DCAA Compliance Guides
How to set up timekeeping, accounting systems, and internal controls that hold up in a DCAA audit, written for small and mid-size government contractors.
DCAA Compliance·
DCAA Compliance FAQ: Answers to the Questions Government Contractors Ask Most
Straight answers to the DCAA compliance questions government contractors ask most: qualifying for a contract, timekeeping and floor checks, labor distribution, cost pools, and what happens when something goes wrong.
Read article →3 min read
DCAA Compliance·
How to Prepare Your Team for a DCAA Floor Check
A DCAA floor check tests your employees, not just your books. Here is what auditors ask, what they listen for, and how to prepare your team with a mock floor check.
4 min read
DCAA Compliance·
When DCAA Sends an IPA: Answering Document Requests Before They Cost You
The DCAA contracts some audits to independent public accounting firms. Miss their document deadlines and your costs can be questioned or disallowed. How to respond in time.
3 min read
DCAA Compliance·
The Incurred Cost Audit, Explained for Small GovCons
The incurred cost audit is the biggest DCAA review most small GovCons face. Here is how it works, from risk assessment to sampling to document requests, and how to be ready.
5 min read
DCAA Compliance·
The DCAA Pre-Award Accounting System Review: What the Auditor Actually Checks
Before a cost-reimbursable award, a DCAA auditor checks your accounting system against a fixed set of SF-1408 criteria. Here is exactly what they verify, and what to have ready.
4 min read
DCAA Compliance·
DCAA Tells You the What, Not the How
The DCAA is not out to fail you, and it will tell you what compliance requires. What it will not tell you is how to get there. That gap is where small contractors get stuck.
4 min read
DCAA Compliance·
Which DCAA Audit Will You Actually Face? A Small Contractor's Map
Which DCAA review you encounter depends heavily on your contract type. A former DCAA auditor maps the accounting system review, incurred cost audit, and proposal audit.
7 min read
DCAA Compliance·
Do You Need to Be DCAA-Compliant Before You Win a Contract?
Many contractors assume DCAA compliance is something to deal with after they win. Often it's the other way around — being ready is what lets you win in the first place.
4 min read
DCAA Compliance·
The Real Cost of Delaying DCAA Compliance: A Financial Breakdown
The 2% you may already be losing, withholdings for deficiencies, questioned costs, contracts never won, the remediation tax — prevention vs. remediation math.
6 min read
DCAA Compliance·
Setting Up Your Accounting System for Your First Cost-Type Government Contract
A seven-step guide to setting up a DCAA-ready accounting system before your first cost-type contract — chart of accounts, timekeeping, labor distribution, and policies.
8 min read
DCAA Compliance·
What Happens When a DCAA Audit Finds Deficiencies? A Realistic Guide
Types of DCAA findings, the financial impact (questioned costs, withholdings, lost contracts), and the recovery path. Prevention vs. remediation, with realistic numbers.
5 min read
DCAA Compliance·
Labor Distribution for Government Contractors: How It Works and Why It Matters
Labor distribution converts approved timesheet hours into contract charges and journal entries. Here's the mechanics — rates, rounding, reconciliation — and why it matters.
6 min read
DCAA Compliance·
5 DCAA Compliance Mistakes That Small Contractors Keep Making
The same DCAA compliance mistakes appear in CPA practices repeatedly. Five preventable issues — and how to fix each one before they become audit findings.
6 min read
DCAA Compliance·
What to Expect During a DCAA Floor Check (and How to Be Ready)
DCAA floor checks are unannounced. Here's what auditors actually do, the questions they ask employees, the most common failures, and how to stay continuously ready.
5 min read
DCAA Compliance·
The Complete Guide to DCAA-Compliant Accounting Systems for Government Contractors
Everything government contractors need to know about DCAA compliance requirements and the SF-1408 preaward survey — what auditors check, what systems qualify, and how to prepare.
12 min read
DCAA Compliance·
DCAA Timekeeping Requirements: What Auditors Actually Check and How to Pass
DCAA timekeeping is the most audited area for government contractors. Learn the exact requirements, what floor check auditors look for, and how to build a compliant system.
13 min read
DCAA Compliance·
What Is the SF-1408? A Plain-English Guide for Government Contractors
The SF-1408 is the gatekeeper for cost-type government contracts. Here's what it is, when you need it, and what your accounting system must demonstrate.
5 min read
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