The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Incurred Cost Audit Findings

The Good

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

Is The Cost of Providing Water and Coffee in Your Breakroom Allowable?

I believe most prudent businesspeople would consider providing water and coffee to their employees and customers a reasonable business expense and consider it an allowable cost. Well, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) auditors are not most people and, in most cases, have little to no business experience, so they believe providing water and coffee is an unallowable cost.

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

Build a Strong Foundation for Your Unanet Implementation

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.

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Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Small Business Compliance, Unanet

The Timekeeping Trap: How a Poor HRIS Setup Can Derail Your Reporting and Compliance

Accurate timekeeping is important to most businesses, but for federal government contractors, it is crucial to compliance and continued success. While timekeeping may seem like a straightforward and simple task, it can be daunting for those responsible for developing and implementing appropriate processes, systems, and audit trails. Improper procedures can quickly lead to reporting inaccuracies and audit nightmares! A well-designed process, accompanied by an accurately designed system and a well-documented and communicated policy, is critical.

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Topics: DCAA Audit Support, Human Resources, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Service Contract Act, UKG Ready HR Software Consulting

How Costpoint’s Revenue Worksheets Support Accurate Billing and Project Success

Income, earnings, and proceeds are various synonyms for the term “revenue,” but regardless of the terminology, the revenue recognized and reported is a strong indicator of business performance and stability. In this article, we will discuss Deltek Costpoint’s Revenue Worksheet and the benefits of utilizing it in recognizing revenue, calculating accurate bills, and identifying project discrepancies.

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Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DCAA Audit Support, Deltek Costpoint

Understanding the Basics of Collective Bargaining

What is collective bargaining? Collective bargaining is a collaborative process between employers and employees, where both sides work together to negotiate terms for a fair agreement that benefits both parties. Employees typically are represented by a union, and the goal is to ensure fairness and negotiate in good faith.

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Topics: Human Resources, Government Regulations, Employers & Unions

Is Your Ethics Program Prepared for Increased Scrutiny from the DOJ and Auditors?

In May of 2023, Ms. Jamie Brabston, Director and Legal Counsel at Redstone GCI, wrote an article addressing the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) requirements expected of contractors receiving contracts for supplies and services from the federal government. These requirements are implemented through FAR 52.203-13, Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct, which is included in contracts and subcontracts expected to exceed $6M, and the period of performance is 120 days or longer.

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Topics: Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, Government Compliance Training, DFARS Business Systems, Human Resources, Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Grants & Cooperative Agreements (2 CFR 200), Organizational Change Management Consulting

The Benefits of Hiring an Outsourced Accountant for Government Contractors

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.

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

What Accountants Should Know About the Deltek Costpoint Inventory Module

I find that depending on whether your job is on the Finance & Accounting (F&A) side or the Materials & Manufacturing side of the business, the perception of the capabilities and benefits of the Deltek Costpoint Inventory module tend to vary drastically.

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

NIH Issues New Policy That Ends Foreign Subawards for Pending Grant Proposals

On May 1, 2025, the National Institute of Health (NIH) issued NOT-OD-25-104 updating its policy to reiterate the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) subaward reporting requirements. This policy change will also prohibit foreign subawards in grants and cooperative agreements effective May 1, 2025, until NIH has developed a new foreign collaboration award structure policy. NIH is hoping to issue its new policy by September 30, 2025.

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Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Government Regulations, Grants & Cooperative Agreements (2 CFR 200)