The second annual PSC Federal Business Forecast Scorecard examines procurement forecasts from 60 federal agencies and sub-components. PSC is pleased to see improvement in many agencies, but encourages all federal agencies to continue improving and refining the information made available to industry. 


PSC companies frequently cite incomplete and inconsistent information in agency forecasts, even in those forecasts that scored well.  There is still work to be done, and PSC looks forward to continued engagement with government to improve their scores in future editions of the Scorecard. 


  





Model for Success: Naval Information Warfare Systems Command

NAVWAR (formerly SPAWAR) showed the most significant improvement over last year’s PSC evaluation. Their straight-forward, thorough forecast is easily navigated and includes in-depth information about anticipated clearance needs and other program requirements. The available information exceeds expectations. PSC encourages agencies seeking improvement to reference NAVWAR as a good model. Their easily replicable spreadsheet can be found here. Honorable mention goes to USAID and the Department of Education.



 

Most Improved: Treasury and Energy

Both the Department of Treasury and the Department of Energy showed improvements over previous iterations of their business forecasts. Energy filled gaps in award information, while Treasury provided more substantial project details for forthcoming opportunities. PSC applauds these agencies for taking visible steps to improve their information sharing with industry.
 





 

Most Significant Decline: Navy Facilities Engineering Command

The currently available business forecast provided by NAVFAC fell short of its previous iteration evaluated by PSC. There is insufficient project information available to empower and inform industry planning processes. PSC encourages NAVFAC and other agencies seeking to improve their scores to refer to this year’s Model for Success, NAVWAR.





How Does Industry Use Business Forecasts?

In order for companies to provide their federal customers with more timely, comprehensive and thoroughly researched contract offerings when RFPs are finalized, they rely heavily on the accuracy and comprehensiveness of an agency’s Business Forecast. A Forecast, if prepared properly, can provide interested parties with excellent and actionable advance information that will enable them to determine potential future staffing requirements as well as project needs and costs. While PSC and the contracting community fully recognize that spending priorities often change on short notice, significant course corrections tend to be the exceptions rather than the rule in the services sector.

PSC’s 15 Key Attributes for a Successful Business Forecast

1. Electronically Sortable Information. 
All posting agencies should have their forecasts available in excel format. This formation allows industry to easily search for and organize information of their choosing and program offices can easily update it with new and recent information. In contrast, PDFs are often disorganized and undersized, complicating the user’s ability to utilize it efficiently and usually indicates that the government does not update their forecasts regularly.

2. Date Modified. 
Modification dates inform users whether the information is recent and updated. If the data is outdated, contractors might need to find relevant contracting information or other opportunities some other way.

3. Frequency of Updates. 
Agencies are evaluated on how current their listed opportunities are in their published forecasts.

4. Level of Project Description Detail. 
Agencies are evaluated on the existence and comprehensiveness of a project description.

5. Dollar Value. 
Agencies are evaluated on whether the dollar value of their projects are listed and the specificity of the dollar values.

6. Program POC Email. 
Agencies are evaluated on whether a point of contact is specified for each opportunity, with personal (not generic) email address.

7. Program Office and Buying Office. 
Agencies are evaluated on whether they specified their program and buying office for respective services.

8. NAICS Code. 
Agencies are evaluated on whether the NAICS code is specified for each opportunity.

9. Incumbent Listed. 
Agencies are evaluated on whether the incumbent is specified for each opportunity or shows it is a new requirement with no incumbent.

10. Small Business Set Aside Information. 
Agencies are evaluated on whether they have small business set aside information available for their opportunities, including set aside specifications.

11. Contract Vehicle. 
Agencies are evaluated on whether a particular contract vehicle is listed for each opportunity, if any.

12. Anticipated Solicitation Release Date. 
Agencies are evaluated on whether the anticipated solicitation release date is specified.

13. Action/Award Type. 
Agencies are evaluated on whether the action, award type, and contract type are specified, such as competitive or sole source, and whether the award is cost-type, fixed fee, or time and material.

14. Anticipated Award Date. 
Agencies are evaluated on whether the anticipated award date or fiscal year quarter is specified.

15. Award Period of Performance. 
Agencies are evaluated on whether the anticipated award length is specified.
 

For More Information

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