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Pinnacle Implements Microsoft Project for Project Deltek Cobra for DOE

Written by Pinnacle Management Systems, Inc. | Wednesday, October 29, 2025

Pinnacle successfully completed an EVMS implementation for the Sierra Nevada Region of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) located in Folsom, California.

Pinnacle was selected to stand-up and configure a combination of tools including MS Project, forProject, Deltek Cobra and Deltek wInsight in order to manage the Sacramento Voltage Support 26 mile 230 kV Transmission Line construction effort valued in the $75 Million range.  The goal of the implementation was to set up an EVM System that would become the basis for all WAPA projects that had an EVMS requirement. 

As part of the initial implementation, Pinnacle supplied Earned Value Process Development Documents such as:

System Description

The WAPA EVM System Description describes the justification for using Earned Value within the Western Area Power Administration and the general Earned Value principles and processes to be used by a project requiring the use of an EVMS in the management of that project.  This includes the Work Definition, Assignment and Authorization, the Integrated Scheduling, the Budget Baseline Development and the Control Account Planning. The objective of the EVM System Description is to provide guidance for the planning, authorizing, monitoring, and controlling of project work scope, schedule and cost to the Project Manager.  

Project Implementation Instructions

The WAPA EVMS Project Implementation Instructions describe the detailed EVMS principles and processes used in the implementation of a specific project.  The objective is to provide guidance in the use of the earned value options for progress measurements, variance analysis, forecasting and change management control within the Western environment to the Project Management Team.

Software Configuration Workbook

The SVS EVMS Software Configuration Workbook defines the Earned Value Management System software.  This includes the features and defaults settings used in MS Project, Deltek Cobra and Deltek wInsight for the execution of the earned value processes adopted for a specific project (SVS). It illustrates those software configuration options specifically selected by the SVS Project.  The objective of this workbook is to provide guidance to the EVMS Data Administrator and to act as a guide for future EVMS projects undertaken by WAPA. 

EVMS Desk Instructions

The SVS EVMS Desk Instructions list the detailed steps and computer keystrokes required for a technician or scheduler to perform the necessary tasks in the execution of the Earned Value processes adopted by a particular project (in this case SVS).  The objective of these instructions is to document the actions required by the EVMS Project Administrator performing the cyclical processes necessary in the execution of the EVMS so that there is consistency in the application of data to the process over time and across potentially changing personnel or project organization.

Additionally, Pinnacle conducted training and workshops to educate Project Managers and Control Account Managers (CAMs) in such areas as:

  • General EVMS terms and concepts
  • Monthly CAMs schedule status updates using Update forProject 
  • CAM training for wInsight Web which was used for ad hoc reporting and entry of monthly Variance Analysis Reports (VAR) explanations and mitigation strategies.
  • WAPA accounting personnel in the monthly transfer of project actuals from WAPA’s Oracle Financials into Deltek Cobra.

Pinnacle Consultants were utilized to stand up and run all monthly updates for the Sacramento Voltage Support project for a period of two years.  Some of the duties performed by Pinnacle during this time were:

  • Configure and integrate MS Project and Deltek Cobra so that all necessary coding of fields and data required for all reports were in place.
  • Perform the initial data loading for MS Project and Deltek Cobra.
  • Conduct Remote Support with the CAMs helping them manage their Control Accounts. 
  • Perform duties of the Integrated Master Scheduler, EVMS Administrator and EV Analyst which included monthly data input and manipulation, analysis of schedule and cost data and creation of all reports required by the Project Manager and CAMs.

This implementation effort by Pinnacle has become the standard for all WAPA projects and has been successfully used in subsequent transmission projects.

Read the full case study here. Don't forget to check out our other case studies as well.

 

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