There are numerous types of audits that the defense contract audit agency dcaa perform but the majority of audits can be divided between the period before the contract award and the period after the award. Chapter 00 introduction to the contract audit manual table of contents 0001 introduction 0002 purpose and applicability of the manual 0003 citation 0004 numbering 0005 revisions 0006 other dcaa audit guidance 0007 user comments suggestions 0008 explanations of terms and abbreviations 0001 introduction introductory material is presented in this section, along. This was the version of gagas in effect at the time of all the dcaa audits that gao investigated, except for the audit discussed in case 1. The defense contract audit agency has no objection to the release of this report, at the discretion of the contracting agency, to. The dcaa also updated the schedule of unresolved subcontract cost. The manual is requirements based not written for any contractor in particular. Dcaa plans significant increase in defective pricing. The manual comes as a microsoft word document template, allowing you to edit content, diagrams and screenshots. To comply with the regulations regarding proper financial management, government contractors must satisfy the defense contract audit agency dcaa, which is responsible for performing all audits for the dod, and for providing accounting and financial advisory services to dod components responsible for procurement and contract administration. Dcaa contract audit manual government contracting cohen. The electronic version is the most current version that firms contracted by the government should refer to. Dcaa tools dcaa audit and government contract consulting. All final audit reports will be converted to pdf format and must be secured.
It was established in 1965 to perform all contract audits for the department of defense. Dcaa contract audit manual cam audit guidance memorandums for regional directors mrds 5 u. Defense contract audit agency approximately 5,000 employees located at over 300 offices throughout the united states and overseas responsibilities and duties. Regular training and monitoring the compliance of staff on your timekeeping procedures are the most effective methods of preparation for this particular audit. The checklist provides documentation to the auditor on how your accounting system meets the criteria in the sf 1408, preaward survey of. Dcaa compliancesystems guide dcaa systems solutions. The dcaa audit manual gives a complete rundown on what a potential contractor must do to work with the dcaa.
This manual is very far compliant in regards to accounting system requirements. It is an instruction book for auditors who work on behalf the government. The defense contract audit agency dcaa is a department of defense dod agency under the direction of the under secretary of defense comptroller. Your documentation must be complete, organized and easily accessible in the event of an audit. Dcaa assesses contractor compliance with these regulations based on the type of contract with the government. Edward d moore principal of dcaa accounting compliance is a leading government contract consultant on dcaa and government contract accounting matters. A few years ago i developed a manual tailored to small businesses to pass the dcaa accounting system audit. Fitzgerald director, defense contract audit agency enclosures 1. Previously, the various branches of military service were responsible for their own contract audits. The auditor, however, must use professional judgment in 1 selecting the procedures and techniques best suited to the audit objectives, and 2 determining the scope of the audit in each instance. Department of energy office of inspector general office of audits deputy inspector general for audits and inspections audit manual release 8. Here you will find the dcaa contract audit manual cam, which provides a lot of useful guidance for ae firms and auditors, including illustration of far concepts, discussion of internal controls, and other guidance.
Dcaa provides audit and financial advisory services to dod and other federal entities responsible for acquisition and contract administration. So preparation for a timekeeping audit is unique in that you could have a surprise visit by the dcaa at any time. Obtaining audit reports and locating the appropriate contracting office. It has passed all dcaa audits that i have been associated with. Inadequate documentation will prompt a failed dcaa audit in a heartbeat.
It is in the application of the test audit or testcheck procedure that statistical sampling is most useful to the contract auditor. It discusses standards for auditing, how to plan for an audit, cost accounting standards, auditing of estimates and proposals, statistical sampling techniques for audits, who. Except for those agencies identified in dmis user guide, requests for audit services at locations where dcaa does not maintain a continuing. The procedural and audit guidance in the manual is applicable to the audit of all types of contracts. The faster you produce the requested documentation, the happier the auditor will be, and the faster theyll be out of your offices. Dcaa audit guidance on earned value management evm. We requested data from dcaa and the selected companies on the number of company. Dcaa customers guidance directory of audit programs. The remainder of the original audit results remains unchanged. While it is preferred that a system is already setup and operating at the time of audit, reliascent. Contractor purchasing system administration dcaaassist. A beginners guide to understanding the dcaa audit manual. Whether youre a contractor or a contracting officer, new or already familiar with the audit process, the following links will provide the resources and guidance you need to prepare for a contract audit.
For all but the smallest companies, supervisors who are accountable for meeting contract budgets should not have the. The dcaa updates the online dcaa audit manual continually and issues a print version annually. Far and dcaa compliant time keeping hourdoc support center. The dcaa qualified its audit report because the results of the assist audits for the subcontract costs had not been received. An auditor may also conduct a timekeeping audit as part of another audit. Incorporated into dcaa contract audit manual dcam, dcaa instructions types of work covered by gagas are classified as financial audits, attestation engagements, or performance audit several reports on dcaa compliance with gagas dod ig dodig2015061. Chapter 1 introduction to contract audit table of contents defense. It prescribes auditing policies and procedures and furnishes guidance in auditing techniques for personnel engaged in the performance of the dcaa mission. Dcaas role in the financial oversight of government contracts is critical to ensure dod gets the best value for. Chapter 00 introduction to the contract audit manual table of contents 0001 introduction 0002 purpose and applicability of the manual 0003 citation 0004 numbering 0005 revisions 0006 other dcaa audit guidance 0007 user comments suggestions 0008 explanations of terms and abbreviations 0001 introduction introductory material is presented in this section, along with an explanation. Remember, the cam is only authoritative for dcaa auditors, and it is not written specifically with ae firms in mind. The audit scope should be limited to obtaining an understanding of the design of the prospective accounting system it is not necessary to conduct an indepth evaluation of the overall accounting system.
Operations dcaa will audit the contractors operations to insure accurate billing, adequate rate estimates, adequate pricing, and final costs annual and contract. The defense contract audit agency dcaa is an agency of the united states department of defense under the direction of the under secretary of defense comptroller. Audit process overview information for contractors directory of audit programs cam contract audit manual mrds audit guidance memos selected area of cost guidebook. You cannot request a dcaa audit of your accounting system aco. Defense contract audit agency dcaa or other audit agencies, the. His background includes a former top shelf dcaa auditor and held numerous positions with government contracting firms as a. Generally accepted government auditing standards can be found in the dcaa contract audit manual. This is the first guide to implementing a complete set of policies and procedures for small government contractors working with the defense contract audit agency dcaa, the defense contract management agency dcma and other government agencies. The dcaa audit manual is very clear that the responsibility for timekeeping and payroll accounting should be separated. The manual is designed to assist contractors in understanding applicable requirements and to help ease the contract audit process. Authorized contracting officer may request dcaa very backlogged unlikely to do audit if you have prime, cost plus contracts they are more likely to do preaward audits and also incurred cost submission audits. Dcaa is primarily responsible for performing all contract audits for the dod and providing cost accounting and financial advisory services regarding contracts and subcontracts to all dod. Contracting with the federal government makes your accounting records subject to audit. Contract audit manual mrds audit guidance memos selected area of cost guidebook.
Using dcaacompliant software is important in the audit process because it shows dcaa that your company is professional, efficient and organized. The dcaa contract audit manual dcaam 2 is the principal guideline for all dcaa auditors. Dcaa audit guidance on earned value management evm surveillance audits. The manual is available to the public on a subscription basis from the superintendent of documents, u. Went around and each asked a question from a selected list. Introduction to the defense contract audit agency dcaa 2. All dcaa supervisory personnel should promote the study and use of the manual by their audit.
When dcaa finds that these conditions are met, the government has a price reduction remedy under tina and the price reduction clause, far 52. Dcaa has created a new resource to replace the contract audit manual chapter 7 selected areas of cost. The basic program dcaa uses for this is fourteen 14 pages of procedures. Preaward surveys of prospective contractor accounting systems 3. Dcaa systems solutions offers an 80page, twovolume, comprehensive manual that will assist in the creation of documentation for all of the major areas of your cost accounting system, and address how each area meets dcaa requirements. Dcaa s role in the financial oversight of government contracts is critical to ensure dod gets the best value for every dollar spent on defense contracting. Our services include complete labor cost tracking and overview of timekeeping system and management. Defense contract audit agency interview questions glassdoor. This requires procedures for the proper use, controls, preparation of and recording of actual times worked. He has 33 years experience in the field of dcaa compliance and dcaa accounting subjects. Contractor representatives may access the manual on the.