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Ian Ziskin at the 2022 1Sustainability Conference

1BusinessWorld

Global business strategist, human capital strategy expert and author Ian Ziskin, the President of the Exec Excel Group, joins 1Sustainability to talk about leading transformational change for sustainability. A strategic partner of 1BusinessWorld at 1Sustainability, Ian Ziskin and the EXec EXcel Group combine real world experience, a personal approach, and customized solutions to help senior leaders and their teams address priorities, including coaching for senior leaders, business and human capital strategy, future workforce/workplace issues, implications, and actions, leadership & talent development solutions. Introducing sustainability leaders of the world, the 2022 1Sustainability Conference is a global sustainability conference, this year taking place, as a virtual event, from Monday, October 17, through Friday, October 21. All news and content distribution in partnership with News Direct. About the Exec Excel Group EXec EXcel Group LLC is a coaching and consulting firm specializing in business solutions, human capital strategy, leadership & talent development, and organizational transformation. EXec EXcel Group combines real world experience, a personal approach, and customized solutions to help senior leaders and their teams address priorities, including coaching for senior leaders, business and human capital strategy, future workforce/workplace issues, implications, and actions, leadership & talent development solutions. EXec EXcel Group services combine real world experience, a personal approach, and customized solutions for senior leaders and organizations. All services are customizable to individual and/or organizational needs. EXec EXcel Group About 1Sustainability As part of 1BusinessWorld, 1Sustainability is one of the most comprehensive business sustainability platforms and events in the world and features sustainability leaders of the world - entrepreneurs, founders, business leaders, investors and advisors with sustainability as a key component of their overall strategy - presenting on cutting-edge topics and the latest industry developments. 1Sustainability About 1BusinessWorld 1BusinessWorld is a global business ecosystem, network and marketplace that provides entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals with the information, tools, resources and connectivity needed to succeed throughout their company’s growth journey, toward a better business world. Our vision is based on the reality that we live, work and do business in one global interconnected business environment, and hence our motto: “One World, One Business World”. Our mission is to encourage and support global communication and collaboration among entrepreneurs, professionals, and businesses. 1BusinessWorld Contact Details 1BusinessWorld Media Enquiries +1 212-220-6677 info@1businessworld.com Company Website https://1businessworld.com

October 05, 2022 10:48 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Minuteman Press Franchise Owner Steve Edman Celebrates 15 Years in Houston

Minuteman Press International Inc

When it comes to operating his Minuteman Press franchise in Houston over the past 15-plus years, Steve Edman keeps it simple and sticks to what has made him successful as a small business owner. He says, “Our success and longevity can be attributed to having fantastic employees, 3 full-time and 1 part-time. I also personally stay proactive with visiting and delivering excellent printed products to our customer base.” Steve adds, “We’ve grown our business by consistently providing quality print and quick turnaround. We provide all things printing such as booklets and manuals, as well as marketing and mailing services. Whatever our customers need, we can provide.” Minuteman Press in Houston/Bellaire is located at 4662 Beechnut Street; Steve describes his business community as “positive and appreciative.” He further shares, “I originally started in the beer business for the largest wholesaler in the world as a Driver Salesman. I retired after 24 years as a Regional Manager, and then decided to buy this business. Thanks to our hard work and building real relationships with our clients, here I am 15 years later and counting.” Steve also credits being part of the Minuteman Press franchise family for supporting him along the way. He says, “Minuteman Press International is very supportive. They give me the toolbox to be successful and I have the choice to pick and choose what will help me succeed in my local market. I appreciate their local and corporate support teams that are always there for me when I need them.” “I’d like to congratulate Steve Edman for his continued dedication to the Bellaire business community and his clients for over 15 years. I look forward to continuing to support Steve and his staff as he continues to build his business,” adds Erick Rios, Minuteman Press International Area Manager, Houston. Ultimately, as he reflects on the past 15-plus years, Steve is happy with his decision to change industries following his career retirement and buy a printing business. He shares, “Printing remains vital today because it puts your products, messaging, and brand directly in the customer’s hands. We love meeting our clients’ needs by providing high quality printed products that help them reach out to and engage with their target audiences.” Steve adds, “I get great satisfaction from making those deliveries and providing the finished products to my clients. I am also very gratified with being able to build my business and reap the rewards.” As for what advice he would give to other business owners, Steve keeps it simple again and offers some poignant advice: “Hit the streets, hire the right people, and always follow up with the customer so you can learn from them. That is what has always worked for me.” Steve Edman’s Minuteman Press franchise is located in the Bellaire area at 4662 Beechnut St., Houston, Texas 77096. For more information, call 713-490-9500 or visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/tx/bellaire/ Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and see Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

October 05, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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New Economic Analysis on Mexico’s Proposed Ban on Biotech Corn Reveals Broad Consumer & Industry Impacts

Biotechnology Innovation Organization

A coalition of leading food and agriculture industry stakeholders in both Mexico and the United States released a new study revealing the broad impacts of Mexico’s proposed ban on biotech corn. The report, which was conducted in September 2022 by World Perspectives Inc., reveals that the proposed restrictions would adversely impact food security in North America and raise consumer prices for corn, basic foods, and other critical products derived from corn, particularly in Mexico. Beyond direct commodity impacts, the study shows that banning all biotech corn could affect Mexico’s GDP to the point that it would fall by $11.72 billion over 10 years, and economic output would be reduced by $19.39 billion. Additionally, there would be an annual loss of 56,958 jobs, which would reduce labor income by $2.99 billion. “Like any other North American sector, agriculture must continue to innovate to meet 21 st -century challenges. That is why we believe in science-based agricultural policies that improve agricultural production and sustainability,” said Juan Cortina Gallardo, President of the National Agricultural Council of Mexico. “The U.S. - Mexico trading partnership has contributed greatly to the food security and economic vitality of both countries,” said National Corn Growers Association President Chris Edgington. “That’s why we should do everything possible to ensure that the relationship continues in a fair and mutually beneficial way.” Should the proposed restrictions be implemented, the study found that the average cost of corn would increase 19% and tortilla prices would rise 16% on average. In the first year of the ban, non-GM corn prices would rise 48% to $8.14/bushel and Mexico would pay an additional $571 million for imported corn. Price increases in corn protein, fiber, oil, and thousands of processed foods distributed by tens of thousands of Mexican food retailers would all incur price increases. Presently, roughly 10% of the Mexican population lacks access to adequate food. Under the proposed ban, this level is expected to double or triple in the nine poorest Mexican states. The price of corn is the single largest indicator of access to food for Mexicans in the lowest income decile who spend roughly 52% of their funds on food. “International trade is an essential part of U.S. economic activity – it supports millions of American jobs, drives economic growth, and increases global competitiveness,” said Corn Refiners Association President and CEO John Bode. “This latest report underscores the necessity of Mexican access to genetically modified corn, for both our countries’ collective success and food security in North America. The U.S. and Mexican food and agriculture industries are eager for dialogue on the proposed restrictions and to strengthen cooperation on this issue.” Additionally, the findings indicate that Mexican livestock production would contract, declining by an average of 1.2% annually. Poultry production in Mexico would fall 17% in total while hog production would contract 13%. Beef and dairy sectors would see their industries’ outputs fall 9% and 8%, respectively. For Mexico’s poorest populations, prices could rise to the point that eggs become a luxury item which could cause the first drop in egg demand since 2017. “We have seen the impact Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has had on global food prices. Unfortunately, Mexico’s barriers to biotechnology innovation will only exacerbate food price inflation for its most vulnerable citizens by disrupting supply chains and impeding producers’ access to new technologies to bolster yields,” added Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath, President and CEO of BIO. “To ensure producers have access to the technologies necessary to strengthen food security, improve sustainability, and tackle climate change, we urge Mexico to return to timely and science-based risk assessments of biotech traits for agricultural products, consistent with its international trade obligations.” Sponsors of the study include Mexico’s National Agriculture Council, the U.S. Grains Council, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, the National Corn Growers Association, Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), CropLife America, the Corn Refiners Association, Mexican Association of Feeders of Bovine Cattle Ac., Local Agricultural Association of Matamoros, AC, Association of Suppliers of Agricultural Products Mexico, AC (Appamex), Mexican Association of Seeds, AC (Amsac), National Association of Manufacturers of Food for Animal Consumption, SC (Anfaca), National Chamber of Industrialized Corn (Canami), National Council of Manufacturers of Balanced Food and Animal Nutrition, AC (Conafab), Crop Protection Science and Technology, AC (Proccyt), National Swine Unification, Ac (Opormex), Mexican Union of Agrochemical Manufacturers And Formulators, Ac (Umffaac), Mexican Association of Food Producers, AC (Amepa). The executive summary of the report can be found here and the full report can be found here. Contact Details Biotechnology Innovation Organization Lynne Finnerty +1 202-701-8787 lfinnerty@bio.org Company Website https://www.bio.org/

October 04, 2022 03:10 PM Eastern Daylight Time

NCMA Collaborates with The FedPROPEL Institute to Foster Federal Contracting Training

National Contract Management Association

The National Contract Management Association (NCMA) is collaborating with The Fed PROPEL Institute (TFI) with the mutual goal to help small businesses compete effectively for federal contracts. TFI will use the widely respected NCMA Contract Management Standard ™ (CMS™) and the Contract Management Body of Knowledge ® (CMBOK ® ) as guiding standards in its training program designed to accelerate small businesses in the federal marketplace. TFI will launch a pilot program in early 2023 to leverage its training and operational resources. “We are looking for 40-60 entrepreneurs with existing businesses who are motivated to build an operational platform that is sustainable,” said Richard D. Hanks, Founder and Executive Director of The FedPROPEL Institute and CEO of FP Enterprises. Upon program completion, participants will be able to apply for the NCMA Certified Contract Management Associate (CCMA) certification, an ANSI National Accreditation Board-accredited designation. “Obtaining this TFI training using the NCMA CMS™ and CMBOK® resources and gaining CCMA certification demonstrates to the federal contracting community that TFI program graduates are committed and prepared for success,” said Kraig Conrad, CAE, CTP, NCMA CEO. “It also reinforces the NCMA ‘common language’ initiative that helps ensure effective communication across the federal contracting industry.” TFI co-founder, Jennifer Hanks, is a longtime member of NCMA, and her commitment to both organizations facilitated subsidizing registration for the CCMA preparation course, CCMA application and testing fees, and a one-year NCMA membership for its program graduates. The National Contract Management Association (NCMA), was founded in 1959 and is the world’s leading association in the field of contract management. The organization, which has over 18,000 members, is dedicated to the professional growth and educational advancement of procurement and acquisition personnel worldwide. NCMA strives to serve and inform the profession and industry it represents and to offer opportunities for the open exchange of ideas in neutral forums. To learn more, please visit www.ncmahq.org. Founded in 2020, The Fed PROPEL Institute is the brainchild of MMC founders Jennifer and Richard Hanks. Envisioned as a response to the detrimental impact of the pandemic on minority businesses, The Fed PROPEL Institute is part of a small business engagement ecosystem MMC founders are creating in the federal marketplace. To learn more, visit www.fedpropel.org or contact us at info@fedpropel.org. ### Contact Details National Contract Management Association Dominick Belfiore, Director of Operations and Special Projects +1 571-382-1121 dominick.belfiore@ncmahq.org Company Website https://www.ncmahq.org/

October 04, 2022 10:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Ready for Ron Announces Military & Veterans Initiative

Ready for Ron

Ready for Ron, the only credible independent group working to Draft Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to run for President, announced a new initiative to recruit military, veterans, and families to sign its petition to encourage Ron DeSantis to run in 2024. ‘Veterans Ready for Ron’ led by Captain Bob “Shoebob” Carey, US Navy (Ret), will actively engage veterans, military and family voters, and veterans organization leaders. Carey had previously led the RNC’s highly successful 2016 Veterans programs, and numerous veterans and military engagement campaigns. Governor DeSantis is a U.S. Navy veteran, deploying to Iraq in support of the Navy’s SEALs, receiving a Bronze Star Medal, and as Governor is the Commander in Chief of the 12,000 members of the Florida National Guard. “Supporting Ron DeSantis is an easy decision for those who wore the uniform for our country,” stated Captain Bob “Shoebob” Carey, leader of the Veterans Ready for Ron effort. “His record supporting veterans and those in military service is unmatched.” “America needs Governor Ron DeSantis to run for President in 2024, to rebuild and restore our military and honor the pledges this country made to those military veterans once they leave service. He is a decorated veteran, runs one of the largest National Guard forces in the country, and tries to make up for VA ineptitude by building additional veteran assistance programs within his state of Florida,” Carey continued. As a Member of Congress, then Representative DeSantis was a leader on veterans issues, getting bills passed into law that restored combat wounded veterans’ unjustly reduced severance benefits, made Stolen Valor acts a crime, getting a Washington, DC memorial for veterans of the Global War on Terror, getting the VA to pay for service dogs for disabled veterans, and awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to American Ace fighter pilots. Veterans Ready for Ron is recruiting and deploying prominent veterans to lead a public effort to raise awareness, recruit additional veteran and military family voters, and build the veteran organization leadership support for a DeSantis candidacy. “I am thrilled to be working with Bob on this important initiative,” stated Ready for Ron Chief Political Strategist Ed Rollins. “His record of engaging with patriotic Americans who selflessly served our country is impressive. We are glad he is on the Ready for Ron team and look forward to building a movement together.” Bob Carey was a driving force behind the most successful military and veteran voter engagement campaigns in modern American political history. For the 2014 and 2016 campaigns, Bob Carey was National Director of Military and Veteran Engagement for the Republican National Committee, recruiting 50 full-time veteran staffers nationwide, more than 400 active veteran volunteer leaders, more than 500 members of state and regional military and veteran “Task Forces” to support the Republican National Committee and the Trump election effort, while also identifying 1.8 million voters nationwide in various databases as military and veteran voters. Republicans won the veteran vote by 27 percentage points in 2016, the greatest margin of victory ever. “I’m asking all military and veterans to join me in convincing Governor Ron DeSantis, U.S. Navy combat veteran, to bring to the rest of the country his leadership and understanding of what the military and veterans need from their Commander in Chief,” Carey continued. The declining economy, inflation, crime, and erosion of the American military significantly impact veterans and military families. We need confident, dependable, and proven leadership like only Ron DeSantis can deliver to turn the tide.” Since its launch in late May, Ready for Ron has enlisted tens of thousands of supporters, generated significant media attention, and run hundreds of ads to convince Ron DeSantis to run for President. Ready for Ron has emerged as the only credible independent organization in support of a Ron DeSantis candidacy. Americans are encouraged to sign the petition at readyforron.com to draft Ron DeSantis to run in 2024. ### For more information or to schedule an interview with a Ready for Ron or Vets Ready for Ron spokesperson, contact Dan Rene at 202-329-8357 or dan@readyforron.com. Contact Details Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 dan@readyforron.com Company Website https://www.readyforron.com/

October 03, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Poll: Public Disdain for Politics Runs Deep — Except with Younger Americans

Public Affairs Council

A new Public Affairs Council/Morning Consult poll examines the outrage many Americans have about Washington politics and the social issues in which they want corporate America most involved. The annual Public Affairs Pulse survey of 2,210 adults, conducted Sept. 1-2, 2022, also explored the most trusted sources of political information, which industries are the most and least trusted, and the institutions that are expected to grow in influence. What do American’s loathe most about Washington? The behavior of politicians. Of 10 factors measured, the most troubling were politicians too focused on getting reelected (71% considered this a major problem), politicians using their power to benefit financially (66%), intense partisanship (66%) and politicians spending too much time raising money for elections (58%). Younger Americans shrug off these concerns. Younger Americans were much less concerned about those four most troublesome factors than were older Americans. The most egregious behavior — the amount of time politicians spend trying to get reelected — was considered a major problem by only 53% of Gen Zers, compared with 85% of baby boomers. On politicians benefiting financially, the same comparison was 44% and 80%, respectively. The divide on intense partisanship was 43% of Gen Zers versus 82% of baby boomers, and for raising money for elections it was 37% compared with 73%. Businesses face great expectations for social involvement. Protecting the environment and ending hunger were the top social issues Americans want major companies to be engaged in, with 68% of respondents supporting involvement for each. Americans were also strongly supportive of corporative involvement in ending discrimination by gender (67% support), race (66%) and sexual orientation (62%). Seventy percent (70%) of Americans consider racism to be a problem in the U.S., yet only 21% said companies were playing a positive role. Seventeen percent (17%) said businesses were playing a negative role, and 45% believed they weren’t making a difference. Democrats were more supportive of social-issues involvement than were Republicans across all 12 issues surveyed: Social Issue Democratic Support Republican Support Ending Discrimination by Gender 78% 55% Ending Hunger/Supporting Food Security 77% 63% Supporting Environment/Sustainability 77% 61% Ending Discrimination by Race 75% 56% Ending Discrimination by Sexual Orientation 74% 52% Ending Discrimination by Gender Identity 74% 51% Supporting Access to Quality Education 72% 53% Supporting Human Rights 72% 48% Supporting Affordable Housing 67% 47% Improving Voting Access 65% 29% Supporting Legal Access to Abortions 59% 23% Supporting DACA 58% 25% Other notable findings: Pharma and health insurance are still the least trusted industries. Forty-three percent (43%) of the public said the pharmaceutical industry is less trustworthy than average, and 41% said the same about the health insurance industry. Despite its poor ranking, pharma has gained trust in recent years. In 2021 its distrustful score was 46%, and in 2020 it was 49%. The most trusted sources of political information were friends and family (71% trusted) and businesses (44%). The least trusted were super PACs (17% trusted) and political campaigns (23%). The news media had a trust rating of 40%. The survey asked which institutions would have greater influence three years from now. Tied for first place were major companies and the U.S. Supreme Court — both with 32% of the public expecting them to become more influential. Two other institutions that were expected to have greater influence were the federal government (31% said it would gain influence) and political parties (30%). Visit our website to view the full Public Affairs Pulse survey results: pac.org/pulse Survey Methodology: This poll was conducted between September 1-2, 2022, among a sample of 2,210 adults. The interviews were conducted online, and the data were weighted to approximate a target sample of adults based on gender, educational attainment, age, race, and region. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points. About the Public Affairs Council Both nonpartisan and nonpolitical, the Public Affairs Council is the leading global association for public affairs professionals. The Council’s mission is to advance the field of public affairs and to provide its 700 member companies, nonprofits and universities with the executive education and expertise they need while maintaining the highest ethical standards. Learn more at pac.org. Contact Details Lydia Niles +1 773-677-5327 lydia@curleycompany.com Company Website https://pac.org/

October 03, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Freelancer wins US$6.7m task order with NASA and the National Institutes of Health in gene editing

FREELANCER.COM

Freelancer Limited (ASX: FLN, OTCQX: FLNCF), the world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace by number of users and jobs posted, today announced it has won a US$6.7 million task order for NASA and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of the Director (OD) Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI) Office of Strategic Coordination (OSC). NIH seeks two, three-phased contests to encourage technology development in two areas of strategic significance as part of Phase II of the NIH Somatic Cell Genome Editing (SCGE) program: A highly efficient (e.g. 50%+ editing efficiency) non-viral delivery system capable of crossing the blood brain barrier to deliver genome editing machinery to a majority of target cell types in the central nervous system. A programmable (e.g. 3+ configurations) delivery system to deliver genome editing machinery that can target specific tissues or cell types. Somatic cell genome editing holds great promise in treating various diseases. However, current techniques in genome editing approaches, such as those based on CRISPR-Cas9, pose many challenges that need to be overcome before they can be widely used in the clinic. For example, the delivery of genome editors to clinically relevant cells and tissues and achievement of editing efficiency that is adequate for addressing human diseases. These contests will be administered under the America COMPETES Act and will be launched on Freelancer.com with a total prize purse of US$6,000,000 (GMV). This is the biggest task order to date under NASA’s NOIS2 and to be selected is testimony to the company’s track record of delivery to date under the program. It is expected that FLN will generate approximately US$700,000 in net revenue contribution for this task order. About the NIH SCGE Program The NIH Common Fund’s Somatic Cell Genome Editing (SCGE) program is working to improve the efficacy and specificity of gene editing approaches to help reduce the burden of common and rare diseases caused by genetic changes. SCGE is developing quality tools to perform and assess effective and safe genome editing in non-reproductive (“somatic”) cells of the body. These research tools will be made widely available to the research community to reduce the time and cost required to develop new therapies. About Freelancer Twelve-time Webby award-winning Freelancer.com is the world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace by total number of users and projects posted. More than 60 million registered users have posted over 20 million projects and contests to date in over 2,000 areas as diverse as website development, logo design, marketing, copywriting, astrophysics, aerospace engineering and manufacturing. Freelancer owns Escrow.com, the leading provider of secure online payments and online transaction management for consumers and businesses on the Internet with over US$6 billion in transactions secured. Freelancer also owns Freightlancer & Loadshift, enterprise freight marketplaces with over 550 million kilometres of freight posted since inception. Freelancer Limited is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange under the ticker ASX:FLN and is quoted on OTCQX Best Market under the ticker FLNCF. End Contact Details Freelancer.com Marko Zitko +61 404 574 830 mzitko@freelancer.com Freelancer.com Sebastian Siseles +1 415-801-2271 sebastian@freelancer.com

September 29, 2022 10:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

VEHICLE CRIMES CRISIS

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/c2wvGfOBa7Y Crime continues to skyrocket across the nation with vehicle crimes increasing to near record highs. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) found nearly 1 million vehicles were stolen in 2021, and 2022 is looking even more grim for vehicle owners. Recent analysis shows vehicle and catalytic converter thefts and carjackings are continuing to rise. NICB’s data includes information on the following topics: Total auto thefts are the highest seen by the NICB since 2008. Catalytic converter thefts are up 1,215% since 2019, and are continuing to increase. Carjackings are up dramatically in many major cities. There is a new warning for anyone who owns or leases a vehicle: Vehicle Thefts, Catalytic Converter Thefts, and Carjackings are continuing to rise. According to NICB, there were more than 933,000 thefts of vehicles in 2021, a 27% increase since 2019. Catalytic converter theft insurance claims increased by 1,215% over 2019. Carjackings, the theft of a car by force or intimidation, continue to skyrocket in many major cities, increasing anywhere from 160% to nearly 530%. For more information, visit National Insurance Crime Bureau website at NICB.org Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

September 28, 2022 02:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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DoD’s CMMC Model Won’t Scale to Fit GSA Schedule, Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Hashmi Says

National Contract Management Association

In an exclusive interview in Contract Management Magazine, Sonny Hashmi also outlines how GSA tracks parts in “Made in America” products to other countries and details joint project to ‘handhold’ innovative companies to first contracts. Contract Management is a benefit offered exclusively to members of the National Contract Management Association (NCMA), however, NCMA is making the Hashmi interview in the September issue available publicly. Press can access it at: https://www.ncmahq.org/Shared_Content/CM-Magazine/CM-Magazine-September-2022/The-Challenge-of-the-Decade--An-Interview-with-Sonny-Hashmi.aspx The Defense Department’s Cyber Security Maturity Model Certification wouldn’t work for the thousands of companies holding GSA Schedule contracts, FAS Commissioner Sonny Hashmi told Contract Management in an exclusive interview for the September issue. “You cannot possibly go through that level of documentation, scrutiny, review, personnel oversight, for every single thing in the GSA catalog,” Hashmi told Contract Management Editor in Chief Anne Laurent. “So, we need a different model that scales better for a vast majority of software suppliers in government,” he continued. Hashmi’s comments come amid continued changes and uncertainty regarding application of CMMC to defense contractors, which have complained it is too onerous, and are concerned about extension of the model governmentwide. The Homeland Security Department recently said it was considering a contractor self-assessment program because CMMC is disadvantageous to small companies. Hashmi called tracking the provenance of goods and services in the federal supply chain “the challenge of the decade.” He explained how GSA segments supplies to identify cybersecurity concerns and uses third-party data to source chipsets, raw materials, subassemblies, and parts of goods. The process helped GSA remove tens of thousands of products from the schedules, in many cases because their makers had mis-certified them as made in America. Some large companies knowingly or unknowingly misrepresented their products, he said. Hashmi also described how GSA is working with the Defense Innovation Unit to “white-glove handhold’ emerging tech companies with Small Business Innovation Research awards into the Schedules and onto first contracts. ### The National Contract Management Association (NCMA), which was founded in 1959 and is the world’s leading association in the field of contract management. The organization, which has over 18,000 members, is dedicated to the professional growth and educational advancement of procurement and acquisition personnel worldwide. NCMA strives to serve and inform the profession and industry it represents and to offer opportunities for the open exchange of ideas in neutral forums. To find out more, please visit www.ncmahq.org. Contact Details NCMA Dominick Belfiore, Director of Operations and Special Projects +1 571-382-1121 dominick.belfiore@ncmahq.org Company Website https://www.ncmahq.org/

September 27, 2022 04:23 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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