DCAA-Compliant Accounting for SBIR/STTR
Project cost accounting for SBIR Phase I, II, and STTR awards
Budget utilization
78%
Audit readiness
95%
Supporting teams funded by
NSF
DOD
Navy
Air Force
DOE
CDC
NIH
NATO
USDA
NYSERDA
Alberta InnovatesNSFDODNavyAir ForceDOECDCNIHNATOUSDANYSERDAAlberta InnovatesDISCLAIMER: The logos and brand names are used for informational purposes only and do not imply any endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation with our company.
Trusted by Deep-Tech Teams
Companies that trust Forge to manage their funded projects
How we work
Complete SBIR Budget & Compliance Management
From award notification to audit submission
Real-Time Budget Actuals
Real-time tracking of phase spend vs. allocation. Know your burn rate and adjust your spending plan instantly.
Marriott Union Square exceeds the SF lodging cap of $421/night by $121. Pre-approved under Task 6 — recommend justification before approval.
Average cost during summer was above $400.
AI-checked, expert-reviewed compliance
Automatic cost principle validation (FAR 31.205), budget caps, indirect rate verification, and timeline tracking.
March '26 Invoice Package
ReadySupport from Accountants
All reports prepared and reviewed by experienced CPAs who specialize in government contract accounting.
Monthly invoice and reports
Generate auditor-ready incurred cost submissions with full cost accounting trail and indirect rate support.
Payroll
Gusto
Timesheets
38 entries
Invoices
Bill.com
Materials
3 POs
Subcontracts
2 active
Travel
Ramp
Compliance across operations
Built on DCAA standards. Timekeeping validation, labor distribution controls, indirect cost allocation.
8h logged · Apr 24
PO-1182 · $1,284.50
INV-2847 · $8,420.00
Capture costs from the field
Manage costs across NSF, NIH, DoD, DOE, and multiple awards simultaneously while tracking company-wide rates.
Integrates with your accounting system
Coming soon
Forge plugs right in your existing accounting system
Secure, compliant, and built for the long haul
Enterprise infrastructure
Enterprise-grade server hosting, end-to-end encryption, daily backups.
Compliance Assured
Compliant with key regulations and audit requirements
Your data, your data
You own everything. We never train AI on your books.
How it works
From kickoff to closeout, on autopilot
Four touchpoints. The rest runs in the background.
Send the agreement, connect your accounts
Share your agreement and link accounting, banking, and bill pay. We stand up your budget, match plan, and milestones. Usually inside a week.
Your team works. We watch the books.
Hours, purchases, and bills flow through tools that capture what's needed. No new processes.
We close the books and track match
Every transaction categorized, match position updated. You get a clean monthly report and a 30-minute review if you want it.
Closeout, filed
Final invoice, final report, match certification submitted.
[Comparison Eyebrow]
Pay for outcomes, not hours
Traditional accounting firms sell you hours. Forge sells you the finished outcome.
| Forge | Traditional Firm | |
|---|---|---|
| Expertise | Built for project cost accounting | Generalists learning on your dime |
| Pricing | Flat fee, ~30% less | Hourly billing |
| Visibility | Live, transparent dashboard | PDFs and emails |
| Your team's time | Take time back to build | Chasing receipts |
| Audit readiness | Daily, no more monthly scramble | Monthly scramble |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about SBIR/STTR accounting and Forge
SBIR/STTR Resources
Indirect Cost Rates 101
Learn how to calculate and allocate indirect costs so your SBIR budget passes agency and DCAA review.
DCAA Audit Prep
A practical walkthrough of audit expectations, common pitfalls, and how to be audit-ready from day one.
Timekeeping Compliance
Accurate timekeeping isn't optional under federal contracts. Here's what regulations require and how to stay compliant.
SBIR Tax Obligations
SBIR grants are taxable income. We break down the implications, estimated payments, and strategies to avoid surprises.
Transparent pricing for funded projects
Traditional firms don't list pricing. You schedule a call just to learn the cost. Forge is transparent.
Starter
$499/mo
For single funded projects with straightforward budgets.
Growth
$899/mo
For teams with multiple grants or complex match requirements.
Custom
Custom
For organizations with multi-funder portfolios spanning multiple programs.
Get your team back to the project
Forge runs your accounting end-to-end. Invoices, match, reports. Your engineers stay on the project.