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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

NOTE B—SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, services have been rendered, the contract price is fixed or determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured. The Company enters into contracts that are time-and-materials, cost-based, and fixed-price.

 

   

Time-and-Materials Contracts. Revenue for time-and-materials contracts is recorded on the basis of allowable labor hours worked multiplied by the contract-defined billing rates, plus the costs of other items used in the performance of the contract. Profits and losses on time-and-materials contracts result from the difference between the cost of services performed and the contract-defined billing rates for these services.

 

   

Cost-Based Contracts. Revenue under cost-based contracts is recognized as costs are incurred. Applicable estimated profit, if any, is included in earnings in the proportion that incurred costs bear to total estimated costs. Incentives, award fees, or penalties related to performance are also considered in estimating revenue and profit rates based on actual and anticipated awards, based on factors such as the Company’s prior award experience and communications with the customer regarding performance.

 

   

Fixed-Price Contracts. Revenue for fixed-price contracts is recognized when earned, generally as work is performed. Services performed vary from contract to contract and are not always uniformly performed over the term of the arrangement. We recognize revenue in a number of different ways on fixed-price contracts, including:

 

   

Proportional Performance: Revenue on certain fixed-price contracts is recorded each period based upon certain contract performance measures (labor hours, labor costs, or total costs) incurred expressed as a proportion of a total project estimate. Thus, labor hours, labor costs, or total contract costs incurred to date are compared with the total estimate for these items at completion. Performance is based on the ratio of the incurred hours or costs to the total estimate. Progress on a contract is monitored regularly to ensure that revenue recognized reflects project status. When hours or costs incurred are used as the basis for revenue recognition, the hours or costs incurred represent a reasonable surrogate for output measures of contract performance, including the presentation of deliverables to the client. Clients are obligated to pay as services are performed, and in the event that a client cancels the contract, payment for services performed through the date of cancellation is negotiated with the client.

 

   

Contractual Outputs: Revenue on certain fixed-price contracts is recognized based upon outputs completed to date expressed as a percentage of total outputs required in the contract or based upon units delivered to the customer multiplied by the contract-defined unit price.

 

   

Straight-Line: When services are performed or are expected to be performed consistently throughout an arrangement, revenue on those fixed-price contracts is recognized ratably over the period benefited.

 

   

Completed Contract: Revenue and costs on certain fixed-price contracts are recognized at completion if the final act is so significant to the arrangement that value is deemed to be transferred only at completion.

Revenue recognition requires the Company to use judgment relative to assessing risks, estimating contract revenue and costs or other variables, and making assumptions for scheduling and technical issues. Due to the size and nature of many of its contracts, the estimation of revenue and estimates at completion can be complicated and are subject to many variables. Contract costs include labor, subcontracting costs, and other direct costs, as well as an allocation of allowable indirect costs. The Company must also make assumptions regarding the length of time to complete the contract because costs include expected increases in wages, prices for subcontractors, and other direct costs. From time to time, facts develop that require it to revise its estimated total costs or hours and thus the associated revenue on a contract. To the extent that a revised estimate affects contract profit or revenue previously recognized, the Company records the cumulative effect of the revision in the period in which the facts requiring the revision become known. Provision for the full amount of an anticipated loss on any type of contract is recognized in the period in which it becomes probable and can be reasonably estimated. As a result, operating results could be affected by revisions to prior accounting estimates.

The Company generates invoices to clients in accordance with the terms of the applicable contract, which may not be directly related to the performance of services. Unbilled receivables are invoiced based upon the achievement of specific events as defined by each contract, including deliverables, timetables, and incurrence of certain costs. Unbilled receivables are classified as a current asset. Advanced billings to clients in excess of revenue earned are recorded as deferred revenue until the revenue recognition criteria are met. Reimbursements of out-of-pocket expenses are included in revenue with corresponding costs incurred by us included in the cost of revenue.

The Company may proceed with work based upon written client direction prior to the completion and signing of formal contract documents. It has a formal review process for approving any such work. Revenue associated with such work is recognized only when it can reliably be estimated and realization is probable. The Company bases its estimates on a variety of factors, including previous experiences with the client, communications with the client regarding funding status, and its knowledge of available funding for the contract.

Approximately 60%, 66%, and 70% of the Company’s revenue for the years 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively, were derived under prime contracts and subcontracts with agencies and departments of the U.S. federal government.

The approximate percentage of revenue by contract type was as follows:

 

                         
    Year ended December 31,  
    2012     2011     2010  

Time-and-materials

    49     49     49

Fixed-price

    30     28     28

Cost-based

    21     23     23
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    100     100     100
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the years ending December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, revenue from various branches of the HHS accounted for approximately 19% or $180.1 million, 22% or $184.5 million, and 21% or $157.7 million, respectively, of the Company’s revenue. The accounts receivable due from HHS contracts as of December 31, 2012 and 2011 was approximately $21.3 million and $29.2 million, respectively.

Payments to the Company on cost-based contracts with the U.S. government are provisional payments subject to adjustment upon audit by the government. Such audits have been finalized through December 31, 2006, and any adjustments have been immaterial. Contract revenue for subsequent periods has been recorded in amounts that are expected to be realized upon final audit and settlement of costs in those years.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers cash on deposit and all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash and cash equivalents.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are carried at cost and are depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, which range from two to seven years. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the economic life of the improvement or the related lease term. Assets acquired in acquisitions are recorded at fair value.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of costs over fair value of assets of businesses acquired. Goodwill and intangible assets acquired in a business combination and determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized, but instead reviewed for impairment annually, or more frequently if impairment indicators arise. Intangible assets with estimable useful lives must be amortized over such lives and reviewed for impairment.

The Company performs its annual goodwill impairment review as of September 30 of each year. For the purposes of performing this review, the Company concluded that it is one reporting unit. The Company estimates the fair value of its one reporting unit using a market based approach, which includes certain premiums that the Company believes should be included for an accurate assessment of fair value. Based upon management’s most recent review, the Company determined that there was no indication of impairment as of September 30, 2012. Historically, the Company has recorded no goodwill impairment charges.

Capitalized Software

The Company capitalizes eligible, internally developed costs for enhancements and upgrades to software. Amortization expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the expected economic life, typically five years.

Equity Compensation

Incentive stock awards are measured at fair value. The Company has elected to use the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model to value any options granted and to recognize compensation expense relating to share-based payments on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. The Company will reconsider its use of the Black-Scholes-Merton model if additional information becomes available in the future that indicates another model would be more appropriate or if grants issued in future periods have characteristics that prevent their value from being reasonably estimated using this model.

Long-lived Assets

The Company is required to review long-lived assets and identifiable intangibles subject to amortization for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset might not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value, less cost to sell.

Foreign Currency Translation

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company held approximately $7.3 million and $2.2 million, respectively, of cash in foreign financial institutions.

The financial positions and results of operations of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are based on the local currency as the functional currency and are translated to U.S. dollars for financial reporting purposes. Assets and liabilities of the subsidiaries are translated at the exchange rate in effect at year-end. Income statement accounts are translated at the average rate of exchange prevailing during the year. Translation adjustments arising from the use of differing exchange rates from period to period are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions included in operations are not material for any of the periods presented.

Deferred Rent

The Company recognizes rent expense on a straight-line basis over the term of each lease. Lease incentives or abatements received at or near the inception of leases are accrued and amortized ratably over the life of the lease.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company believes the carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses, and other current liabilities approximate their estimated fair values at December 31, 2012, due to their short maturities. The Company recognizes activity related to its forward contract agreements at fair value. The impact of the hedges to the consolidated financial statements was immaterial. The Company believes the carrying value of its lines of credit payable approximate the estimated fair value for debt with similar terms, interest rates, and remaining maturities currently available to companies with similar credit ratings at December 31, 2012.

Income Taxes

The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The Company evaluates its ability to benefit from all deferred tax assets and establishes valuation allowances for amounts it believes are not more likely than not to be realizable. For uncertain tax positions, the Company uses a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold based on the technical merits of the income tax position taken. Income tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold are measured in order to determine the tax benefit recognized in the financial statements.

Treasury Shares

Treasury shares are accounted for under the cost method.

Segment

The Company has concluded that it operates in one segment based upon the information used by its chief operating decision maker in evaluating the performance of its business and allocating resources. This single segment represents the Company’s core business, professional services primarily for government clients. Although the Company describes multiple service offerings to three markets to provide a better understanding of the Company’s business operations, the Company does not manage its business or allocate resources based upon those service offerings or markets.

Risks and Uncertainties

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents and contract receivables. The majority of the Company’s cash transactions are processed through one U.S. commercial bank. Cash in excess of daily requirements is used to reduce any amounts outstanding under the Company’s Credit Facility or invested in overnight investment sweeps. To date, the Company has not incurred losses related to cash and cash equivalents.

The Company’s contract receivables consist principally of contract receivables from agencies and departments of, as well as from prime contractors to, the U.S. government, other governments, and commercial organizations. The Company extends credit in the normal course of operations and does not require collateral from its clients.

The Company has historically been, and continues to be, heavily dependent upon contracts with the U.S. government and is subject to audit by agencies of the government. Such audits determine, among other things, whether an adjustment of invoices rendered to the government is appropriate under the underlying terms of the contracts. Management does not expect any significant adjustments as a result of government audits that will adversely affect the Company’s financial position.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted

The Company adopted no new accounting standards in 2012.