Understanding Incurred Cost Proposals: Avoiding the Top 5 Audit Issues

understanding-incurred-cost-proposal

All federal contractors with cost-type or time and materials (T&M) contracts with cost-type contract line items (CLINS) are required to submit an Incurred Cost Proposal regardless of agency customer.  All contracts requiring an Incurred Cost Proposal will include the Federal Acquisition Regulations Allowable Cost & Payment Clause and/or the T&M Payment Clause. What is an…

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Understanding Allowable Costs Speeds Reimbursement: 6 Best Practices for Avoiding Unallowable Costs

avoiding-unallowable-costs

Understanding which costs may be allocated to a direct or indirect project, and billed to the government as an allowable cost speeds reimbursement of expenses, and helps avoid potential government penalties. The Federal Acquisition Regulations  (FAR) provides official guidance and numerous examples of allowable and unallowable costs. Here we will discuss what is and is…

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Are You Ready for a DCAA Floor Check?

dcaa-floor-check-readiness

DCAA floor checks can be a nerve-wracking experience for federal contractors. DCAA performs these surprise audits in order to make sure government contractors are accounting for their labor properly, and following required regulations. Here are 9 common questions we hear frequently about DCAA floor checks, along with  our answers to help you be best prepared…

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What is an Adequate Accounting System? 10 Questions to Determine if Your Accounting System is Adequate for Government Contracts

adequate-accounting-system

In many cases, having an “adequate accounting system” is an integral part of successfully winning and performing on Federal contracts. Many companies find it challenging to determine when accounting system requirements are triggered and how to navigate obtaining a determination of adequacy.  Our clients and prospects unanimously have the same questions.  Since these questions are…

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Key DCAA Terms to Understand for Contractors

glossary of key dcaa terminology

The Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), part of the United States Department of Defense (DoD), performs  audits of DoD contractors to ensure the best value for money the agency spends on defense contracting. As part of its auditing services, DCAA will review a contractor’s accounting and business systems to ensure the contractor is able to…

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What Happens During a Pre-Award Survey With DCAA?

government contractor preparing for pre-award survey with DCAA

If you’re a contractor who has submitted a proposal to work with the Department of Defense (DoD), you will have an audit done by the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) before the contract is awarded. A Pre-Award Audit typically includes the audit of the pricing in the proposal the contractor submitted as well as a…

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How to Prepare for DCAA Pre-Award Survey

How to Prepare for the Pre-Award Survey

If you are new to government contracting, prior to being awarded a flexibly priced contract, your contracting officer will request that DCAA perform a Pre-Award Survey to ensure your accounting system is adequate to account for government contracts. As you’re bidding on contracts, you’ll frequently be asked to provide a copy of an audit by…

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How Work From Home Might Affect This Year’s Tax Returns

how work from home affect this years tax returns

Back in March of 2020, our world suddenly shifted, and so did our place of work. Most of us found ourselves creating spur-of-the-moment home offices, navigating how to perform our jobs virtually while possibly also homeschooling our children, and putting systems into place to run a business from a remote setting. Now, as we head…

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