Posts by Jennifer Eubanks
The 5 Most Common Mistakes in Government Proposal Pricing (and What DCAA Is Actually Looking For)
Summary of Keypoints The most common proposal pricing failures stem from misunderstanding what DCAA evaluates, not from bad math, and include unsupported indirect rates, labor rates that don’t match payroll data, weak subcontractor cost analysis, inclusion of unallowable costs, and missing or vague bases of estimate. DCAA expects proposed costs to reconcile to real accounting…
Read MoreThe Pre-Audit Checklist Every Government Contractor Should Tackle Before Year-End
Summary of Keypoints Year-end (October–November) is the optimal window for audit readiness, allowing contractors to reconcile provisional billing rates to actuals, document variances, and correct issues before DCAA or IRS scrutiny begins. Key compliance focus areas include indirect rate accuracy and FAR Part 31 allowability, requiring contractors to review fringe, overhead, and G&A recovery, segregate…
Read MoreWhat Happens When You Underprice a Proposal and How a Government Contracts Advisor Can Help
Summary of Keypoints Underpricing proposals creates long-term business risk, often leading to collapsed profit margins, staffing instability, degraded performance, and damaged past performance records, even when the low price initially wins the contract. Government evaluators assess price realism, not just lowest price, especially for cost-reimbursement and certain fixed-price contracts, to determine whether proposed costs are…
Read MoreWhy Your Forward Pricing Rates Are Costing You Contracts (and How to Fix Them)
Summary of Keypoints Forward pricing rates can be fully approved yet still undermine competitiveness, because DCAA approval confirms adequacy and compliance—not whether rates position a contractor to win best-value awards. Overstated or outdated indirect rates inflate fully burdened labor costs, leading to uncompetitive cost volumes, inconsistent win rates, and contracts that strain margins despite strong…
Read MoreCompliance Readiness for Government Contractors: A Strategic Guide to Building Audit-Proof Systems for SF1408, ICE, and CAS
Summary of Keypoints Compliance readiness is a proactive operating state, not a one-time audit event, requiring embedded financial controls, FAR-aligned policies, consistent accounting practices, and systems that are always prepared for DCAA, DCMA, or IRS review. SF1408, ICE, and CAS are interconnected pillars of audit readiness, relying on the same core foundations: job costing by…
Read MoreMaximizing Cash Flow Management for Government Contractors
Summary of Keypoints Cash flow challenges in government contracting stem from timing mismatches, including long payment cycles, provisional billing rates, cost-reimbursement structures, and approval delays, making proactive cash management essential even for profitable contractors. Strong receivables management is critical to liquidity, requiring prompt invoicing, weekly tracking of invoice status, early escalation of delays, and timely…
Read MoreThe GovCon’s Guide to DCAA Incurred Cost Submissions
Summary of Keypoints An Incurred Cost Submission (ICS) is a mandatory annual requirement for contractors with cost-reimbursable or T&M contracts, used by DCAA to reconcile provisional indirect rates with actual costs and establish final allowable rates under FAR 52.216-7. Timely and accurate ICS filing protects cash flow and credibility, while late or inadequate submissions can…
Read MoreWhy You Need a Government Contracts Advisor to Work on Your Government Contracting Business Taxes
Summary of Keypoints Government contracting taxes require specialized expertise: Government contractors face added complexity from FAR, DFARS, CAS, and federal tax rules, making general tax preparation insufficient for compliance and profitability. A Government Contracts Advisor goes beyond tax filing: These advisors integrate tax strategy with cost accounting standards, indirect cost allocation, audit readiness, and tax-advantaged…
Read MoreWhy is Using a Government Contracts Accountant Important?
Summary of Keypoints Government contracting requires specialized accounting expertise: Compliance with CAS, FAR, DFARS, and agency-specific rules creates financial complexity that traditional accounting alone cannot manage effectively. A Government Contracts Accountant (GCA) focuses on compliance and cost recovery: GCAs specialize in indirect rate structures, audit preparation, forward pricing rate proposals, and maintaining systems that meet…
Read MoreUnderstanding How to Bid on Government Contracts: A Guide for Government Contractors
Summary of Keypoints Government contracts offer stable, long-term growth opportunities: Bidding on government contracts provides reliable, publicly funded revenue, multi-year stability, enhanced credibility, market expansion, and opportunities for innovation and research. Successful bidding follows a structured, step-by-step process: Contractors must research opportunities (SAM.gov, agency sites), understand RFP and FAR requirements, develop strong technical and cost…
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