Above Target Budget (ATB)
Government Standards
Reviewed by forProject Technology - updated Oct 2026
Quick definition: The Above Target Budget (ATB) is the amount by which the Total Allocated Budget (TAB) exceeds the Contract Budget Base (CBB).
Normally the TAB equals the CBB. When a project formally reprograms into an Over Target Baseline (OTB), the TAB can rise above the CBB. The extra budget is the ATB (ATB = TAB − CBB). The OTB is the whole revised baseline; the ATB is only the amount above the CBB.
What this means for you
The ATB shows how much budget has been added beyond the contract value to give a realistic baseline for managing the remaining work. It does not change the contract price or the fee.
Also known as
Over Target Budget (former term, which shared the OTB acronym)
Used in
Over Target Baseline; formal reprogramming; Total Allocated Budget and Contract Budget Base reconciliation; IPMDAR reporting
Related job aid
How Contract Price, Cost and Budget Fit Together →FAQ
Is the ATB the same as an OTB?
No. The OTB is the whole revised baseline after formal reprogramming. The ATB is just the amount by which the TAB exceeds the CBB.
Does an ATB change the contract price?
No. It is budget for management purposes. The CBB and the contract price stay the same unless the contract is modified.
Definition maintained by forProject Technology.
© 2026 forProject Technology, Inc.
© 2026 forProject Technology, Inc.
