Use of Magnetic Tape for Reporting Cost Information.

As an alternative to the current practice of submitting cost reports on paper, this study suggests incorporating the capabilities of electronic data processing in the design of reporting systems and using magnetic tape as the primary medium for reporting and storing data. Instead of submitting printed reports, a contractor would provide documentation of his accounting system and work assignment structure at the initiation of a procurement program, and provide periodic tape copies of his internal accounting records during the acquisition phase. A sample program was selected as a test case and all major tasks were performed, including in-depth reviews of the contractor's accounting system and the procurement program's work breakdown structure. A series of specialized paper reports were printed using a generalized report-generating program written for the project. No problems were encountered that could be attributed to the basic concepts of the system or to the principal elements of implementation. 55 pp.