Government Procurement articles from April 2006

Government Procurement archives from April 2006

The Human Services Agency of San Mateo County, CA, is using Stellent Universal Content Management, developed by Stellent, Inc., to improve client service, reduce operational costs, and maintain compliance with government regulations.(CONTRACTS)
April 1, 2006... The Human Services Agency of San Mateo County, CA, is using Stellent Universal Content Management, developed by Stellent, Inc., to improve client service, reduce operational costs, and maintain compliance with government regulations. Through...

Maximus announced that the States of Indiana, Maine, Minnesota, and Washington have signed contracts to implement the company's FleetFocus software.(CONTRACTS)
April 1, 2006... Maximus announced that the States of Indiana, Maine, Minnesota, and Washington have signed contracts to implement the company's FleetFocus software. The software helps agencies track fuel, vehicle maintenance or reservations, and other fleet...

FedBid, Inc.(GSA CONTRACTS)
April 1, 2006... FedBid, Inc., has won a five-year contract to provide online reverse-auction services to the GSA and agencies eligible to use GSA Sources of Supply and Services. The award is listed under GSA Schedule 70, contract number GS-35F-0752R.

Knox Co.(GSA CONTRACTS)
April 1, 2006... A Federal Supply Schedule contract was awarded to Knox Co. for high-security access products, ranging from key boxes to padlocks. The award is listed on Schedule 84, under contract number GS-07F-9167S.

Calculator validates savings.(FRISCH FINDINGS)
April 1, 2006... The combination of taxpayers' demands for a more efficient government, a shrinking government workforce, and years of budget shortfalls forced many entities to revise procurement operations. The results are in, and all levels of government are...

Ad sourcing reaps harvest of state savings.(SOURCING IN THE STATES)
April 1, 2006... While a number of stories have been written in recent months about strategic sourcing at the abstract level, few provide the tactics involved in sourcing a specific commodity. "Sourcing in the States", a Government Procurement column by...

The ten commandments of ethical government purchasing.(ETHICS)
April 1, 2006... We are bombarded these days by news stories, radio rants, and talking heads decrying corruption in government: nobid contracts, insider deals, and allegations of kickbacks large and small. Politicians of every stripe are spinning, posturing,...

GSA cleans up its buildings and the environment; the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) continues transition to green cleaners.
April 1, 2006... The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) manages 179 million square feet of real estate. With 1,800 buildings throughout the United States, GSA is, in many ways, the federal government's landlord. Like many landlords throughout North...

Purchasing Network offers renewable energy purchasing assistance.(GREEN NEWS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The Responsible Purchasing Network (RPN), a project of the Center for a New American Dream, helps institutions incorporate environmental, human health, and social justice considerations into their purchasing decisions. RPN promotes responsible...

California launches new Green Web site.(GREEN NEWS)
April 1, 2006... Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration recently launched a new "Green California" Web site. The site provides resources to help state and local government agencies as well as businesses become more environmentally sustainable and...

Federal agencies sign sustainable buildings MOU.(memorandum of understanding)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... A first-of-its-kind Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by 17 Federal agencies and the Executive Office of the President on leadership in the design, construction, and operation of High-Performance and Sustainable Buildings. The MOU, a...

NJ mandates green cleaners.(Richard J. Codey orders usage environmen-friendly cleaning products)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... New Jersey 's Governor Richard J. Codey signed an executive order that requires state agencies to switch to cleaning products that are safer for human health and the environment. The order also encourages counties, municipalities, and school...

Air Force tops EPA's list of Green Power purchasers.(GREEN NEWS)
April 1, 2006... The U.S. EPA released its latest Green Power Top 25 list, which highlights institutions that have purchased the most renewable energy as members of its voluntary Green Power Partnership. The U.S. Air Force tops the list with their annual...

Procurement professionals get their kicks! The National Purchasing Institute (NPI) travels to Tucson, AZ, for networking, educational opportunities, and fun in the Southern Arizona sun!(NPI)
April 1, 2006... The City of Tucson, AZ, is proud to host the National Purchasing Institute's (NPI) 38th Annual National Conference & Products Exposition in conjunction with the 11th Annual Achievement of Excellence in Procurement (AEP) Awards. The event will...

Take a long, hard look at ROI from RFID.(return on investment)
April 1, 2006... A quote from the great Albert Einstein makes a good analogy for the struggle government entities and their supply chains are having with RFID: "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." To...

County turns to eBay.(St. Louis County, Minnesota)
April 1, 2006... St. Louis County, MN, first tested e-commerce a few months ago. County purchasing director Dick Florey says the county unloaded surplus equipment through an online site instead of holding a local public auction. "We initiated a pilot...

GSA delivers FAS organizational plan for congressional review.(General Services Administration)(Federal Acquisition Service)
April 1, 2006... The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has delivered to Congress its plan for the proposed Federal Acquisition Service (FAS), a merger of the Federal Supply Service and the Federal Technology Service. The plan was delivered to leaders...

Federal IT set-aside awards to exceed $20 billion in FY06.(Information technology)(fiscal year)
April 1, 2006... Set-aside awards in Fiscal Year 2006 (FY06) are anticipated to total more than $20 billion in cumulative value, according to a report released by INPUT, a provider of government business information. INPUT anticipates more than $14 billion in...

GAO forum focuses on supplier base issues in the 21st century.(NEWS)
April 1, 2006... The Government Accountability Office (GAO) sponsored a one-day forum in October 2005 when defense policy experts from federal agencies, defense industry, nonprofit organizations, and academia shared insight into the current supplier-base...

P-Card provider enhances merchant data reporting.(MasterCard International Inc.'s purchasing card programs)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... MasterCard International has made further improvements to its Enhanced Merchant Data Reporting system (EMR), an online merchant reporting tool for purchasing card programs. In addition to providing online access to all purchasing card...

State passes nation's most comprehensive electronics recycling law.(NEWS)
April 1, 2006... Washington became the first state to require manufacturers to fully finance and organize the collection, transportation, and recycling of their electronic products at no charge to consumers. Products covered include televisions, computers, and...

Sourcing software serves SD Board of Regents.(South Dakota)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The South Dakota Board of Regents, which includes six public universities and two schools serving special K-12 populations, recently implemented sourcing software. In the first month of implementation, the group hosted over 120 solicitations...

Funding options harvest savings, efficiencies, and new opportunities.(RESOURCES)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... A new thought leadership paper, produced by the Center for Digital Government and underwritten by Hyland Software, NIC, Noki, and SAP, advises government administrators and decision-makers how to make the right choices about information...

Conference to focus on globalization's impact on government and IT.(RESOURCES)
April 1, 2006... The American Council for Technology (ACT) announced the keynote speaker line up and theme for its upcoming 2006 Management of Change Conference (MOC). In response to the current trend of economic globalization and its impact on government and...

University launches online school of public policy and administration.(RESOURCES)
April 1, 2006... Walden University, an accredited online institution, and its new School of Public Policy and Administration are taking several steps to help to prepare new leaders in the governmental and non-profit sectors with a graduate school in public...

New online applications allow agencies to collect opinion and comment.(Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... A federal working group with limited staff and funds is partnering with a technology company to enable millions of Americans to voice their opinions on health care reform. To accomplish their mandate under the Medicare Modernization Act...

Study results include steps to achieve small business contract goals.(RESOURCES)
April 1, 2006... Federal policy requires that small businesses receive the "maximum practicable opportunity" for providing goods and services to agencies through prime contracts. A study conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) provides the...

Project management: partnering with procurement.(Cover story)
April 1, 2006... According to the Project Management Institute, project management is "the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to a broad range of activities in order to meet the requirements of the particular project." Beyond that basic...

Strategies for responding to bid protests: by formulating and implementing an integrated response plan, public entities can resolve and reduce the severity of bid protests filed by vendors.(PROTEST MANAGEMENT: PART II)
April 1, 2006... This article is the second of a three-part series on protest management. Find Zeigler's first article, "Preventing Protests," in the February 2006 issue of Government Procurement Journal. To access archived copies of Zeigler's articles,...

Spend analysis: today's tools for tomorrow's savings.(SPEND ANALYSIS)
April 1, 2006... Any business in search of capital has two main options: grow revenues or control costs. For the past few years, the economy has called for the latter as the most viable option. In fact, most agencies have already drained their internal cost...

Single-gas monitors broadcast unmistakable visual and audio alarms.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: safety solutions--protecting government workers)
April 1, 2006... Altair Single-Gas Detectors monitor carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, or oxygen for as long as 2 years on maintenancefree, no-change lithium battery (1,080 alarm minutes or 18 hrs. of service life). Triple alarm system has 2 LEDs, a piercing...

Blast bin mitigates explosions and contains projectile fragments.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: safety solutions--protecting government workers)
April 1, 2006... Isolator Bin can be rapidly deployed by first responders or specialist crews, either manually or robotically using bomb dispersal equipment, to contain suspicious objects in any location, including airports, office buildings, post offices, and...

Smoke hood extends escape time during fires.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: safety solutions--protecting government workers)
April 1, 2006... Evac-U8 Emergency Escape Smoke Hood provides wearers with 15 mins. of respiratory protection during building evacuations caused by smoke, fire, and other emergencies. Small, light, and easy to wear. Heatresistant DuPont Kapton hood protects...

Protect first responders with reflective gear.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: safety solutions--protecting government workers)
April 1, 2006... Highly visible, flame-retardant clothing and accessories for fire, police, EMS, security, and municipal workers protect personnel in hazardous work conditions. Select from a wide inventory of reflective apparel in sizes from XS to 7XL,...

Disposal unit drains, discards aerosol cans.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: safety solutions--protecting government workers)
April 1, 2006... Aerovent 3 aerosol can disposal system boasts durable gaskets, seals, and can housing. Allows cans to be recycled as scrap steel or discarded as trash rather than as hazardous waste. Mount unit on 30- or 55-gal. drum. To operate, insert up to 3...

Barriers keep civilians away from hazards.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: safety solutions--protecting government workers)
April 1, 2006... Color-coded Smart Barrier temporary perimeter system lets first responders and emergency managers quickly isolate a dangerous or threatened area from the general public. Ideal for use at government buildings, border crossings, sites of natural...

Software integrates analog and digital CCTV security systems.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: safety solutions--protecting government workers)
April 1, 2006... Virtual Allegiant Satellite Application (VASA) hybrid Internet Protocol (IP) software enables existing analog components to work with new digital IP-based components. Also supports systems solely employing IP-based CCTV systems. VASA is...

Protect sensors against vandalism.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: safety solutions--protecting government workers)
April 1, 2006... Beam Smoke Damage Stopper STI-9623's wire cage protects DS 240 and DS 241 beam smoke sensor systems against damage from vandalism accidents that can hinder operation. Corrosion-resistant white polyester coats 9-gauge steel wire cage. Installs...

Transportable videoconferencing enables instant communication.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: safety solutions--protecting government workers)
April 1, 2006... Mobile Responder videoconferencing system for first responders, emergency management, homeland security, police, firefighters, human services, educators, and healthcare professionals removes physical barriers to communications in the field....

How a select a "favorite vendor" for contract awards.(PROCUREMENT SATISFACTION)
April 1, 2006... Although the term "favorite vendor" has long been a touchstone phrase, used by both procurement and supplier communities alike, the words are not always said in the best of circumstances. Reasons behind the phrase relate to a serious subject...