Labor Categories Subtask

Use this subtask to define labor categories that can help you identify resources that meet specific criteria needed for the contract.

A labor category can be assigned to only one contract, but a contract can have multiple labor categories.

You set the requirements for the labor category on the Required Criteria subtask. Here, you can specify the skills, training, degrees, and other requirements for the resource that could potentially work on the contract.

You can manually assign potential resources to each labor category or load them from the opportunity using the Load Opp Labor Categories button.

Once potential resources have been assigned to the labor category (that is, records exist on the Potential Resource Details subtask), further changes to the labor category depend on the settings selected in the Labor Category Options group box on the Configure Contract Management Settings screen:

  • If the Do not allow changes once resources are assigned option is selected, no changes to the labor category will be allowed. Costpoint displays an error message if you attempt to make changes to the labor category.
  • If the Allow changes once resources are assigned is selected, any changes to the labor category will be allowed. No message is displayed, unless the Provide Warning check box is also selected in Configure Contract Management Settings.

When deleting labor categories, note the following guidelines:

  • If criteria have already been defined for the labor category on the Required Criteria subtask, Costpoint displays a warning when you attempt to delete the labor category. You can either proceed with the deletion or cancel.
  • If potential resources have already been assigned to the labor category and you attempt to delete the labor category, Costpoint displays an error message. You have to remove the resources from the labor category or assign them to another labor category before you can delete the labor category record.

Table Window

Click New to add a new line.

Field Description
Load Opp Labor Categories

Click this button to automatically populate the table window with the labor categories associated with the opportunity linked to the contract. Labor categories that display are those that exist on the Labor Categories subtask on the Team tab of the Manage Opportunities screen.

Note: If new opportunity labor categories are added after the initial contract labor categories have been loaded, you can load data again from the opportunity. Any previous rows loaded will be duplicated, and you need to remove them before saving to prevent duplicate records.
Labor Category

Enter, or click to select, the project labor category that you want to associate with the contract. You can select to copy an existing project labor category (PLC) or manually enter a new labor category code that does not yet exist on the system. This labor category relates only to this specific contract.

Note: Selecting an existing PLC only copies the PLC code and description to the contract labor category fields. Any changes to these fields do not update the PLC tables.
Labor Category Description

If you selected to copy an existing PLC in Labor Category, this field automatically displays the description of that project labor category, but this can be edited. If you entered the labor category manually, enter the description in this field.

Note: Selecting an existing PLC only copies the PLC code and description to the contract labor category fields. Any changes to these fields do not update the PLC tables.
Status

Select the status of the labor category. Valid options are Active and Inactive.

If resources have already been assigned to this labor category and you change the status from Active to Inactive, all related resources will be inactivated. If you change the status back to Active, Costpoint will not automatically change the status of the related resources; you have to manually change the resources' status to Active as applicable.

PLC Enter, or click to select, the PLC that you want to associate with the contract labor category. A PLC can be assigned to multiple contract labor categories. Note that only PLCs available on the Labor Rates subtask on the Team tab of Manage Contracts are valid for entry/selection.
Total Resources This field displays the total number of resources assigned to the contract for this labor category as detailed on the Potential Resource Details subtask.
Internal Resources This field displays the total number of internal resources assigned to the contract for this labor category. Internal resources are classified as Employee on the Potential Resource Details subtask.
External / Vacant Resources

This field displays the total number of external resources assigned to the contract for this labor category. It is the number of non-company resources or generic non-specific resources with the following resource type on the Potential Resource Details subtask:

  • Generic Staff
  • Vendor
  • Vendor Employee
POP Start Date

Enter, or click to select, the period of performance (POP) start date for the labor category. This defaults to the Contract Start Date value (if existing) on the Dates tab, but you can edit it. Note, however, that the labor category POP start date must not be earlier than the contract start date; otherwise, Costpoint throws an error message.

POP End Date

Enter, or click to select, the POP end date for the labor category. This defaults to the Contract End Date value (if existing) on the Dates tab, but you can edit it. Note, however, that the labor category POP end date must not be later than the contract end date; otherwise, Costpoint throws an error message.

Work Location Enter, or click to select, the default location where work is expected to be performed. This can be modified at the resource level.
Notes Enter any additional information about the labor category.