Reporting of Independent Research and Development (IR&D) projects on the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) portal is normally due no later than three months after the contractor’s fiscal year-end, both annually and upon project completion. However, the DTIC portal was offline from November 2025 until approximately April 20, 2026, due to cyber vulnerabilities. Despite the nearly six‑month outage, Defense Pricing, Contracting and Acquisition Policy (DPCAP) has provided contractors just over 30 days, until May 31, 2026, to enter all required IR&D information, including new projects, annual updates, and closed projects. This accelerated timeline contrasts with the DFARS allowance of up to three months after the fiscal year-end for reporting.
On April 9, 2026, Defense Pricing, Contracting and Acquisition Policy (DPCAP) issued a memorandum addressing the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement requirement for major contractors to report Independent Research and Development (IR&D) projects. Government contractors are required to submit all IR&D project reporting no later than May 31, 2026.
Government contractors that meet the definition of a “major” contractor in DFARS 231.205-18 Independent Research and Development and Bid and Proposal Costs have a requirement to submit mandatory IR&D project reports along with an executive‑level certification. For additional guidance on the reporting threshold and how to determine whether your company meets the DFARS definition of a major contractor, read our related article, “Does Your Company Qualify as a Major Contractor for IR&D Reporting.”
Takeaway
With the May 31, 2026 deadline quickly approaching, government contractors should begin assembling the information needed for submission into the DTIC portal. Based on discussions with many of our clients, the portal no longer supports a single consolidated upload of IR&D projects. Instead, each project must be entered individually, significantly increasing the time and effort required.
For government contractors navigating this requirement, Redstone GCI can assist with assessing IR&D reporting obligations and evaluating how IR&D costs should be supported within the government contractor’s incurred cost proposal process. Our team also supports contractors with FAR Part 31 cost allowability, indirect rate structure considerations, accounting system compliance, and audit support.
Lynne is a Director with Redstone Government Consulting, Inc. providing government contract consulting services to our clients primarily related to Commercial Item Determinations and support, Cost Accounting Standards, DFARS Business System Audits, Proposals, and Incurred Cost. Prior to joining Redstone Government Consulting, Lynne served in several capacities with DCAA and DCMA for over 35 years. Professional Experience Lynne began her career working with DCAA in the Honeywell Resident Office, Clearwater, FL in 1984. Lynne’s experience included various positions which involved conducting or reviewing forward proposals or rate audits, financial capability audits, progress payments, accounting and estimating systems, cost accounting standards, claims and disclosure statement reviews. She is an expert in FAR, DFARS, CAS and testified as an expert witness. Lynne assisted in drafting the commercial item guidance for DCAA Headquarters. Lynne was assigned as a Regional Technical Specialist where she provided guidance to 20 field offices on highly complex or technical issues relative to forward pricing, financial capability or progress payment issues. As an Assistant for Quality, she was involved in reviewing and ensuring audit reports were in compliance with policy and GAGAS as well as made NASBA certified presentations to the staff including but not limited to billing reviews, CAS, unallowable cost and progress payments. To enhance her experience in government contracting, Lynne accepted a position with DCMA in 2015 as part of the newly organized DCMA Cadre of Experts in the Commercial Item Group. This included performing reviews of prime contractor’s assertions and/or commercial item determinations as well as performing price analyses. Lynne was a project lead and later became a lead analyst where she engaged with the buying commands on requests and reviewed price analysis reviews performed by a team of 5 analysts. She also assisted the DCMA CPSR team relative to commercial items and co-instructed the Commercial Item Training presented to DCMA. Education Lynne earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Central Florida. Certifications State of Florida Certified Public Accountant State of Alabama Certified Public Accountant Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Level III- Auditing DAWIA Level III – Contracting