Using Unanet to Develop Provisional Billing Rates

Unanet’s project management and general ledger budget features can be an asset when it comes time to develop provisional billing rates for the upcoming year. The information from the project budgets for the upcoming year can provide the data necessary to populate those areas of the general ledger budget so that billing rates can be calculated based on those same assumptions that project managers are using to maintain their project’s performance.

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Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Small Business Compliance, DCAA Audit Support, Unanet

Cost Accounting Standard (CAS) 408 - Accounting for Costs of Compensated Person Absence

Cost Accounting Standard (CAS) 408 was put in place to provide consistency in the measurement and allocation of vacation, sick leave, holiday, and other compensated personal absences. Today, many contractors refer to all paid time off as “PTO.”

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Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DCAA Audit Support, Government Regulations, Cost Accounting Standards (CAS)

What is Really Important to Know About FAR Part 31?

Government regulations can be complex and perhaps even confusing. For those of you experienced in Government contracts and even contract audits, you have heard of the Federal Acquisition Regulation or FAR and, FAR Part 31, Contract Cost Principles and Procedures. The scope of this part describes the applicability of the cost principles and procedures in pricing and accounting for costs on contracts, subcontracts, and modifications whenever cost analysis is needed. There is a lot there, but what’s really important? Well, I will not try to duplicate what can be at least a day course within this blog, but I will highlight three areas that are really important.

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Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DCAA Audit Support, Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

FAR Parts and Why They Matter to Government Contractors

If you have Government contracts, you probably heard of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, or FAR, but how much do you know of its parts? Why is it important to know? How could it possibly impact me?

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Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DCAA Audit Support, Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

Is Construction for the Federal Government Commercial?

How does the Government define construction? We need to consider some of the definitions in FAR part 2:

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Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Proposal Cost Volume Development & Pricing, Government Regulations, Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Commercial Item Determination, Federal Construction Contracting

January 1st Unanet Implementation: Where Are You Now?

January 1st is a popular Go Live date for any software implementation, and we certainly see that with our Unanet clients. The benefits of starting a new accounting system at the beginning of the year include several things such as:

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Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Unanet

Cost Accounting Standard (CAS) 403 - Allocation of Home Office Expenses to Segments

So, you have a contract with the clause FAR 52.230-2 Cost Accounting Standards, subject to full CAS coverage. If you receive allocations from a home office, the home office must comply with CAS 403, Allocation of home office expenses to segments. A home office has the responsibility for directing or managing two or more segments of an organization and includes intermediate home offices or a corporate office.

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Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Proposal Cost Volume Development & Pricing, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DCAA Audit Support, Government Regulations, Cost Accounting Standards (CAS)

Avoid a Hefty Tax Bill with State Sales and Use Tax Exemptions on Government Contracts

Contractors need to understand the laws for applying state sales and use taxes to purchased goods and services on government contracts. It can be a costly mistake that eats away at your profit.

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Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Incurred Cost Proposal Submission (ICP/ICE), Small Business Compliance, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DFARS Business Systems, Government Regulations, Government Property Management, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

Navigating Alabama's New 2024 Overtime Pay Exemption in Deltek Costpoint

Do you have employees in Alabama? There are some changes to the overtime rules you need to be aware of for employers in Alabama.

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Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Small Business Compliance, Government Regulations, Deltek Costpoint

Why is Timekeeping so Important and What do Auditors Expect?

Current and accurate timekeeping is one of the most important responsibilities of a contractor and its employees when they have Government cost reimbursement and time and material/labor hour contracts. Direct labor is one of the significant elements of cost incurred and billed on Government contracts. FAR 16.301-3(a)(3) requires contracting officers to ensure a contractor has an adequate accounting system, which includes a timekeeping system, before award of a cost reimbursable contract. While there is no specific reference to an adequate timekeeping system for T&M/Labor hour contracts, FAR 52.232-7 requires the contractor to be able to support the hours and labor qualifications of the employees charged to the contract. Auditors will request documentation to support employee qualifications and labor hours on T&M/Labor hour contracts. An adequate timekeeping system includes having a written timekeeping policy and procedure to ensure the accuracy and integrity of direct labor costs charged and billed to Government contracts.

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Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Government Compliance Training, DFARS Business Systems, DCAA Audit Support