How the March 2026 CAS Threshold and Related Changes Affect Government Contractors

On March 20, 2026, the CAS Board issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing significant increases to the CAS thresholds and changes to exemption determinations for indefinite-delivery contracts. Most changes reflect requirements in Section 1806 of the 2026 NDAA and are broadly favorable to contractors, though key concerns remain about the treatment of single-award indefinite-delivery contracts.

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Topics: Accounting System Compliance, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DFARS Business Systems, DCAA Audit Support, Government Regulations, Cost Accounting Standards (CAS)

An Update on the Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) Board’s Shift Toward GAAP

The Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) Board has been working to eliminate several cost accounting standards and replace them with reliance on GAAP. As of April 2026, five standards are under proposed elimination, including a new March 2026 NPRM for CAS 407. Contractors should be aware that removing these standards does not eliminate cost accounting or consistency obligations.

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Topics: Accounting System Compliance, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DFARS Business Systems, DCAA Audit Support, Government Regulations, Cost Accounting Standards (CAS)

Designing Costpoint Manufacturing for Today’s Needs and Tomorrow’s Growth

Costpoint Materials and Manufacturing is highly configurable, but that flexibility requires intentional design. Government contractors who implement without planning for growth often face costly reconfigurations as operations scale. Aligning manufacturing with accounting from the outset builds a system that supports the business today and adapts as complexity increases.

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Topics: Accounting System Compliance, Deltek Costpoint, Material Management & Accounting System (MMAS), Organizational Change Management Consulting, Manufacturing Operations Consulting

The Department of War Wants to Transform Its Acquisition System

The Department of War has introduced an Acquisition Transformation Strategy aimed at prioritizing commercial solutions and expanding participation from nontraditional contractors. While the direction signals reduced barriers and faster acquisition, contractors must evaluate how evolving expectations, timing, and risk tolerance will affect compliance, pricing, and engagement strategies.

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Topics: Accounting System Compliance, Small Business Compliance, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DFARS Business Systems, Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR), Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Commercial Item Determination

Building a Compliant Cost Proposal That Stands Up to Review

Contractors pursuing competitive prime awards under FAR Part 15 face heightened expectations for cost realism, documentation, and historical support. Agencies rely on detailed cost narratives and supporting data to make best value determinations. Weak or unsupported pricing can delay negotiations or undermine award decisions, making early preparation and internal alignment critical to proposal success.

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Topics: Accounting System Compliance, Proposal Cost Volume Development & Pricing, Incurred Cost Proposal Submission (ICP/ICE), Small Business Compliance, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DCAA Audit Support, Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

Costpoint Users Won’t Be Able To Login After July 30th Unless You Prepare Now

Deltek will retire certain Costpoint authentication methods effective July 30, 2026. Users in affected cloud environments who do not transition to approved login methods may lose system access. Contractors should evaluate current configurations, coordinate with IT, and plan timely updates to avoid operational disruption and potential compliance impacts.

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Topics: Accounting System Compliance, Deltek Costpoint, Cybersecurity

What is the Unanet Asset, Inventory and Manufacturing (AIM) Add-On?

Have you heard that Unanet recently released a new add-on called AIM? AIM is Unanet’s Asset, Inventory and Manufacturing add-on to their powerful GovCon ERP. AIM has been in the marketplace for many years and was recently incorporated into Unanet’s offerings to support GovCon customers, particularly for audit readiness in the Materials Management & Accounting System (MMAS). This article answers the 5 Ws to help organizations determine whether AIM meets their operational needs.

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Topics: Accounting System Compliance, Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR), Unanet, Government Property Management, Material Management & Accounting System (MMAS), Manufacturing Operations Consulting

2026 NDAA Expands the Benefits of Being a Non-Traditional Defense Contractor

Section 1826 of the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act shifts DoD treatment of nontraditional defense contractors from discretionary to mandatory exemptions from key cost and business system requirements. With no dollar threshold and rulemaking still pending, government contractors must evaluate timing, contract status, and downstream compliance implications.

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Topics: Accounting System Compliance, Proposal Cost Volume Development & Pricing, Small Business Compliance, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DFARS Business Systems, DCAA Audit Support, Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR), Government Regulations, Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Material Management & Accounting System (MMAS), Commercial Item Determination

Congress Pushes Back on NIH and DoD’s Use of Indirect Cost Limitations and Rate Caps for Grants

Congress has directed NIH and the Department of Defense to maintain negotiated indirect cost rates and restrict the use of rate caps within recent appropriations legislation. The update may affect grant funding, reimbursement expectations, and agreement terms. Organizations should understand how timing and regulatory alignment influence existing and future awards.

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Topics: Accounting System Compliance, DCAA Audit Support, Government Regulations, Grants & Cooperative Agreements (2 CFR 200)

Congress Prohibits DOE and Other Agencies from Applying Indirect Rate Caps on Grants

Congress and recent appropriations legislation have restricted federal agencies from applying indirect cost rate caps on grants, reinforcing the use of negotiated rates. The change affects DOE and other agencies and may require organizations to review award terms, reimbursement eligibility, and timing considerations tied to indirect cost recovery.

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Topics: Accounting System Compliance, DCAA Audit Support, Government Regulations, Grants & Cooperative Agreements (2 CFR 200)