Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business

Fourteen Points.
Zero Exceptions.

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

Get Expert Help Now What is Schedule Compliance?
$30B+
Awards Enabled
30+
Years Experience
$8.66B
Largest Single-Program IMS
Day 1
Productive Immediately
The Executive Challenge

Programs Don't Fail Slowly.
They Fail Suddenly.

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.

Hidden Dependencies Mask the Real Damage

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.

Total Float Gets Consumed Invisibly

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.

The IBR Trap

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.

35

Years on GAO's High-Risk List

DoD weapon system acquisition has remained on GAO's High Risk List since 1990 — the longest-running designation.

Source: GAO High Risk Series, 2023
$49B

Annual Cost Growth

Major defense acquisition programs experience $49.3 billion in annual cost growth beyond original estimates.

Source: GAO Weapon Systems Annual Assessment
84%

EVMS Compliance Issues

Of contractor Earned Value Management Systems have compliance issues identified during DCMA surveillance.

Source: DCMA NDIA Presentation, 2024
Understanding Schedule Intelligence

What is an Integrated Master Schedule?

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 Critical Path

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.

DCMA 14-Point Assessment

The Defense Contract Management Agency evaluates every IMS against 14 criteria. Here's what they check:

1
Logic — Are tasks properly linked?
2
Leads — Are there invalid negative lags?
3
Lags — Excessive positive lags?
4
Constraints — Hard dates without justification?
...
+ 10 more criteria including float, duration, resources, critical path, and baseline integrity.
Download our DCMA 14-Point Reference Card (PDF)
What We Do

Build It. Fix It. Own It.

From ground-up IMS development to emergency schedule recovery

IMS Development

Build DCMA-compliant schedules from scratch or remediate existing schedules to pass the 14-Point Assessment.

Schedule Risk Analysis

Monte Carlo simulation with 30,000+ iterations. P80 confidence dates per AMSAA methodology.

DCMA 14-Point Assessment

Comprehensive evaluation against all DCMA criteria with specific remediation recommendations by Task UID. Download the reference card ↓

EVM Integration

EIA-748 EVMS implementation, CAM training, CPI/SPI analysis, and audit preparation. EVMS corrective action and surveillance response for DOE and DCMA reviews, plus cost volume and Basis of Estimate development for competitive pursuits including OTAs.

EIA-748-E Transition

SAE published EIA-748-E in February 2026, reducing the EVMS guideline set from 32 to 27, and DoD reissued the EVMS Interpretation Guide in June 2026. DFARS thresholds moved to $50M for EVMS reporting and $100M for compliance reviews. We remap your system description, CAM training, and internal surveillance checklists to the 27-guideline framework so your validated system stays compliant on new awards.

Executive Reporting & Program Review Packages

We turn raw MS Project, SRA, and EVM data into decision-ready visuals: program review decks, milestone status reports, variance tables, and schedule-at-a-glance graphics with plain-English bottom lines your leadership and customer can read in minutes. Samples available on request.

Priority Access Program

Skip the Line. Get the Experts.

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.

Guaranteed Availability

Your calls get answered first. Because panic waits for no one.

Zero Ramp-Up

30+ years expertise on tap. We skip the learning curve—we wrote it.

Direct Access

No gatekeepers. No ticket queues. You call, we answer.

Continuity

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
Trusted By Industry Leaders

Proven Track Record

Our client engagements across the defense and aerospace industry are held in strict confidence. We protect our customers' privacy the same way we protect their schedules — without exception.

References available upon inquiry.

CAGE Code
6YG01
UEI
E17PP8DLD3C7
NAICS
541330, 541611, 541614, 541618, 611430
Status
SDVOSB Certified
Registration
SAM.gov Registered & Active
U.S. Small Business Administration Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Certified badge
SBA VetCert
Vets First Eligible · 38 U.S.C. § 8127
Cert # VSBC-52457556019
National Center Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP) Graduate seal
VIP Graduate
Aerospace · GROW · International · 2026
Texas vetHUB Certified badge
Texas VetHUB Certified
VID 1383913065800 · CMBL Vendor 557024

"We've seen worse. We fixed it."

Emanuel King Smith III

Founder & CEO | Technical Lead 571-435-4179 Connect on LinkedIn

Faith Shepherd-Smith

President 832-492-7441 Connect on LinkedIn
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For technical support: [email protected]