Imagine securing the necessary funding so your research and development could finally become a product? It’s possible thanks to the federal government programs SBIR and STTR and Hour Timesheet. Together SBIR and SBTTR are responsible for bringing some of the most innovative technologies to market. These new technologies have the potential for commercialization in the international market. Without a DCAA compliant time tracking software, this opportunity wouldn’t exist. Hour Timesheet offers such a software, and helps these companies qualify for the programs to present their ideas.
What are the SBIR and STTR programs?
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs encourage participation in federal research. They present American-owned businesses the opportunity to research and develop new ideas, with the potential for commercialization. The SBIR and STTR programs have developed an awards-based program that presents funding opportunities to small businesses. The research institutions encourage these businesses to explore their technological innovation potential. The program then challenges them to provide the necessary incentive to profit from its marketing. The goal is to inspire high-tech innovation, by including small business in the country’s research and development industry. The entrepreneurial spirit to meet specific research and development needs will seep the country.
What does DCAA compliant timekeeping mean?
‘DCAA’ is an acronym and stands for the “Defense Contract Audit Agency”. It is the government agency responsible for the auditing of the department of defense and its contractors. Other government agencies often bring in a DCAA auditor to provide financial and accounting services. Specifically, in the event they need help with their auditing procedures.
This is precisely what happens with the SBIR and STTR programs fund. The programs aware small businesses with the money necessary to move from Phase I (Concept Development Level) to Phase II (Prototype level). Then, the federal government requests an audit of all participating small businesses. They undergo a DCAA pre-award “survey,” otherwise known as DCAA audits.
In the first phase, Federal agencies usually expect small businesses to have a basic time tracking system in place. This is because the Phase I awards are relatively small. In Phase II, there is more money at stake. There is approximately $1 million per award as opposed to $150,000 in Phase I. The contracting officers need to be confident you’ve accurately estimated your incurred costs and indirect rate. They also want to ensure you can accurately differentiate indirect from direct costs in your accounting systems. This is why Hour Timesheet offers a DCAA compliant time tracking software, that is easy to use and understand.
How does Hour Timesheet meet DCAA compliance requirements for the SBIR and STTR programs?
1. Detailed audit trails for any companies working with government programs.
It’s one thing to say that your timekeeping software is DCAA compliant, but it’s another to explain what that means. At Hour Timesheet, our audit trail lists a detailed activity log of every contractor’s activity. It includes their username, IP address, time, and date stamp of all the entries made to the timesheet. This helps capture both hours worked and paid-time-off entries.
2. The software sends automated daily reminders. This keeps employees accountable to tracking their hours on time, and with DCAA regulations.
DCAA compliance states that employees must enter and track time daily. Hour Timesheet will send employees who forget to do this an automatic daily reminder. It’s quick and easy to set up and can be a great tool. Specifically, this works well for those who sometimes let their day “get away from themselves.”
3. Tracking indirect (non-billable) time acquired while working in these programs.
Employees must track all hours in a DCAA compliant time keeping system. This ensures that all hours are precise, and meet DCAA requirements. Hour Timesheet allows users to track direct costs, indirect costs, and unallowable costs entries within the timesheet. Assign non-billable codes to users, including overhead, labor costs, business development, and others.
4. Multiple supervisor signatures required for any time entries.
According to regulations, each timesheet requires two signatures. One from the employee and the second must come from the supervisor. Hour Timesheet allows for signatures at both of those levels on each time entry.
5. Authorization is required for any charges when working on government contracts or programs.
Hour Timesheet allows managers to limit visibility on certain charge codes. They can hide codes from employees who aren’t authorized on that project. This feature is accessible to both full-time employees and timesheet information for government contractors.
6. DCAA compliance requires a reason to be provided for any late time entries.
Hour Timesheet requires a reason entry when there is no daily time entries. The program will prompt employees to enter a reason for the late entry. Hour Timesheet also requires the user to enter a reason for editing previously, inputted data on a timesheet.
Hour Timesheet DCAA Compliance Software and the SBIR & STTR Programs
The federally funded STTR program & SBIR program are both an excellent way to fund ideas and inventions. Directed at small business in the United States, it allows for the spread of new ideas. These businesses may never have the opportunity to market otherwise due to business concerns. These programs allow for companies with technical merit to enter the national arena. The programs give small businesses an opportunity with a big commercial potential for their innovations. Part of that process is ensuring their business remains DCAA compliant. These are very competitive programs, and that is where Hour Timesheet can help. We provide a DCAA Compliant timesheet software that meets the all DCAA timekeeping requirements. We’re here to help American innovation move forward.
