Project and Contract Baseline Assessment Tools

1.  Project Critical Decision Assessment Tool (CDAT)

Successor tool to the EM Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI), recommended for developing projects.

The Office of Environmental Management (EM) Project Critical Decision Assessment Tool (CDAT) was developed by an EM team as a successor to the EM PDRI (which has been successfully used to assist project planning and as CD assessment tools for well over a decade) for use on EM's projects.  The CDAT is designed to help measure EM project maturity levels and, most importantly, to assess and/or self-assess readiness for achieving each of the four DOE Critical Decision (CD) levels. The CDAT incorporates the lessons learned over the years through its continuous use (starting as the EM PDRI) on EM projects.  The EM-CDAT tool uses the full range of project elements grouped by cost, schedule, scope, technical, management, planning/control and safety. These elements and their associated rating criteria encompass and are in conformance with most current version of applicable DOE Orders, Standards, Guides, EM policies and federal regulations. 

The EM CDAT was originally called the “EM PDRI” when first released in 2000. However, in a May 2018 during a presentation and discussion of the updated tool for the EM Applied Cost Engineering (ACE) team, who recommended changing the name to the CDAT, which better describes the purpose of the tool and avoids confusion with an existing commercial product, The Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI), is a project scope definition tool developed under the guidance of Construction Industry Institute (CII).

To maximize its utility for all the projects within the EM Program Portfolio, three CDAT sets were developed. Each of these CDAT sets were tailored to the unique requirements of each of the three main types of EM projects: 1. Construction; 2. Environmental Restoration (CERCLA/RCRA); and 3. Facility Deactivation and Decommissioning (Non-CERCLA D&D projects). Through assignment of numerical scores for each element based on a measure of how well each elements meets its specific associated criteria the CDAT user determines their project’s maturity level. The overall total score indicates the entire project’s level of maturity and likelihood in achieving each CD level.  

On Sunday, June 26, 2022, members of the EM-HQ Office of Project Management (Dan Melamed and Bryan Skokan) presented a paper: PM-3796, An Adaptable and Comprehensive Project Assessment Tool. This paper includes a detailed discussion of the Project Critical Decision Assessment Tool (CDAT) – including specific recommendations as to how it can be tailored. The authors believe that this tool can be used by organizations outside of the Department of Energy (e.g., another government agency, or a private firm) through adaptation of their own project and/or program management guidelines to specific CDAT assessment elements and criteria. These CDAT elements guidelines (e.g., safety, technology maturation, waste management, etc.) would be tailored by modification to better align with the user’s organization’s which are used to determine the project’s and/or program’s maturity level.

The latest version of all three sets, as well as the CDAT manual, are available for download below.  If you have questions about the EM-CDAT, please contact Rodney Lehman at Rodney.Lehman@em.doe.gov, 301-903-6104.

To download the 2023 EM CDAT, please select the desired phases from the list below:

1. EM CDAT update forwarding memorandum
2. EM Project Critical Decision Assessment Tool (CDAT) Manual  
3. 2023 EM Construction CDAT scoring matrix   
4.  2023 EM Construction CDAT Criteria 
5. 2023 EM Environmental Restoration CDAT scoring matrix    
6. 2023 Updated EM Environmental Restoration CDAT Criteria  
7. 2023 EM D&D (Non-CERCLA) CDAT scoring matrix   
8. 2023 EM D&D (Non-CERCLA) CDAT Criteria 
9. Native File 2023 EM CDAT Tool with tabs for Construction, Environmental Restoration and D&D (unprotected).  Add columns as needed for self-assessments and/or project reviews.

2.  EM Project Definition Rating Index Tool (EM PDRI)             

 Predecessor tool to the EM CDAT

The EM PDRI was originally published in 2000 and entitled EM Project Definition Rating Index, the “EM PDRI.” In 2018 this tool was updated to the project Critical Decision Assessment Tool (CDAT), which better describes its purpose and avoids confusion with a commercial product that utilizes that same “PDRI” name.  Some existing projects may need to continue to use the 2001 version for continuity. Therefore, it is available, upon request, to those who continue to wish to use it.  

To obtain the EM CDAT predecessor tool (2001 EM PDRI), please contact EM-5.22.