Cost Accounting Standard (CAS) 416 - Accounting for Insurance Costs

CAS 416 provides criteria for the measurement of insurance costs, the assignment of such costs to cost accounting periods, and the allocation to final cost.

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Topics: Proposal Cost Volume Development & Pricing, DFARS Business Systems, Government Regulations, Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

Total Compensation: Beyond the Paycheck

It is no secret that money plays a significant role in attracting, motivating, and retaining employees; however, recent studies and our experience show that a holistic approach to total compensation is key to success in today’s market. A 2016 study by the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) found that pay was the second most important factor of job satisfaction. Many employers focus on the numbers behind the dollar sign, but total compensation goes beyond the paycheck. Total compensation, as defined by Indeed, refers to the total value an organization offers an employee in exchange for their work, including their salary and any benefits or incentives. In addition to these elements, intangible factors like company culture, engagement, wellness, development, and recognition should also be considered as features of total compensation.

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Topics: Employee & Contractor Compensation, Human Resources, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs

Are For-Profit Organizations with Grants or Subawards Required to Obtain a "Single Audit"?

For-profit organizations that receive grants must establish a cost accounting system that complies with the Cost Principles in FAR part 31.2, read our article Which Cost Accounting Regulations Apply When You Have Grants and Federal Contracts. Additionally, a for-profit organization with a grant must also comply with the 2 CFR 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards and agency supplements for all other requirements under the grant, cooperative agreement, or subaward. While there are similarities between the FAR and 2 CFR 200 requirements – for example: written policies and procedures, accounting by project, and timekeeping practices, there are differences as well – the requirement for audit is one.

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Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Grants & Cooperative Agreements (2 CFR 200)

Indirect Rates for Grants and Cooperative Agreements

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.

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Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Grants & Cooperative Agreements (2 CFR 200)

Government Contractors Need to Use These 3 Reports in QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online is one of the most used accounting software for small to medium-sized businesses. The same is true for small businesses in the government contracting sector. QuickBooks Online does not label itself as a DCAA-compliant software to the extent that other software does (Costpoint, Unanet, etc.). However, it is a DCAA-compliant software, and it has the reporting capabilities needed to be considered as such. Let’s look at three essential reports you need to use as a government contractor for QuickBooks Online. Now, I realize these reports are not exactly groundbreaking reports. However, some people fail to realize the importance of each report and do not really understand how to utilize them to their full potential.

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Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Small Business Compliance, Quickbooks

Ensure Your Subledgers Tie to Your General Ledger in Deltek Costpoint Before Year-End

As we get closer to the fiscal year-end for government and calendar year filers, now is the time to start thinking about cleaning up your subledgers!

In this article, we will explain what a subledger is, explain why it is a problem if they are out of alignment, explain how this happens, and then give you some ideas on what you can do to fix it.

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Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Deltek Costpoint

Managing a Union Grievance and Steps You Need to Know

Dealing with complaints and claims of being treated unfairly is a common responsibility of Human Resources professionals; however, managing a union grievance process is a completely different ball game. If you have experience dealing with union grievances, you know there are multiple steps and deadlines to which you must adhere, as well as a significant amount of legwork. It is essential to be well-prepared and thoroughly understand the complexities of this process. Mishandling the union grievance process can have serious repercussions, so it's crucial to ensure everything is in order when addressing such a grievance.

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Topics: Human Resources, Government Regulations, Employers and Unions

DCAA Wants to Re-Connect with Government Contractors

The Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) wants to re-connect with you. About four years ago, DCAA was looking around and evaluating its workload and saw a problem: it was going away. With a previously perennial favorite of the incurred cost backlog finally going away and few incurred cost audits due to sampling, DCAA had to look for how it can still be important to the acquisition community.

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Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DCAA Audit Support

Subcontractors Can Request the Nontraditional Defense Contractor Exception

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.

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Topics: Proposal Cost Volume Development & Pricing, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Commercial Item Determination

Streamlining Procurement with a Source to Pay Process in Deltek Costpoint

Looking to streamline your procurement process? Now is the perfect time to begin reviewing your complete source to pay process to increase efficiency, productivity, integration, and revenue.

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Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR), Deltek Costpoint, Manufacturing Operations Consulting