SAM.gov will be updating the look and feel of starting a new registration and updating registrations for non-federal pages this month. The new look will deliver customer-focused usability changes for new entity registrations. Learn more in the Integrated Award Environment’s Interact blog space.

On Thursday, February 24 at 1:00 p.m. ET, the Office of Management and Budget and the Government-wide Category Management PMO will present an educational seminar on equity in procurement and best practices for small-business utilization. During the session, speakers from the Dept. of Commerce and the Minority Business Development Agency will talk about the strategies/policies they are implementing to improve equity in procurement, along with highlights and other activities that agencies could consider in their initiatives. To attend this event, please register through Zoom.

Join GSA on February 24 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. ET for Market Research as a Service training. In this training you will learn why market research is conducted; when and how to conduct market research; about the regulatory nature of FAR Part 10; and how FAR Part 10 ties into other areas such as acquisition planning (Part 7), small-business set-asides, commercial items, contract-type selection, and more! The course will feature real-life scenarios and examples from GSA’s market-research initiatives and tools. Register today! If you have questions about this event, please contact Michele Tobin at michele.tobin@gsa.gov.

Join GSA today, February 16 at 1:00 p.m. ET for the Federal Acquisition Service Training (FAST) event “Human Capital Solutions for the Future of Government.” Category and acquisition experts explore balancing workforce management challenges today while building a stronger, more resilient workforce for the future of government. Register and join the event today! See the upcoming schedule of events at gsa.gov/fast.

Leveraging the Federal Government’s buying power through GSA’s Multiple Award Schedule (MAS), also known as the Federal Supply Schedule, is a procurement option often overlooked by public institutions of higher learning. GSA recognizes the value that institutions such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU) provide to the nation, and GSA seeks to ensure these institutions have equal access to contracting programs to purchase products and services. Advancing the interest of these organizations has a direct impact on efforts to ensure equity and support underserved communities. For this reason, GSA is conducting a special webinar for HBCU, HSI, and TCUs on February 23 at 3:00 p.m. ET to share information on how these organizations can access and maximize their purchasing opportunities. Register today!

FAI Welcomes New Communications Lead Brandon Taylor

FAI welcomes Brandon Taylor as the new Communications Lead. Brandon has 10 years of experience in public affairs and communications, and he has worked in federal, state, and local governments. Prior to joining the FAI team, Brandon worked as the director of corporate communications at Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Yokosuka where he served as the principal communications advisor. He is a Navy veteran, and he participated in several humanitarian missions and joint operations throughout East and Southeast Asia while on active duty. Welcome Brandon!

Made In America Office Director Interview on Government Matters

Under the January 2021 “Made in America” Executive Order 14005, President Biden established a new Made in America Office to oversee and administer domestic preference requirements in federal procurements. Housed within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Made in America Office was tasked with reviewing and approving agency waivers of any Made in America Laws as well as developing a publicly available website to post the descriptions of the proposed waivers and justifications. To learn more about the progress of the Made in America office, check this Government Matters interview with director Celeste Drake.

New Technique Available on the Periodic Table of Acquisition Innovations

The Enhanced Contract Type Conversion technique builds flexibility into the solicitation, enabling conversions from one contract type to another after award. Negotiating a more appropriate risk-sharing arrangement for a requirement after award can be beneficial when better historical performance data is available. Check out the portal and view all 30 innovations!