Emergency schedule remediation for billion-dollar defense and aerospace programs. We build proposal schedules that evaluators trust. We fix troubled schedules that pass DCMA.
84% of contractor EVMS have compliance issues — DCMA 2024
When leadership asks "Will we make the milestone?" — the answer should never be a guess.
This phenomenon is called "sudden schedule collapse" — sometimes known as the "watermelon effect" (green on the outside, red on the inside). Programs don't gradually slip from 10% behind to 20% behind in a linear way. They often show green status for months, then suddenly reveal they're catastrophically off-track.
When a task slips early in the schedule, the impact doesn't show up immediately. The delay propagates through the network of dependencies, but it takes time before those downstream effects become visible. By the time leadership sees red on the dashboard, the problem has been compounding for weeks or months.
Programs have built-in schedule slack (total float), and early slips get absorbed by that buffer. Everything looks fine until the float is exhausted — then suddenly every slip hits the critical path directly, and the end date starts moving.
Many programs pass their Integrated Baseline Review looking healthy, then collapse 6-12 months later when the accumulated issues finally surface. The GAO has documented this pattern repeatedly in their annual assessments of major weapon systems.
By the time you realize you need help, you're already in crisis mode. That's exactly when you need experts who can start tomorrow.
DoD weapon system acquisition has remained on GAO's High Risk List since 1990 — the longest-running designation.
Major defense acquisition programs experience $49.3 billion in annual cost growth beyond original estimates.
Of contractor Earned Value Management Systems have compliance issues identified during DCMA surveillance.
Your Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) is the single source of truth for program execution. It's not just a list of tasks — it's the network of dependencies that determines whether you deliver on time or not.
The longest chain of dependent activities that determines your earliest possible completion date. If any task on this path slips, your end date slips. Without visibility to your critical path, you're managing blind.
Most programs operate without a compliant IMS. They track tasks but not dependencies. They see activities but not the critical path. Without this visibility, program managers can't answer basic questions: What drives our finish date? Are we actually on track? Where should we focus resources?
DCMA audits schedule compliance. Non-compliance isn't a minor issue — it's a career risk.
Government customers require EIA-748 EVMS. Your Earned Value depends on a compliant schedule baseline.
Proposal evaluators score schedule credibility. A weak IMS can cost you the contract.
The Defense Contract Management Agency evaluates every IMS against 14 criteria. Here's what they check:
From ground-up IMS development to emergency schedule recovery
Build DCMA-compliant schedules from scratch or remediate existing schedules to pass the 14-Point Assessment.
Monte Carlo simulation with 30,000+ iterations. P80 confidence dates per AMSAA methodology.
Comprehensive evaluation against all DCMA criteria with specific remediation recommendations by Task UID.
EIA-748 EVMS implementation, CAM training, CPI/SPI analysis, and audit preparation.
30+ years of Defense and Aerospace expertise, on call, no ramp-up.
"Proposal due in 30 days? Schedule falling apart before an IBR?"
Stop trying to figure it out internally. We build proposal schedules that evaluators trust. We fix troubled schedules that pass DCMA. We can start tomorrow.
Your calls get answered first. Because panic waits for no one.
30+ years expertise on tap. We skip the learning curve—we wrote it.
No gatekeepers. No ticket queues. You call, we answer.
Same experts who know your programs. No explaining things twice.
Ready to secure priority access to 30+ years of defense schedule expertise?
Contact Us for Custom Solutions"We've seen worse. We fixed it. Let's connect."
For technical support: River@RamjacConsulting.com