have been replaced by updated versions; the current version should be used unless the contract specifically references the older version and the CO confirms that version applies.

Do civilian agency contracts use DIDs?

DIDs are primarily a DoD construct. Civilian agency contracts use agency-specific data requirements, often described directly in the Performance Work Statement or Statement of Work without a standardized DID format. However, some civilian agencies, particularly DHS, NASA, and the intelligence community, have adopted DID-style standardized deliverable descriptions for major acquisition programs.