The contractor should be required to validate that the delivered TM conforms to the contractual requirements. Specific validation agenda should be provided in the contractor's validation plan and associated documentation.

The acceptance of CALS digital data products, either delivered on physical media or by CITIS, is different in several ways from the acceptance of comparable paper data products. The following paragraphs provide details on the acceptance of digital data products.

The unique aspect of CALS digital data deliverables is that they will be subject to inspection and acceptance on several levels. The lowest level of acceptance is the data content and format. The acceptance process at this level is identical to acceptance of the data product provided on paper. This level of acceptance will be accomplished by viewing the data either through use of computer video screen or by viewing a paper printout of the data product.

The next level of acceptance is adherence to the specified CALS data exchange format. This will usually be compliant with the CALS standards or other national or international data exchange standards. This level of acceptance may be aided by automated tools. The next level of acceptance is applied to the digital data format, such as MIL-STD-1840, if it has been specified. Again, automated tools may be used to verify compliance. Other formatting requirements may be subject to inspection and acceptance including EDIFACT format, when specified.

Finally, the physical media may have acceptance criteria to be applied. This level of acceptance will not be used if data has been formally delivered by the CITIS. The means of inspection to be used should be provided to the contractor as soon as these means have been determined. Any or all levels of acceptance may be performed at the contractor's facility or at the NATO/NATO nations's facility, as required. In addition to digital data acceptance, CITIS requires additional acceptance requirements to be applied.