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Government Contracting Industry Alert: DCAA Audit Alert on Identifying Expressly Unallowable Costs

October 30, 2019 2 Min Read Alerts, Article, Government Contracting
Thomas C. Yankanich, CPA Director, Audit & Accounting, Leader - Government Contracting, Professional Services, and Architecture & Engineering Industry Groups
On May 14, 2019, DCAA issued a Memorandum for Regional Directors (MRD), 19-PAC-002(R), revising prior DCAA guidance on identifying expressly unallowable costs. The guidance includes an updated listing of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 31 and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 231 cost principles that meet the definition of expressly unallowable costs. The May 14th MRD removed several cost principles previously considered to be unallowable, and guidance was revised for several cost principles, including those related to lobbying, compensation, and organization costs.

 

DCAA also updated its guidance for determining whether a cost principle identifies expressly unallowable costs. The new guidance primarily relies on recent court cases and supersedes 2014 and 2015 guidance. In summarizing the changes to guidance on expressly unallowable costs, the MRD states the following:
In order for a cost to be expressly unallowable, the cost principle must state in direct terms that the costs are unallowable, or leaves little room for interpretation or differences of opinion as to whether the particular cost meets the allowability criteria. The Government must show that it was unreasonable, under all circumstances, for a person in the contractor’s position to conclude that the costs are unallowable.

 

DCAA’s May 14, 2019 MRD can be found here.

 

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If you have any questions or comments about this topic, please contact Thomas Yankanich, Director, Audit & Accounting at Email or 215-441-4600.

Information contained in this alert should not be construed as the rendering of specific accounting, tax, or other advice. Material may become outdated and anyone using this should research and update to ensure accuracy. In no event will the publisher be liable for any damages, direct, indirect, or consequential, claimed to result from use of the material contained in this alert. Readers are encouraged to consult with their advisors before making any decisions.

Contact the Author

Thomas C. Yankanich, CPA

Thomas C. Yankanich, CPA

Director, Audit & Accounting, Leader - Government Contracting, Professional Services, and Architecture & Engineering Industry Groups

Government Contracting Specialist, Architecture & Engineering Specialist, Professional Services Specialist, ESOPs Specialist, Owner Operated Private Companies Specialist, Private Equity-Backed Companies Specialist

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