Incurred Cost Proposal Tip: Optional DCAA Schedules Aren’t So Optional
by Eric Cohen • August 6, 2012 • Government Contractor Accounting • 0 Comments
There are a number of schedules in the Defense Contract Audit Agency’s (DCAA) incurred cost proposal model that do not have to be included with your annual incurred cost proposal submission. But that doesn’t mean you are off the hook.
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Look for discrepancies before making a submission to the government that will require retraction and resubmission of the proposal. That way, you won’t raise a red flag and damage your accounting system’s credibility. |
Some of these optional DCAA schedules contain information needed to complete the mandatory documentation that goes with your proposal. As well, that optional documentation must be ready when the federal auditors begin their work. Consequently, it’s just sound business practice to prepare all schedules and supplemental supporting data while you are putting together your enterprise’s annual incurred cost proposal submission.
For instance, the DCAA schedules for contract briefs contain information that helps to properly indicate ceilings on rates, contract line items, tasks and particular cost elements, such as travel. That information in turn is necessary to complete these two mandatory schedules:
1. Schedule H — Contract Direct Costs by Contract/Subcontract and Indirect Expense Applied at Claimed Rates; and
2. Schedule I — Schedule Of Cumulative Direct and Indirect Costs Claimed and Billed On Cost/Flexibly Priced and T&M Contracts and Subcontracts.
Likewise, Schedule T — Executive Compensation — provides the details to support the amounts paid to top management. This document is the basis for figures put on the indirect cost pool schedule that is required with your proposal. Without Schedule T, there is likely to be a discrepancy in the amounts claimed in the indirect cost pool.
Some schedules tie into mandatory ones. For example, Schedule R — Reconciliation of Claimed Costs to Tax Return — tie into various components including direct cost reconciliations to service and production expenses and indirect reconciliations to operating and other costs. These tie-ins can be difficult because of accounting differences involving timing or because of methods used to meet government compliance requirements.Moreover, reconciliations could uncover accounting discrepancies that require adjustments or reclassifications. Those could then affect the cost pools or bases.
Schedule Q is another useful document to prepare while you are putting together your proposal. It is a comparative analysis of amounts claimed in the current and preceding year. Auditors use these schedules to hone in on areas where there are year-to-year inconsistencies. Your organization should do the same.
By preparing these DCAA schedules before submitting the final incurred cost proposal, your organization might identify misclassifications, giving your enterprise time to address them and avoid potential questions. It can also identify the business reasons for significant changes in costs that vary from year to year.
Tips:
- Start early. Extensions are granted only for extenuating circumstances.
- Work concurrently. Put together all schedules at the same time. Corporate knowledge could be gone later.
- Prepare all schedules correctly. An incomplete or missing schedule can affect multiple other schedules. Retractions can damage your company’s credibility.
Remember: The final indirect cost rate proposal submission is only ready when:
About Eric Cohen
Eric Cohen, CPA is the President and Founder of E. Cohen and Company CPAs, a full-service CPA firm serving nonprofit organizations, government contractors, professional service companies and other industries with audit, tax and business advisory services for over 20 years. The firm was commended as a SmartCPA Reader's Choice by SmartCEO magazine and a Top 10 “Best Accounting Firm to Work For” by AccountingToday magazine. For more information, visit www.ecohencpas.com or call 301-917-6200.