The Federal Acquisition Regulation shall contain provisions on the allowability of contractor costs. Those provisions shall define in detail and in specific terms the costs that are unallowable, in whole or in part, under covered contracts.

The regulations shall, at a minimum, clarify the cost principles applicable to contractor costs of the following:

(1) Air shows.

(2) Membership in civic, community, and professional organizations.

(3) Recruitment.

(4) Employee morale and welfare.

(5) Actions to influence (directly or indirectly) executive branch action on regulatory and contract matters (other than costs incurred in regard to contract proposals pursuant to solicited or unsolicited bids).

(6) Community relations.

(7) Dining facilities.

(8) Professional and consulting services, including legal services.

(9) Compensation.

(10) Selling and marketing.

(11) Travel.

(12) Public relations.

(13) Hotel and meal expenses.

(14) Expense of corporate aircraft.

(15) Company-furnished automobiles.

(16) Advertising.

(17) Conventions.

The Federal Acquisition Regulation shall require that a contracting officer not resolve any questioned costs until the contracting officer has obtained—

The Federal Acquisition Regulation shall require that a contracting officer not resolve any questioned costs until the contracting officer has obtained—

(A) adequate documentation of those costs; and

(B) the opinion of the contract auditor on the allowability of those costs.

(2) Presence of contract auditor.— The Federal Acquisition Regulation shall provide that, to the maximum extent practicable, a contract auditor be present at any negotiation or meeting with the contractor regarding a determination of the allowability of indirect costs of the contractor.

(3) Settlement to reflect amount of individual questioned costs.— The Federal Acquisition Regulation shall require that all categories of costs designated in the report of a contract auditor as questioned with respect to a proposal for settlement be resolved in a manner so that the amount of the individual questioned costs that are paid will be reflected in the settlement.

(Pub. L. 111–350, § 3, Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3787.)