Calendar of Events | PSC Website
CIDC Now
July 17, 2023
Now that the Debt Crisis is resolved, we still face a rocky fiscal road as FY23 draws to a close – whether a looming CR or possible shutdown, please keep checking your PSC emails for updates!
Please note that there will be no formal CIDC meeting on July 20. Instead, we will have the second meeting of our CIDC Annual Conference Planning Committee – all are invited.
In order to accommodate our speaker’s schedule, our next CIDC meeting will be WEDNESDAY, August 2 with USAID’s AA for Asia Michael Schiffer (please let me know if your company would like to sponsor our lunch) – details below, as well as information on other important upcoming meetings.
Late Friday, USAID issued the following Return to the Office announcement for, “….contractors whose staff have physical access to USAID Washington office space and work alongside USAID employees and personal services contractors.” Referring to OMB Memorandum M-23-15 regarding increasing in-person work, the announcement noted: “Washington-based telework eligible employees and individuals with personal services contracts (PSCs) must enter into new telework agreements that reflect the minimum three-day each week in-person presence requirement. Agency employees and PSCs will begin transitioning into their new schedules between now and September 24. All new telework agreements and schedules will be fully implemented by September 24.” PSC will continue to engage with the agency as the date approaches and welcomes member feedback.
On June 22, PSC released two major studies. In our fifth annual Federal Business Forecast Scorecard, USAID continued to be very highly ranked, while State and MCC received Fair. Full details of all 70 agencies rankings available here. PSC’s biennial Acquisition Policy Survey, which reflects the feedback from 13 government agencies, captures practical insights from federal contracting officers and other acquisition officials, which can be invaluable as industry seeks to engage with its federal customers. Details on both reports below.
In conjunction with CIDC’s DEIA Working Group, many of our members contributed to last year's Benchmarking Race, Inclusion, and Diversity in Global Engagement (BRIDGE) Survey. The new survey is out and can be found here.
Our “From the Field” stories this month highlight the work by ECODIT work in Lebanon using local solutions for waste management. Cadmus work with Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) around the globe is also highlighted below.
Please contact me to help us get the word out about the great work CIDC members are doing to make the world a better place.
Paul Foldi Vice President, International Development Affairs
PSC
Next Up
*****NOTE THE DAY/DATE*****
Wednesday, August 2; from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. ET
Michael Schiffer
Assistant Administrator for Asia
USAID
PSC Office or Virtual
4401 Wilson Blvd. Suite 1110, Arlington, VA 22203
Click here to register
From the Field
USAID DAWERR Promotes Innovative Local Solutions for Solid Waste Management in Lebanon
By Celia Zeilberger
In July 2020, USAID/Lebanon awarded ECODIT the Diverting Waste by Encouraging Reuse and Recycling (DAWERR) Activity, a five-year, $15 million project that will establish sustainable and replicable integrated solid waste diversion and valorization solutions in rural areas of Lebanon. The DAWERR activity is part of the USAID/Lebanon Initiative to Deliver Essential Assistance and Services (IDEAS) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), a funding mechanism that addresses the challenge of improving essential service delivery through clusters of municipalities in partnership with the private and not-for-profit sectors.
In Sierra Leone, Cadmus is working with Invest Salone—a UK government-funded program that enhances investment in agriculture, manufacturing, fisheries, and tourism.
Empowering the Backbone of Economic Growth: Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises
June 27, 2023 was International Day of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. Investing in Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) is crucial for fostering sustainable development. As key drivers of economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction, MSMEs empower marginalized communities, promote inclusive development, and foster innovation and resilience. Currently, Cadmus is providing support to MSMEs in Cambodia, El Salvador, the Philippines, Sierra Leone, the Solomon Islands, and Uganda in sectors ranging from agriculture, tourism, fisheries, to manufacturing.
State and USAID Matters
USAID M/OAA Mark Walther Retires
Following a career of 34 years at USAID, Mark Walther was feted by the agency in a June 15 ceremony that included Administrator Power stopping, lots of great stories from his colleagues, and a few misty-eyed farewells. M/OAA Deputy Director Deb Broderick will serve in an Acting capacity until a new candidate is selected. The position will remain SES.
DoS Chief Diversity Officers Retires
Ambassador Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, who was sworn in as the Department of State’s first-ever Chief Diversity Officer in April 2021, has retired – also after a career in government of more than 30 years – and will become new president of the Middle East Policy Council. Prior to her departure she defended her office’s FY24 budget request in hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Her successor as CDO has not been named.
PSC Matters
PSC Releases Fifth Annual Federal Business Forecast Scorecard
On June 22, PSC released its fifth annual Federal Business Forecast Scorecard, which assessed publicly available, web-based procurement forecasts from 70 federal agencies and elements. “Open-source federal procurement forecasts provide invaluable information to industry on projected acquisition needs and timelines,” said PSC President and CEO David J. Berteau. “They help attract new entrants to the federal marketplace and enable existing federal contractors to decide when to bid on federal opportunities.” PSC’s Scorecard process examines forecasts against 15 key attributes that industry deems necessary for an effective web-based forecast, such as award type, the ability to sort data, frequency of updates, and set-aside information. Top performers in 2023 included OPM, the Department of the Navy and DHS. For the fifth year in a row USAID scored high marks, while the Department of State and MCC’s forecasts rated Fair. Read more.
PSC Acquisition Policy Survey Released
Also, on June 22 (to coincide with our Federal Acquisition Conference), PSC released the findings from the 11th edition of its premier survey on government contracting, PSC’s Biennial Acquisition Policy Survey: Decision Points for Leadership. Reflecting feedback from acquisition leaders from 13 different federal agencies, this survey reflects analysis of, and insights on, recent trends in government contracting policies and processes. PSC Executive Vice President for Policy Stephanie Kostro noted, “Recent acquisition trends highlight real-world challenges in the American economy and constraints in the federal marketplace, from higher-than-expected inflation to increased competition for skilled workers to rapid technology development cycles.”
AI Roundtable
Please join PSC’s Emerging Technologies Working Group on Thursday, July 20, 2023, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET, for an off-the-record, not-for-attribution meeting on generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools. PSC plans to gather member company insights and comments to help inform potential government-wide and agency level policies and/or requirements. An agenda will be distributed prior to this meeting. Register here.
PSC Webinar on OASIS+ Requests for Proposals
On Wednesday, July 26, from 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. ET, PSC will be hosting a webinar to discuss the OASIS+ Request for Proposals to help PSC members understand the essentials of the OASIS+ RFP and recent changes in the final version, discuss impacts of any Q&A released by the General Services Administration, cover tips and tricks to maximize points and offer key considerations for bidding. Register here.
Member News
Abt Associates became the first company in the world to be certified against the new NSF/ANSI 391.1 standard, which was developed at the request of GSA to ensure sustainability in federal supply chains for professional services.
Travis Johnson was appointed as the new Chief Financial Officer.
The Washington Post named Chemonics a 2023 TOP WORKPLACE for the Washington, D.C. Region.