Unanet is a popular accounting system for government contractors, but most users might be unaware of the software’s origin. Unanet software originated as a timekeeping and project management system back in the 1990s. The general ledger module of Unanet wasn’t added until 2015. Unanet’s project management functionality has been in design and use for much longer than the general ledger module. These capabilities include resource planning and labor forecasting.
Resource planning and labor forecasting in Unanet are limited to the Portfolio version of the software. With that license type, periodic reporting is also available so we can compare one period to another. The resource planning and forecasting module has a great deal of flexibility.
Multiple Plan Sets
In Unanet, an organization can have multiple versions of a project plan. Different versions of project plans might represent a best-case scenario or a subcontracted support arrangement versus a staff labor plan. An organization might also create a plan based on the original cost proposal, then re-baseline that plan monthly based on changes within the contract’s environment. Reporting is available to compare the different versions of the plans with each other or to compare a certain plan to actual performance.
For government contractors, these comparisons can help evaluate how different staffing approaches or changes in contract requirements may affect planned labor hours and costs.
Plan Versus Budget Metric
In addition to multiple plan sets, Unanet also can have a separate project budget component for resource level labor forecasting. Budget metrics and plan metrics have the same availability within reporting. An organization can run reports to show plans versus budgets versus actuals and the variances between those metrics. The budget metric in Unanet for labor also controls the person’s access to charge time to a project. Within that control, we can limit time reporting so it does not exceed the budget. This is especially helpful with contracts that are awarded based on a total number of support hours.
Resource Allocation
Although labor planning is project focused, an organization using Unanet also has great visibility into how its staff members will be utilized in the future. By running a report based on person capacity, we can see if the sum of our project plans is reasonable and realistic.
- Are the staff members underutilized or overutilized?
- Do I need to hire a new person in a certain labor category?
- If so, do I need to hire them today, in six weeks or in six months?
Periodic resource allocation reporting can answer these questions once the project planning is complete. This visibility can help government contractors identify competing demands across projects and plan hiring around when additional support will be needed.
Reporting
Standard reporting to manage and make use of the planning and forecasting information prepared in Unanet is available on the Report Dashboard without the need for customization. There are summary reports, detail reports, and periodic reports available. Periodic reports can be run on a weekly, monthly, or annual basis. Reports also offer flexibility to show hours, dollars, or both, based on cost or billable totals. Key reports used include the following:
- People Periodic Resource Allocation: How are the staff utilized once all projects are planned?
- Project Periodic Forecast: What future effort is modeled for this contract?
- Project Periodic Performance: How does my plan or budget compare to actual performance?
Custom reporting is also an option, but it’s handy to have some great tools without using tools like Power BI.
Forecasting Grid
Although plans and budgets at the resource level can be updated via import/export using a CSV, the grid design in the user interface is also very flexible and user friendly. Project managers can plan multiple projects and multiple people at a time. Resources can be selected based on person or labor category. Cost rates can default to align with the person, or they can be overridden. The grid can be adjusted to plan for the project’s period of performance (monthly, weekly, or daily). Users can plan their own time, or managers can plan it for them.
Connecting Labor Forecasts to Staffing Decisions
Whether your organization manages cost-type, time-and-materials, or fixed-price contracts, Unanet’s optional resource planning and labor forecasting features can help connect project requirements with staffing decisions. Keeping plans current and reviewing them against actual performance can help identify competing demands on employees, anticipate hiring needs, and recognize when labor assumptions need to change. Redstone GCI assists government contractors in using Unanet’s planning and reporting capabilities to support these decisions. If your organization is interested in using these tools or getting more value from its current setup, contact our team.
Katherine (Katie) Donnell serves as the Director of Unanet Practice Services at Redstone Government Consulting, Inc., where she leads the firm’s Unanet consulting practice in delivering expert implementation, optimization, and compliance support to government contractors. With extensive expertise in DCAA-compliant Unanet Time & Expense Tracking, Project Portfolio, and Financials, Katie plays a vital role in helping contractors build and maintain compliant, efficient financial and project management systems. As one of the first Unanet Certified Implementers, Katie was part of Unanet’s initial pilot certification program for non-Unanet consultants, investing over 300 hours in training, system development, and rigorous testing to obtain her certification. She holds Unanet Advanced Project Management training credentials and is also a QuickBooks ProAdvisor. Her technical expertise and real-world implementation experience make her a trusted advisor, frequently called upon by Unanet’s internal teams to support implementation projects as an external expert. Katie is also responsible for the continued growth and strategic oversight of Redstone GCI’s Unanet Practice, ensuring that quality of service, client support, and consultant development remain at the highest standard. She is committed to advancing the professional development and expertise of Redstone GCI’s Unanet consulting team, ensuring they stay at the forefront of industry best practices and evolving compliance requirements. At Redstone GCI, Katie serves as a primary point of contact for numerous small business clients, providing ongoing government cost accounting and compliance support. She regularly assists with monthly accounting close processes, ensuring accurate financial reporting for program management and executives. Her unique combination of software system expertise and compliance knowledge allows her to provide strategic, hands-on guidance to government contractors navigating complex regulatory and financial landscapes. With extensive experience in government contract accounting and compliance, Katie has assisted contractors with DCAA audit readiness, including SF1408 pre-award accounting system audits, provisional billing rate submissions, forward pricing rate development, and incurred cost submissions. She also helps clients design and implement compliant policies and procedures to support an adequate DCAA-approved accounting system. Prior to joining Redstone GCI, Katie worked in public accounting and government contracting, gaining operational experience with Unanet, QuickBooks, SpringAhead, Deltek T&E, ADP, Paychex, and QB Payroll. Her extensive background in accounting, compliance, and financial systems ensures that Redstone GCI’s Unanet clients receive the highest level of technical and regulatory expertise.