All you need to know about the NICRA application process

Coding mistakes happen. The magic of accounting is that re-classes are always possible. If you have noticed the mistake, re-class the alcoholic beverage to the unallowable cost pool/expense code.
If this affects your provisional rate, you may wait and fix it once you finalize the rate at the end of the year during audit. You could also attempt to request an updated provisional NICRA. I would not recommend a provisional NICRA update letter unless the amount in question is substantial. It’s likely better and simpler to adjust the rate following audit.

This revision stated concerns the definition of Modified Total Direct Cost per 2 CFR 200.1.  Your question seems to relate to the use of the 10% (soon 15%) de minimis rate, which is another indirect cost recovery method separate from NICRA. Irrespective of your selected indirect cost recovery, current recipients should not start enacting updated 2 CFR 200 guidance until their award is amended by the funding agency.

If you have direct awards with the Department of the Interior and USAID, the Cognizant Agency will provide your organization with the most funding. Looking at your organization’s direct federal funding for the last financial year, did you receive more funding from the Department of the Interior or USAID?

I’m not sure that I have enough context to fully understand the nuance in this question. NICRAs are organization specific. One company cannot negotiate a NICRA on behalf of another, nor can one company’s NICRA cover a separate company.

This is a good question. If you are only going to have one award with the USG and you don’t believe that your organization will work much with the USG following this one award, it’s probably not worth the time, effort and expense to pursue a NICRA. You can use the de minimis rate for now and should you start to see a future with more USG-work, you can certainly apply for a NICRA once a future award is secured (you typically have 3 months after award signature to submit your paperwork).

Unfortunately, this is common due to backlog among certain federal agencies. USAID for instance, has acknowledged the backlog and is working hard to go through these pending matters. There are upcoming changes to the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) which opens the possibility for an agency like USAID and your organization to mutually agree upon a final rate in order not to delay project close-out. This is all still very new and it is not yet known how this will work in practice and whether it will vary from one federal agency to the next.