| name | mil-std-881f |
| description | Knowledge base from MIL-STD-881F (13 May 2022), DoD Standard Practice for Work Breakdown Structures for Defense Materiel Items. Use for Program/Contract/Subcontract WBS construction, 100% rule and dictionary discipline, commodity appendices A–J, Common Elements (K), sustainment CES reporting (L), Government ST&E (M), and RFP/post-award implementation. Technical planning & WBS and PM/measurement focus—not a cost manual substitute for CAPE policy. |
MIL-STD-881F — Work Breakdown Structures for Defense Materiel Items
Source: MIL-STD-881F, 13 May 2022 (US DoD; public domain; Distribution Statement A per ASSIST QuickSearch Dist Stmt for Rev F) | Chapters: 7
When to use
Use this pack when building or reviewing a defense Program or Contract WBS: choosing commodity appendices, applying the 100% rule, writing WBS dictionaries, placing software/cyber/SoS work, hanging Appendix K common elements, aligning IMP/IMS and cost reporting identifiers, implementing post-award WBS control, or applying Appendix L sustainment CES / Appendix M Government ST&E structures under 881F.
Prerequisites: none — plain Markdown; no MCP server, API key, or licence tier needed at runtime. Pair with program cost/CSDR guidance and service tailoring memos for reporting specifics.
How to Use This Skill
- Without arguments — load the core frameworks below.
- With a topic — ask about Program vs Contract WBS, 100% rule, dictionaries, a commodity appendix, common elements, sustainment L, or software placement.
- With a chapter — ask for
ch01 through ch07.
Supporting files: glossary.md, patterns.md, cheatsheet.md.
Core Frameworks & Mental Models
Three-layer WBS spine
- Program WBS (Government) — whole materiel item / PE
- Contract WBS — performer extension of program parents
- Subcontract WBS — lower-tier extension with same product parents
100% rule
Decomposition children must represent 100% of parent work/resources. Never promote a child to sibling of its former parent for 'visibility'.
Commodity + commons pattern
| Layer | Source |
|---|
| Product taxonomy | Appendices A–J |
| Enabling commons | Appendix K (A–J only) |
| Sustainment CES reporting | Appendix L |
| Government ST&E | Appendix M |
Dictionary discipline
Every managed element needs definition, inclusions, exclusions—this is interface control for cost, schedule, and engineering.
Software dual path
- Embedded on weapon equipment → prefer equipment parent (elevate only if unpartitionable)
- IS/Defense Business Systems → Appendix J
Pre-award → post-award flow
Program WBS + dictionary → RFP extension requirements → Contract WBS CM → reporting levels ≤ definition depth → L/M where applicable.
Chapter Index
| # | Section | Key content |
|---|
| ch01 | WBS Principles and Definitions | Purpose, PE/materiel item, 100% rule, dictionary, layers |
| ch02 | Program WBS, Roles, Pre-Award | Government construction, RFP, pitfalls |
| ch03 | Contract WBS and Programmatic Issues | Extension, SoS, cyber, software, IMP/IMS |
| ch04 | Commodity Templates A–F | Aircraft, electronics, missile, strategic, sea, space |
| ch05 | Commodity Templates G–J | Ground, unmanned maritime, launch, IS/DBS |
| ch06 | Common Elements (K) | SE/PM, ST&E, training, data, SE, facilities, spares |
| ch07 | Implementation, Reporting, Sustainment | Numbering, CSDR, Appendix L CES, Appendix M |
Topic Index
- 100% rule / parent-child integrity → ch01, ch03
- Aircraft WBS (Appendix A) → ch04
- CAPE Sustainment CES / Appendix L → ch07
- Common Elements / Appendix K → ch06
- Contract WBS extension → ch03, ch07
- CSDR / reporting levels → ch07
- Cybersecurity placement → ch03
- Dictionary → ch01, ch02
- Electronics / avionics / generic (B) → ch04
- Government ST&E / Appendix M → ch07
- Ground vehicle (G) → ch05
- IMP / IMS linkage → ch03
- Information Systems / DBS (J) → ch05, ch03
- Launch vehicle (I) → ch05
- Missile / ordnance (C) / strategic (D) → ch04
- PM / measurement / EVMS mapping → ch07
- Program Element / defense materiel item → ch01
- Program WBS / pre-award / RFP → ch02
- Sea systems (E) → ch04
- SE/PM / SEIT/PM → ch06
- Software placement (embedded vs IS) → ch03, ch05
- Space systems (F) → ch04
- Subcontract WBS → ch03
- System of Systems / Family of Systems → ch03
- Technical planning & WBS → ch01, ch02, ch07
- Training / data / support equipment elements → ch06
- Unmanned maritime (H) → ch05
Supporting Files
Scope & Limits
- Covers MIL-STD-881F WBS standard practice only (13 May 2022 text used at build).
- Does not replace CAPE CSDR manuals, service-unique WBS memos, or contract clauses.
- Synthesized reference notes; not a substitute for the official ASSIST publication for contractual citation.
- No source PDF or full-text redistribution in this pack.
