GovCon Wednesdays Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes Preparing a compliant Incurred Cost Submission (ICS) requires more than filling out schedules, it requires accurate documentation, consistent accounting practices, and strong compliance with FAR cost principles. This final installment in the ICS Essentials Series explains the best practices contractors should follow to assemble an accurate and audit-ready ICS package. All recommendations are based on your ICS slide deck guidance. Core Concept: What… Read More
Indirect Rates
ICS Essentials #5: What’s Included in an ICS? Breakdown of Required Schedules
GovCon Wednesdays Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes The Incurred Cost Submission (ICS) is more than a single document, it is a structured package of schedules designed to reconcile your fiscal year’s direct and indirect costs and certify that all claimed costs comply with FAR 52.216-7. These schedules help the government determine whether your billed costs were reasonable, allowable, and allocable, and they support final indirect rate determinations and contract closeouts. This installment… Read More
ICS Essentials #3: Thresholds & Deadlines for ICS (Including Post–July 1, 2018 Award Rules)
GovCon Wednesdays Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes For contractors with flexibly priced contracts, timely submission of the annual Incurred Cost Submission (ICS) is required under FAR 52.216-7. Missing the deadline can slow down contract closeouts, trigger increased audit scrutiny, or even result in the government setting your indirect rates for you through a unilateral determination.This part of the ICS Essentials Series explains the key thresholds and deadlines that GovCons must… Read More
Are Your Numbers Telling the Truth? Cash vs. Accrual Explained—Fast.
Prepared by VSINGH CPA LLC As we close out the year, now is the perfect time to make sure your accounting method is giving you the clarity, accuracy, and compliance support your GovCon business needs. The method you use—Cash Basis or Accrual—directly affects your indirect rates, invoicing, forecasting, and audit readiness. This guide breaks down the differences in a simple, GovCon-specific way so you can enter 2026 with confidence. Accrual… Read More
ICS Essentials #1: What Is an Incurred Cost Submission (ICS)?
GovCon Wednesdays Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes If your business has flexibly priced contracts, cost-reimbursable or certain T&M agreements, you are required to submit an Incurred Cost Submission (ICS) each year under FAR 52.216-7. An ICS ensures that every cost billed to the government is reasonable, allowable, and allocable, and that final contract costs reflect what your business actually incurred during the fiscal year. This first installment of the ICS… Read More
Tip # 7: Final Wrap-Up — Year-End Complete, What’s Next?
GovCon Wednesdays Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes Congratulations, you’ve made it through your GovCon year-end close! After weeks of reviewing invoices, reconciling accounts, validating entries, and preparing reports, it’s time to take a step back and look at the bigger picture: What’s next for 2026? This final tip in the GovCon Year-End Closing Series focuses on strengthening internal processes, refreshing compliance requirements, and setting a solid foundation for the new year. Reflect… Read More