Discussing DCAA's Email Notification of DCAA's Planned Virtual Floorchecks

Physical floorchecks appear to be a thing of the past, at least during this COVID-19 pandemic. Watch our video as we walk you through a scenario, as experienced by a Government Contractor, of a virtual floorcheck. We play out the roles and responsibilities of management, compliance and employees as it relates to floorchecks, from DCAA notification, to expectations, to a beautifully acted example of a virtual floorcheck gone RIGHT and a virtual floorcheck gone WRONG. We also lay out questions that may be asked during a floorcheck as well as tips to surviving a DCAA floorcheck that every contractor should consider.

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Topics: DCAA Audit Support, Vlog, COVID-19

CARES Act Section 3610, DPC DFARS Class Deviation and Guidance

On August 17, 2020; Acting Principal Director for Defense Pricing and Contracting issued two memos providing guidance in support of DFARS Class Deviation 2020-O0013 and 2020-O0021 – CARES Act Section 3610 Implementation. There is also a memo providing contracting officers with a template for a Memorandum for Record to document the file for the issuance of the Section 3610 related contract modification.

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Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DCAA Audit Support, Defense Procurement & Acquisition Policy (DPAP), Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), COVID-19

DCAA COVID-19 Guidance – Still in a Wait and See, Holding Pattern

We Lifted the Vail

A few months back we submitted a request to DCAA under Freedom of Information Act. Based on the DPC guidance referencing both DCAA and DCMA as playing a key role in support of the rest of the DoD Acquisition Community, we expected DCAA would have a significant number of documents disclosing this key role. Turns out, not so much. All we got was a single document listing 13 frequently asked questions (FAQs) DCAA has been fielding from their auditors, dated July 31, 2020.

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Topics: Proposal Cost Volume Development & Pricing, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DCAA Audit Support, Defense Procurement & Acquisition Policy (DPAP), Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), COVID-19

Deltek Costpoint 8 is Coming: 5 Things You Need to Know

5 Things You Need to Know Before Your Update

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Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Proposal Cost Volume Development & Pricing, DFARS Business Systems, DCAA Audit Support, Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

The Changing Contract Audit Landscape

DCAA’s Auditing More than ICS & Proposals?

Over the last few years, we have often written on the changing landscape of contractor business system audits.  Specifically, the fact that the DCAA has invested considerable resources into the audit of incurred cost proposals and proposals for most of the past decade, which has led to an inability to routinely audit contractor business systems, conduct routine post-award (TINA) defective pricing audits and other audits that should be a routine part of doing business with the government in a flexibly-priced environment.  The change in audit focus has been apparent since the end of 2018, but we are just now starting to see the true impact of the Agency’s adaptation to an audit world without a large volume of incurred cost audits. 

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Topics: DFARS Business Systems, DCAA Audit Support

Indirect Cost Basics for Government Contractors

FAR Subpart 2.1, Definitions, provides the meaning of two general groupings of cost not assignable directly to final cost objectives (i.e., not a direct contract cost):

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Topics: Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DCAA Audit Support

UPDATE: New SBA FAQs on PPP Loans – Repay Date Extended to May 18

SBA Extends the Repayment Date Again – May 18, 2020

On May 13th 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. 

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Topics: Small Business Compliance, DCAA Audit Support, COVID-19, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans

Government Contractor Estimating System Requirements and Audits

The FAR establishes that when contracting by negotiation with the Government, the contractor should have an acceptable estimating systemFAR 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.

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Topics: Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DFARS Business Systems, DCAA Audit Support, Estimating System Compliance

Successfully Navigate Estimating System Audits for Government Contractors

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

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Topics: DFARS Business Systems, DCAA Audit Support, Estimating System Compliance

DCAA Audits Won’t Stop During Coronavirus Restrictions

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.

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Topics: DCAA Audit Support, COVID-19