Integrated Baseline Reviews

Overview

FAR 34.202 establishes the requirement and framework for Integrated Baseline Reviews (IBRs), which are joint assessments used to ensure a mutual understanding of project risks and the realism of performance baselines when Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS) are required.

Key Rules

• Mandatory Requirement: An IBR must be conducted whenever an Earned Value Management System (EVMS) is required for a contract.
• Joint Assessment: The review is a collaborative evaluation performed by both the Government and the offeror or contractor.
• Five Core Evaluation Areas: The IBR must assess:
  1. The technical plan's ability to achieve the scope of work.
  2. The adequacy of the schedule to meet project objectives.
  3. The Performance Measurement Baseline’s (PMB) relationship to budget, funding, and scope.
  4. The availability of necessary personnel, facilities, and equipment.
  5. The effectiveness of management processes for integrated planning and baseline control.
• Pre-award Procedures: If a pre-award IBR is conducted, the solicitation must specify procedures and state whether offerors will be reimbursed for costs under FAR Part 31.

Practical Implications

• Risk Mitigation: The IBR serves as a "sanity check" to ensure that the contractor isn't over-promising on technical capabilities or underestimating the costs and time required to complete the work.
• Audit Readiness: Contractors must maintain rigorous documentation and management control systems to demonstrate that their Performance Measurement Baseline is executable and that resources are properly aligned with the project schedule.