Government Procurement articles from April 2005

Government Procurement archives from April 2005

Printed on recycled paper.(FRISCH FINDINGS)
April 1, 2005... A "Community Focus Program" has begun in the Cleveland. OH. offices of Penton Media. The project gives employees an opportunity to display exactly what they do for a living on the wall outside of their office space. "It's a chance for us to...

What performance-based contracting really means for procurement goals.(CONTRACTS)(Cover Story)
April 1, 2005... With a General Services Administration (GSA) goal of 50 percent performance-based contract awards in 2005, and a similar goal from the Defense Department for 2006, the writing is on the wall. Whether we choose to wholeheartedly embrace the...

State of Oregon saves with Smart Buy: strategic sourcing initiative leverages state purchasing power.(STRATEGIC SOURCING)
April 1, 2005... First brought to the table in 2003, Oregon's Smart Buy initiative was introduced as a vehicle to deliver sustainable savings by effectively leveraging the state's purchasing power. After two years, statewide collaboration, and a tremendous...

Buying better copy paper.(the GREEN PURCHASER)
April 1, 2005... Ever since a government employee in China invented paper almost 2,000 years ago, governments have been using paper as the primary means to explain government policies. What more and more governments are beginning to realize, however, is that...

We've come a long way: public procurement has evolved significantly from its humble beginnings.(HISTORY)
April 1, 2005... Today's government procurement professionals account for an estimated 20 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in the United States. In recent years, this has amounted to $1.67 trillion in annual spending in the U.S. and over $114 billion...

Leveraged purchasing power is not just for states: procurement initiative saves tax dollars in Portland, OR.(VENDOR VIEW)
April 1, 2005... As local governments struggle to stretch their budgets, they are also affected by challenges from the federal and state governments. Budget cuts at the federal level continue to reduce aid to state governments. States then pass some of those...

Privatization brings savings to Michigan's State Universities.(PRIVATIZATION)
April 1, 2005... Budget pressure in recent years has forced Michigan's public institutions of higher education toward cost savings and contracting out for services, according to news reports and a recent survey by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. In...

Reorganization plan surges ahead to: streamline federal procurements: sweeping changes to restructure and consolidate the Federal Supply Service (FSS) and Federal Technology Service (FTS) are moving forward at the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).(GSA UPDATE)
April 1, 2005... Serving as the massive purchasing arm of the federal government, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) reaches toward high ideals. The agency strives to fulfill its mission, dedicated "to help federal agencies better serve the public...

Personal monitor alerts emergency workers to on-the-job accidents.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: homeland security)
April 1, 2005... Wireless LifeGuard II personal monitor notifies emergency personnel when a worker becomes immobile or disabled. Worker may likewise trigger device manually to signal an alert to exact location. Palm-sized unit can be worn on worker's person....

Barriers prevent unauthorized parking.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: homeland security)
April 1, 2005... Folding barriers prevent unauthorized parking in reserved spaces. Steel triple leg model measures 16 ins. high and 30 ins. wide. Lowers to height of 2 ins. Retractable triangle model measures 25 1/2 ins. high and 31 ins. wide. Lowers to height...

Interactive training program perfects police performance.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: homeland security)
April 1, 2005... Range 3000 XP4 use-of-force training program duplicates potential scenarios law enforcement officers and homeland security officials may face. Comes with more than 100 scenarios, which branch indefinitely based on trainee's actions. Government...

Retracting Tethers keep handguns at hand in any critical circumstance.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: homeland security)
April 1, 2005... Compact Gear-Keeper Firearm Retracting Tethers prevent loss of weapons during tense tactical situations. Sidearm model mounts to wearer's duty belt. Provides full arm's reach when weapon is in use. Tether quickly disconnects when necessary....

Low-profile, wall-mounted units detect intruders.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: homeland security)
April 1, 2005... Plug-in Blue Line Intrusion Detectors provide instant response to humans, yet eliminate most false alarms caused by animals, insects, or drafts. Compensate for temperature variations. Easy-to-mount, 2-piece design includes base with knockouts...

Safety DVD teaches proper inspection of high-voltage panels.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: homeland security)
April 1, 2005... Free DVD describes safe practices for inspecting high-voltage panels. Thermography expert explains risks for arc flash, offers strategies for working with exposed 480-v. panels, and details personal protective equipment requirements. ...

Hiking shoes give slips the boot.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: homeland security)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Lightweight Worx 5370 Steel Toe Hiker features slip- and oil-resistant sole and electrohazard safety rating. Boasts Oil Sizzler Suede with blue or black nylon mesh. Ideal for climbing ladders and scaffolding, and outdoor work. Other styles,...

Gas monitor promotes safety in hazardous environments.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: homeland security)
April 1, 2005... Impact-resistant Gasman personal gas monitor weighs less than 5 oz. When a hazardous gas is detected, unit alerts user by vibrating, sounding a 95-dB. alarm and flashing bright red/blue light. Fits into pocket or clips onto belt. Features...

Continuously keep track of chemicals in the air.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: homeland security)
April 1, 2005... AM Air Monitoring System detects, identifies, and measures a wide range of compounds simultaneously within secs. of startup. Provides continuous, unattended, near-real-time detection at parts per billion levels for hundreds of chemicals. Unit...

Emergency preparedness mask offers wide view and fits any size face.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: homeland security)
April 1, 2005... Panorama Series masks feature triple-sealed edge for comfortable fit on any size face. Offer wide field of vision and easy communication. Centrally located cartridge connection allows user to move freely and bring needed equipment close to the...

County contract paves the way for expanded hybrid use.(NEWS)
April 1, 2005... King County, WA, is taking a big step forward in educing greenhouse gases by initiating two and mark hybrid vehicle contracts. The contacts open purchasing power to area jurisdictions, adding several new communities to the growing list of U.S....

NPI selects Tucson for 2006 conference.(NEWS)
April 1, 2005... The National Purchasing Institute (NPI) announces the selection of Tucson, AZ, for the 38th Annual National Conference and Products Exposition and the 11th Annual Presentation of the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Awards. NPI will...

Procurement's impact on PR services is good and bad, survey says.(NEWS)
April 1, 2005... Marketing and communications professionals at government entities, corporations, and nonprofits find themselves working with procurement departments in choosing their professional agency relationships, which may or may not be a good practice,...

Housing authority to adopt best practices, optimize efficiency.(NEWS)
April 1, 2005... With its "Plan for Transformation," the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) is working to rebuild and modernize the nation's third-largest public housing system. Thanks to a firm commitment from Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and the U.S....

Automaker to provide E85-capable vehicles for use in 28 states.
April 1, 2005... As part of a campaign with the bipartisan Governors' Ethanol Coalition (GEC), General Motors will provide E85-capable Chevrolet Avalanches for use in 28 GEC member states. GM began delivering the ethanol-capable vehicles to recipients in...

County saves, realizes return on investment.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Miami-Dade County's (FL) court system, the fourth-largest traffic court system in the United States with more than 1.5 million drivers, processes more than 750,000 traffic cases each year. Prior to the implementation of electronic access to and...

City protects and serves citizens with emergency preparedness solution.(NEWS)
April 1, 2005... Surrounded by several fault lines and located less than 10 miles from Los Angeles, Glendale, CA, knows that the odds of a major earthquake striking the city, or nearby LA, are high. One of the principal threats of an earthquake is the...

LEEP, Inc.(CONTRACTS with LeepCore)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... LEEP, Inc. announced a $1,131,000 purchase order for its LeepCore structural building material that will be used to construct walls and roofs for five classroom buildings in Baker County, FL. The five buildings will each contain eight...

The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin has purchased 25 licenses of Navigator financial management software from Serenic Corp.(CONTRACTS)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin has purchased 25 licenses of Navigator financial management software from Serenic Corp. "The fund accounting software we had been using was not flexible enought to handle the tribe' s continued growth...

IES Interactive Training.(CONTRACTS)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... IES Interactive Training, provider of use-of-force training products that develop judgment and decision-making skills for law enforcement, military, and government professionals, announced that Massachusetts' Municipal Police Training Committee...

Navistar International Corp. announced that its operating company has won a contract from the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM).(CONTRACTS)
April 1, 2005... Navistar International Corp. announced that its operating company has won a contract from the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) with a potential value of $467 million to provide vehicles needed by the Afghanistan National...

Secure Elements, Inc., a provider of enterprise vulnerability management and remediation, has been selected to provide a vulnerability management solution to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).(CONTRACTS)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Secure Elements, Inc., a provider of enterprise vulnerability management and remediation, has been selected to provide a vulnerability management solution to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Under a five-Year, blanket purchase...

The frenzied finale.(COMMON SENSE)
April 1, 2005... Maintain your composure as the fiscal year winds down. Despite the best-laid plans and promises from management and users alike to avoid last-minute panic spending, here it comes: the onslaught of requisitions and major projects that must be...