The NCHEMS Costing and Data Management System is designed to assist institutions in the implementation of cost studies. There are at least two kinds of cost studies: historical cost studies which display cost-related data that reflect actual events over a specific prior time period, and predictive cost studies which forecast costs that will be incurred during some future time period. These two kinds of cost studies use different techniques. Historical studies require the identification and aggregation of cost related data in terms of actual units (dollars, credit hours, and so forth). Predictive studies usually represent an institution in terms of historically derived parameters (such as average section size, faculty rank mix), which then are used as a basis for forecasting costs. NCHEMS Costing and Data Management System supports both historical and predictive cost studies--specifically, the cost study portion of the Information Exchange Procedures (IEP) and the Resource Requirements Prediction Model (RRPM 1.6). Contained in this report is a general description of the system (purpose, institutional information, structure, and capabilities), accounting information, personnel information, faculty activity information, student registration information, student outcomes information, data management (storage, display, calculation, allocation, unit costing) and other possible uses and definitions. (Author/PG)