DoD issued a proposed rule dated August 15, 2024 (DFARS Case 2019-D041) to amend DFARS to incorporate contractual requirements related to the Cybersecurity Maturity Module Certification (CMMC) Program. This implements a section of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2020 to enhance cybersecurity for the US defense industrial base. DoD is estimating that the final rule will be issued during Quarter 1 2025. Contractors should take heed and provide comments by the October 15, 2024, due date.
Lynne Nalley, CPA
Recent Posts
Topics: Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Cybersecurity
FAR 31.205-20 makes interest unallowable, however, cost of money is not interest based on the CAS Board and is allowable (see our article Interest is Unallowable – How is That Possible). Cost of money is an imputed cost that is provided to contractors to recover the time value of money invested in facilities and equipment that benefit government contracts. Contractors that do not have contracts subject to full CAS, follow FAR 31.205-10 Cost of money which incorporates CAS 414 (Cost of Money as an Element of the Cost of Facilities Capital) and CAS 417 (Cost of Money as an Element of the Cost of Capital Assets Under Construction) and allows cost of money as a cost as long as it is measured, assigned and allocated in accordance with the standard. Cost of money must be specifically identified and proposed in cost proposals to be claimed or billed. Let’s discuss the requirements of CAS 414 and 417.
Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Proposal Cost Volume Development & Pricing, DCAA Audit Support, Government Regulations, Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
Grants are complex and the regulations in 2 CFR 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards aren’t exactly straight forward and easy to understand. When you receive a grant, you are expected to have internal controls in place such as policies and procedures, segregation of duties, timekeeping, documentation requirements, etc. If you do not have internal controls, you will need to implement them as soon as possible after award. While anyone can make mistakes, you don’t want continuous errors, overbillings, billing of unallowable costs to become significant noncompliance issues requiring corrective action or even the appearance of alleged fraud.
Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Grants & Cooperative Agreements (2 CFR 200)
You are putting together a proposal in response to a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for a grant or cooperative agreement. It’s pretty simple. Just estimate direct labor, equipment, other direct costs, and my indirect rates. Correct? Well, maybe, but your indirect rates can be complex.
Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Grants & Cooperative Agreements (2 CFR 200)
The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Defense Pricing and Contracting (DPC) issued a Memorandum dated May 5, 2024, to Agencies on the Treatment of Nontraditional Defense Contractors.
Topics: Proposal Cost Volume Development & Pricing, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Commercial Item Determination
Probably now. Depending on the type and dollar amount of your subcontracts, FAR 52.244-2 Subcontracts clause requires a contractor that does not have an approved purchasing system (never been reviewed or is disapproved) to obtain written consent from the Contracting Officer before subcontract award.
Topics: Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DFARS Business Systems, Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR), Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
DoD issued a final rule DFARS Case 2023-D010 on May 30, 2024, amending The Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) implementing Section 803 of the National Defense Authorization Act on data required in support of commerciality determinations and price reasonableness under procurements for major weapon systems. The purpose is to provide additional guidance related to the data required to support a request for a commercial determination and the price reasonableness process.
Topics: Proposal Cost Volume Development & Pricing, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Commercial Item Determination
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a final rule revising 2 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), now called OMB Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance, to streamline and clarify the rules for federal financial assistance (e.g., grants and cooperative agreements). Agencies must implement the Final Rule by October 1, 2024. These rules will apply to new grants and can be applied to existing grants by a bi-lateral modification. Although OMB indicates that agencies may apply the new rules beginning June 21, 2024, we believe most federal agencies will wait so that both the agencies and the recipients have time to read and digest some of these updates.
Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, Government Regulations, Grants & Cooperative Agreements (2 CFR 200)
Cost Accounting Standard (CAS) 409 provides the criteria for assigning costs (i.e., depreciation) of tangible capital assets to cost accounting periods and allocating those costs to contracts in an objective and consistent manner.
Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Proposal Cost Volume Development & Pricing, DFARS Business Systems, Government Regulations, Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
CAS 404 provides the criteria for determining whether to assign the cost of a capital asset as a period expense when acquired or capitalize the item as a tangible asset and spread the cost over two or more accounting periods.
Topics: Proposal Cost Volume Development & Pricing, DFARS Business Systems, Government Regulations, Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)