The last several weeks have been anything but normal for the contracting community as the nation responds to the COVID-19 national emergency. For many of us, contributing to the response has meant adopting social distancing and other prudent practices, while others like our frontline healthcare workers and first responders, take on more personal risks to protect us and our national security, and prevent the spread of the disease. As we have adjusted to upheavals in our basic routines, we have leveraged technology to maintain our productivity, explored the frontiers of virtual work, and adjusted to new levels of togetherness while working at home.
Clearly, it is an understatement to say life is not business as usual, but for the Coalition, thanks to the engagement of the government, and the participation of our members, we adjusted and enhanced our operational tempo, providing “business as needed.” We strove to coordinate and address the myriad of issues arising almost daily as the nation confronts the COVID-19 virus, and the member participation numbers speak for themselves. Over a thousand of you joined in the following events:
- March 12 – GAO Briefing on the VA FSS Program Report with Shelby Oakley
- March 17 – GWAC/MAC Committee meeting on the Professional Services Category and Future of OASIS with Tiffany Hixson
- March 19 – Federal Contractors’ COVID-19 Survival Guide Webinar with Sheppard Mullin
- March 23 – GSA Schedules Consolidation meeting with Stephanie Shutt
- March 24 – Defense Production Act Webinar with Holland and Knight
- March 25 – Bid Protest Webinar with Perkins Coie
- March 26 – Briefing on MSPV-NG Bridge contracts with Nathan Turnipseed, Dr. Jamie Wilbur, and Jody Goldsmith, VA
- March 27 – Meeting with Harry Oldland, Executive Director of Logistics with VHA
- March 27 – Is your Business “Essential” Webinar with Mayer Brown
Thank you to all who presented and/or spoke as part of these virtual events. Thank you to our members and the procurement community for attending. The Coalition is honored by the faith you place in us during challenging times, like these. It is for this reason that we remain committed to a culture of resilience and innovation that permits us to serve you without interruption. Along these lines, keep an eye out for a new Coalition feature that we plan to launch very soon to allow you almost real-time answers to the contracting questions you face. In the meantime, our COVID-19 Federal resources page on our website will continue to be updated with the latest procurement policy information, analysis and commentary. Importantly, we will also continue to schedule virtual meetings, webinars and briefings on key procurement policies, programs, operations and legal developments to support members during the COVID-19 response.
As our nation unifies in our efforts to overcome the challenge we face, please know that the Coalition is here for you. Please keep our nation and all those impacted by the pandemic in your thoughts and prayers. Stay safe and healthy!