Practitioner Perspectives

Historic Crop Reports
With the same predictability as the seasons changing, the federal government requires agencies to obligate their funding on programs, products, services, solutions, and other items right around this time of year, every year. Most discretionary spending requests must be “in the process” with federal acquisition officials by a July deadline to enable ultimate obligation of funds by September 30. We call this time of the year selling season, because we know the government must put into writing the who, what, when, where, how, and how much they intend to spend this FY. This cyclicality results in a flurry of RFPs and other procurement actions as contract shops scramble to get it done in time. Industry also swings into action to get their solutions in front of customers in time to make the cut. The net result is a tendency to commit the plurality of funding obligations in Q4 of each government fiscal year, as is shown in the graphic to the right.

Seed Sowing Best Practices
If you are not prepared for the selling season storm, you may find yourself cleaning up the debris of missed opportunities in the months or even years to come. It may seem daunting, but opening an umbrella of best practices can help you better weather the storm. Prepare your proposal artifacts well in advance of agencies’ deadlines, invest in “shovel ready” solutions, and make sure customers can access you via their preferred vehicle. Increasing contract ceiling is the easy button for obligations, so socialize that and ensure you have sufficient remaining period of performance. Kick off projects now so that they can continue, despite the outcome of the debt ceiling negotiations. If the Treasury must reduce spending as a result of fiscal externalities, they may prioritize funding certain agencies/programs/projects over others, including certain mandatory programs. Strong relationships can be fertilizer through uncertain times so find teaming opportunities with organizations that have established relationships (or who might be considered agency “favorites”) inside target customers.

Drought, Hail, and Locusts
In January, the US reached the statutory debt limit. Since then, the Treasury Department has utilized short term measures to delay potential default. If the Treasury is unable to continue these short-term delays, the fallout from a default would be unprecedented. Across the entire federal government, the focus would shift to payments to bond holders, then payroll for government employees and essential employees, and funding for critical programs. On May 1, Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen wrote to Congress, warning that the default can happen as soon as June 1. In response, the government has floated a wide range of ideas including the idea of issuing a trillion-dollar coin to temporarily absolve the debt ceiling. More conventional measures include capping discretionary spending, creating new committees to reform existing spending programs, or increasing revenues through greater taxation. If the debt limit is not increased in time, agencies would have to make cutbacks which, among other things, could decimate the FY23 federal appropriations crop.