Integrated Master Plan and Integrated Master Schedule Preparation and Use Guide

This Guide provides guidance for the preparation and implementation of a program’s Integrated Master Plan (IMP) and Integrated Master Schedule (IMS). The IMP and IMS are fundamental management tools that are critical to performing effective planning, scheduling, and execution of work efforts. This Guide amplifies the event-based technical approach directed by policy in the February 20, 2004, USD(AT&L) Memorandum, “Policy for Systems Engineering in DoD,” and October 22, 2004, USD(AT&L) Memorandum, “Policy Addendum for Systems Engineering;” complies with the Earned Value Management (EVM) policy directed in the March 7, 2005, USD(AT&L) Memorandum, “Revision to DoD Earned Value Management Policy;” and complements the guidance provided in the Defense Acquisition Guidebook. The primary purpose of the IMP and its supporting detailed schedule, the IMS, is their use by the Government and contractor team as the day-to-day tools for planning, executing, and tracking program technical, schedule, and cost status, including risk mitigation efforts.

This Guide is not intended as the only source of guidance on developing an IMP and IMS or in preparing the IMP and IMS guidance to Offerors in a source selection. Each Government program team should contact its local acquisition support office during the early stages of program planning for assistance in IMP and IMS preparation. This Guide should be tailored and scaled according to the size, content, maturity, and risk of the program. Although there are multiple IMS views (e.g., event-based, Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) based, or productbased) that may be used to implement and provide status for an IMS across a variety of stakeholders, this Guide emphasizes the event-based approach consistent with current Department of Defense (DoD) policy. The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) office of primary responsibility (OPR) for this Guide is OUSD(AT&L) Defense Systems, Systems Engineering, Enterprise Development (OUSD(AT&L) DS/SE/ED). This office will develop and coordinate updates to the Guide as required, based on policy changes and customer feedback.