PSC Hosts Federal Acquisition Conference, Releases 15 Key Attributes of Good Federal Business Forecasts for Agencies
Federal Business Forecast Scorecard checklist highlights key federal forecasting attributes, recognizes CMS and NASA as agency exemplars
ARLINGTON, VA (June 25, 2026) — The Professional Services Council (PSC) today hosted their 10th Annual Federal Acquisition Conference, held at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, VA. The conference featured administration officials, acquisition experts, and industry partners who spoke about the evolving federal acquisition marketplace and keeping up with the rapid pace of technological advances.
Featured speakers included:
-
Benjamin Bryant, Acting Head of Contracting Activity and Acting Director of the Business Innovation Division, ARPA-H
-
Carolyn Carbone, Director of Procurement Service and Contracting Officer, Veterans Affairs Technology Acquisition Center (TAC)
-
Polly Hall, Chief Advisor for Acquisition, Innovation & Policy Integration, GSA
-
Jennifer Johnson, Deputy Assistant Secretary – Acquisitions and Senior Procurement Executive, HHS
-
Sarah Lugo, Procurement Officer, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
-
Corey Nickens, Client Executive, AAS Defense, GSA
-
Bradley Niese, Senior Procurement Executive, Deputy Chief Acquisition Officer, and Assistant Administrator for Procurement, NASA
-
Adam Soderholm, Gov-wide Professional Services Category Manager, Federal Acquisition Service, GSA (Moderator)
At the conference, PSC unveiled a new Federal Business Forecast Scorecard checklist, which outlines 15 key attributes of federal agency forecasts that strengthen the federal marketplace, and encourage both new entrants and contractor retention to support agencies' most critical missions.
“When an agency provides a clear forecast, the quality of competition it can attract increases exponentially,” said Jim Carroll, CEO of PSC. “Today was a prime example of building bridges between government and industry to deliver the best of the private sector to government.”
Federal business forecasts are a critical tool for strengthening communication between government and industry. When forecasts contain needed information with sufficient detail, they help companies plan investments, make informed bid decisions, build teams, identify small-business opportunities, and prepare optimally to meet agency mission requirements. Such forecasts also provide value to agencies themselves—for example, improved market research, an expanded industrial base, and increased competition that can lead to efficient, effective, and cutting-edge capabilities. The 2026 Federal Business Forecast Scorecard Checklist is available at https://psc.pscouncil.org/scorecard.
In addition to unveiling the Scorecard checklist, PSC highlighted two agency exemplars. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) stood out for maintaining a clear, accessible, and current forecast that demonstrates how a well-maintained spreadsheet — when complete, searchable, and aligned with industry needs — can provide significant value without unnecessary complexity.
"At CMS, we believe that transparent and accessible acquisition forecasting is fundamental to effective partnership with Industry,” said Douglas Bergevin, Director, Office of Acquisition and Grants Management, Head of Contracting Activity, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “We regularly publish a forecast to allow our current and potential Industry partners to plan strategically, meaningfully engage with the CMS team, and compete effectively for opportunities that support CMS missions. CMS is committed to continuing to share transparent and practical information to enable successful acquisition and mission outcomes."
NASA earned recognition for its robust, agency-wide forecasting mechanism, which allows users to drill down into individual opportunities while maintaining a structured, easy-to-navigate presentation that adheres to nearly all of PSC’s 15 key attributes.
"Effective acquisition begins with communication, and a robust forecast is one of the most powerful tools we have to engage with industry,” said Bradley Niese, Senior Procurement Executive, Deputy Chief Acquisition Officer, and Assistant Administrator for Procurement, NASA. “NASA tries hard to give companies a clear, early view of our requirements, to help them plan, invest, and bring their capabilities forward to advance the NASA mission. That transparency strengthens competition and deepens the trust that drives results for the agency and the American taxpayer.”
“Federal acquisition reform should be about helping the government deliver better, more efficient results for the American people,” said Rep. James Walkinshaw (VA-11). “And that requires delivering on a number of objectives: investing in the federal workforce, ensuring reform efforts equip agencies to purchase the right technology to both update outdated systems and adopt new technologies as they become relevant, and making sure any reform goals are ultimately oriented towards outcomes that align with agency missions. Northern Virginia’s federal contractors, from small businesses to major companies, play an essential role in strengthening our national security, improving government operations, and delivering critical services.”
About the Professional Services Council
The Professional Services Council (PSC) is the leading trade association and advocate for the government contracting industry, representing more than 400 member companies—ranging in size from start-ups to multinational organizations. These companies support federal agencies with mission-focused services and solutions and collectively employ one million American workers throughout the United States and around the world, contributing trillions of dollars to the U.S. economy. Learn more at: www.pscouncil.org.