OMB’s new guidance directs agencies to expand commercial acquisitions and justify non-commercial awards. Government contractors may see closer review of commerciality, pricing, option periods, and cost-reimbursement contracts, making support for market research and contract decisions more important.

Topics: Proposal Cost Volume Development & Pricing, Small Business Compliance, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DFARS Business Systems, DCAA Audit Support, Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Material Management & Accounting System (MMAS), Cybersecurity, Commercial Determination, Manufacturing Operations Consulting

On April 20, 2026, the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) announced yet another reorganization: a transition to 23 “hub” organizations while maintaining office locations at key defense contractor sites. This reduction reduces the 180 office (branch and suboffices) locations to 23 hubs covering only 19 of the 50 states in the continental U.S.

Topics: Accounting System Compliance, Small Business Compliance, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DCAA Audit Support, Human Resources, Government Regulations, Organizational Change Management Consulting, Manufacturing Operations Consulting

The chart of accounts is one of the earliest decisions made when setting up an accounting system, and for government contractors, it is one of the most consequential. What looks like a basic bookkeeping choice at implementation often shapes reporting quality, cost visibility, and compliance capacity long after the business has grown.

Most QuickBooks setups look perfectly functional at first glance. Transactions flow in, reports are generated, and the books balance. For a small commercial business, that may be all that is needed. But government contractors often find out the hard way that a system that appears to be working is not actually built for the work they do.

Topics: Accounting System Compliance, Small Business Compliance, Quickbooks

Unanet implementation does not end at go live. The transition into live processing often reveals workflow issues, training gaps, and process risks that can affect billing, reporting, and overall system adoption. Ongoing support during this period helps organizations stabilize operations, reduce rework, and strengthen long term system results.

Topics: Accounting System Compliance, Small Business Compliance, Unanet, Organizational Change Management Consulting

The FY 2026 NDAA, Section 1807, directs DoD to maintain Project Spectrum, a no-cost online platform offering cybersecurity training, tools, and resources for small and medium-sized government contractors. Originally launched in 2019, the platform supports CMMC compliance and is available to any company pursuing DoD work, regardless of current contract status.

Topics: Small Business Compliance, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DFARS Business Systems, Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR), Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Material Management & Accounting System (MMAS), Cybersecurity, Commercial Determination, Manufacturing Operations Consulting

The Department of War has introduced an Acquisition Transformation Strategy aimed at prioritizing commercial solutions and expanding participation from nontraditional contractors. While the direction signals reduced barriers and faster acquisition, contractors must evaluate how evolving expectations, timing, and risk tolerance will affect compliance, pricing, and engagement strategies.

Topics: Accounting System Compliance, Small Business Compliance, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DFARS Business Systems, Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR), Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Commercial Determination

Contractors pursuing competitive prime awards under FAR Part 15 face heightened expectations for cost realism, documentation, and historical support. Agencies rely on detailed cost narratives and supporting data to make best value determinations. Weak or unsupported pricing can delay negotiations or undermine award decisions, making early preparation and internal alignment critical to proposal success.

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

Section 1826 of the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act shifts DoD treatment of nontraditional defense contractors from discretionary to mandatory exemptions from key cost and business system requirements. With no dollar threshold and rulemaking still pending, government contractors must evaluate timing, contract status, and downstream compliance implications.

Topics: Accounting System Compliance, Proposal Cost Volume Development & Pricing, Small Business Compliance, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DFARS Business Systems, DCAA Audit Support, Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR), Government Regulations, Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Material Management & Accounting System (MMAS), Commercial Determination

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.”

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

The Department of Defense (DoD) issued a final rule on September 10, 2025, amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to incorporate the requirements of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) for FAR-based contracts and subcontracts, effective November 10, 2025.

Topics: Small Business Compliance, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DFARS Business Systems, Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Cybersecurity, Grants & Cooperative Agreements (2 CFR 200)