diff --git a/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json b/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json
index 5a27d8e..6af6130 100644
--- a/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json
+++ b/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
     {
       "name": "autodev",
       "description": "Autonomous development workflow skills for coding agents",
-      "version": "6.5.4",
+      "version": "6.5.5",
       "source": "./",
       "author": {
         "name": "Jon Langevin",
diff --git a/.claude-plugin/plugin.json b/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
index b18d36b..f55d4c3 100644
--- a/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "autodev",
   "description": "Autonomous development workflow skills for coding agents: design, review, planning, execution, monitoring, and retrospectives",
-  "version": "6.5.4",
+  "version": "6.5.5",
   "author": {
     "name": "Jon Langevin",
     "email": "jon@gocodealone.com"
diff --git a/.cursor-plugin/plugin.json b/.cursor-plugin/plugin.json
index 0293bb8..302e648 100644
--- a/.cursor-plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/.cursor-plugin/plugin.json
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   "name": "autodev",
   "displayName": "Autonomous Dev Kit",
   "description": "Autonomous development workflow skills for coding agents",
-  "version": "6.5.4",
+  "version": "6.5.5",
   "author": {
     "name": "Jon Langevin",
     "email": "jon@gocodealone.com"
diff --git a/RELEASE-NOTES.md b/RELEASE-NOTES.md
index 374f095..2374e7a 100644
--- a/RELEASE-NOTES.md
+++ b/RELEASE-NOTES.md
@@ -1,5 +1,18 @@
 # Autonomous Dev Kit Release Notes
 
+## v6.5.5 — 2026-06-22
+
+Projects-layer alignment: the `project-design-guidance` skill now also consults the projects tracker (`docs/PROJECTS.md`) for current initiative focus + phase.
+
+- `project-design-guidance`: before designing, consult `docs/PROJECTS.md` (if present) to confirm the work advances an active project's stated `next` step; record the project + phase in the design so effort stays aligned with what the operator is driving (vs. orphan work on a stale/on-hold initiative). Companion to the portfolio-catalog consult added in v6.5.4.
+
+## v6.5.4 — 2026-06-22
+
+Portfolio-system alignment: a new once-per-compaction reminder hook + skill consult keep agents from rebuilding existing tooling.
+
+- `hooks/portfolio-inventory-reminder` (new `UserPromptSubmit` hook): nags once per compaction window to consult the portfolio tooling inventory before building; mirrors `pretool-pr-review-reminder` (session-key = `basename transcript_path`; marker `portfolio-inventory-seen`; cleared by `pre-compact-snapshot` line-filter-rewrite). Lifecycle covered by `tests/hook-contracts.sh`.
+- `project-design-guidance`: consult the portfolio catalog's tooling-inventory section (`docs/PORTFOLIO.md`) before building to avoid rebuilding existing plugin/tool capability; record surfaced follow-ups in `docs/FOLLOWUPS.md`.
+
 ## v6.5.3 — 2026-06-21
 
 Declared integration proof hardening for issue #79.
diff --git a/skills/project-design-guidance/SKILL.md b/skills/project-design-guidance/SKILL.md
index 940dc6e..2cf1438 100644
--- a/skills/project-design-guidance/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/project-design-guidance/SKILL.md
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ If the project keeps a portfolio catalog (commonly `docs/PORTFOLIO.md` per the w
 
 Record any follow-ups the inventory surfaces (a gap, a needed capability, a doc-lag) in the follow-up queue (commonly `docs/FOLLOWUPS.md`) so they are not lost.
 
+If the project keeps a projects tracker (commonly `docs/PROJECTS.md`), consult it for the **current initiative focus + phase** before designing — confirm the work advances an active project's stated `next` step, and record the project + phase in the design so the work stays aligned with what the operator is actually driving (vs. orphan effort on a stale or on-hold initiative).
+
 ## Pre-Design Gate
 
 1. Search: