INTRODUCTION 1. The Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD) invited the NATO Group on Acquisition Practices (AC/313) to develop guidelines which would assist contracting efforts in the framework of NATO co-operative programmes. 2. In order to achieve the Continuous Acquisition and Life Cycle Support (CALS) objective for a standardized approach to integrating technical data for use within weapons systems@ a logical data structure is required to control and coordinate all necessary information used to support a weapon system throughout its life cycle. This concept of a data structure to provide for the logical collection of shared data (known as Continuous Acquisition and Life Cycle Support Integrated Weapons System Data Base) to support all users of information systems will provide the basis for Government and Industry to participate in an effective shared environment envisioned under Continuous Acquisition and Life Cycle Support. In order to implement an integrated weapons systems database it is essential that adequate rights to the technical and/or business data be obtained by Government and/or Industry as necessary. 3. In addition@ a clear agreement between Government and Industry as to what is the deliverable data under the contract is required. To address the changed environment with the advent of Continuous Acquisition and Life Cycle Support and the current trend of contracting out logistics support@ it is possible to ensure adequate access to data by both Government and Industry through a Contract Data Requirements List and the associated Data Item Descriptions which form part of the contract. The Contract Data Requirements List and Data Item Description requirements@ specified in the Request for Proposal@ provide the contractual means by which defence systems data@ in digital format or otherwise are delivered to the Government. To receive technical information in Continuous Acquisition and Life Cycle Support standard digital formats@ the Contract Data Requirements List must clearly identify the appropriate Continuous Acquisition and Life Cycle Support requirements for contents@ structure and compliance.