2026 Changes in Procurement Policies Leave Defense Contractors Dealing with Government Symptoms of “Multiple Personality Disorders”

In reference to the now outdated terminology “Multiple Personality Disorders” (now “DID” or Dissociative Identity Disorder), my focus is on two Government actions, the 2026 NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) and the very recent EO (Executive Order), “Prioritizing the Warfighter in Defense Contracting.” Before getting into the substance of this blog, just to note that one can only hope that the proposed/legislated changes to improve the efficiencies and effectiveness of the procurement process (for the Department of War and more broadly the US Government) will actually succeed and not be just one more set of idealized and unfulfilled political promises.

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

Do Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) Apply to Fixed Price Contracts and Subcontracts?

Highlights

  • The Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act was signed into law on December 18, 2025, and includes statutory changes affecting the applicability of Cost Accounting Standards to certain government contracts and subcontracts.
  • Amendments in Section 1806 of the FY 2026 NDAA revised CAS applicability thresholds and contract price adjustment requirements, leading to confusion regarding fixed price contracts and subcontracts.
  • This Redstone GCI article explains how the FY 2026 NDAA impacts when Cost Accounting Standards apply at award and how post-award contract price adjustments are limited following cost accounting practice changes.

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

Government Contractor Compensation Cap for Calendar Year (CY) 2026

For the last few years, our friends at the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) have been very helpful by publishing the Contractor Compensation Cap in the December timeframe. This year, I am guessing that the Government shutdown has diverted their attention. To help our clients, we have calculated the 2026 amount of the cap.

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Topics: Accounting System Compliance, Proposal Cost Volume Development & Pricing, Employee & Contractor Compensation, Incurred Cost Proposal Submission (ICP/ICE), DCAA Audit Support, Human Resources, Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

Expect More Grant Awards from DOE on the Genesis Mission to Build an AI Platform

On November 24, 2025, President Trump signed EO 14363, Launching the Genesis Mission to accelerate America’s race for global dominance in the application of AI to scientific discovery and scientific challenges.

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Topics: Accounting System Compliance, Incurred Cost Proposal Submission (ICP/ICE), DFARS Business Systems, DCAA Audit Support, Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Grants & Cooperative Agreements (2 CFR 200)

What Government Contractors Should Expect from DCAA Audits After the Shutdown

Well, our friendly DCAA auditors are back after the Government shutdown. On December 2, 2025, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) issued a memorandum to their auditors titled, “Actions Required for Assignment Due Dates Following Furloughs.”

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

Are You Prepared for the 2025 Compliance Supplement and Audit Changes

On November 26, 2025, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued the 2025 Compliance Supplement. The Supplement outlines the compliance requirements to assist auditors in understanding the Federal program’s objectives, procedures and requirements when performing a Single audit for fiscal years beginning after June 30, 2024. The Compliance Supplement is normally issued in the spring of each year; however, OMB delayed its issuance to incorporate significant updates to 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, in October 2024. In order to assist auditors with the different requirements, Part 3 Compliance Requirements of the Supplement was divided into two Parts for audit testing as follows:

  • Part 3.1 for awards subject to 2 CFR 200 prior to October 2024 and
  • Part 3.2 for awards after October 1, 2024
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Topics: Accounting System Compliance, DFARS Business Systems, DCAA Audit Support, Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR), Government Regulations, Grants & Cooperative Agreements (2 CFR 200)

DCAA Says Good-Bye to Its Field Detachment

Six months after the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) made its major reorganization, it made another one: the elimination of its Field Detachment (FD) as a separate entity within DCAA. The Field Detachment was a separate entity within DCAA that handled DCAA’s classified audit work. It was a separate and distinct DCAA entity from the current Land, Air, and Sea Directorates of DCAA.

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Topics: Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DCAA Audit Support, Government Regulations

Are Your Government Property Procedures Putting You at Risk in a PMSA Review?

Just like all other business systems required for federal Government contract work, the Government property system requires compliant policies and procedures for an adequate system determination. While procedures are only a single part of a contractor’s property management system, they are the backbone of how the system should operate.

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Topics: Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DFARS Business Systems, DCAA Audit Support, Government Regulations, Government Property Management, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

Custom Reporting Simplified with Unanet’s Refreshable Web Queries and Built-In Reports

Custom reporting is something that every organization wants, but the investment can be overwhelming. It requires significant resources, including staff time and an administrative budget. Not only does the investment feel like a lot, but it can also be overwhelming just to consider what your organization really needs from a custom reporting environment. Typically, an organization using Unanet would consult a professional specializing in Power BI reporting or Analytics Studio. But does it have to be so complicated and so expensive?

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Topics: Accounting System Compliance, Small Business Compliance, DCAA Audit Support, Unanet

If You Receive Federal Grants Then a Single Audit May Be Required

If you have any grants or cooperative agreements (i.e., federal awards under 2 CFR 200), you must annually determine whether you must obtain an audit, as required by 2 CFR Subpart F. These are referred to as “Single Audits.” And yes, even if you get audited by the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) or one of its hired Independent Public Accountants (IPAs) for your FAR-based contract or subcontracts, if you have a grant, you will need a second audit.

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