U.S.A.'s interesting latest news

April 15, 2020 New OMB COVID-19 Guidance (M-20-21) OMB issued a memo providing Implementation Guidance for Supplemental COVID-19 Funding (M-20-21). This memo addresses agency reporting requirements such as using the National Interest Action Code and capturing purchase card use. The memo is available here at OMB M-20-21. New FAN In A Minute: Episode 7 These GSA-produced videos highlight and provide brief overviews of recently issued FAR changes. You can see the new FAN In A Minute video and catch up on previous episodes here. This video series has been a big hit with procurement professionals government-wide. The first six "FAN In A Minute" videos have already been watched several thousand times. Viewers can read full details of the FAR changes from FAC 2020-05 here.  OPM Report on FY 2019 Human Capital Reviews The Office of Personnel Management released its Human Capital Reviews (HCR) Report, which helps agencies determine whether their human capital management practices support agency goals and missions. The report noted that agencies have struggled to close critical skills gaps, but have implemented systemic, technological, and communicative improvements to performance management systems. For a Limited Time Only: OFPP’s First Ever Video Update The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) recently released a pilot video to update the acquisition workforce on government-wide acquisition policies and initiatives. “Solutions from the Source” is only available via the OFPP InReach Hub on the Acquisition Gateway.  Access the video here or sign up for an Acquisition Gateway account. Professional Services Office Hours May 14 Register today for the next GSA Professional Services Office Hours, to be held on May 14 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Join GSA expert Ana Eckles and learn when to use HCaTS and when to use the Schedules to meet human capital requirements. Ms. Eckles will also discuss GSA's range of acquisition solutions that can accommodate simple and complex requirements throughout the human capital lifecycle. GSA's Professional Services Category monthly Office Hours are free, online classes designed to address federal customer agency questions about professional services acquisition. Earn 1 CLP! Register now. DOL Realizes CM Success Historically, the Department of Labor used a decentralized approach for its IT and Professional Services procurement. This approach caused repetitive acquisitions, duplicated software and peripherals, and limited the availability of centralized procurement vehicles. Learn more about how a thorough review of the Department's acquisition system highlighted opportunities for improvement. Instructor-led Training As of Monday, March 30, 2020, all FAI instructor-led training is being conducted virtually. All training previously scheduled for the classroom is converted to virtual delivery. This includes courses that had previously only been available in the classroom such as CON 360, Contracting for Decision-Makers, and FCN 400, Emergency Contracting Basics. Furthermore, FAI has published its entire schedule of FAC‑P/PM training through May 2021. Again, this new FAC‑P/PM training is being delivered virtually. Please follow our training provider’s guidance for virtual instruction to ensure you have the technical capability to participate in FAI’s virtual instructor-led training. As always, a list of classes with open seats is published on FAI.gov. Seats in FAI classes are first come, first served and always provided at no cost to students or their agencies. Thinking about making Coronavirus claims? Read the latest FTC warning letters first. By Lesley Fair It’s FTC Advertising 101: Don’t make claims about serious medical conditions unless you have solid proof in hand to substantiate what you say. It’s been the law for decades and now more than ever, it’s essential for advertisers to honor that fundamental principle. And yet companies continue to market everything from facial brushes to IV drips with promises to prevent, treat, or cure Coronavirus – claims the FTC calls into question in a new round of warning letters. Read more >

COVID-19 scam reports, by the numbers by Paul Witt Lead Data Analyst, Division of Consumer Response & Operations If you’re a regular reader of this blog — or of the news, you know that scammers are out in force, taking advantage of all aspects of the Coronavirus pandemic. We’ve spotted plenty of bogus cures and treatments, but many of you have told the FTC about straight-up scams, like texts/emails/calls from a “government agency” promising to get your relief money for you. Others have told us about things that could be scams (or could be businesses catching up with the new reality) — like websites that promise scarce cleaning products or masks (that never arrive), or problems related to getting money back for cancelled travel plans. Read more > Behind on car payments because of the Coronavirus? by Amy Hebert Consumer Education Specialist, FTC Are you worried that you won’t be able to make your next car payment because you’ve lost your job or income because of the Coronavirus? Or are you already behind on your payments? You’re not alone. Here’s what you can do. Read more > COVID-19 scam reports, by the numbers by Paul Witt Lead Data Analyst, Division of Consumer Response & Operations If you’re a regular reader of this blog — or of the news, you know that scammers are out in force, taking advantage of all aspects of the Coronavirus pandemic. We’ve spotted plenty of bogus cures and treatments, but many of you have told the FTC about straight-up scams, like texts/emails/calls from a “government agency” promising to get your relief money for you. Others have told us about things that could be scams (or could be businesses catching up with the new reality) — like websites that promise scarce cleaning products or masks (that never arrive), or problems related to getting money back for cancelled travel plans. Read more >

The following Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) reports were released on Tuesday, April 14, 2020. Czech Republic: COVID-19 Impact - Seasonal Agricultural Workers Missing in Czech Agriculture In the Czech Republic, this year’s vegetable harvest will require approximately 4,000 additional seasonal workers; fruit growers will need more than 10,000 workers. A significant numbers of these workers can be sourced locally, however, it will necessitate temporary changes to the Czech labor law pertaining to the temporary contract work.  Czech Republic: Czech Government Increased Agricultural Subsidies The Czech government approved an additional increase 4.3 billion CZK ($174 million) in agricultural subsidies to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on Czech farmers. Dominican Republic: Sugar Annual With sugar production zones recovering from the drought that affected the country in the past year, Post forecasts sugar production of 580,000 metric tons (MT) during Marketing Year (MY) 2020/2021 (October/September). During MY 2019/20, Post estimates sugar production of 565,000 MT, a significant increase from the 545,515 MT produced during MY 2018/19, as a return to normal rainfall patterns continue to increase yields in the Dominican production zones. Additionally, for MY 2020/21, Post projects exports to remain stable at 185,000 MT. The total amount of exports is expected to fill the U.S. annual sugar tariff-rate quota (TRQ) due to price premiums in the U.S. market.  Netherlands: Food Processing Ingredients The Dutch food processing sector generated net sales of $91.6 billion in 2019, driven by local demand as well as growing demand from other European markets. Increased attention to product reformulation and growing food awareness of more sustainable production procedures will continue to further shape the Dutch food processing industry in the years to come. Other consumer preferences continue to be affordability, convenience, and taste. Dutch food companies are always on the lookout for new food ingredients. Exporters from the United States compete directly with suppliers from European Union (EU) countries. Russia: Some Whey and Seeds Excluded from Russian Food Ban On April 6, 2020, the Russian Government issued decree No. 453, amending the list of agricultural products that are subject to Russia’s food ban to exclude some whey powder (from HS heading 0404) from the ban. This is a second relaxation of the food ban since 2019 when chickpea seeds and lentil seeds were excluded from the ban under certain conditions according to the Russian Government decree No. 1293 of October 7, 2019. This report contains unofficial English translations of both decrees mentioned above, as well as Russia’s food import ban, listing the countries and products covered, as it currently stands. United Kingdom: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual In his inaugural speech as Prime Minister (PM) in July 2019, Boris Johnson said “let’s liberate the UK’s extraordinary bioscience sector from anti-genetic modification rules.” Also, “let’s develop the blight-resistant crops that will feed the world.” There is a growing sense that the UK needs a considerable degree of freedom in any terms that it negotiates with the European Union (EU). However, under any scenario, the UK’s departure from the EU (Brexit) will not change policy or trade in genetically engineered plants or animals in the short to medium term. The EU is the UK’s largest trading partner and the UK will retain much EU food law for many years to come.  For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.