Celeste Drake
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB)’s Made in America Office (MIAO) has launched its new website. President Joe Biden created the office through an Executive Order in January. The EO mandates federal agencies to purchase more American made products and services, with the goal to increase reliance on domestic supply chains and eventually reduce the need to spend taxpayer dollars on foreign-made goods.
In April, the President announced Celeste Drake as director of the Made in America Office. She has private and public sector experience, including serving as legislative director for Rep. Linda Sanchez from 2006 to 2011; trade policy specialist at AFL-CIO from 2011 to 2019; and most recently as the executive-in-charge of government affairs at the Directors Guild of America. As Director, Drake is responsible for guaranteeing the federal procurement process rewards U.S.-based businesses, including small companies and minority entrepreneurs.
The Made in America website, established by the General Services Administration, was specifically created to form public transparency regarding the federal procurement process, which is required by the Executive Order. Departments and agencies must submit waivers when they find it is not possible or feasible for them to purchase American, and would like to purchase from an outside source. These waivers are then reviewed by MIAO.
The website creates a centralized place to find waivers, making it easier for American businesses to find federal contracting opportunities rather than sourcing from somewhere else. This will subsequently reduce the number of waivers the government will need to prepare and submit. The website will also help federal departments and agencies to continuously review their processes and serve as a way to uncover where the U.S. supply chain could use improvements.
The website is still in its early stages, with hopes to be completely functional and up-to-date by early fiscal year 2022.
