34.202 Integrated Baseline Reviews
Source: FAR 34.202 on acquisition.gov
Whenever an EVMS is required, an Integrated Baseline Review must be jointly conducted to ensure project baselines are realistic, achievable, and risks are managed.
Overview
FAR 34.202 establishes the requirement for Integrated Baseline Reviews (IBRs) whenever an Earned Value Management System (EVMS) is mandated on a contract. The IBR is a collaborative assessment between the government and the contractor to ensure that the technical, schedule, and cost baselines are realistic and achievable. The review focuses on verifying the technical content, performance budgets, resources, and schedules, and aims to identify and manage risks inherent in the contractor’s performance plan and management systems. The IBR evaluates the adequacy of the technical plan, schedule, performance measurement baseline, resource availability, and the effectiveness of management processes. The timing and procedures for conducting IBRs are determined by agency-specific guidelines, and if a pre-award IBR is required, the solicitation must outline the procedures and address cost reimbursement in accordance with FAR part 31.
Key Rules
- IBR Requirement with EVMS
- An IBR must be conducted whenever an EVMS is required on a contract.
- Purpose of IBR
- The IBR verifies technical content, realism of budgets, resources, schedules, and identifies risks in performance plans.
- Joint Assessment
- The IBR is a collaborative review between the government and the contractor, focusing on technical, schedule, and cost baselines.
- Evaluation Criteria
- The review assesses technical plan adequacy, schedule realism, PMB execution, resource availability, and management process integration.
- Procedural Requirements
- Agencies set timing and conduct procedures; solicitations must specify pre-award IBR procedures and reimbursement terms if applicable.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: Ensure IBRs are conducted per agency procedures, include IBR requirements in solicitations, and address cost reimbursement if pre-award IBRs are required.
- Contractors: Participate in IBRs, provide necessary data and access, and collaborate in risk identification and management planning.
- Agencies: Develop and enforce procedures for IBR timing and conduct, and oversee compliance with FAR and agency-specific requirements.
Practical Implications
- IBRs are critical for establishing a realistic and achievable project baseline, reducing risk of cost and schedule overruns.
- Contractors must be prepared for in-depth joint reviews and provide transparent access to project plans and management systems.
- Failure to properly conduct or participate in IBRs can lead to project delays, increased oversight, or noncompliance findings.
(a) When an EVMS is required, the Government will conduct an Integrated Baseline Review (IBR).
(b) The purpose of the IBR is to verify the technical content and the realism of the related performance budgets, resources, and schedules. It should provide a mutual understanding of the inherent risks in offerors’/ contractors’ performance plans and the underlying management control systems, and it should formulate a plan to handle these risks.
(c) The IBR is a joint assessment by the offeror or contractor, and the Government, of the-
(1) Ability of the project’s technical plan to achieve the objectives of the scope of work;
(2) Adequacy of the time allocated for performing the defined tasks to successfully achieve the project schedule objectives;
(3) Ability of the Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB) to successfully execute the project and attain cost objectives, recognizing the relationship between budget resources, funding, schedule, and scope of work;
(4) Availability of personnel, facilities, and equipment when required, to perform the defined tasks needed to execute the program successfully; and
(5) The degree to which the management process provides effective and integrated technical/schedule/cost planning and baseline control.
(d) The timing and conduct of the IBR shall be in accordance with agency procedures. If a pre-award IBR will be conducted, the solicitation must include the procedures for conducting the IBR and address whether offerors will be reimbursed for the associated costs. If permitted, reimbursement of offerors’ pre-award IBR costs is governed by the provisions of FAR part 31.