Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Use of Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Areas of the consolidated financial statements where estimates may have the most significant effect include contractual and regulatory reserves, valuation and lives of tangible and intangible assets, contingent consideration related to business acquisitions, impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets, accrued liabilities, revenue recognition (including estimates of variable considerations in determining the total contract price and allocation of performance obligations), the remaining costs-to-complete fixed-price contracts, bonus and other incentive compensation, stock-based compensation, reserves for tax benefits and valuation allowances on deferred tax assets, provisions for income taxes, collectability of receivables, and loss accruals for litigation. Actual results experienced by the Company may differ from management’s estimates. Revenue Recognition The Company primarily provides services and technology-based solutions for clients that operate in a variety of markets and the solutions may span the entire program life cycle, from initial research and analysis to the design and implementation of solutions. The Company enters into agreements with clients that create enforceable rights and obligations and for which it is probable that the Company will collect the consideration to which it will be entitled as services and solutions are transferred to the client. Except in certain narrowly defined situations, the Company’s agreements with its clients are written and revenue is generally not recognized on oral or implied arrangements. The Company recognizes revenue based on the consideration specified in the applicable agreement and excludes from revenue amounts collected on behalf of third parties. Accordingly, sales and similar taxes which are collected on behalf of third parties are excluded from the transaction price. The Company evaluates whether two or more agreements should be accounted for as one single contract and whether combined or single agreements should be accounted for as more than one performance obligation. For most contracts, the client requires the Company to perform a number of tasks in providing an integrated output for which the client has contracted, and, hence, contracts of this type are tracked as having only one performance obligation since a substantial part of the Company’s promise is to ensure the individual tasks are incorporated into a combined output in accordance with contract requirements. When contracts are separated into multiple performance obligations, the Company allocates the total transaction price to each performance obligation based on the estimated relative standalone selling prices of the promised services underlying each performance obligation. The Company generally provides customized solutions in which the pricing is based on specific negotiations with each client, and, in these cases, the Company uses a cost-plus margin approach to estimate the standalone selling price of each performance obligation. Certain long-term contracts contain award fees, incentive fees or other provisions that can either increase or decrease the transaction price. These variable amounts are generally awarded at the completion of a contractually stipulated performance assessment period based on the achievement of performance metrics, program milestones or cost targets, and the amount awarded may be subject to client discretion. Variable consideration is estimated based on the most likely amount. Once the Company selects a method to estimate variable consideration, it applies that method consistently. Estimates of variable consideration will be constrained only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur. The Company evaluates contractual arrangements to determine whether revenue should be recognized on a gross versus net basis. The Company’s assessment is based on the nature of the promise to the client. In most cases, the Company itself agrees to provide specified services to the client as a principal and revenue is recognized on a gross basis. In certain instances, the Company acts as an agent and merely arranges for another party to provide services to the client and revenue is recognized on a net basis in reflection of the fact that the Company does not control the goods or services provided to the client by the other party. Long-term contracts typically contain billing terms that provide for invoicing monthly or upon completion of milestones, and payment on a net 30 -day basis. Therefore, the timing of billings and cash receipts may differ from the timing of revenue recognition resulting in either contract assets or contract liabilities. Exceptions to monthly billing terms are to ensure that the Company performs satisfactorily rather than representing a significant financing component. For cost-based contracts, the Company’s performance is evaluated during a contractually stipulated performance period and, while contract costs may be billed on a monthly basis, the Company is generally permitted to bill for incentive or award fees only after the completion of the performance assessment period, which may occur quarterly, semi-annually or annually, and after the client completes the performance assessment. Fixed-price contracts may provide for milestone billings based on the attainment of specific project objectives rather than for billing on a monthly basis. Moreover, contracts may require retention or hold backs that are paid at the end of the contract to ensure that the Company performs in accordance with requirements. The Company does not assess whether a contract contains a significant financing component if the Company expects, at contract inception, that the period between payment by the client and the transfer of promised services to the client will be one year or less. The Company generally recognizes revenue over time as control is transferred to a client, based on the extent of progress towards satisfaction of the performance obligation. The selection of the method used to measure progress requires judgment and is dependent, among other factors, on the contract type and the nature of the services provided. For time-and-materials contracts, the Company uses the right to invoice practical expedient to determine the revenue earned based on hours worked in contract performance at negotiated billing rates. Fixed-price level-of-effort contracts are substantially similar to time-and-materials contracts except that the Company is required to deliver a specified level of effort over a stated period of time. For these contracts, the Company determines the revenue earned using contract hours worked at negotiated bill rates as the Company delivers the contractually required workforce. For cost-based contracts, the Company recognizes revenue based on contract costs incurred, as the Company becomes contractually entitled to reimbursement of the contract costs, plus a most likely estimate of award or incentive fees earned on those costs even though final determination of fees earned occurs after the contractually-stipulated performance assessment period ends. For fixed-price contracts, the Company uses the percentage-of-completion method to estimate the amount of revenue, based on the ratio of actual costs incurred to total estimated costs, provided that costs incurred (an input method) represents a reasonable measure of progress towards the satisfaction of a performance obligation and transfer of control to the customer. This method provides a faithful depiction of the transfer of value to the client when the Company is satisfying a performance obligation that entails integration of tasks for a combined output, which requires the Company to coordinate the work of employees, subcontractors and delivery of other contract costs. Contract costs that are not reflective of the Company’s progress toward satisfying a performance obligation are not included in the calculation of the measure of progress. When this method is used, the changes in estimated costs to complete the obligations result in adjustments to revenue on a cumulative catch-up basis, which causes the effect of revised estimates for prior periods to be recognized in the current period. Changes in these estimates may routinely occur over contract performance for a variety of reasons, which include: changes in contract scope; changes in contract cost estimates due to unanticipated cost growth or reassessments of risks impacting costs; changes in estimated incentive or award fees; or performing better or worse than previously estimated. In some fixed-price service contracts, the Company performs services of a recurring nature, such as maintenance and other services of a “stand ready” nature. For these contracts, the Company has the right to consideration in an amount that corresponds directly with the value that the client has received. Therefore, the Company records revenue on a time-elapsed basis to reflect the transfer of control to the client throughout the contract. Contracts may be modified to reflect changes in contract specifications and requirements, and these changes may create new enforceable rights and obligations. Modifications that are for services that are not distinct from the existing agreement due to the significant integration service that the Company provides are accounted for as part of an existing performance obligation. The effect of these modifications on the transaction price and the Company’s measure of progress in fulfilling the performance obligation to which they relate is recognized as an adjustment to revenue on a cumulative catch-up basis. Revenue from modifications that create new, distinct performance obligations is recognized based on the Company’s progress in fulfilling the requirements of the new obligations. For construction-type fixed-price contracts in which the estimated cost to perform exceeds the consideration to be received, the Company accrues for the entire estimated loss during the period in which the loss is determined by recording additional direct costs. For performance obligations that are satisfied over time, the Company recognizes the cost to fulfill contracts when incurred, unless the costs are within the scope of another topic in which case the guidance of that topic is applied. The Company evaluates incremental costs of obtaining a contract and, if they are recoverable from the client and relate to a specific future contract, they are deferred and recognized over contract performance or the estimated life of the customer relationship if renewals are expected. The Company expenses these costs when incurred if the amortization period is one year or less. Unfulfilled performance obligations represent amounts expected to be earned on contracts and do not include the value of negotiated, unexercised contract options, which are classified as marketing offers. Indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity and similar arrangements provide a framework for the client to issue specific tasks, delivery or purchase orders in the future and these arrangements are considered marketing offers until a specific order is executed. Revenue recognition entails the use of significant judgment, including, but not limited to, the following: evaluating agreements in terms of the number and nature of performance obligations; determining the appropriate method for measuring progress to satisfaction of obligations; determining if the Company is acting as a principal or an agent, and preparing estimates in terms of the amount of progress that the Company has made. For many fixed-price contracts, in particular, the Company estimates the proportion of total revenue earned using the ratio of contract costs incurred to total estimated contract costs, which requires the Company to prepare and, as necessary, revise estimates, as work progresses, of the total contract costs required to satisfy each respective performance obligation. Moreover, some of the Company’s contracts include variable consideration, which requires the Company to estimate and, as necessary, revise the most likely amounts that will be earned over the respective performance assessment periods. For these obligations, changes in estimates result in cumulative catch-up adjustments and may have a significant impact on earnings during a given period. The Company’s operating cycle for long-term contracts may be greater than one year and is measured by the average time between the inception and completion of those contracts. Contract-related assets and liabilities are classified as current assets and current liabilities. Significant balance sheet accounts related to the revenue recognition cycle are as follows: Contract receivables, net – Contract receivables represent amounts billed and due from clients in accordance with respective contractual terms. The amounts due are stated at their net realizable value. The Company estimates an allowance for estimated credit loss to reflect the amount of receivables that will not be collected. The Company considers a number of factors in estimating the amount of the allowance, including knowledge of a client’s financial condition, its historical collection experience, and other factors relevant to assessing the collectability of the receivables. The Company writes off specific contract receivables when such amounts are determined to be uncollectible. Contract assets – Contract assets include unbilled amounts typically resulting from revenue recognized on long-term contracts when it exceeds the amounts billed. Contract assets include retainages until the Company has met the contract-stipulated requirements for payment. Contract assets are reported in a net position on a contract-by-contract basis each period even though individual contracts may contain multiple performance obligations. On a contract-by-contract basis, amounts do not exceed their net realizable value. Contract liabilities – Contract liabilities represent advance payments received and billings in excess of revenue recognized on contracts. Contact liabilities are reported in a net position on a contract by contract basis each period even though individual contracts may contain multiple performance obligations. Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers cash on deposit and all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash and cash equivalents. Restricted Cash The Company has restricted cash representing amounts held in escrow accounts and/or not readily available due to contractual restrictions. 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. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets The purchase price of an acquired business is allocated to the tangible assets and separately identifiable intangible assets acquired, less liabilities assumed, based on their respective fair values, with the excess recorded as goodwill. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase consideration over the fair value of net assets of businesses acquired. Goodwill and intangible assets acquired in a business combination and deemed to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized, but instead are reviewed for impairment annually, or more frequently if impairment indicators arise. Intangible assets with estimable useful lives are amortized over such lives and reviewed for impairment if impairment indicators arise. The Company performs its annual goodwill impairment test as of October 1 of each year. As its business is highly integrated and all of its components have similar economic characteristics, the Company has concluded it has one aggregated reporting unit at the consolidated entity level. The Company assesses goodwill at the reporting unit. If, after opting to complete a qualitative assessment, the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the estimated fair value of the reporting unit exceeded its carrying amount, it may conclude that no impairment exists. If the Company concludes otherwise, a goodwill impairment test is performed, which includes a comparison of the reporting unit’s fair value to the carrying amount and recognizing, as an impairment loss, the difference of the reporting unit’s fair value and the carrying amount of goodwill. The Company’s qualitative analysis as of October 1, 2022 included macroeconomic, industry and market specific considerations, financial performance indicators and measurements, and other factors. Based on this qualitative assessment, the Company determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of its reporting unit exceeded its carrying amount, and thus an additional quantitative impairment test was not required to be performed. Therefore, based on management’s review, a goodwill impairment loss was not required for 2022. Historically, the Company has no t recorded any goodwill impairment losses. Long-Lived Assets The Company reviews its long-lived assets, including property and equipment, operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, and amortizable intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of the long-lived asset group may not be fully recoverable. If the total of the expected undiscounted future net cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the long-lived asset group being evaluated, a loss is recognized for any excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the asset group. The Company recognized impairment expense, included in indirect and selling expenses, of $ 8.4 million, $ 7.9 million, and $ 3.1 million during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively, related to operating lease right-of-use assets and leasehold improvements. Leases The Company uses leases to obtain use of a variety of different resources, including those for the use of facilities or property and equipment. The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception and recognizes a right-of-use asset and lease obligation for all leases greater than twelve months based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments as of the commencement date, excluding any lease incentives and initial costs incurred to obtain the lease. Since most lease agreements do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate as of the commencement date, based on publicly available yields adjusted for company-specific considerations and terms, in estimating the present value of future payments. Lease terms, for the purpose of determining each lease’s present value, include options to extend or terminate the lease if it is reasonably certain and economically reasonable that the Company will exercise that option. Lease costs from minimum lease payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The leases may contain both lease and non-lease components, which are generally accounted for separately. For office equipment leases (primarily copier leases), the Company elected to account for the lease and non-lease components as a single lease component and not recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for leases with a term less than twelve months. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities (current and non-current) and finance leases are included in property and equipment, net and finance lease liabilities (current and non-current) on the consolidated balance sheets. Capitalized Software The Company capitalizes certain costs to develop enhancements and upgrades to internal-use software that are incurred subsequent to the preliminary project stage. Amortization expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the expected economic life of the software, typically lasting three to five years . As of December 31, 2022, and 2021, capitalized software, net of accumulated amortization, totaled $ 19.0 million and $ 14.5 million , respectively, and is included as part of “other assets” on the consolidated balance sheets. Stock-based Compensation The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense related to share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), and cash-settled restricted stock units (“CSRSUs”) on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period. The Company recognizes expense for performance-based share awards (“PSAs”), which have both performance and service conditions, on a straight-line basis over the three-year performance period. Non-employee director awards are granted annually for board-related services and therefore expensed over the service period. Stock-based compensation expense is based on the estimated fair value of the instruments on the grant date and the estimated number of shares the Company ultimately expects will vest. The Company estimates the rate of future forfeitures based on factors which include the historical forfeiture experience for each applicable employee class under the assumption that the rate of future forfeitures will be similar to that experienced in the past. In addition, the estimation of PSAs that will ultimately vest requires judgment based on the performance and market conditions that will be achieved over the performance period. Changes to these estimates are recorded as a cumulative adjustment in the period estimates are revised. The fair value of stock options, restricted stock awards, RSUs, PSAs, and non-employee director awards is estimated based on the fair value of a share of common stock at the grant date. The fair value of PSAs is estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation model. CSRSUs are settled only in cash payments. The cash payment is based on the fair value of the Company’s stock price at the vesting date, calculated by multiplying the number of CSRSUs vested by the Company’s closing stock price on the vesting date, subject to a maximum payment cap and a minimum payment floor. The Company treats these awards as liability-classified awards, and, therefore, accounts for them at fair value estimated based on the closing price of the Company’s stock at the reporting date. Derivative Instruments Derivative instruments include interest rate swaps and foreign currency hedge contracts. Derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges are recorded on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value as of the reporting date and reclassified to earnings in the period that the hedged instruments affect earnings, and the effective portion of the hedge is recorded in other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Management reviews the effectiveness of the hedges on a quarterly basis. 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 will more likely than not be unrealizable. 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. Penalties, if probable and reasonably estimable, and interest expense related to uncertain tax positions are not recognized as a component of income tax expense but recorded separately in indirect expenses and interest expense, respectively. Treasury Shares Treasury shares are accounted for under the cost method. Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Other comprehensive income (loss) includes foreign currency translation adjustments arising from the use of differing exchange rates from period to period, the gain on the sale of an interest rate hedge agreement designated as a cash flow hedge, and the changes in fair value of interest rate agreements designated as cash flow hedges, net of taxes. 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 each balance sheet date. Income statement accounts are translated at the average rate of exchange prevailing during the period. Translation adjustments are reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss included in stockholders’ equity in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Acquisition-Related Costs Costs related to acquisitions include professional fees for legal, financial, and other advisory services and are expensed in the period that they are incurred. Segment, Customer and Geographic Information The Company operates in one segment based on the consolidated information used by its chief operating decision-maker in evaluating the financial performance of its business and allocating resources. This single segment represents the Company’s core business, which is providing professional services. Although the Company disaggregates its revenue by client market areas and type, the Company does not manage its business or allocate resources based on client market or type. Approximately $ 980.4 million , $ 735.0 million , and $ 667.0 million of the Company’s revenue for the years 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively, was derived under prime contracts and subcontracts with agencies and departments of the federal government representing 55 % , 47 % , and 44 % of total revenue, respectively. No other customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s revenue during the years ended 2022, 2021, and 2020. The Company provides services to U.S. and international clients, and revenue is attributed to a particular geographic area based on the administrative location of the client that awarded the contract. The Company’s revenue generated from international clients as a percentage of total revenue was approximately 8 % , 11 % , and 13 % for the years 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, long-lived assets held internationally were 7 % and 15 % of total long-lived assets, respectively. Risks and Uncertainties Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, derivative financial instruments, and contract receivables. The Company’s domestic bank accounts are insured up to $ 250,000 by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had $ 5.2 million in its accounts that exceeded the insured limit. The majority of the Company’s cash transactions are processed through one U.S. commercial bank. Cash held domestically in excess of daily requirements is used to reduce any amounts outstanding under the Company’s Credit Facility. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company held approximately $ 8.4 million and $ 20.1 million , respectively, of cash and restricted cash in foreign bank accounts. The Company enters into derivative financial instruments with financial institutions that meet certain credit guidelines, and limits its risks by continuously monitoring the credit rating of the institutions. The Company’s receivables consist principally of amounts due from agencies and departments of the federal government, state and local governments, and international governments, as well as from commercial organizations. The credit risk, with respect to federal and other government clients, is limited due to the creditworthiness of the respective governmental entity. Amounts due for work performed as a subcontractor also represent limited credit risk when the client is performing as the prime contractor on a government contract due to the ultimate creditworthiness of the end client. Receivables from commercial clients generally pose a greater credit risk, and, as a result, are subject to ongoing monitoring. The Company extends credit in the normal course of operations and does not require collateral from its clients. The Company’s contracts with the federal government are subject to audit by agencies and departments of the federal government. Such audits determine, among other things, whether adjustments to invoices previously rendered are required under regulations as well as the underlying terms of each respective contract. Recent Accounting Pronouncements Accounting Pronouncements Adopted Reference Rate Reform In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2020-04, Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The standard is intended to provide temporary optional expedients and exceptions to the U.S. GAAP guidance on contract modifications and hedge accounting to ease accounting and financial reporting burdens related to the expected market transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates. The provisions of this ASU are elective and apply to all entities, subject to meeting certain criteria, that have debt or hedging contracts, among other contracts, that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. Entities can elect to not apply certain modification accounting requirements to contracts affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. Also, entities can elect various optional expedients that would allow it to continue to apply hedge accounting for hedging relationships affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. This guidance was effective beginning on March 12, 2020 and entities may elect to apply the amendments prospectively through December 31, 2022, the sunset date. In December 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-06 Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848 that extended the sunset date from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2024. During the third quarter of 2022, the Company amended certain interest rate swap contracts to change the benchmark rate from LIBOR to term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) based interest pricing conventions. Contemporaneously, the Company adopted ASU 2020-04 and elected to apply the optional expedient to consider the amended swap contracts as a continuation of the existing arrangements. The optional expedient did not result in a material impact on the Company’s operating results, financial position, or cash flows. As of December 31, 2022, the Company has one interest rate swap contract with a variable interest rate that references LIBOR. The contract expires on August 31, 2023. See Note 12 - Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. |