diff --git a/.rabbit/context.yaml b/.rabbit/context.yaml
index b711f8a..f9791e3 100644
--- a/.rabbit/context.yaml
+++ b/.rabbit/context.yaml
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ version: udx.dev/dev.kit/v1
 generator:
   tool: dev.kit
   repo: https://github.com/udx/dev.kit
-  version: 0.12.0
-  generated_at: 2026-05-27T09:28:30Z
+  version: 0.13.0
+  generated_at: 2026-05-27T18:39:54Z
   sources:
     homepage: https://udx.dev/kit
     repository: https://github.com/udx/dev.kit
@@ -56,20 +56,6 @@ commands:
     run: make run
     source: docs/references/command-surfaces.md
 
-# Gaps — Factors that are missing or only partially supported by current repo signals.
-# Note: Base the result on explicit factor rules, not free-form judgment.
-# Note: Include message and evidence so the status can be reviewed.
-# Note: Prefer traceable refs and missing signals over vague advice.
-
-gaps:
-  - factor: config
-    status: partial
-    message: Found config-bearing repo assets in deploy.yml, but no canonical checked-in config contract is declared yet.
-    repair_target: deploy.yml or .env.example
-    reference: docs/references/config-contract-surfaces.md
-    evidence:
-      - runtime config: deploy.yml
-
 # Dependencies — Meaningful dependency-repo contracts such as reusable workflows, images, or versioned manifests this repo relies on.
 # Note: Capture execution-shaping behavior defined outside the current checkout.
 # Note: Avoid promoting standard package inventory or ordinary GitHub action refs into top-level context.
diff --git a/changes.md b/changes.md
index f870310..eae0b9f 100644
--- a/changes.md
+++ b/changes.md
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 # Changes
 
+### 0.13.0
+
+- Allow repo-owned manifests to satisfy config contract coverage when they declare explicit config contract metadata or runtime config sections, avoiding forced `.env.example` files for repos with custom manifest contracts.
+
 ### 0.12.0
 
 - Add generator source refs to `.rabbit/context.yaml` so generated context points to the dev.kit homepage, source repo, npm package, and installation guide.
diff --git a/deploy.yml b/deploy.yml
index d1dcce0..61993c3 100644
--- a/deploy.yml
+++ b/deploy.yml
@@ -11,4 +11,3 @@ config:
   command: "/bin/bash"
   args:
     - "/workspace/tests/suite.sh"
-
diff --git a/docs/context-coverage.md b/docs/context-coverage.md
index 442a167..0bf7b66 100644
--- a/docs/context-coverage.md
+++ b/docs/context-coverage.md
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ gaps:
     message: No explicit configuration contract was detected.
 ```
 
-That should lead to a repo change such as adding config docs, manifest metadata, or a checked-in example file, then regenerating context.
+That should lead to a repo change such as adding config docs, adding explicit manifest metadata, declaring runtime config sections in a repo-owned manifest, or adding a checked-in example file, then regenerating context.
 
 ## What Does Not Belong There
 
diff --git a/docs/references/config-contract-surfaces.md b/docs/references/config-contract-surfaces.md
index 20c70da..526d79c 100644
--- a/docs/references/config-contract-surfaces.md
+++ b/docs/references/config-contract-surfaces.md
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ Configuration is often declared through:
 - `.env.example`, `.env.sample`, or `.env.template`
 - focused repo docs such as `README.md` or `docs/config.md`
 - deploy manifests such as `deploy.yml`
-- versioned YAML/JSON manifests with explicit config metadata
+- versioned YAML/JSON manifests with explicit config metadata or runtime config sections
 - checked-in example config files when the repo uses a custom format
 
 ## Build defaults and runtime overlays
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ Example pattern:
 
 That is still one coherent repo contract as long as the split is explicit and checked in.
 
+Custom manifests should not rely on filename rules. For YAML manifests, `dev.kit` treats explicit contract metadata such as `contract: config` or runtime config sections such as `config.env`, `config.environment`, `config.image`, `config.command`, or top-level `env`/`variables`/`settings` as configuration contract evidence.
+
 ## Practical rule
 
 When config gaps are detected:
diff --git a/lib/modules/repo_factors.sh b/lib/modules/repo_factors.sh
index 47dac43..098b486 100644
--- a/lib/modules/repo_factors.sh
+++ b/lib/modules/repo_factors.sh
@@ -54,6 +54,89 @@ dev_kit_repo_has_meaningful_dependency_contract() {
   return 1
 }
 
+dev_kit_manifest_declares_config_contract() {
+  local manifest_path="$1"
+
+  [ -f "$manifest_path" ] || return 1
+
+  awk '
+    /^[[:space:]]*#/ { next }
+    /^[^[:space:]][^:]*:/ {
+      in_contracts = 0
+      in_config = 0
+    }
+    /^[[:space:]]*contracts:[[:space:]]*$/ {
+      in_contracts = 1
+      next
+    }
+    /^[[:space:]]*contracts:[[:space:]]*/ {
+      value = $0
+      sub(/^[[:space:]]*contracts:[[:space:]]*/, "", value)
+      gsub(/["'\''\[\],]/, " ", value)
+      if (value ~ /(^|[[:space:]])config([[:space:]]|$)/) {
+        found = 1
+      }
+      in_contracts = 0
+      next
+    }
+    /^[[:space:]]*contract:[[:space:]]*/ {
+      value = $0
+      sub(/^[[:space:]]*contract:[[:space:]]*/, "", value)
+      gsub(/["'\''\[\],]/, " ", value)
+      if (value ~ /(^|[[:space:]])config([[:space:]]|$)/) {
+        found = 1
+      }
+      next
+    }
+    in_contracts && /^[[:space:]]*-[[:space:]]*/ {
+      value = $0
+      sub(/^[[:space:]]*-[[:space:]]*/, "", value)
+      gsub(/["'\'',]/, " ", value)
+      if (value ~ /(^|[[:space:]])config([[:space:]]|$)/) {
+        found = 1
+      }
+      next
+    }
+    /^[[:space:]]*config:[[:space:]]*$/ {
+      in_config = 1
+      next
+    }
+    /^(env|environment|secrets|variables|settings):[[:space:]]*/ {
+      found = 1
+      next
+    }
+    in_config && /^[[:space:]]+[A-Za-z0-9_.-]+:[[:space:]]*/ {
+      value = $0
+      sub(/^[[:space:]]+/, "", value)
+      sub(/:.*/, "", value)
+      if (value ~ /^(env|environment|secrets|variables|settings|image|images|container|containers|service|services|command|args|volumes)$/) {
+        found = 1
+      }
+      next
+    }
+    END { exit(found ? 0 : 1) }
+  ' "$manifest_path"
+}
+
+dev_kit_repo_config_contract_manifest_files() {
+  local repo_dir="$1"
+  local path=""
+
+  while IFS= read -r path; do
+    [ -n "$path" ] || continue
+    if dev_kit_manifest_declares_config_contract "${repo_dir}/${path}"; then
+      printf '%s\n' "$path"
+    fi
+  done <<EOF
+$(dev_kit_repo_contract_manifest_files "$repo_dir")
+EOF
+}
+
+dev_kit_repo_has_config_contract_manifest() {
+  local repo_dir="$1"
+  [ -n "$(dev_kit_repo_config_contract_manifest_files "$repo_dir")" ]
+}
+
 dev_kit_repo_factor_applicable() {
   local repo_dir="$1"
   local factor="$2"
@@ -120,7 +203,8 @@ _dev_kit_repo_factor_status_compute() {
       fi
       ;;
     config)
-      if dev_kit_repo_has_any_file_from_list "$repo_dir" "config_contract_files"; then
+      if dev_kit_repo_has_any_file_from_list "$repo_dir" "config_contract_files" || \
+         dev_kit_repo_has_config_contract_manifest "$repo_dir"; then
         printf "%s" "present"
       elif dev_kit_repo_has_any_file_from_list "$repo_dir" "config_runtime_files" || dev_kit_repo_documented_env_var "$repo_dir"; then
         printf "%s" "partial"
@@ -230,6 +314,13 @@ EOF
         fi
       done <<EOF
 $(dev_kit_detection_list "config_contract_files")
+EOF
+      while IFS= read -r path; do
+        [ -n "$path" ] || continue
+        evidence="${evidence}config contract manifest: ${path}
+"
+      done <<EOF
+$(dev_kit_repo_config_contract_manifest_files "$repo_dir")
 EOF
       while IFS= read -r path; do
         [ -n "$path" ] || continue
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 2936bda..8e514b1 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "@udx/dev-kit",
-  "version": "0.12.0",
+  "version": "0.13.0",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "@udx/dev-kit",
-      "version": "0.12.0",
+      "version": "0.13.0",
       "license": "MIT",
       "bin": {
         "dev-kit": "bin/dev-kit",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 41e0b56..a53e511 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@udx/dev-kit",
-  "version": "0.12.0",
+  "version": "0.13.0",
   "description": "Context-driven engineering toolkit for AI agents and developers",
   "license": "MIT",
   "repository": {
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/docker-repo/deploy.yml b/tests/fixtures/docker-repo/deploy.yml
index ffacd62..59aec35 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/docker-repo/deploy.yml
+++ b/tests/fixtures/docker-repo/deploy.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
+kind: workerDeployConfig
 version: udx.io/worker-v1/deploy
 
-service:
+config:
   image: "acme/docker-repo:latest"
diff --git a/tests/suite.sh b/tests/suite.sh
index dd7aaf5..571bfc8 100644
--- a/tests/suite.sh
+++ b/tests/suite.sh
@@ -79,6 +79,27 @@ replace_in_file() {
   ' "$file_path" >"$tmp_file" && mv "$tmp_file" "$file_path"
 }
 
+json_factor_status() {
+  local json="$1"
+  local factor="$2"
+
+  printf '%s\n' "$json" | awk -v factor="$factor" '
+    $0 ~ "\"" factor "\":[[:space:]]*\\{" {
+      in_factor = 1
+      next
+    }
+    in_factor && /"status":[[:space:]]*"/ {
+      sub(/^.*"status":[[:space:]]*"/, "", $0)
+      sub(/".*$/, "", $0)
+      print
+      exit
+    }
+    in_factor && /^    }/ {
+      exit
+    }
+  '
+}
+
 while [ "$#" -gt 0 ]; do
   case "$1" in
     --only)
@@ -104,6 +125,8 @@ DEV_KIT_BIN_DIR="$TEST_HOME/.local/bin"
 mkdir -p "$DEV_KIT_BIN_DIR"
 ln -sf "$REPO_DIR/bin/dev-kit" "$DEV_KIT_BIN_DIR/dev.kit"
 export PATH="$DEV_KIT_BIN_DIR:$PATH"
+assert_contains "$(command -v dev.kit)" "$DEV_KIT_BIN_DIR/dev.kit" "suite: uses local dev.kit shim"
+assert_contains "$(dev.kit --version)" "$(awk -F'"' '/"version"/{print $4; exit}' "$REPO_DIR/package.json")" "suite: uses checkout dev.kit version"
 
 # shellcheck disable=SC1090
 . "$DEV_KIT_HOME/bin/env/dev-kit.sh"
@@ -146,6 +169,8 @@ if should_run_explicit "repo-contract"; then
 
   docker_repo_json="$(cd "$DOCKER_ACTION_REPO" && dev.kit repo --json)"
   assert_contains "$docker_repo_json" "\"context\":" "repo contract: docker repo reports context path"
+  assert_contains "$(json_factor_status "$docker_repo_json" config)" "present" "repo contract: reports present config factor"
+  assert_contains "$docker_repo_json" "config contract manifest: deploy.yml" "repo contract: manifest config shape satisfies config contract"
 
   docker_context_yaml="${DOCKER_ACTION_REPO}/.rabbit/context.yaml"
   assert_contains "$(cat "$docker_context_yaml")" "path: deploy.yml" "repo contract: includes deploy manifest"
@@ -364,6 +389,8 @@ if should_run "core"; then
 
   docker_repo_json="$(cd "$DOCKER_ACTION_REPO" && dev.kit repo --json)"
   assert_contains "$docker_repo_json" "\"context\":" "docker repo: reports context path"
+  assert_contains "$(json_factor_status "$docker_repo_json" config)" "present" "docker repo: reports present config factor"
+  assert_contains "$docker_repo_json" "config contract manifest: deploy.yml" "docker repo: manifest config shape satisfies config contract"
 
   docker_context_yaml="${DOCKER_ACTION_REPO}/.rabbit/context.yaml"
   assert_contains "$(cat "$docker_context_yaml")" "generator:" "docker repo: includes generator metadata"
@@ -385,6 +412,8 @@ EOF
   cat > "$IGNORED_ACTION_REPO/deploy.yml" <<'EOF'
 version: udx.io/worker-v1/deploy
 kind: workerDeployConfig
+metadata:
+  env: staging
 EOF
   cat > "$IGNORED_ACTION_REPO/.next/cache/reference.txt" <<'EOF'
 deploy.yml
@@ -392,6 +421,7 @@ EOF
 
   ignored_repo_json="$(cd "$IGNORED_ACTION_REPO" && dev.kit repo --json)"
   assert_contains "$ignored_repo_json" "\"context\":" "ignored repo: reports context path"
+  assert_contains "$ignored_repo_json" "no canonical checked-in config contract is declared yet" "ignored repo: deploy filename alone does not satisfy config contract"
   ignored_context_yaml="${IGNORED_ACTION_REPO}/.rabbit/context.yaml"
   assert_not_contains "$(cat "$ignored_context_yaml")" ".next/cache/reference.txt" "ignored repo: excludes gitignored artifact references"