Redstone Government Consulting Blog | Contracts & Subcontracts Administration

The Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council, consisting of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP), DoD, GSA, and NASA, has finalized changes to acquisition-related thresholds in the FAR to account for inflation. Published in the Federal Register on August 27, 2025, and effective October 1, 2025, this rule (FAR Case 2024-001, FAC 2025-06) fulfills the statutory requirement under 41 U.S.C. 1908 to review and adjust thresholds every five years using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all urban consumers.

Topics: Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DFARS Business Systems, Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

The Department of Defense (DoD) has finalized a rule that will significantly impact contractors providing management, scientific, and technical consulting services. Published in the Federal Register on August 25, 2025, and effective October 24, 2025, the rule (DFARS Case 2024-D007) implements section 812 of the FY 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Under the new requirement, contracting officers cannot award contracts assigned to NAICS codes beginning with 5416 if the offeror, or its subsidiaries or affiliates, holds a contract for consulting services with certain covered foreign entities, unless an approved conflict-of-interest mitigation plan is in place.

Topics: Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DFARS Business Systems, Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

The Department of Defense (DoD) has finalized changes to acquisition-related thresholds in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to reflect inflation. Published in the Federal Register on August 25, 2025, and effective October 1, 2025, this rule (DFARS Case 2024-D002) fulfills the statutory requirement under 41 U.S.C. 1908 to review and adjust thresholds every five years using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all urban consumers.

Topics: Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DFARS Business Systems, Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

A well-configured HR system can feel like the backbone of a thriving organization by streamlining processes, enhancing employee experience, and offering powerful data insights. However, even the most advanced HR technology can quickly become a liability if one critical element is overlooked - compliance. Government contractors risk turning their greatest HR asset into a hidden source of vulnerability if they fail to consider compliance in their implementation strategy.

Topics: Small Business Compliance, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DCAA Audit Support, Human Resources, Government Regulations, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Service Contract Act, Organizational Change Management Consulting, UKG Ready HR Software Consulting

This is a myth. Let’s review the commercial definition:

FAR 2.101 Commercial Product definition Paragraph 1 states:

(1)  A product, other than real property, that is of a type customarily used by the general public or by nongovernmental entities for purposes other than governmental purposes, and–

(i) Has been sold, leased, or licensed to the general public; or

(ii) Has been offered for sale, lease, or license to the general public;

Topics: Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DFARS Business Systems, Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Commercial Item Determination

A little background – On April 15, 2025, Executive Order 14275, Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement, was issued. The intent of this order was to make revolutionary changes to the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) to make the federal acquisition process more efficient and cost-effective. Section 2 states, “It is the policy of the United States to create the most agile, effective, and efficient procurement system possible. Removing undue barriers, such as unnecessary regulations, while simultaneously allowing for the expansion of the national and defense industrial bases is paramount. Accordingly, the FAR should contain only provisions required by statute or essential to sound procurement, and any FAR provisions that do not advance these objectives should be removed.”

Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Proposal Cost Volume Development & Pricing, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DFARS Business Systems, DCAA Audit Support, Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR), Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Commercial Item Determination

Are you interested in learning how to set up and manage labor categories in Unanet to improve project management, timekeeping, and labor cost compliance for government contractors? Labor categories are critical for organizing and tracking work performed on contracts, especially on Time & Materials (“T&M”) contracts. While cost type and fixed price billing may not require a labor category for billing purposes, they can still play an important role in project management and budgeting at the contract level. In accounting systems like Unanet, these categories classify time into roles such as Project Manager or Senior Software Developer that are tied to billing rates, simplifying T&M billing. Unanet also provides flexibility in how labor categories are derived, allowing setup at the admin/master level, project level, person level, or person-to-project assignment level. This adaptability ensures alignment with contract requirements regardless of how your business is structured.

Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Proposal Cost Volume Development & Pricing, Small Business Compliance, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, Human Resources, Unanet

In this multi-part article series, we are highlighting some of the lesser-known Deltek Costpoint Procurement features that we regularly find manufacturing clients are not taking full advantage of. In many cases, they are features that users are not even aware exist. There is so much capability contained within Costpoint, and our goal at Redstone GCI is to help you unlock the full potential of the immensely powerful Deltek Costpoint tool that you are already paying for! In procurement, given how transactional & repetitive the tasks are, small changes to how you utilize Deltek Costpoint can multiply out to a large ROI and make life easier for your Procurement team, your stakeholders, and beyond.

Topics: Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR), Government Property Management, Deltek Costpoint, Material Management & Accounting System (MMAS), Manufacturing Operations Consulting

If only the Government made this an easy answer. There are some representations and certifications that you need to get from your subcontractors. However, many in both industry and the Government think the requirement for “Reps and Certs” flows down in all cases.

Topics: Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DFARS Business Systems, DCAA Audit Support, Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR), Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

A while back, I wrote an article addressing the risk associated with submitting “other than certified cost or pricing data.” Nothing has changed. When you are requested to submit “data other than certified cost or pricing data,” it must be current, accurate, and complete as of the date of submission. However, you have no requirement to update the contracting officer after submission.

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