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ICF Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results

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―Margin Expansion Driven by Favorable Business Mix and Higher Utilization―
―GAAP EPS and Non-GAAP EPS1 Include Tax Benefits of $0.25 Per Share―
―Record Business Development Pipeline of $10.6 Billion at Quarter-End―

―2024 Guidance: Adjusting Revenue Range to Account for Lower Pass-Throughs; Raising EPS Ranges to Reflect Margin Expansion and Tax Benefits―

Third Quarter Highlights: 

Revenue Increased 3% to $517 Million, Up 6% Excluding DivestituresNet Income Was $33 Million and GAAP EPS Was $1.73, Up 38% Non-GAAP EPS Increased 18% to $2.13EBITDA1 Increased 18% to $58.2 Million; Adjusted EBITDA1 Was $58.5 Million, Up 8%Contract Awards Were $697 Million for a Quarterly Book-to Bill Ratio of 1.35 and a TTM Book-to-Bill Ratio of 1.31

RESTON, Va., Oct. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — ICF (NASDAQ: ICFI), a global consulting and technology services provider, reported results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024.

Commenting on the results, John Wasson, chair and chief executive officer, said, “This was another quarter of strong performance for ICF. Total revenues increased 3% year-on-year. Revenues from continuing operations increased 6% from last year’s levels, which includes a considerable impact from lower pass-throughs.

“Our Energy, Environment, Infrastructure and Disaster Recovery client market again was a key contributor to our third quarter results, delivering year-on-year revenue growth of 15.3% and accounting for 45.7% of total third quarter revenues, up from 40.8% in the similar period last year. We experienced continued strong demand from our utility clients for a broad range of ICF’s capabilities, including core energy efficiency programs, grid resilience, electrification, decarbonization and flexible load management, all of which have taken on greater importance given recent increases in projected electricity demand, particularly from the growth in data centers. ICF is a market leader with the unique experience, capabilities and scale to assist utility clients across all these areas with analytics, multidisciplinary solutions and program management.  

“Favorable mix and higher utilization were key drivers of third quarter margin expansion. Operating margin increased by 250 basis points year-on-year to 8.9%, and Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by 50 basis points to 11.3% from 10.8%.

“We ended the third quarter with a record business development pipeline of $10.6 billion, after $697 million in contract awards. Year-to-date contract awards increased 16% from last year’s levels to just over $2.0 billion, of which 63% represented new business wins, indicating how well aligned ICF’s capabilities are with client spending priorities.”

Third Quarter 2024 Results

Third quarter 2024 total revenue was $517.0 million, a 3.1% increase from the $501.5 million reported in the third quarter of 2023, and up 6.0% from last year’s third quarter revenues adjusted for the divestiture of our commercial marketing business lines. Subcontractor and other direct costs were 24.7% of total revenues compared to 27.1% in last year’s third quarter. Operating income was $46.0 million, up 44.3% from $31.9 million last year, and operating margin on revenue expanded to 8.9% from 6.4%. Net income totaled $32.7 million, representing a 37.7% year-on-year increase over the $23.7 million reported in the third quarter of 2023. Diluted EPS was $1.73 per share, up 38.4% from $1.25 reported in the third quarter of 2023, which included $5.2 million, or $0.20 per share, of tax-effected special charges. Third quarter 2024 net income and diluted EPS included incremental tax benefits beyond previous expectations of $0.25 per share. As a result, the company’s effective tax rate was 13.8% in the third quarter.

Non-GAAP EPS increased 17.7% to $2.13 per share, from $1.81 per share reported in the comparable period in 2023. EBITDA was $58.2 million, 18.4% above the $49.2 million reported in the year-ago period. Adjusted EBITDA increased 7.8% to $58.5 million from $54.3 million for the comparable period in 2023.

Backlog and New Business

Total backlog was $3.9 billion at the end of the third quarter of 2024. Funded backlog was $1.9 billion, or approximately 50% of the total backlog. The total value of contracts awarded in the 2024 third quarter was $696.9 million for a quarterly book-to-bill ratio of 1.35, and trailing twelve-month contract awards totaled $2.0 billion, up 16.0% year-on-year for a book-to-bill ratio of 1.31.

Government Revenue Third Quarter 2024 Highlights

Revenue from government clients was $387.8 million, up 1.1% year-over-year. 

U.S. federal government revenue was $282.0 million, an increase of 1.0% compared to the $279.3 million reported in the third quarter of 2023, and was impacted by a year-over-year decrease in subcontractor and other direct costs estimated at $10 million in the quarter. Federal government revenue accounted for 54.5% of total revenue, compared to 55.7% of total revenue in the third quarter of 2023.U.S. state and local government revenue increased 3.0% to $78.9 million, from $76.6 million in the year-ago quarter. State and local government clients represented 15.3% of total revenue, unchanged from the third quarter of 2023.International government revenue was $26.9 million, slightly down from the $27.5 million reported in the year-ago quarter. International government revenue represented 5.2% of total revenue, compared to 5.5% in the third quarter of 2023.

Key Government Contracts Awarded in the Third Quarter 2024

Notable government contract awards won in the third quarter of 2024 included:

Health and Social Programs

A new task order with a value of $40.2 million with a U.S. federal agency to deliver strategic and digital communications and engagement campaigns to combat human trafficking.A contract modification with a value of $33.2 million with a U.S. federal agency to provide stakeholder engagement support services.A new contract with a value of $14.8 million with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide support for CDC’s Needle Exchange Utilization Survey (NEXUS) surveillance project.A new subcontract with a value of $11.2 million to provide information resource support services for the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Office of Neuroscience Communications and Engagement.A new contract with a value of $10.9 million with the U.S. National Institutes of Health to support the National Library of Medicine’s User Services and Collections Division cross-functional initiatives, including advancing GenAI projects and other programming and technical development activities.A new contract with a value of $9.7 million with the U.S. Department of Education to provide capacity-building services to state, regional and local education agencies.

Disaster Management and Mitigation

A contract extension with a value of $38.5 million with a U.S. state land agency to provide disaster recovery and mitigation grant management services.A new contract with a value of $10.5 million with the government of a U.S. territory to provide a comprehensive array of services to support compliance with federal and local disaster management regulations related to its hurricane recovery efforts.

IT Modernization

A new contract with a value of $69.9 million with the government of a U.S. territory to design, build and implement a new geospatial data management system.A new task order under a blanket purchase agreement with a value of $8.9 million with a U.S. federal agency to provide data center modernization services.

Climate, Energy and Environment

A single-award recompete blanket purchase agreement with a ceiling of $75 million with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water to provide environmental, economic, regulatory and evaluation services to the agency’s critical water programs.A recompete blanket purchase agreement with a ceiling of $40.0 million with the U.S. Federal Highway Administration to provide technical, engineering, publications, marketing and professional support services.

Commercial Revenue Third Quarter 2024 Highlights

Commercial revenue was $129.2 million, compared to $118.1 million reported in the third quarter of 2023; up 23.7% compared to revenues of $104.5 million excluding divestitures in 2023.

Commercial revenue accounted for 25.0% of total revenue compared to 23.5% of total revenue in the 2023 third quarter.Energy markets revenue, which includes energy efficiency programs, increased 24.6% and represented 86.7% of commercial revenue.

Key Commercial Contracts Awarded in the Third Quarter of 2024

Notable commercial awards won in the third quarter of 2024 included:

A contract modification with a mid-Atlantic U.S. utility to continue to provide program implementation services for its residential energy efficiency portfolio.A contract modification with a multinational energy company to prepare environmental impact statements for the company’s offshore wind projects.A new contract with an international renewable energy company to prepare an environmental impact statement for its offshore wind project.A new contract with a Midwestern U.S. utility to provide program implementation services for its residential energy efficiency program.A new contract with a Midwestern U.S. electric and gas utility to provide program implementation services for its residential energy efficiency program.A new contract with a Midwestern U.S. utility to provide demand-side management programs for both market rate and disadvantaged communities for its residential energy efficiency portfolio.A contract modification with a mid-Atlantic U.S. utility to continue to provide program implementation services for its energy efficiency programs.

Dividend Declaration

On October 31, 2024, ICF declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.14 per share, payable on January 10, 2025, to shareholders of record on December 6, 2024.

Summary and Outlook

“Continued favorable business mix and utilization metrics, together with the incremental tax benefits of approximately $0.25 per share, have led us to increase the midpoint of our earnings per share guidance for full year 2024 by $0.35. Our revised guidance for GAAP EPS is in the range of $6.05 to $6.15, excluding special charges, and Non-GAAP EPS is expected to range from $7.40 to $7.50, representing year-on-year growth of 14.6% at the midpoint. We have adjusted our full year 2024 revenue guidance range to $2.0 billion to $2.03 billion from $2.03 billion to $2.10 billion to reflect an estimated $50 million reduction in expected pass-throughs. This primarily impacts revenue comparisons for our Health and Social Programs client market with no meaningful impact on margins. Based on our strong cash flow to date, we reaffirm our guidance for full year 2024 operating cash flow of approximately $155 million.

“Our forward-looking metrics support our confidence in continued growth for ICF as we enter 2025. We have a strong multiyear backlog, a record business development pipeline and a consistent track record of new business wins. We are experiencing robust demand from commercial clients for our energy and environment expertise and related implementation and technology capabilities. We have excellent credentials in disaster management, resilience and mitigation work to assist state and local governments with recovery after storms, flooding and wildfires, as well as with their future resilience planning. The large majority of our federal government work is in areas that have bipartisan support, particularly IT modernization, which remains an area of priority spending. And importantly, our people are fully engaged in achieving the objectives and missions of our clients, which underpins our confidence in ICF’s future growth potential,” Mr. Wasson concluded.

1 Non-GAAP EPS, EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measurements. A reconciliation of all non-GAAP measurements to the most applicable GAAP number is set forth below. Special charges are items that were included within our consolidated statements of comprehensive income but are not indicative of ongoing performance and have been presented net of applicable U.S. GAAP taxes. The presentation of non-GAAP measurements may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies.

About ICF

ICF is a global consulting and technology services company with approximately 9,000 employees, but we are not your typical consultants. At ICF, business analysts and policy specialists work together with digital strategists, data scientists and creatives. We combine unmatched industry expertise with cutting-edge engagement capabilities to help organizations solve their most complex challenges. Since 1969, public and private sector clients have worked with ICF to navigate change and shape the future. Learn more at icf.com.

Caution Concerning Forward-looking Statements

Statements that are not historical facts and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may concern our current expectations about our future results, plans, operations and prospects and involve certain risks, including those related to the government contracting industry generally; our particular business, including our dependence on contracts with U.S. federal government agencies; and our ability to acquire and successfully integrate businesses. These and other factors that could cause our actual results to differ from those indicated in forward-looking statements that are included in the “Risk Factors” section of our securities filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included herein are only made as of the date hereof, and we specifically disclaim any obligation to update these statements in the future.

Note on Forward-Looking Non-GAAP Measures

The company does not reconcile its forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the corresponding U.S. GAAP measures, due to the variability and difficulty in making accurate forecasts and projections and because not all of the information necessary for a quantitative reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures (such as the effect of share-based compensation or the impact of future extraordinary or non-recurring events like acquisitions) is available to the company without unreasonable effort. For the same reasons, the company is unable to estimate the probable significance of the unavailable information. The company provides forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures that it believes will be achievable, but it cannot accurately predict all of the components of the adjusted calculations, and the U.S. GAAP financial measures may be materially different than the non-GAAP financial measures.

Investor Contacts:

Lynn Morgen, ADVISIRY PARTNERS, lynn.morgen@advisiry.com +1.212.750.5800
David Gold, ADVISIRY PARTNERS, david.gold@advisiry.com +1.212.750.5800

Company Information Contact:
Lauren Dyke, ICF, lauren.dyke@ICF.com +1.571.373.5577

 

ICF International, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

September 30,

(in thousands, except per share amounts)  

2024

2023

2024

2023

Revenue

$                    516,998

$                 501,519

$              1,523,463

$               1,484,886

Direct costs

325,047

323,504

964,911

961,473

Operating costs and expenses:

Indirect and selling expenses

132,816

131,553

389,001

381,808

Depreciation and amortization

4,820

5,917

15,303

19,052

Amortization of intangible assets

8,291

8,644

24,873

27,154

Total operating costs and expenses

145,927

146,114

429,177

428,014

Operating income

46,024

31,901

129,375

95,399

Interest, net

(7,195)

(10,557)

(23,136)

(30,146)

Other (expense) income

(899)

2,736

767

1,501

Income before income taxes

37,930

24,080

107,006

66,754

Provision for income taxes

5,251

340

21,399

6,304

Net income

$                     32,679

$                   23,740

$                  85,607

$                    60,450

Earnings per Share:

Basic

$                         1.74

$                       1.26

$                      4.57

$                        3.22

Diluted

$                         1.73

$                       1.25

$                      4.53

$                        3.19

Weighted-average Shares:

Basic

18,760

18,815

18,752

18,795

Diluted

18,910

18,974

18,915

18,958

Cash dividends declared per common share

$                         0.14

$                       0.14

$                      0.42

$                        0.42

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

(951)

(4,053)

(610)

(2,236)

Comprehensive income, net of tax

$                     31,728

$                   19,687

$                  84,997

$                    58,214

 

ICF International, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP financial measures (2) 

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

September 30,

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

2024

2023

2024

2023

Reconciliation of Revenue, Adjusted for Impact of Exited Business 

Revenue

$                516,998

$                501,519

$           1,523,463

$           1,484,886

Less: Revenue from exited business (3)

(13,565)

(59,713)

Total Revenue, Adjusted for Impact of Exited Business

$                516,998

$                487,954

$           1,523,463

$           1,425,173

Reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA (4)

Net income

$                  32,679

$                  23,740

$                85,607

$                60,450

Interest, net

7,195

10,557

23,136

30,146

Provision for income taxes

5,251

340

21,399

6,304

Depreciation and amortization

13,111

14,561

40,176

46,206

EBITDA 

58,236

49,198

170,318

143,106

Impairment of long-lived assets (5)

2,912

3,806

Acquisition and divestiture-related expenses (6)

139

1,779

205

4,685

Severance and other costs related to staff realignment (7)

449

595

1,184

4,455

Charges for facility consolidations and office closures (8)

2,220

2,579

Pre-tax gain from divestiture of a business (9)

(298)

(2,425)

(2,013)

(2,425)

Total Adjustments

290

5,081

(624)

13,100

Adjusted EBITDA

$                  58,526

$                  54,279

$              169,694

$              156,206

Net Income Margin Percent on Revenue (10)

6.3 %

4.7 %

5.6 %

4.1 %

EBITDA Margin Percent on Revenue (11)

11.3 %

9.8 %

11.2 %

9.6 %

Adjusted EBITDA Margin Percent on Revenue (11)

11.3 %

10.8 %

11.1 %

10.5 %

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Diluted EPS (4)

U.S. GAAP Diluted EPS

$                      1.73

$                      1.25

$                    4.53

$                    3.19

Impairment of long-lived assets

0.15

0.20

Acquisition and divestiture-related expenses

0.01

0.09

0.01

0.25

Severance and other costs related to staff realignment

0.02

0.03

0.06

0.23

Expenses related to facility consolidations and office closures (12)

0.12

0.04

0.14

Pre-tax gain from divestiture of a business

(0.02)

(0.13)

(0.11)

(0.13)

Amortization of intangibles

0.44

0.46

1.31

1.43

Income tax effects of the adjustments (13)

(0.05)

(0.16)

(0.26)

(0.50)

Non-GAAP Diluted EPS

$                      2.13

$                      1.81

$                    5.58

$                    4.81

(2) These tables provide reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to the most applicable GAAP numbers. While we believe that these non-GAAP financial measures may be useful in evaluating our financial information, they should be considered supplemental in nature and not as a substitute for financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Other companies may define similarly titled non-GAAP measures differently and, accordingly, care should be exercised in understanding how we define these measures. 

(3) Revenue from the exited U.K. commercial marketing business (June 30, 2023), U.S. commercial marketing business (September 11, 2023), and Canadian mobile text aggregation business (November 1, 2023). Subcontractor and other direct costs from the exited business are approximately 15.0% and 31.1% of revenue of the exited business for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively.

(4) Reconciliations of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, and Non-GAAP Diluted EPS were calculated using numbers as reported in U.S. GAAP.

(5) Represents impairment charges recorded in the first and third quarters of 2023 of $0.9 million and $2.9 million, respectively, of an intangible asset associated with the exit of our commercial marketing business in the U.K. and operating lease right-of-use assets.

(6) These are primarily third-party costs related to acquisitions and potential acquisitions, integration of acquisitions, and separation of discontinued businesses or divestitures.

(7) These costs are mainly due to involuntary employee termination benefits for our officers, and employees who have been notified that they will be terminated as part of a business reorganization or exit.

(8) These are exit costs associated with terminated leases or full office closures that we either (i) will continue to pay until the contractual obligations are satisfied but with no economic benefit to us, or (ii) paid upon termination and ceasing to use the leased facilities.

(9) Pre-tax gain related to the 2023 divestiture of our U.S. commercial marketing business which include contingent gains realized in the first and the third quarter of 2024.

(10) Net Income Margin Percent on Revenue was calculated by dividing net income by revenue.

(11) EBITDA Margin Percent and Adjusted EBITDA Margin Percent on Revenue were calculated by dividing the non-GAAP measure by the corresponding revenue.

(12) These are exit costs related to actual office closures (previously included in Adjusted EBITDA) and accelerated depreciation related to fixed assets for planned office closures.

(13) Income tax effects were calculated using the effective tax rate, adjusted for certain discrete items, if any, of 13.8% and 21.7% for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and 20.0% and 23.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

  

ICF International, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

September 30, 2024

December 31, 2023

ASSETS

Current Assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$                       6,911

$                      6,361

Restricted cash

724

3,088

Contract receivables, net

212,412

205,484

Contract assets

237,742

201,832

Prepaid expenses and other assets

24,785

28,055

Income tax receivable

10,541

2,337

Total Current Assets

493,115

447,157

Property and Equipment, net

71,299

75,948

Other Assets:

Goodwill

1,221,437

1,219,476

Other intangible assets, net

70,030

94,904

Operating lease – right-of-use assets

122,543

132,807

Other assets

49,754

41,480

Total Assets

$                 2,028,178

$               2,011,772

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current Liabilities:

Current portion of long-term debt

$                     13,750

$                    26,000

Accounts payable

121,093

134,503

Contract liabilities

17,176

21,997

Operating lease liabilities 

21,204

20,409

Finance lease liabilities

2,590

2,522

Accrued salaries and benefits

91,103

88,021

Accrued subcontractors and other direct costs

55,600

45,645

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

85,274

79,129

Total Current Liabilities

407,790

418,226

Long-term Liabilities:

Long-term debt

405,396

404,407

Operating lease liabilities – non-current

160,926

175,460

Finance lease liabilities – non-current

11,922

13,874

Deferred income taxes

5,982

26,175

Other long-term liabilities

59,845

56,045

Total Liabilities

1,051,861

1,094,187

Commitments and Contingencies

Stockholders’ Equity:

Preferred stock, par value $.001; 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued

Common stock, par value $.001; 70,000,000 shares authorized; 24,138,735 and 23,982,132 shares issued at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively; 18,762,710 and 18,845,521 shares outstanding at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively

24

24

Additional paid-in capital

436,671

421,502

Retained earnings

852,835

775,099

Treasury stock, 5,376,025 and 5,136,611 shares at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively

(300,718)

(267,155)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(12,495)

(11,885)

Total Stockholders’ Equity

976,317

917,585

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

$                 2,028,178

$               2,011,772

 

ICF International, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

(in thousands)

2024

2023

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Net income

$                         85,607

$                         60,450

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

Provision for credit losses

3,176

691

Deferred income taxes and unrecognized income tax benefits

(16,957)

(3,533)

Non-cash equity compensation

12,494

10,134

Depreciation and amortization

40,177

46,207

Gain on divestiture of a business

(2,009)

(4,302)

Other operating adjustments, net

2,206

2,563

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of the effects of acquisitions:

Net contract assets and liabilities

(40,155)

(52,010)

Contract receivables

(9,634)

12,087

Prepaid expenses and other assets

(434)

11,893

Operating lease assets and liabilities, net

(3,065)

3,897

Accounts payable

(13,402)

(13,333)

Accrued salaries and benefits

2,889

(8,521)

Accrued subcontractors and other direct costs

9,660

(3,353)

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

16,979

(18,727)

Income tax receivable and payable

(9,574)

450

Other liabilities

(1,774)

959

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

76,184

45,552

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Payments for purchase of property and equipment and capitalized software

(15,559)

(17,876)

Payments for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired

(32,664)

Proceeds from divestiture of a business

1,985

47,151

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

(13,574)

(3,389)

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Advances from working capital facilities

917,953

972,266

Payments on working capital facilities

(930,043)

(995,244)

Proceeds from other short-term borrowings

43,735

25,394

Repayments of other short-term borrowings

(53,280)

(18,845)

Receipt of restricted contract funds

1,275

6,412

Payment of restricted contract funds

(3,586)

(7,042)

Dividends paid

(7,880)

(7,903)

Net payments for stock issuances and share repurchases

(30,995)

(20,601)

Other financing, net

(1,777)

(1,501)

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities

(64,598)

(47,064)

Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash

174

(213)

Decrease in Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash

(1,814)

(5,114)

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash, Beginning of Period

9,449

12,968

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash, End of Period

$                           7,635

$                           7,854

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information

Cash paid during the period for:

Interest

$                         24,388

$                         29,173

Income taxes

$                         50,382

$                         12,604

 

ICF International, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Supplemental Schedule (14)

Revenue by client markets

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 

September 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

Energy, environment, infrastructure, and disaster recovery

46 %

41 %

46 %

40 %

Health and social programs

38 %

42 %

38 %

42 %

Security and other civilian & commercial

16 %

17 %

16 %

18 %

Total

100 %

100 %

100 %

100 %

Revenue by client type

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 

September 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

U.S. federal government

55 %

56 %

55 %

55 %

U.S. state and local government

15 %

15 %

16 %

16 %

International government

5 %

5 %

5 %

5 %

Total Government

75 %

76 %

76 %

76 %

Commercial

25 %

24 %

24 %

24 %

Total

100 %

100 %

100 %

100 %

Revenue by contract mix

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 

September 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

Time-and-materials

43 %

41 %

42 %

41 %

Fixed-price

46 %

45 %

46 %

45 %

Cost-based

11 %

14 %

12 %

14 %

Total

100 %

100 %

100 %

100 %

(14) As is shown in the supplemental schedule, we track revenue by key metrics that provide useful information about the nature of our operations. Client markets provide insight into the breadth of our expertise.  Client type is an indicator of the diversity of our client base.  Revenue by contract mix provides insight in terms of the degree of performance risk that we have assumed.

 

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Global Times: Dam benefits communities in Xinjiang, paving way for a secure ecological future for region

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BEIJING, Oct. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — In the past, the Yarkand River in Xinjiang would flood annually during the rainy season, causing destruction to infrastructure, submerging farmland, and engulfing homes and villages. Bubishare, a Uygur resident who grew up in a village upstream of the river, still vividly recalls the cries of helplessness from those affected by the devastating floods before the construction of the Aratax water conservation project. Thanks to the project, these nightmares are now a thing of the past for local residents.

Located in the Karakorum Mountain Valley, the Aratax water conservation project, known as the “Xinjiang’s Three Gorges” project for its grandeur and construction challenges, was constructed to control the Yarkant River. The 1,289-km-long Yarkant River in the Tarim Basin is Xinjiang’s most flood-prone river, and the towering dam can withstand the turbulent floodwaters in a reservoir with a storage capacity of 2.2 billion cubic meters. 

Today, this dam is gushing with clean water sources, stable power, and also gushing with hope for the minority groups on the desert.

In August 2023, President Xi Jinping urged firmly grasping the strategic positioning of Xinjiang in the overall national situation and better building a beautiful Xinjiang in the process of pursuing Chinese modernization, the Xinhua News Agency reported. 

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, demanded thorough, meticulous, concrete and sustained efforts to develop a beautiful Xinjiang that is united, harmonious, prosperous, and culturally advanced, with healthy ecosystems and people living and working in contentment, in the process of pursuing Chinese modernization.

The building of a beautiful Xinjiang extends from a dam to a relocated ethnic minority community. The relocation of villagers to new homes with improved living conditions, as a result of the dam project, has brought green energy, green fields, and a green dream of prosperity to the villagers.

Path to build new hope

After a challenging 6-hour journey along the rugged Tasha Ancient Road, the Global Times reporter finally laid eyes on the Aratax dam nestled in the mountainside deep within the Karakorum Mountain. Without firsthand experience of this journey, it is difficult to fathom the obstacles encountered during the entire process of researching, designing, and constructing the dam – no roads on the ground, barren mountains devoid of trees, transportation primarily by feet, and communication mainly through shouting. Accidents like overturning were frequent due to the rugged environment.

The Xinhua Hydropower Generation Co, Ltd, a subsidiary of the China National Nuclear Corporation, began construction on the water conservation project in 2011, with a total investment of 10.98 billion yuan ($1.5 billion). The Aratax project has played a crucial role in flood control, irrigation, and power generation. The river plain, with a population of 4 million and an irrigated area of over 6.5 million mu (433,333 hectares), is the largest irrigated area in Xinjiang and the fourth-largest in China, benefiting 2.4 million people in the region.

Zhang Yibo, a frontline employee at the developer, told the media, “Over a decade ago, this place was even more desolate and rarely visited, and our water conservancy experts achieved a remarkable feat here.” Confronted by the harsh natural surroundings, the builders traversed mountains, camped under the open sky, drank from rivers when thirsty, and rested in tents outdoor, with a firm passion for building a sustainable dam for locals.

From July 18 to August 17, 2021, the Aratax water conservancy project successfully connected four units to the grid in just one month, a rare accomplishment in the history of global hydropower development. This hydropower station significantly alleviated the power shortage in the four southern prefectures in Xinjiang. The project’s designed annual power generation is 21.86 billion kilowatt-hours, saving 883,100 tons of standard coal annually while reducing smoke and dust emissions by 175,300 tons, and enabling the residents of southern Xinjiang to access cleaner energy.

The dam’s incorporation of advanced technology, such as unmanned compaction technology using the Beidou satellite, improved digital visualization of the construction progress, and magnetic induction devices to assist in fish migration, have been notable features of its intelligent design. 

“Following the completion of this project, it has greatly supported our irrigation efforts. Economic crops like sea buckthorn and apples are now extensively cultivated in the desert, leading to significant improvements in both economic and ecological benefits,” Fan Kexing, Party secretary of Tong’an township, Kashi, Xinjiang, told the Global Times. “Previously, the area was plagued by strong winds and sandstorms, with sand and gravel striking house windows with a loud thud, but this phenomenon has now been alleviated,” Fan noted.

Path to enjoy better life

Over the last six years, the residents of the remote Karakorum Mountains in Xinjiang have experienced incredible changes. Having previously lived in the vast desert with only three mu of arable land per person a decade ago, they had to trek seven kilometers to the mountains for drinking water, which needed to be purified before consumption. Power outages lasting for days at a time were a common occurrence. However, these challenges are now a thing of the past. 

Today, the residents have an average annual income exceeding 10,000 yuan, live in beautifully decorated homes with their ethnicity characteristics, and enjoy access to closer schools, more job opportunities, and reliable water and electricity services. 

Thanks to the construction of the dam, in August 2018, 4,243 individuals from over 1,000 households in Kusilafu township, Aketao county were resettled in Tong’an township, over 100 kilometers away. This diverse community, made up of Uygurs, Kyrgyz, Tajiks, and other ethnic groups, have embraced their new beginning. 

Zhou Jingfang, an expert at the Xinhua Hydropower Generation Co who led the relocation work, still remembers the days of tirelessly conducting site surveys, clearing land, mobilizing villagers to relocate, planning and designing new sites, building resettlement houses, greening rural areas, reclaiming farmland, introducing livestock, and setting up factories, schools, clinics, and markets. 

He told the Global Times that the dedicated team members worked long hours in harsh conditions, and navigated countless checkpoints and roads in the vast desert and rugged mountains without complaint. Nowadays, the villagers are no longer facing the endless desert of despair as they did in the past.

When discussing stories of relocation, 25-year-old Bubishare said, “Our village now has schools, factories, and employment opportunities. The village has supported us to find more diverse ways to make a living.” 

“We have 20,000 acres of farmland, where we not only grow food but also operate cash crops cooperatives. This area is a seabuckthorn forest, and our village recently constructed a seabuckthorn fruit processing plant. Our seabuckthorn beer will soon hit the market. With ample water supply, we are confident in our farming endeavors.” Fan shared proudly while standing amid the seabuckthorn forest. 

In a local farmer’s backyard sheep pen, the Global Times reporter observed over 20 Dolan sheep, known as “living banks.” Zhou explained that by raising two Dolan sheep, a farmer can become prosperous within two years due to their high reproductive rate. In Tong’an, many villagers raise Dolan sheep in this manner and enjoy prosperity. 

Tong’an township has also collaborated with local businesses to establish factories, providing employment for local women to produce items made from Xinjiang cotton, such as down jackets and socks for overseas export, ensuring female workers earn at least 2,000-3,000 yuan per month. “The factory is conveniently located, allowing women to balance family responsibilities while earning an income,” Fan informed the Global Times. 

In one factory, a wall in the workshop reads, “Happiness is achieved through hard work.” These words have accurately described how local women in Xinjiang have embarked on the path to modernization through their own hands.

Along the Yarkand River, beyond the Karakorum Mountain, the villagers of Tong’an are employing their diligence and unwavering efforts to write their own happy stories in the desert. They have left behind isolation and poverty, embracing hope and prosperity within short years. In this vibrant land, a new life of perseverance and success is blossoming with vibrant hues.

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202408/1318454.shtml

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SOURCE Global Times

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Global Times: Species thriving thanks to policy, consensus in China

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BEIJING, Oct. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Under the global framework for biodiversity, more wildlife species are increasing in number and enjoying a better space for living and breeding in China with the help of advanced technology and more popular caring, according to the Chinese delegation from diverse institutes and organizations at the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity that is being held in Cali, Colombia.

A prolonged whistle resonated through the sky, prompting visitors to lift their cameras in anticipation of capturing the migratory birds that were arriving. In recent years, tens of thousands of migratory birds such as cormorants fly each autumn to Shenzhen, a subtropical metropolis in South China, making the city one of the most important stops for these birds in the Eastern Hemisphere.

Their numbers are still increasing as the local environment improves. Environmental conservation organizations, including the Mangrove Conservation Foundation (MCF), see the growing population of migratory birds as a signal that urban biodiversity in China is heading in the right direction. 

Only around a few meters away from visitors, a black-faced spoonbill heads down in search of food over the wetlands at the Futian Mangrove National Nature Reserve alongside dozens of its brethren. Meanwhile, in the Futian Mangrove Ecological Park, an Eurasian otter, a species that disappeared from the Shenzhen Bay for nearly 20 years, has re-emerged.  

Chen Yudong, a staff member with the Mangrove Conservation Foundation who focuses on the protection and biodiversity of wetlands, told the Global Times that the Futian Mangrove Ecological Park is currently home to five species listed as National Key Protected Wildlife, including the Eastern imperial eagle, the black-faced spoonbill, and the small Indian civet. 

Additionally, the park has 39 nationally protected wildlife species at the second level (including birds, mammals, and reptiles). From 2015 to 2023, the number of insect species had risen from 109 to 1,224, while bird species had increased from 83 to 220.  

To maintain and improve biodiversity in metropolises like Shenzhen, Chinese environmentalists are exploring the effective application of emerging technologies and analytical methods in biodiversity monitoring, such as bioacoustics, weather radar data, and artificial intelligence, according to Insights for Cities on Biodiversity, an initiative focusing on how to sustain urban biodiversity, published in Shenzhen in September. 

For instance, during the migratory season, weather radar is being promoted to analyze and predict the flight paths of bird flocks, informing the implementation of lighting management strategies. This technology can help reduce accidents involving birds colliding with tall buildings or windows, particularly at night.

The delegation of the conservation foundation brought the initiative to COP16 and shared China’s experience with people who are concerned about how global biodiversity is being impacted by the continuously expanding urban areas around the world. 

Chen said that these projects and technologies are all aimed at speeding up achieving the global target set for 2030 and beyond to safeguard and sustainably use biodiversity, which was clarified in the framework, also known as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted at the COP15 during the Chinese presidency.

Shenzhen is not the only city that protects wetlands and preserves an international channel for migratory birds. Black-faced spoonbills have also been observed in the wetlands in East China’s Zhejiang and Fujian provinces and South China’s Guangxi.

Li Cheng, founder of the Xizijiang Ecological Conservation Center, has also been encouraged and guided by the biodiversity framework. 

“Since the COP15 was held in Kunming, I have felt the growing emphasis on ecological and biological protection from the public and authorities. More people are aware of the importance of sustaining the populations of each species on the Earth through public outreach programs,” Li told the Global Times, noting growing social consensus on biodiversity conservation seen in his daily work.

The infrared cameras set up by Li’s patrol team around the Wuqinzhang Mountain in Guangdong have recently captured additional pangolin movements, further bolstering Li’s confidence that the population of these endangered creatures is increasing.

Li still remembers the excitement he felt when one infrared camera first captured a pangolin at the end of 2018 and the night when he and colleagues repeatedly checked the pangolin’s photo multiple times. 

Chinese pangolins were assessed as “critically endangered” by the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species in 2019 and was even thought to be functionally extinct at the time of its assessment.

Now more and more people, including local villagers who have joined the patrol team, have begun to devote their lives to protecting pangolins. To improve the efficiency of their conservation efforts, Li noted that in addition to infrared cameras, a mobile application especially developed for patrol personnel has been put into use. The app is constantly updated with real-time information on the pangolins, thereby informing those on patrol of urgent situations.

“We have begun to shift our priorities and are more focused on restoring the pangolins’ habitat and making more creative use of conservation technologies,” Li noted.

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SOURCE Global Times

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Shandong Jining: Achieve full coverage of green power and green certificate services

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JINING, China, Nov. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — State Grid Jining Power Supply Co. and Jining City Energy Bureau have recently established a green power green certificate service centre, with 14 county-level green power green certificate service stations already operational. This is the first instance in the province of a municipal power supply company achieving comprehensive green power green certificate service coverage.

State Grid Jining Power Supply Company attaches great importance to the green power ‘green certificate’ market-oriented trading services. By inviting experts from Shandong Power Trading Centre to give lectures and guidance, preparing green power green certificate publicity materials, news releases, short videos, business window publicity, customer visits and other channels, it promotes green power consumption by market players.

The establishment of the Jining Green Power Green Certificate Service Centre represents a significant step forward in the promotion of Green Power and the energy consumption revolution in Jining. The Jining Green Power Green Certificate Service Centre is dedicated to offering comprehensive green power green certificate services to a broad customer base. These include policy consultation, bill interpretation, transaction assistance and other services. The aim is to enhance understanding of green power green certificate policy among enterprises, facilitate active participation in green power green certificate transactions and drive the growth of green power consumption and the green certificate transaction market. This will inject new vitality into the local economy’s low-carbon transformation and green development.

The next step for State Grid Jining Power Supply Company is to leverage the establishment of the Green Power Green Certificate Service Centre to capitalise on its own strengths, facilitate collaboration with all relevant parties, and act as a conduit for communication between the government, enterprises, and power trading institutions. This will help to drive the development of a robust green power market system in Jining City.

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SOURCE State Grid Jining Power Supply Company

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