Dynamics NAV Supports Recovery Act Reporting Requirements

 

On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed Public Law 111-5, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“Recovery Act”, “Stimulus Act”), which included a number of provisions to be implemented in Federal Government contracts.

 

Effective March 31, 2009, interim Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.204-11 went into effect that implements this mandated clause.  This requires the prime contractor and their first tier subcontractors to provide quarterly reports documenting their use of stimulus funds.   If you win contracts that use Recovery Act funds, you are subject to these reporting requirements.

 

Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman PC give a good overview in their Federal Construction Contracting Blog about the Reporting Requirements associated with the Recovery Act. The FederalRecovery.Gov website is being developed to “serve as the gateway for recipients to meet the reporting requirements” of the Act.

 

Dynamics NAV for Government Contractors will have the capabilities you need to report on your Recovery Act contracts.  Click here for information on the wide range of reporting capabilities found in Dynamics NAV.

Three Things to Do to Prepare for EVM

 

Rob Hirschmann, Corporate Vice President with Projility, a Vienna, Virginia based 8(a) government consulting firm focused on implementing effective project portfolio management and earned value management solutions, is a good friend of PVBS.  Projility’s ‘Easy EVM’ suite is based upon a complete Microsoft solution platform. Here’s an interesting article he submitted to us concerning EVM preparation for government contractors.

Over the past twelve months, we’ve seen requirements for ANSI-compliant Earned Value Management (EVM) systems in almost every new procurement coming from the Federal government, small and large.  The message is becoming clear: contractors who cannot come to the table with a solid approach, qualified staff, documented processes and integrated technology solutions (defined together as a system) will not be awarded new work.  This is becoming the status quo across all areas of government – going beyond EVM’s roots in the Department of Defense, now mandatory across Civilian and Homeland Security procurements regardless of contract type.

So what can contractors do to proactively address these requirements? There are three key steps every organization can take NOW:

1. Identify a ‘top 10’ list of procurements you are most likely to bid and compete on.
2. Extract from information services such as Input what similar requirements for EVM have been placed on contractors winning similar awards in the same agency (by size and type of project)
3. Work to understand your organization’s current-state against these requirements, and build a roadmap that provides an integrated approach to EVM to include:
   1. Development of EVM-specific Proposal content
   2. A PM/EVM technical solution to be Piloted on current initiatives with similar requirements, so you are ready to roll into new awards (do it now, don’t wait)
   3. Identify who within the organization will own this capability – and make it part of their job starting immediately
   4. Implement an effective training program for your project managers – it will be their responsibility to own EVM on contracts, teach it as part of your core PM curriculum now (or, if you don’t have a program, it’s a great time to develop one)

The government is looking at EVM as a management tool to objectively determine the cost, schedule and technical status, key risks, and (most importantly) finish line (or lack thereof) for a given project. No matter what the contract type, be prepared with an EVM solution that integrates with your project management methodology and tools, and can incorporate financials from the project quickly and easily.  Be prepared, EVM is good management practice.

 

June Webcast and Lunch Seminar for Government Contractors

 

Microsoft and PVBS are offering two opportunities in June to learn more about how Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 for Government Contractors will help your company better optimize its government contracts. One event will be an online webcast; the other will be a lunch seminar at the Microsoft Technology Innovation Center in Reston.

Momentum Webcast: Why Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 Is an Ideal Choice for Government Contractors.

Discover how Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 from PVBS can help your company pass the new Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) audits criteria. This webcast is intended specifically for companies that provide services or sell products to the U.S. government. We discuss what you need to know about the new DCAA audit requirements, why government contractors need more than just DCAA compliance, and how a single enterprise resource planning (ERP) and financial management solution can serve both your commercial and public sector practices. Click here to register. (June 10, 2009, 12noon EST/9am PST).

Lunch Seminar in Reston: Everything You Need to Know about Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009

PVBS to Speak on DCAA Compliance at June 10 SECAF Event

 

PVBS Vice President Paul Skurpski will be a keynote speaker at the June SECAF meeting at the Tower Club in Tyson’s Corner. Along with Goodman & Company senior partner Ken Bricker, Skurpski will discuss what you need to know about the new DCAA Audit Requirements and the role of DCAA in your relationship with the Federal Government.

In addition, we will discuss why forward thinking government contractors are implementing compliant solutions and documenting processes before they win contracts that require a DCAA audit. The last element of the training will cover how to best prepare for your first audit based on the guidelines specified on DCAA Standard Form 1408.  The DCAA’s Form 1408 delineates the attributes of an adequate accounting system to include the need for accurate timekeeping, general ledger, labor distribution and project-based accounting components, among other elements.  Click here for more information.