Dear Fellow Shareholders,
In a previous communication, I touched on “the art of knowing the Order of Operations.” I want to expand on this topic to provide a little insight into the genesis and timing of successful contract awards.
I’ve often heard from shareholders that they are eager to learn when Mission Ready will be announcing new or additional contracts – Though I wish the answer to this question could always be black and white, the reality is that we operate in a complex industry with many dynamics in play. The initial stage of a contract can take several forms – It may be a) as preliminary as a Request for Information (“RFI”) whereby the requestor is simply collecting data in advance of potentially submitting a Request for Proposal (“RFP”), b) as advanced as a concrete Request for Quotation (“RFQ”) with a defined award date, or c) somewhere in between. Depending on various factors, a contract may take several months to develop in the case of an RFI, for example, or advance from solicitation to award very quickly in the case of a sole source solicitation.
Assuming we are to the point where we have submitted our proposal on the solicitation, we then have to wait for a decision to be made. Though these decisions can be made quickly, it is not uncommon that they are delayed or extended for various reasons, often for reasons entirely outside of our control. To name a few, a contract award may be delayed due to i) a request for additional information, certifications, etc. from a contracting officer, ii) a high volume of solicitation responses to be reviewed, and/or iii) political reasons. To elaborate on the last example, an election year can bring a great deal of changes to processes as we’ve seen these past few months. A change of President often brings a change in priorities, a change in the policies, and a change in the way Congress reacts. As a further complication, when the balance changes in either the House or the Senate, it can have a ripple effect throughout all of the committees. During these time, ranking members, chairs of committees, etc. are all in flux, which can result in a temporary disruption of federal programs and initiatives. Even without these influences, the response period after a solicitation can span many months. The backlog of pending (to be submitted) and completed (submitted and awaiting response) solicitations in the queue at any given time various considerably depending on factors including the time of year (proximity to government fiscal year-end), size and response criteria of the solicitations, and supply chain capacity. We are ever mindful that our shareholders are eager to learn of the status of bids and new awards, and we remain committed to providing timely updates on all material events and significant corporate developments.
One additional point of clarification is to define the difference between a contract award and an order. Some contracts are specific and contain defined quantities and delivery date. Others, however, are classified as Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (“IDIQ”) awards where there will be provisions under one contract for multiple orders governed by a much broader set of parameters in relation to delivery timelines and value (E.g., minimum, estimated, and maximum quantities and/or value). Examples of IDIQ awards received by Mission Ready include the contracts announced in our news release dated September 18, 2020, titled ‘Mission Ready Awarded New Contract for an Estimated $127 Million with a Ceiling of $435 Million’ (the “Contracts”).
Further to the Contracts, we continue to facilitate the delivery of personal protective equipment for the Strategic National Stockpile as we work through the current queue of purchase orders received from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”). Facilitated through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Unifire, Inc. (“Unifire”), our team has performed tremendously well in fulfilling the purchase orders received to date across the Contracts, and we are diligently working to leverage this performance for additional orders during the term of the Contracts. In fact, in approximately 6 months, we have delivered 13,328,670 isolation gowns out of an aggregate order of 18 million ordered, as reported in a news release dated March 10, 2021, titled: Mission Ready Provides Update on Product Deliveries, Strategy to Maximize Contract Value.
Switching gears, I often get requests for the Company to increase its communications via social media and other channels. As announced in a news release dated February 2, 2021, we have engaged the services of Victory Media and various consultants to spearhead the rollout of a targeted communications and marketing plan. I am excited to announce that during the 2nd quarter of this year, we expect to launch our newly branded corporate website alongside a new e-commerce site and social media platforms which is expected to greatly enhance the flow of news and other communications. The aim is to provide transparent and comprehensive access to relevant and interesting news on the Company’s operations, and to ensure that readers are kept well-informed on the current and future direction of the Company.
Following the release of our Q4 2020 audited results which are due to be filed on or before April 30, 2021, I also expect to take part in some exciting media relations opportunities such as a podcast, video interviews and social media initiatives. Through these supplemental communications channels, we will not only provide further insights into the Company’s financial outlook, but also look ahead to 2022 and beyond. It is, indeed, a busy time for us!
I’ve said it many times, and I will continue to say it – I am exceedingly proud of our team and their drive to build something awesome. I am grateful to each and every shareholder who has believed in us and continues to go on this journey with us. I am optimistic about our future and look forward to what every day holds for each of us. We have made tremendous strides to become One Company, led by One Team, moving in One Direction.
As COVID-19 continues across the globe, I hope that each and every one of you and your families stay safe, healthy and connected to your loved ones and communities in whatever way you can during these difficult times.
Sincerely,
Buck Marshall
President & CEO
For further information on Mission Ready Solutions Inc., visit MRSCorp.com or contact:
Investor Relations
T: 1.877.479.7778 – Ext 5
E: IR@MRSCorp.com
Mission Ready Solutions Inc.
(Signed “Buck L. Marshall”)
Buck L. Marshall
President, CEO and Director
T: +1 877.479.7778
Forward-Looking Information
This newsletter contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “plan”, “expect”, “intend”, “estimate”, “forecast”, “project”, “budget”, “schedule”, “may”, “will”, “could”, “might”, “should” or variations of such words or similar words or expressions. Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by Mission Ready Solutions Inc. as at the date of such information and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Mission Ready Solutions Inc. to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Mission Ready Solutions Inc. does not undertake to update any forward-looking information that is included herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
