The International Services Program Unit of the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has actively engaged in business transformation efforts to standardize operations based on documented policies and well-planned programs. The U.S. Government wishes to leverage best practices across APHIS IS Action Programs' management by developing a systematic and robust succession plan that guarantees continuity of operations. The Government has engaged CPS Professional Services, LLC, to implement this effort.

APHIS IS is developing an objective methodology that uses both quantitative and quantified qualitative data to determine a ratio of Technical Merit to Economic Feasibility, to Force Rank foreign post locations under consideration for opening or closing APHIS IS offices. This process should increase the number of posts with a more favorable (economic) Technical Merit-to-Administrative Resources ratio, as well as help APHIS IS document its cost-efficiency considerations.