Bill Tracker: 118th Congress-First Session (2023)

H.J. RES.7 Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020, Gosar (R-AZ)

SUMMARY Would terminate the national emergency declaration for COVID-19.

STATUS Became Public Law No: 118-3 on 4/10/23.

S. 135 Preventing Government Shutdowns Act, Lankford (R-OK)

SUMMARY Would automatically approve a continuing resolution upon a lapse in appropriations and withhold funding for certain activities until appropriations are enacted.

STATUS Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on 1/30/23.

S. 257 Banning Operations and Leases with the Illegitimate Venezuelan Authoritarian Regime Act / “BOLIVAR” Act, Scott (R-FL)

SUMMARY Would prohibit contracting with persons that have business operations with the Maduro regime.

STATUS Ordered to be reported by the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on 3/29/23. Related bill: H.R.825.

S. 917 Securing Open Source Software Act, Peters (D-MI)

SUMMARY Would require the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to take a number of steps to address the use of open source software by the federal government, critical infrastructure entities, and others.

STATUS Signed into law on 2/22/22, P.L. 117-88.

S. 931 Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act, Peters (D-MI)

SUMMARY Would direct federal agencies to generate software inventories, assess the software they use, and report that information to the Government Accountability Office and the Congress.

STATUS Ordered to be reported by the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on 3/29/23.

S. 933 Federal Data Center Enhancement Act, Rosen (D-NV)

SUMMARY Would require the Office of Management and Budget to work with federal agencies to develop minimum requirements for new federal data centers regarding cybersecurity and resiliency.

STATUS Ordered to be reported by the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on 3/29/23.

Released June 2023

Federal contractors, including PSC’s 400+ member companies, rely on agency procurement forecasts to (1) conduct business planning and (2) beter focus capabili�es development on the needs of their federal government customer(s).

• The fi�h edi�on of PSC’s annual Federal Business Forecast Scorecard examined publicly available procurement forecasts from 70 federal agencies and sub-components.

• PSC is pleased to report general improvement in those procurement forecasts across the U.S. Government since the release of the 2022 PSC scorecard. That said, there remains addi�onal room for improvements, as some agency forecasts s�ll include incomplete, inconsistent, or outdated informa�on (e.g., five agencies surveyed do not have publicly accessible forecasts).

• Of course, publicly available forecasts represent only one way in which the federal government engages its exis�ng industry partners and atracts new entrants to the federal marketplace. The government’s acquisi�on officials con�nue to engage in market research, par�cipate in industry days, and update opportuni�es. PSC and its member companies appreciate such efforts for meaningful engagement.

• We also note that an accessible, navigable procurement forecast is par�cularly important for companies who are unable to par�cipate in such outreach, as well as those companies who are beginning to explore whether they should enter the federal market. Agencies’ web-based business forecasts can play a pivotal role in atrac�ng new entrants – or reatrac�ng contractors who le� the federal market – into work with the U.S. Government.

• PSC respec�ully offers this Scorecard as a resource for agencies who would like to understand how industry uses procurement informa�on. What kinds of �mely, relevant informa�on does industry seek? How can agencies improve forecasts so they can access needed capabili�es? We look forward to con�nuing our dialogue with acquisi�on officials as they prepare their next acquisi�on business forecasts.

Model for Success: OPM

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) received the highest score in PSC’s 2023 Federal Business Forecast Scorecard. Leveraging the “Acquisi�on Gateway” system, OPM’s procurement forecast benefits from that system’s func�onality – e.g., mul�ple ways to sort informa�on quickly – so industry partners can more easily iden�fy specific contrac�ng opportuni�es. This system is shared with the Departments of Jus�ce and Labor, as well as last year’s top scorer, the General Services Administra�on. OPM’s forecast is regularly updated, populated with useful informa�on to support companies' decision-making, and frequently goes above and beyond to provide accurate, �mely informa�on to its industry partners.

Honorable Men�on: Department of the Navy

The U.S. Department of the Navy (DoN) earned an honorable men�on in the 2023 Scorecard, working closely with PSC and the contractor community throughout 2022 and 2023 to assess and improve its forecas�ng. In addi�on to previous improvements, DoN volunteered addi�onal Navy contrac�ng en��es to be assessed; these organiza�ons also received good scores. Moreover, PSC commends DoN for its responsiveness to contractor’s needs, as it rapidly and competently improved forecast informa�on. We encourage DoN to con�nue this posi�ve trajectory by upda�ng forecast informa�on more frequently for each opportunity within their website and ensuring all contrac�ng offices adopt and maintain high forecas�ng standards demonstrated by those assessed in 2023

The Department of the Navy understands the importance of providing forecasts to our industry partners. The Navy and Marine Corps are dedicated to delivering the best capabilities to the warfighter at the best price to the taxpayer. Providing realistic forecast of our future requirements enables our industrial partners to make key business decisions and position themselves to do business with the Navy, which is vital to achieving our mission. We look forward to the continued partnership with industry and we are very pleased with this recent recognition from PSC.

Ms. Cindy R. Shaver Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Procurement) Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisi�on

Honorable Men�on: Department of Homeland Security

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) earned an honorable men�on in the 2023 Scorecard. Over the last 5 years, PSC has given consistently high marks to DHS components’ forecasts. Unifying DHS components under a single Acquisi�on Planning Forecast System (APFS) has helped improve the quality and consistency of DHS forecasts across the board. PSC commends DHS for providing frequent updates to this system as well as incorpora�ng a transparent log of updates to individual opportuni�es within APFS. We encourage DHS to con�nue this posi�ve trajectory by including more comprehensive descrip�ons of forecasted opportuni�es within their website.

At DHS, it’s no secret that we’re committed to engaging with industry in meaningful ways. We’re pleased, but certainly not surprised, to see that each of the DHS organizations reviewed for the scorecard received the highest rating. Our dialogues with industry have enabled us to make impactful changes to our processes and tools, including our Acquisition Planning Forecast System, which have benefited not only our industry partners but also the Department. Thank you, PSC, for this recognition.

Mr. Paul Courtney Chief Procurement Officer Department of Homeland Security

Needs Improvement: USDA

Over the last 5 years of assessing forecasts, PSC has determined that U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) opera�ng divisions have several areas for improvement. Considering that USDA spends a significant por�on of its budgets on contracted goods and services, PSC encourages the Department to provide a more frequently updated, detailed procurement forecast, including but not limited to a “date modified” column of informa�on for each opportunity. Addi�onally, the USDA could benefit greatly by increased engagement with contractors, and PSC, on ways to improve its forecast; such outreach would highlight the importance of more detailed informa�on about an�cipated award dates and length, contract vehicle informa�on, program buying office, and award type so that USDA could beter access needed capabili�es from their contrac�ng partners.

How Does Industry Use Business Forecasts?

How Does Industry Use Business Forecasts?

To provide federal customers with more �mely, comprehensive, and thoroughly researched solu�ons when final Requests for Proposals (RFPs) are released, companies rely on the accuracy, comprehensiveness, and �meliness of an agency’s business forecast, especially though not limited to the publicly available website. O�en, resource alloca�on and teaming decisions are made well in advance of the RFP release. A useful forecast provides excellent, ac�onable informa�on that can enable interested en��es to determine poten�al staffing requirements, project needs, and costs. While PSC and the services contrac�ng community fully recognize that spending priori�es o�en change on short no�ce, significant course correc�ons tend to be the excep�ons rather than the rule in the services sector.

To provide federal customers with more �mely, comprehensive, and thoroughly researched solu�ons when final Requests for Proposals (RFPs) are released, companies rely on the accuracy, comprehensiveness, and �meliness of an agency’s business forecast, especially though not limited to the publicly available website. O�en, resource alloca�on and teaming decisions are made well in advance of the RFP release. A useful forecast provides excellent, ac�onable informa�on that can enable interested en��es to determine poten�al staffing requirements, project needs, and costs. While PSC and the services contrac�ng community fully recognize that spending priori�es o�en change on short no�ce, significant course correc�ons tend to be the excep�ons rather than the rule in the services sector.

Scorecard Methodology

Due to the number of agencies and subcomponents tracked and to be as objec�ve as possible, PSC staff take a “snapshot” of agencies’ web-based forecasts at the beginning of the second quarter of the government’s fiscal year (i.e., January). PSC staff then begin the assessment process.

• Using 15 key atributes used by services contractors who seek to make go / no-go decisions based on available informa�on, one assessor reviews each agency’s forecast and assigns point values in accordance with those atributes. Of note, each atribute is weighted in accordance with its rela�ve importance to industry; PSC has veted these atributes with contractors and government officials, as well as internally within PSC.

• Other PSC staff then conduct a “blind” reassessment process wherein they are unaware of the score already assigned to an agency's forecast. This step encourages objec�vity. In the event of a discrepancy between the two assessments for a par�cular forecast, the staff discuss their perspec�ves and resolve the discrepancy.

• Finally, PSC compares total scores of the assessed agencies side-by-side, determining the distribu�on of scores into Good, Fair, Needs Improvement, or Not Found. These cleavage points o�en “pop out” during the assessment process.

PSC’s 15 Key Atributes for a Successful Business Forecast

1.Searchable Spreadsheet

At a minimum, forecasts should be available in Excel format. Because PDFs are o�en difficult to read and sort, it is also difficult to extrapolate data; this complicates a poten�al bidder’s ability to iden�fy opportuni�es. The use of a PDF may also indicate that the agency does not frequently update the forecast. PSC’s Federal Business Forecast team awards addi�onal points for advanced Electronically Sortable Informa�on (ESI) systems which go above and beyond Excel.

Why this maters: Excel or an ESI format allows industry to easily search for and organize opportuni�es and allows agencies to update forecasts more easily.

2.Date Modified

Agencies should indicate the last modifica�on date for each opportunity. This informs users whether the informa�on is recent or has changed since last viewing.

Why this maters: Without a date modified, contractors may be uncertain if informa�on has changed. When uncertain, poten�al bidders spend addi�onal resources on inquiries to determine relevancy and �meliness of informa�on provided; since respondents to these inquiries are most o�en government officials, this also creates addi�onal work for agencies.

3.Forecast Update Frequency

PSC’s Federal Business Forecast team evaluates forecasts on frequency of publica�on. Agencies should update procurement forecasts at least twice a year.

Why this maters: Poten�al bidders may lose confidence in the forecas�ng tool’s accuracy and efficacy if informa�on appears outdated. They are less likely to expend resources for proposal prepara�on, possibly reducing compe��on for an agency’s opportuni�es.

4.Project Descrip�on and Contract Number

The PSC team evaluates forecasts on the existence and comprehensiveness of a project descrip�on and if the agency has assigned a contract number to the opportunity. To the greatest extent prac�cable, forecasts should include details on place of performance, type and scope of work, technical requirements, poten�al security clearance requirements, and other relevant opportunityspecific informa�on.

Why this maters: With a more detailed descrip�on of the work required, companies can determine if an opportunity fits their capabili�es, requires teaming, and is a good use of their resources to track and pursue.

5.Dollar Value (Base + Op�ons)

The PSC team evaluates forecasts on whether the tool lists opportunity-specific dollar values, as well as the specificity of dollar values (e.g., base and op�on year values).

Why this maters: Poten�al bidders consider poten�al award value and structure of an opportunity to assess their own compe��veness and poten�al return on investment and to priori�ze opportuni�es for tracking and pursuit.

6.Program or COR Contact Informa�on

Agency forecasts should specify a point of contact for each opportunity with an individual’s (not generic or office) email address and telephone number. The PSC team awards addi�onal points if the forecast tool indicates an individual point of contact and addi�onal “back-up” points of contact.

Why this maters: Poten�al bidders and the agency benefit when a specific government individual can address ques�ons about the opportunity. Lis�ng an email and telephone number helps make a specified point of contact more readily available, as does the inclusion of addi�onal points of contact.

7.Program Office & Buying Ac�vity

PSC’s Federal Business Forecast team evaluates forecasts on whether they specify program office and buying ac�vi�es for each opportunity.

Why this maters: Knowing which program office and buying ac�vity is responsible for the procurement helps poten�al bidder understand the government’s requirement and develop offer strategies, including but not limited to poten�al teaming arrangements.

8.PSC

& NAICS Codes

When evalua�ng a forecast, the PSC team looks for specific NAICS and/or PSC code for each opportunity. Forecasts receive full points for including a NAICS code and PSC code, with par�al credit awarded for having one, but not the other listed.

Why this maters: This informa�on helps companies narrow their search for opportuni�es that would benefit from their capabili�es.

9.New Start or Recompete with Incumbent

Does the forecast specify the incumbent for each opportunity, or does it indicate which opportuni�es are new / have no incumbent?

Why this maters: Knowing ahead of �me that an opportunity is a new start or a recompete – and if the later, knowing the incumbent – provides poten�al bidders with key insight into how best to posi�on themselves for a successful pursuit.

10.Set Aside and Type

PSC’s Federal Business Forecast team evaluates whether the tool specifies set asides, and if so, what types (e.g., 8(a), WOSB, VOSB, etc.)

Why this maters: Including the specific set aside type allows small businesses to iden�fy opportuni�es for which they may qualify and reduces the likelihood of large companies expending resources on opportuni�es for which they are ineligible.

11.Contract Vehicle (e.g., IDIQ, BPA)

Forecasts should indicate a par�cular contract vehicle for each opportunity.

Why this maters: Understanding the intended contract vehicles helps poten�al bidders assess the opportunity’s fit within their business model (e.g., develop prime and sub strategies) and exper�se.

12.Ac�on / Award Type

The team evaluates whether the forecast specifies each opportunity’s award type (e.g., compe��ve, sole source, mul�-award) and contract type (e.g., fixed price, �me and materials, incen�ve fee).

Why this maters: Knowing the award type helps poten�al bidders assess if their qualifica�on and compe��veness for the structure.

13.An�cipated Solicita�on Release Date

Forecasts should specify the an�cipated solicita�on release date for each opportunity.

Why this maters: Knowing this informa�on helps poten�al bidders plan and prepare resources, including teaming arrangements that can take significant �me to nego�ate.

14.An�cipated Award Date

Does the forecast specify the an�cipated award date and / or fiscal year and quarter?

Why this maters: Knowing this informa�on allows poten�al bidders to an�cipate workload and manage resources (e.g., personnel, facili�es).

15.An�cipated Award Length

PSC’s Federal Business Forecast team evaluates whether the forecast includes award length.

Why this maters: Knowing the contract term / period of performance allows poten�al bidders to evaluate each opportunity within their exis�ng workload and resources.

For More Informa�on

View this report online at www.pscouncil.org/scorecard.

If you have ques�ons about the Scorecard or would like to engage with PSC further, please contact policy@pscouncil.org.

Interested in par�cipa�ng in next year’s Scorecard?

Contact policy@pscouncil.org.

About PSC

PSC is the voice of the government technology and professional services industry. PSC’s more than 400 member companies represent small, medium and large businesses that provide federal agencies with services of all kinds, including informa�on technology, engineering, logis�cs, facili�es management, opera�ons and maintenance, consul�ng, interna�onal development, scien�fic, social, environmental services, and more. Together, the trade associa�on’s members employ hundreds of thousands of Americans in all 50 states. Follow PSC on Twiter @PSCspeaks. To learn more, visit www.pscouncil.org.