The purpose of the CDRL is to provide a standardized method of clearly and unambiguously delineating the government's minimum essential data needs.
The CDRL groups all of the data requirements in a single place rather than having them scattered throughout the solicitation or contract.
[2] The CDRL form provides a block for simple citation of which DID it is, as well as where it is mentioned in the SOW and what part(s) of the overall work breakdown structure it is involved with.
(Language altering the data item description would obviously make it no longer a standard DID available by simple citation, pre-approved, and readily handled by existing Department of Defense processes.)
Contracts issued by governments (including their militaries) outside the US also use CDRLs as part of their statements of Work.