Redstone Government Consulting Blog | Small Business Compliance

You’ve won the contract; the work is underway (or even finished), but how do you actually get paid? Billing the federal government is an entirely separate process, often more complex than the work itself (if you let it be). Between compliance requirements, strict documentation rules, and lengthy payment terms, it’s no surprise that payment delays are one of the most common (and costly) frustrations in this space.

Here are the biggest billing challenges we see and how to stay ahead of them, so your cash flow doesn’t take a hit.

Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Small Business Compliance, Quickbooks

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

Government contracts can be a great opportunity. They often come with stability, a steady income, and the chance to scale your business. But they also come with strings attached: a detailed set of rules and expectations, especially when it comes to your accounting. Unfortunately, many government contractors learn about those rules the hard way, which is after they’ve already made a mistake. In this article, we’ll walk through some of the most common accounting mistakes that can derail even experienced contractors, cost you money, or worse, jeopardize your contracts.

Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Incurred Cost Proposal Submission (ICP/ICE), Small Business Compliance, DCAA Audit Support, Quickbooks, Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

Software implementations can be intimidating. Business leaders may have concerns about cash flow, staffing, workload, change management, and numerous other issues. A successful Unanet implementation requires the use of best practices, a well-defined timeline, and a customized approach for each client, tailored to their specific environment and resources. This article outlines some of the strategies we use at Redstone GCI to help clients achieve a smooth and successful Unanet implementation.

Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Small Business Compliance, Unanet

Government contracting moves fast and brings with it a dense web of compliance requirements. For small to mid-sized contractors, staying compliant with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) standards, and other regulations, while also focusing on growth, can feel like solving a puzzle with missing and shifting pieces. Each contract award introduces new requirements for cost tracking, timekeeping, reporting, and audit readiness, often with little room for error. What’s more, evolving guidance, shifting contract types, and limited internal resources can make it difficult to build a financial infrastructure that both supports operations and withstands government oversight. Without the right support, compliance gaps can go unnoticed until it’s too late.

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

On April 7, 2025, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) Director Ms. Jennifer Desautel announced a major DCAA reorganization to her staff that is perhaps DCAA’s largest since its 1965 inception. With the current federal government’s stress on efficiency and cost reduction, DCAA faced increased pressure to contain its costs and become more efficient. As a result, Ms. Desautel immediately began reorganizing the field and headquarters offices. DCAA will now have three Directorates (shown below): Land, Sea, and Air.

Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Small Business Compliance, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DCAA Audit Support, Government Regulations

Time tracking isn’t just an HR or project management issue for government contractors, it’s a critical accounting function. Accurate timekeeping feeds directly into everything from billing and financial statements to compliance and audit readiness. Let’s explain why this matters for your business, especially through the accounting lens.

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

Job costing involves tracking all expenses related to a specific job or project, including materials, labor, subcontractors, travel, and various other costs. For government contractors, this is especially crucial. In the context of payroll, job costing means taking each labor dollar and accurately allocating it to the appropriate cost pool and project. So, theoretically, all you need to do is set up a few projects, establish a DCAA-compliant chart of accounts, ensure you're following FAR Part 31 cost principles, and you’re ready to go, right? Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.

Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Incurred Cost Proposal Submission (ICP/ICE), Small Business Compliance, Quickbooks, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

Costpoint Business Intelligence (BI) is a powerful reporting tool for extracting, analyzing, and formatting your data. Built on IBM’s Cognos Analytics with Watson platform, Cognos BI can be used to develop reports and dashboards, prepare visual data presentations, and explore the underlying data in your Costpoint system.

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

Did you know that Unanet can be configured to help manage your Service Contract Act (SCA) contracts? With the correct setup, Unanet offers features that support compliance with SCA requirements—helping ensure accurate wage calculations and benefit allocations.

Here’s a quick overview of implementing SCA functionality in Unanet to make sure you’re getting it right from the start.

Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Small Business Compliance, DCAA Audit Support, Human Resources, Unanet, Government Regulations, Service Contract Act