Helpful Links
www.charlestondca.org
SCS Upcoming Events
Lunch and Learn Series
"Indirect Cost Pools"
* December 13, 2012, Charleston, SC
For more information and to register for the event,
WEBINAR
(Free Event)
"Incurred Cost Submissions"
* November 16, 2012 at 9:30 AM Eastern Time
For more information and to register for the event,
Visit our website often for updates on these and other events. www.scsconsults.com
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Greetings!
October was a busy month at SCS as we hosted 2 seminars, one in Oak Ridge, TN and one in Raleigh, NC. We want to thank our sponsors for helping us host these great events; Pugh & Company, Deltek, and Unanet. We also want to thank the key-note speakers Tre Hargett, TN Secretary of State and Tad Davis, Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Army Reserve Command. Their opening talks help start each day off with some great insight. Our speakers did a fabulous job on topics including SBA Funding, Earned Value Management, Healthcare Reform, Tax Updates, GSA Schedules, and Award Protests.
The speakers were:
- Eric Hicklin, Suntrust Bank
- Wendy Collins, STATUS Project Services
- Tim Welles - Benefit Consulting Services, Inc.
- Nan Bobbett - Coulter & Justus P.C.
- Paul Middlebrooks, University of TN
- Wendy Bryant and Kristopher Muse - Dept of Energy, Oak Ridge
- David Hayden - Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan
- Jim Lynch - K2 Solutions
- Patricia Fox - U.S. Army Research Office
- Tomi Bryan - Fedlinx
Additionally, our lunch speakers brought great energy to the room with their topics. Jennifer Goodrich of Benchmark Leadership Training/Crestom discussed Strategic Planning at our Oak Ridge seminar. And Orna Drawas, Author of "Perform Like a Rock Star and Still Have Time for Lunch" was our luncheon speaker in Raleigh.
Finally, thanks to our attendees who helped make the seminars a success by offering great insight and providing great dialogue at each event. We're looking forward to next year's events. We'll be posting the dates in the near future so everyone can mark their calendars.
The presentation slides are now available on our website's "Resources" page.
Regards,
Laura Davis,
President
Strategic Consulting Solutions
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Honoring Our Veterans
Monday is Veteran's Day. Each of our lives has been impacted in some way through the commitment and dedication of service members. To our readers who are veterans and to all who have served our country, we at SCS would like express our appreciation for your service. I came across the following passage, which I believe aptly expresses the sentiment:
"Sitting in front of my fireplace, basking in it's warm glow gives me time to reflect upon the sacrifices that it has taken for me to enjoy the security of a good home, in a safe environment. I can hear the soft whisper of the snow as it caresses my window and covers the ground outside in a scintillating display of sparkling lights under the full moon. How many times have our service men and women watched this same scene from a foxhole, or camped in some remote part of the world. Thankful for the silence of that moment, knowing it won't last long. Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He/she dresses in fatigues and patrols the world restlessly, ensuring that we can have this peaceful night. Every day they give us the gift of this lifestyle that we enjoy, and every night they watch over us. They are warriors, angels, guardians, friends, brothers, fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers, forming a family that stretches back to the beginning of the country. So tonight when you go to bed say a prayer that God watch over those who watch over us, and thank them for their sacrifices, on and off the battlefield. Pray that they have a peaceful night, and will be home soon with their families who also share their burden. Without them we would not have this moment." -Neil Leckman, author
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* Sequestration Updates *
Will a sequestration solution open the M&A flood gates?
Nick Wakeman
Washington Technology
With the potential of Sequestration still looming on the horizon, difficulties may exist in areas of business you haven't considered before. Take mergers and acquisitions for example. How can you accurately value a company if you don't know if a contract will be ordered to end early or if an option will be awarded? The threat of sequestration has been holding M & A's hostage, but what if it doesn't happen? Read more HERE
Too little info for pre-sequestration layoff warnings, contractors say
by Kedar Pavgi
Government Executive
The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988 (WARN Act) is a United States labor law which protects employees, their families, and communities by requiring most employers with 100 or more employees to provide sixty- (60) calendar-day advance notification of plant closings and mass layoffs of employees.
Employees entitled to notice under the WARN Act include managers and supervisors, hourly wage, and salaried workers. The WARN Act requires that notice also be given to employees' representatives (i.e. a labor union), the local chief elected official (i.e. the mayor), and the state dislocated worker unit.
The advance notice gives workers and their families transition time to adjust to the prospective loss of employment, to seek and obtain other employment, and, if necessary, to enter skill training or retraining programs that will allow these workers to successfully compete in the job market.
However, some companies claim that the uncertainty of sequestration doesn't give them enough time to comply with the WARN act. Read the entire article HERE
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Did You Know?...
GCS Premier has the ability to handle SCA wages. The Labor Category File allows you to set the 'prevailing wage' per labor category at the contract/task level. If the check box for SCA Covered is checked in the supplemental information screen, the system will pay the higher of the hourly rate in the Employee Master File or the Labor Category File.
Do you have a tip or a trick that you've discovered with your Deltek product that others might find useful? If so, share it with us and you could win an Amazon Kindle! One winner will be drawn from all submissions on November 30th. Submit your entry HERE
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 The SCS Race for the Cure Athletes!
Laura Davis and some faithful SCS staffers braved cold temperatures and a rainy sky as they participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on October 27th in Knoxville, TN. Others within the organization chose the "Sleep In for the Cure" option...and thankfully declined to provide pictures of their participation! No matter the type of participation, SCS is proud to have taken part in this event and support such a worthy cause and hope our efforts make a positive impact in the fight for a cure.
Oak Ridge Updates
Many changes are happening in the Oak Ridge area. A new federal security contractor is being selected and an executive search is underway along with IT focused planning issues. Read more about the changes HERE
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Decoding FAR Part 31...What are 'Unallowable' Costs?
by Larry Mosher
Strategic Consulting Solutions Blog Post
As a government contractor it is imperative that you segregate your unallowable costs from your allowable costs. Sounds simple, right? Maybe for those that have made it their goal to become scholars of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (a.k.a. FAR) in their spare time, but for most it can be guesswork at best. I'd like to point out some areas of FAR Part 31 that you should be aware of as you perform on government contracts.
Read more about this and other SCS blog topics HERE
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GSA appoints a new duo to run SAM
Matthew Weigelt
Federal Computer Week
After months of delays, the new GSA System for Award Management (SAM) went live in August. While the system was intended to streamlne the purchasing process, the result has served as a source of frustration for those who use it. GSA is hoping to turn the tide and has made some leadership changes to ensure the system's success. Find out more about their plan HERE
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Severe weather patterns are increasing as evidenced by the recent historic hurricane Sandy which ravaged the East Coast. As a result, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be seeking more and more vendors to service their needs to aid the victims of those storms. Learn more about exploring FEMA opportunities HERE
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Statute of Limitations on Cost Allowability
Darrell J. Oyer & Company Newsletter
With contract closeouts being delayed and audit issue complicating the process further, statute of limitations could come into play. The United States Court of Federal Claims (No. 09-306C) earlier this year issued a decision regarding application of the statute of limitations to a cost allowability issue. Read more HERE
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About Strategic Consulting Solutions
Strategic Consulting Solutions is the leading provider of compliant solutions to government contractors. SCS specializes in Deltek software sales and implementation, complete accounting outsourcing, contract compliance support, contract administration and general accounting support. Whether you are new to contracting, or a seasoned contractor managing multiple, complex projects, we can help you to understand government cost accounting requirements, implement systems and processes to achieve compliance, assist you through DCAA audits, and help you accurately manage and streamline your business processes. Our team consists of professionals with extensive finance and government contracting experience. We understand the complexities of government contracting and strive to help our clients find the appropriate solutions to all of their contracting issues. |
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We focus on compliance
so you can focus on your business |
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