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Total Allocated Budget

Total Allocated Budget (TAB)

EVM Terms Reviewed by forProject Technology - updated Oct 2026
Quick definition: The Total Allocated Budget (TAB) is the sum of all budget allocated to a contract, made up of the Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB) plus Management Reserve (MR).

Unless an Over Target Baseline (OTB) has been established, TAB is exactly equal to the Contract Budget Base (CBB). In an OTB, TAB = CBB + Above Target Budget (ATB). TAB represents the full budget a contractor has been given to accomplish authorized work, split between the baseline used to measure performance and reserve held back for unforeseen risk.

What this means for you

The Total Allocated Budget (TAB) is the sum of all Control Account and Summary Level Planning Package (SLPP) budgets, any balance in Undistributed Budget (UB), and the Management Reserve (MR). Comparing it with the Contract Budget Base (CBB) confirms that the budget allocated in the project plan doesn't exceed the Negotiated Contract Cost (NCC) plus any Authorized, Unpriced Work (AUW). In short, it makes sure the allocated budget doesn't exceed the total authorized budget on the project.

Also known as
TAB
Used in
Budget Log; Contract Budget Base

Related job aid

How Contract Price, Cost and Budget Fit Together →

FAQ

Is TAB the same as the contract value?
No. TAB is the budget available for authorized work; contract price also includes profit or fee. Absent an Over Target Baseline, TAB equals the Contract Budget Base — a cost figure, not a price.
When would TAB not equal the CBB?
Only when an Over Target Baseline (OTB) has been established — otherwise TAB and the Contract Budget Base should be equal.
Definition maintained by forProject Technology.
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