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PDR-ready, with the readiness assessment to prove it.
PDR isn’t a document; it’s a state. The NASA SE Handbook §6.7 specifies entry + exit criteria the review panel checks against. Blueprint emits the full Phase 1.4 artifact set + a Phase-D readiness assessment that scores each criterion against your graph — “met”, “partial”, or “unmet” with evidence.
What PDR readiness actually requires.
Per NASA SE Handbook §6.7.4, PDR entry criteria require:
- Allocated Baseline established. DTRs allocated to components; interface specs defined.
- Preliminary design at the major-element level. Design specs per component, interface specs per interface.
- Risk register with mitigation plans. Per-risk likelihood × impact + tracked mitigation.
- Verification plan. Per shall + per MOE / MOP / TPM.
- Trade studies for major design choices. Alternatives + criteria + scoring + rationale.
- Enabling products + GSE plan. Test fixtures, jigs, facility, training, documentation.
Phase 1.4 in Blueprint terms = every item above. The Phase-D readiness worker then scores each entry criterion against your graph state and emits a “met / partial / unmet” assessment per criterion, with citations to the graph nodes that satisfy each one.
What the readiness assessment looks like.
PDR Readiness Assessment
Gate: PDR
Baseline: Allocated
Status: ready-with-concerns
ENTRY CRITERIA (6 of 6 met):
[met] Allocated Baseline established
Evidence: DTR-1..DTR-23 allocated to C-1..C-12
[met] Preliminary design at major-element level
Evidence: DS-1..DS-12, IFS-1..IFS-5
[met] Risk register with mitigation
Evidence: RSK-1..RSK-9, all carry mitigation field
[met] Verification plan per shall
Evidence: VER-1..VER-23 trace to REQs
[met] Trade studies for major design choices
Evidence: TS-1 (chemistry), TS-2 (controller)
[met] Enabling products plan
Evidence: EP-1..EP-4, lifecycle phases assigned
EXIT CRITERIA (3 of 4 met):
[met] DTRs allocated → Allocated Baseline complete
[met] Risk mitigations on track
[met] TPMs within thresholds
[partial] IRDs frozen
Gap: IFS-3 (telemetry) draft only, target CDR
Blocking findings: none for PDR.
Recommendation: Convene PDR review panel; defer IFS-3 to CDR.Every status comes with evidence — the graph node IDs the Phase-D worker cited. The reviewer can click through to each. Same citation discipline as the rest of the pack.
The math.
The canonical PDR section. Blueprint scores against the criteria listed here.
Phase-D worker assesses each criterion against the graph; never invents evidence.
Plus 'not-ready' and 'ready'. Designed for a reviewer to read in 30 seconds.
Full Phase 1.4 + Phase-D. PDR pack lands at the same time as the rest of the SE.
Questions about PDR readiness.
Does Blueprint approve the gate?
No. Phase-D is a worker, not a reviewer. It assesses readiness; humans approve. The assessment surfaces what a reviewer would find — proactively, before they find it. When the assessment says 'ready-with-concerns', the responsible engineer can address the concerns before the review panel convenes.
What about SRR / SDR / CDR — does Blueprint do those too?
Yes. SRR / SDR / PDR / CDR — all four §6.7 gates. SRR checks Functional Baseline; SDR checks design closure; PDR checks Allocated Baseline + preliminary design; CDR checks Product Baseline. Each has its own entry + exit criteria; Blueprint scores all four per the Handbook.
What if the reviewer disagrees with a 'met' status?
Click the evidence — it's a graph node ID. The reviewer can see the actual artifact (DTR, design spec, risk register entry) that justified the assessment. Disagreement happens at the evidence level, not at the assessment level. The chain is auditable.
Related.
- SBIR Phase I SE deliverables →
The Phase II transition section in your SBIR response — that’s the PDR readiness assessment.
- AFWERX response SE template →
Transition path / production readiness in the AFWERX rubric — same Phase-D assessment.
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