It’s Government year-end, meaning government contractors are working overtime to process contract awards and modifications. Taking the necessary steps to set up Unanet correctly will save your business time later and ensure the program managers can track their projects properly.
Contracts
Utilize the Contracts Module to set up any new Contracts Awarded or modifications to existing contracts. Add in the applicable contract provisions so you can reference back later. Unanet is consistently pushing updates, so there’s a possibility that this list will continue to evolve. Having your Contracts information in Unanet will allow you to utilize pre-populated ICS schedules within your Unanet Analytic Reports.
Project Setup
Prior to setting up a new project in Unanet, review the contract and deliverables for reporting requirements, CLINs, ACRNs, options, billing, etc. This will allow you to pull reports needed for customers and management. Should I track my funding or option years and the project or task level? These considerations depend on reporting requirements and how the contract needs to be managed.
Verify that all labor categories with rate escalations for each option year are added to the project even if no employees will be working it initially. Is the bill rate true for the Labor Category company-wide, or is the bill rate project specific? These are considerations depending on what type of contracts you have.
For billing purposes, does this project need to be a stand-alone, lead, or contributor project? What information am I required to provide on the invoice?
Notes
Use the notes section of your project to remind you why the project was set up in a particular way. Create a note with an action item for the PM to review a funding modification or award. Assign the note to the PM, so a notification is received. There are numerous options in the section. Make sure the Unanet Administrator sets up the system note type. You can also attach relevant documentation to the project in this area.
People Plans
Developing People plans for future work is integral in establishing the data needed to accurately forecast revenue and costs for Provisional Bill Rates and other management decisions. It also provides a metric of performance that gauges the expectation from the original cost proposal back to the actual performance.
Dashboard
We run 20% of the reports 80% of the time. Save your favorites to your Dashboard so it’s easy to run them often.
If your company needs assistance setting up any of these areas in Unanet, our team can help.
Katherine (Katie) Donnell serves as the Director of Unanet Practice Services at Redstone Government Consulting, Inc., where she leads the firm’s Unanet consulting practice in delivering expert implementation, optimization, and compliance support to government contractors. With extensive expertise in DCAA-compliant Unanet Time & Expense Tracking, Project Portfolio, and Financials, Katie plays a vital role in helping contractors build and maintain compliant, efficient financial and project management systems. As one of the first Unanet Certified Implementers, Katie was part of Unanet’s initial pilot certification program for non-Unanet consultants, investing over 300 hours in training, system development, and rigorous testing to obtain her certification. She holds Unanet Advanced Project Management training credentials and is also a QuickBooks ProAdvisor. Her technical expertise and real-world implementation experience make her a trusted advisor, frequently called upon by Unanet’s internal teams to support implementation projects as an external expert. Katie is also responsible for the continued growth and strategic oversight of Redstone GCI’s Unanet Practice, ensuring that quality of service, client support, and consultant development remain at the highest standard. She is committed to advancing the professional development and expertise of Redstone GCI’s Unanet consulting team, ensuring they stay at the forefront of industry best practices and evolving compliance requirements. At Redstone GCI, Katie serves as a primary point of contact for numerous small business clients, providing ongoing government cost accounting and compliance support. She regularly assists with monthly accounting close processes, ensuring accurate financial reporting for program management and executives. Her unique combination of software system expertise and compliance knowledge allows her to provide strategic, hands-on guidance to government contractors navigating complex regulatory and financial landscapes. With extensive experience in government contract accounting and compliance, Katie has assisted contractors with DCAA audit readiness, including SF1408 pre-award accounting system audits, provisional billing rate submissions, forward pricing rate development, and incurred cost submissions. She also helps clients design and implement compliant policies and procedures to support an adequate DCAA-approved accounting system. Prior to joining Redstone GCI, Katie worked in public accounting and government contracting, gaining operational experience with Unanet, QuickBooks, SpringAhead, Deltek T&E, ADP, Paychex, and QB Payroll. Her extensive background in accounting, compliance, and financial systems ensures that Redstone GCI’s Unanet clients receive the highest level of technical and regulatory expertise.