Government Procurement articles from April 2008

Government Procurement archives from April 2008

The future's so bright ... In the 1980s, the band Timbuk3 had a hit single called "the future's so bright, I gotta wear shades." In your view of the future, are you wearing sunglasses?(CABLE VISION)
April 1, 2008... Whether you're lying awake in the middle of the night sweating about tomorrow's workload or daydreaming about all the fun things that you'd like to do on your upcoming vacation, it's hard not to think about the future. [ILLUSTRATION...

Column worked for reader.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2008... I enjoyed reading your article, "Make paper work for you" [Frederick Marks, December 2007], and am still astounded by how long it takes to bring about the long-awaited paperless revolution. It is astounding how much bureaucracy is inherent...

More kudos for marks.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2008... Nice article ["Maker paper work for you," Frederick Marks, December 2007], and right on track! You did some nice research, too. We've been trying this approach for some time, but ofttimes with new ERPs and "best business practices," we find...

Keep an open mind about global warming.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2008... Thank you for your article asking "Inconvenient Questions" [Josh Cable, February 2008]. As we work to improve the environment, I believe it is important to keep an open mind to all scientists and their views. It is important not to get swayed...

GAO report: P-card waste, abuse rampant: federal employees bought booze and iPods, subscribed to Internet dating.(NEWS)
April 1, 2008... A report issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) calls for stronger internal controls over purchase card transactions initiated by federal employees. The GAO report analyzed governmentwide purchase card programs to...

Survey: few expect cutbacks in state, local procurement.(NEWS)
April 1, 2008... Despite a sputtering economy and projected local budget shortfalls, 80 percent of government purchasing officials plan to maintain or increase spending activity in 2008 compared with 2007, according to the findings of a recent Onvia survey. ...

Fleet managers urged to develop business plans: expert offers strategies to manage fuel costs, avoid 'fleet creep'.(FLEET BEAT)
April 1, 2008... State and municipal fleet management has become a complicated business. But the strategies for running an efficient and effective fleet operation don't have to be. Having a formal business plan, providing adequate training for fleet...

Ford adds flex-fuel vehicles.(BRIEFS)
April 1, 2008... Ford Motor Co. announced that it is adding three vehicles to its E-85 flexible-fuel vehicle lineup for the 2009 model year: the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator full-size SUVs and the Ford E-series full-size van and wagon. According...

Electric vehicle for inspector.(BRIEFS)
April 1, 2008... In keeping with its Green Fleet Policy--which calls on city officials to choose vehicles that can meet the demands of each job while having a minimal impact on the environment--the city of Olympia, Wash., recently purchased an electric vehicle...

Toyota to donate hybrids.(BRIEFS)
April 1, 2008... As part of an agreement between Toyota and the Twin Cities, the parks and recreation departments in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn., each will receive 10 leased Toyota vehicles--six of them hybrid--and a total of $300,000 from Toyota over the...

The future of procurement: Government Procurement talked to a number of analysts and experts to gain some insight into what the future might hold for the profession.(Cover story)
April 1, 2008... There will be minimal overall employment growth for the public-sector procurement profession during the next decade. However, the impending retirement of baby boomers in the profession will prompt many agencies to post "help wanted" signs--but...

Don't let volatility in raw material markets get you raw: by taking some creative liberties with a price-modeling process found in a book, a California Municipal Utility District figured out how to make fair and effective price adjustments based on fluctuating raw material costs over the life of a multiyear contract.(CONTRACTS)
April 1, 2008... For the most part, public-sector procurement departments have a good handle on creating long-term contracts to support ongoing purchase transactions for materials and supplies. The problem in recent years has been finding vendors that are...

Why ISO should be on your radar: ISO 9001 is not just an industrial standard. In fact, it can help public procurement professionals make smart choices in today's marketplace.(STRATEGIC SOURCING)(Company overview)
April 1, 2008... A fundamental role of public-sector procurement is selecting vendors and contractors that will deliver quality, reliability and integrity. In today's unpredictable and dynamic marketplace, ISO 9001 certification is one way to help ensure that...

Cooperative contracts steer savings: how public-sector fleets can reduce procurement time, cut costs and stretch budgets.(COOPERATIVE PROCUREMENT)
April 1, 2008... Once known as "piggybacking," cooperative procurement is a public purchasing method that has skyrocketed in popularity within recent years. With the method, if a single government agency has completed required steps of the procurement (bid)...

After a successful kidney transplant, former drummer hasn't missed a beat.(PROFILES IN PROCUREMENT)
April 1, 2008... With a friendly handshake and engaging smile, Keith Ashby welcomed each participant on the first morning of class. During the three-day session on managing the request-for-proposal (RFP) process, Ashby's teaching style struck a chord with the...

Advanced chemical detectors will protect U.S. troops.(CONTRACTS)
April 1, 2008... To provide the chemical detectors, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) awarded a $23.8 million contract option to the military unit of Smiths Detection, based in Edgewood, Md. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Smiths Detection will supply the...

GSA awards SmartPay 2 contract to Citibank.(CONTRACTS)
April 1, 2008... The U.S. General Services Administration's (GSA) Office of the Chief Financial Officer has selected Citibank to provide purchase and travel card services under the agency's SmartPay 2 program. According to the agency, the 10-year contract...

Pentagon contract targets uniforms for employees.(CONTRACTS)
April 1, 2008... The Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA), which defends the Pentagon's personnel, facilities and infrastructure against outside threats, has awarded Virginia Beach, Va.- based Atlantic Diving Supply Inc. (ADS) a multimillion-dollar contract...

Online course helps small businesses tap contracts.(CONTRACTS)
April 1, 2008... The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has launched a free online training course that provides small and minority-owned businesses with the tools they need to obtain federal contracts. Called "Business Opportunities: A Guide to...

Cruise around town in an electric car.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2008... Model REV-AC60-EV2D electric car features front-wheel drive, manual five-speed transmission and power-assisted steering. Reaches top speed of 60 mph (car comes programmed not to exceed state's maximum allowable speed limit for neighborhood...

Advanced technology lets one engine run on various fuels.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2008... FlexDI technology allows an engine to burn various fuels, while requiring only minor hardware and calibration changes to the engine. To meet the military's one-fuel policy, the technology has been appliedapplied to military outboard, ATV and...

Common-rail systems empower diesel engines with fuel efficiency.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2008... Common-rail systems for cars inject diesel engines with a range of environmental and operating benefits over gasoline-powered vehicles. According to the company, the technology delivers a powertrain solution solution that can improve fuel...

Travel with a hybrid truck that includes various compartments.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2008... Business Class M2e Hybrid drop-frame truck is ideal for hauling and delivering heavy loads in urban settings or for transporting utility crews and equipment. The Class 6 vehicle features a hybrid electric system, which couples a diesel engine...

Order a full-size van with flexible-fuel powertrain and receive EPACT credits.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2008... According to the company, 2009 E-series Econoline van will be the first over-8,500-lb. full-size van to provide E-85 capability and also the first full-size van to offer two V-8 engine alternatives with E-85 capability--a 4.6 and 5.4 L....

State of Michigan launches LED lighting project to save energy.(GREEN NEWS)
April 1, 2008... Over the next four years, LED replacement lighting for fluorescent tubes will be installed in the state's Escanaba office building. To provide and install the lighting, as well as collect research data about lighting results, the state...

DOE awards grants to develop bio-based fuel.(GREEN NEWS)
April 1, 2008... The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded four grants under a $33.8 million program for the development of enzyme systems to be used in converting biomass into cellulosic ethanol. The grants will build on President George W. Bush's...

NIGP furthers green forum.(RESOURCES)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... The National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) recently launched a Green Knowledge Community to unite experts and practitioners in the field of environmentally responsible procurement. By participating in the community's forums,...

NACo adds green database.(RESOURCES)
April 1, 2008... Earlier this year, the National Association of Counties (NACo) unveiled a searchable database of county programs, policies, plans and other resources to support its Green Government Initiative. Users can search the database for information...

Guide covers Green Power.(RESOURCES)
April 1, 2008... The Responsible Purchasing Network released a new resource, the "Responsible Purchasing Guide for Green Power." The guide provides comprehensive information for procuring and comparing green energy, plus includes contract specifications and an...

Keep track of information: how you deal with information speaks volumes about the way you do business.(MARKS ON INFORMATION)
April 1, 2008... It's time for a realistic approach to information management. This is not an article about IT or techie stuff. I'll leave that for greater minds. It's about common sense. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I am reliably informed that vendors work,...

Wireless monitoring system.(BRIEFS)
April 1, 2008... To keep track of its light and water service vehicles, the city of Seneca, S.C., signed a threeyear contract with AT&T to deploy the company's Mobile Resource Management (MRM) service for vehicle tracking. The MRM service will enable city...