specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
provider: Castor
providerId: castoredc
created: '2026-07-05'
modified: '2026-07-05'
reconciled: false
tags:
- Clinical Trials
- Electronic Data Capture
- EDC
- Healthcare
- FinOps
- Cost Management
- FOCUS
description: >-
  FinOps view of Castor spend. Castor EDC / CDMS is a subscription SaaS billed per
  study rather than by API consumption - cost is driven by the number and size of
  studies, contracted users, study duration, enabled modules (surveys / ePRO,
  randomization, eConsent), region, and compliance requirements, all negotiated by
  quote. The REST API is included with a study subscription and carries no
  per-call charge; it is governed by rate limits rather than metered billing. For
  cost management, the unit of allocation is the study (and, within a sponsor / CRO
  portfolio, the set of studies), not tokens or requests.
notes: >-
  Castor does not publish list pricing or a usage-metered billing model for the
  API; there are no per-call meters to reconcile in FOCUS terms. The meters below
  describe the subscription cost drivers, not API usage charges. Verify contracted
  terms with Castor sales and the helpdesk "Costs and payment" section.
sources:
- https://www.castoredc.com
- https://helpdesk.castoredc.com/hc/en-us/sections/27224717211805-Costs-and-payment
- https://helpdesk.castoredc.com/application-programming-interface-api
- https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
alignedWith:
  framework: FinOps Foundation Framework
  frameworkUrl: https://www.finops.org/framework/
  dataSpec: FOCUS
  dataSpecVersion: '1.3'
  dataSpecUrl: https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
publisherName: Castor
serviceCategory: Healthcare and Life Sciences
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Subscription
  billingFrequency: Annual
  billingCurrency: USD
  chargeCategories:
  - Purchase
  - Usage
  - Adjustment
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: Castor EDC / CDMS
  ServiceCategory: Healthcare and Life Sciences
  ProviderName: Castor
  PublisherName: Castor
  InvoiceIssuerName: Castor
  BillingCurrency: USD
  ChargeCategory: Purchase
  PricingCategory: Subscription
meters:
- name: study_subscription
  description: Per-study subscription - the primary Castor cost driver, quoted by study size and duration.
  unit: study
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - study
  - region
- name: users
  description: Contracted users / seats with access to a study, a factor in the study quote.
  unit: users
  aggregation: max
  dimensions:
  - study
- name: modules
  description: Optional modules enabled per study (surveys / ePRO, randomization, eConsent) that add to the subscription.
  unit: modules
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - study
- name: api_requests
  description: API requests consumed - not billed, but bounded by rate limits; track for capacity, not cost.
  unit: requests
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - client
  - study
principles:
- name: Visibility
  description: Track subscriptions and enabled modules per study and per sponsor / CRO portfolio; API calls are free but should be monitored against rate limits.
- name: Allocation
  description: Allocate cost by study (and by sponsor / therapeutic program for portfolios), since billing is per study rather than per API call.
- name: Optimization
  description: Right-size the module set and user count per study, retire or archive completed studies, and consolidate integrations to a single API client to stay within rate limits without extra spend.
- name: Accountability
  description: Assign a study owner / budget holder per study; review subscription renewals and module usage against actual trial activity.
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com