2023 Department of State Industry Day Wraps a Productive Two-Day Event

The Department of State Bureau of Overseas Building Operations Industry Day, held June 29-30, was a great success! More than 300 people attended the Industry Day, hosted by SAME. Participants joined sessions focused on the bureau’s needs and challenges of managing over 25,000 properties around the world. Those challenges present both openings and opportunities for industry to work with the department.

Ben Matthews, F.SAME, an SAME National Vice President, kicked off the event by outlining the three primary objectives of the Industry Day.

1. Increase the diversity of its contractor pool.
2. Reduce the barriers to working with the department
3. Provide a forecast of upcoming projects and details on the bureau’s capital investment program.

In his keynote opening remarks, Ambassador William Moser, OBO Director, stated that OBO is responsible for providing functional, safe, secure, and resilient facilities for diplomats to be able to conduct operations and enhance U.S. government strategic objectives–a mission which is entirely intertwined with strengthening national security. OBO’s work is complex both from a technical and logistics standpoint. Sites are often in remote or hostile environments and coordination with foreign governments can add additional variables that must be overcome through honest and open dialogue with contractors. Ambassador Moser looked to the future with the administration’s growing emphasis on the Pacific and the Eastern Caribbean. With new capital investment projects and a relatively flat budget, Ambassador Moser conveyed a strong desire to save money such as using solar power where possible, while at the same time creating facilities that will have a 50-year or more lifespan.

Dr. Anthony Josey, with the State Department’s Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization, spoke about how their outreach efforts have attracted more firms and has succeeded in diversifying its contractor pool. While the agency is always looking for greater volume and diversity in its supplier base, it simultaneously wants to foster an environment where contractors can be successful.

Making Connections

An extremely popular feature of Industry Day happened on the afternoon of Day Two, where multiple State Department offices held matchmaking appointments with industry firms. A bit like speed-dating, industry professionals sat with OBO representatives for a one-on-one session before moving on to the next table. Specific topics included: Architecture, Interiors, Construction Management, Engineering, Climate Security & Resilience, Blast, and Inflation/Cost Escalation.

There also were opportunities for companies to meet with representatives from the Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization. But fear not if you couldn’t schedule an appointment! OBO has a program called Capabilities Conversations in which you can schedule a 20-minute virtual meeting and connect with agency representatives. When these are scheduled, multiple departments are brought into the meeting to make sure you can connect with the right folks at OBO.