The purpose of this manual is to prescribe standard procedures for use in exchanging contract related data in automated form between purchasing offices and field contract administration offices. These procedures have been established to attain a greater degree of simplification, standardization, and automation in the processing of contract related data. This standardization provides the basis for Defense Components to design and implement compatible internal procedures for coding, transmitting, decoding, and using automated logistics information. The MILSCAP program will reduce the flow of hard copy documents between contract administration organizations and other DoD activities, permit uniform systems at the contract administration level and allow systems to be tailored to Department/Agency requirements at other activities, ensure that the systems of the contract administration offices are responsive to the data needs of the purchasing activities, inventory managers, program managers, and financial activities, and assure a uniform data system which makes the most economical use of resources. The proper use of these procedures will permit improvements at all levels.