CDRL
Contract Data Requirements List
Acronyms & AbbreviationsDefinition
A CDRL (Contract Data Requirements List, pronounced 'see-drill') is the formal list of all data deliverables required under a DoD contract. Each CDRL item specifies what document or data the contractor must deliver, when, in what format, and to whom.
CDRLs are unique to DoD contracts (civilian agencies use different deliverable tracking). They are submitted on DD Form 1423 and reference Data Item Descriptions (DIDs) that define the content and format of each deliverable.
Common CDRL items include:
- Monthly status reports
- Test plans and test reports
- Systems engineering documentation
- Training materials
- Technical manuals
- Software documentation
- Quality assurance plans
- Risk management plans
Why CDRLs matter for proposals:
- Each CDRL has a cost — factor the labor to produce deliverables into your pricing
- CDRLs define acceptance criteria — the government can reject deliverables that don't meet the DID specifications
- Late or poor-quality CDRLs affect your past performance rating
- Review CDRLs carefully during the RFP response — they often reveal the government's true priorities
Tip: Count the CDRLs in an RFP and estimate the labor to produce each one. On complex programs, CDRL production can represent 10-15% of total contract cost.
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