I. Background

DoD, GSA, and NASA published an interim rule in the Federal Register at 75 FR 34285 on June 16, 2010, to maintain consistency between CAS and FAR in matters relating to the administration of CAS. The interim rule aligned the existing FAR 31.205-6(q)(2)(i) and (ii) with revisions to CAS 412 "Cost Accounting Standards for composition and measurement of pension cost," and CAS 415 "Accounting for the cost of deferred compensation."

The CAS Board had specified that the accounting of Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) costs, regardless of type, would be covered by the provisions of CAS 415 only and not by CAS 412. The CAS Board also provided criteria in CAS 415 for measuring ESOP costs and assigning these costs to cost accounting periods.

DoD, GSA, and NASA received no comments on the interim rule and have adopted the interim rule as a final rule without change.