Redstone Government Consulting Blog (48)

For the past 10+ weeks, we have focused on how to work remotely, compensate employees who are unable to work due to COVID-19 related reasons, and how to interpret and implement the new laws applicable to the pandemic, such as the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the Paycheck Protection Program, and CARES. As many states begin to loosen the “shelter at home/social distancing” guidelines, it is time to consider – how do we return to work safely?

Is your company in a situation, performing as a prime contractor on government contracts, but needing to sell the business? Or is there a material change in your business causing a transfer of assets to another business? In the commercial world of contracts and business operations, the assignment of contracts primarily operates under the Uniform Commercial Code (the “UCC”) and assignments occur frequently due to the ever-changing business landscape. However, this process does not exist in government contracting and novation may be the route for your organization. Assignment and novation of contracts have different consequences for the parties involved; however, for purposes of this article, we will specifically address novation within the context of contracting with the U.S. Government.

SBA Extends the Repayment Date Again – May 18, 2020

On May 13^th the Small Business Administration (SBA) updated its Frequently Asked Questioned (FAQs) – adding Questions 46 and 47.  Question 47 extends the safe harbor (repayment) date to May 18th.  Question 46 is very interesting; it lays out the SBA and Department of Treasury plan to review certifications of the necessity of the loans. 

The FAR establishes that when contracting by negotiation with the Government, the contractor should have an acceptable estimating system.  FAR 15.407-5 provides that due to the benefits to both the Government and the contractor in reducing the scope of individual proposal reviews at contractors with an acceptable estimating system, the auditor (likely DCAA) should survey the system and provide a report to all contracting offices and contract administration offices doing substantial pricing activity with the contractor.  This is a very open-ended requirement/expectation; therefore, DoD established a structure in the DFARS.

With a renewed focus on DCAA Estimating System Audits, we share some advice on successfully navigating the process.

Redstone team members take a comical look at remote working in this parody of “I Drink Alone.”

For those of you who may have thought there could be a silver lining to coronavirus restrictions from reduced audit effort, think again! Actual postponement of audits will be rare.

The language in the 2017 NDAA Sec 831, stating “Performance-based payments shall not be conditioned upon costs incurred in contract performance but on the achievement of performance outcomes …” has finally been incorporated into the DFARS (DFARS Case 2019-D002) with an effective date of April 8, 2020.  The rule removes restrictions in DFARS 232.1001(a), DFARS 252.232-7012(b)(i), and DFARS 252.232-7013(b)(i) that limited performance-based payments to amounts not greater than costs incurred up to the time of payment.  However, the rule does not alter the requirement for subcontractors/vendors to report costs incurred when requesting performance-based payments.  The rule also removed the requirement of the subcontractor/vendor’s accounting system to comply with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, as evidenced by audited financial statements.

UPDATE:  On May 5th, SBA added FAQ #43 extending the safe harbor to May 14, 2020 and stating “SBA intends to provide additional guidance on how it will review the certification prior to May 14, 2020.”