Category: Press Releases

Optimal has released a new white paper, Resilient Assistance: Using Agentic AI to Empower Small Businesses Amid Resource Partner Cuts. The paper examines how intelligent AI-driven assistants can fill critical gaps in technical assistance as the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) faces proposed workforce reductions of approximately 43% and the elimination of funding for key entrepreneurial development programs, including Women’s Business Centers (WBCs), SCORE, the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP), and Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs).

Drawing on decades of evaluating SBA programs, Optimal outlines how Agentic AI can provide 24/7, personalized, and cost-effective guidance to small businesses navigating complex regulations and government contracting opportunities. The paper emphasizes that AI solutions align with federal priorities such as Executive Order 14058 on customer experience and the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) announced in 2025.

Key recommendations include:

• Launching targeted AI pilots in underserved and rural communities
• Integrating AI into SBA’s modernization initiatives, such as MySBA platforms
• Building partnerships to ensure accuracy and quality of AI-delivered information
• Leveraging innovation programs like SBIR/STTR to accelerate public-facing AI tools

Download the full white paper, Resilient Assistance: Using Agentic AI to Empower Small Businesses Amid Resource Partner Cuts.

Optimal and Revelo Software are excited to announce Maryland’s dual investment in Revelo Software.

“Our team has built an ecosystem of low code and modular Revelo products that address many end-to-end digital transformation needs. Enterprise Revelo reduces the types of skills and resources needed to quickly stand up and integrate new applications. Revelo has configurable workflows and reduces technical debts in areas of security, accessibility and monitoring controls,” said Tracye Turner, founder of Revelo. “With the surge in interest in AI, e-government, CX, and real-time decision systems, Revelo can help governments and organizations get up to speed quickly!”

To learn more, click the link to read TEDCO’s announcement.: https://www.tedcomd.com/news-events/press-releases/2024/tedco-invests-revelo

Optimal’s President and CEO, Dr. Mark Turner, has joined the National Data Science Alliance (NDSA) Education and Workforce Committee. The committee aims to advance the field of data science across Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). It is recognized for its commitment to fostering equitable opportunities in the data science arena.

The NDSA is a national consortium of individuals and organizations dedicated to advancing data science, supporting institutions, and bridging the gap between academia and industry. With a primary focus on HBCUs, the NDSA aims to increase representation and diversity in data science, empowering underrepresented communities to thrive in this rapidly evolving field.

As a member of the Education and Workforce Committee, Dr. Turner brings his extensive data science expertise and commitment to promoting education and workforce development in the data science field. His experience and passion align perfectly with the NDSA’s mission to advance data science education and opportunities for HBCU students and faculty.

The Education and Workforce Committee will serve as a vital platform for HBCUs, providing access to resources, funding opportunities, industry partnerships, and mentoring programs to foster the success of students and faculty in data science-related fields. By strengthening the data science programs at HBCUs, the NDSA seeks to reshape the landscape of technology and data science, ensuring equitable representation for all.

For more information about the National Data Science Alliance and its Education and Workforce Committee, please visit www.NDSA.org.

Optimal is proud to announce its approval to join the General Services Administration’s (GSA) exclusive program evaluation subgroup. This achievement shows Optimal’s expertise in evaluating complex multisite programs, government demonstrations, pilots, and initiatives.

GSA’s Program Evaluation Subgroup allows Federal agencies to give solicitations to contractors with expertise in program evaluation. It provides contractors access to large Federal investments in program evaluation and ongoing engagement with Federal agencies. 

As part of the GSA’s program evaluation subgroup, Optimal joins a select group of firms recognized for their exceptional skills and knowledge in evaluating federal programs. The subgroup’s admission criteria are stringent, ensuring only firms with a proven track record and deep understanding of program evaluation are approved.

Optimal brings extensive experience in monitoring and evaluating federal programs. Optimal has conducted evaluations that involve evaluability assessments, wide-ranging evaluation designs, technical assistance, and evidence-building activities at the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Small Business Administration, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Optimal has actively participated in various evaluation activities listed in federal government agencies’ annual plans. 

To learn more about Optimal’s experience in program evaluation, visit https://optimalsolutionsgroup.com/entrepreneurship-innovation-case-studies/.

Optimal has developed a Generative AI webinar series that discusses the beneficial use cases for businesses and government agencies to leverage the growing presence of AI tools. Through this initiative, Optimal continues demonstrating its commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to support its clients and work within the Optimal Real-Time Framework.

The Generative AI webinar series developed by Optimal delves into various essential topics, including analyzing statistical tables, comments processing, and market research. By providing expert insights and practical examples, the series empowers organizations to fully embrace and optimize the growing potential of Generative AI in their operations.

The three comprehensive webinar modules offered by Optimal’s Generative AI series are as follows:

1. Leveraging Generative AI for Policy Research: Learn how businesses and government agencies can effectively employ Generative AI tools to enhance their policy research initiatives. Through robust data-driven analyses and simulations, participants gain valuable insights into crafting effective policies and making well-informed decisions.
2. Using AI in Public Comments Analysis: Learn how to leverage Generative AI to streamline and elevate the analysis of public comments using Optimal’s CommentsAI tool. Organizations can efficiently extract meaningful patterns and sentiments from feedback by automating the processing and categorizing vast amounts of input.
3. Streamline Market Research for Government Procurement: In this webinar, Optimal reveals how AI can revolutionize market research efforts for government procurement processes. The AcqusitionAI tool developed by Optimal will help facilitate more informed and strategic decision-making during procurement procedures by equipping agencies with advanced data analysis tools.

Optimal’s corporate initiative on Generative AI proved to be successful. Departments and project teams started working groups, with suggested use cases and a fast-paced shared “wiki” to investigate how Generative AI can move the company forward, support existing clients and work within Optimal’s Real-Time Framework.

With existing products such as Revelo Software, Generative AI can receive curated data, content and information through the upfront data validation and ingestion capabilities. Revelo has several applications, such as accessibility testing (iAccessible), comments processing (CommentsAI), and streamlining market research (AcquisitionAI).

The communications team tried out ChatGPT and BARD across multiple activities, such as generating social media content, editing, translating, rendering images and composing webinar invitations. It proved to be a great aid.

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has awarded Optimal Solutions Group several contracts to assess online course materials for high school students for compliance with Section 508 and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standards. Optimal’s DHS Trusted Testers will provide technical assistance to content developers and assist them in remediating course materials.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased reliance on internet-based learning, highlighting the need for digital accessibility and inclusion for students and individuals with disabilities. Optimal Solutions Group is proud to partner with MSDE in ensuring that all students have access to educational materials that meet accessibility standards.

Optimal Solutions Group is a leading research and consulting firm that provides data-driven solutions to improve public policy and decision-making. The company’s work spans a range of fields, including education, health, and workforce development.