Government Procurement articles from April 2009

Government Procurement archives from April 2009

Inflation nation.(FROM THE EDITOR)
April 1, 2009... How much does a balloon have to blow up before it pops? Americans should know since we are experts at pushing the limits, which is a good thing under the right circumstances. Certainly, by the end of World War II, our hard work and innovation...

Stimulus: who are the watchdogs?(THE BIG PICTURE)
April 1, 2009... We believe that there are three inter-related components for preventing waste and fraud as stimulus dollars are distributed to state and local governments through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA): * Ensure that current...

Open Book Texas a window on state spending.(COMMODITY CODING)
April 1, 2009... When Susan Combs took office as Texas State Comptroller of Public Accounts in January 2007, she posed a seemingly simple question: "Where does all the money go?" Firmly believing that government must be fully accountable to the people it...

Parenting your P-card program: support, discipline and proper guidance create a successful independent P-card program for your agency.(TECH SPOTIGHT)
April 1, 2009... You have probably never thought of your purchasing card program in these terms, but a good P-card program is akin to a good parent-child relationship. The rewards are tremendous for a successful program, but it requires a strong foundation,...

School districts capitalize on the use of joint purchasing opportunities.(IN THE KNOW)
April 1, 2009... In this slow economy, school districts across the nation are experiencing budget reductions, and procurement professionals are considering whether the public would be better served through joint purchasing efforts. Joint purchasing agreements...

Hennepin County takes green housing a big step forward.(GREEN PURCHASING)
April 1, 2009... Every city has them--empty boarded houses, vacant, unkempt lots and deteriorating businesses. They are eyesores to the community, blights on neighborhoods and the forerunner of community decay. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Every year,...

Show preview NIGP Forum 2009.(FORUM PREVIEW)(National Institute of Governmental Purchasing)
April 1, 2009... North America's government purchasing professionals will be gathering for the 64th annual Forum and Products Exposition hosted by the Herndon, Va.-based National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP). The event, which is being held at the...

Teaming up for discounts: an important procurement tool for decades, cooperative purchasing may be more important than ever in today's economy.(COOPERATIVE PURCHASING)
April 1, 2009... Judy Meisel is passionate about cooperative purchasing. As purchasing manager for Olathe, Kan., and a long-time buyer, Meisel sees cooperative purchasing as a powerful cost- and time-saving tool for public-sector procurement professionals. ...

Seat at the table: stimulus funds are a two-edged sword: they can elevate the role of procurement professionals or reinforce bad stereotypes.(SOURCING THE STATES)
April 1, 2009... For years, procurement officials have bemoaned--with ample justification--the diminished role they play within state and local governments. There is widespread belief that the acquisition community is not given the level of respect by...

Polishing the Energy Star shine: how government purchasers can improve one of the world's most important eco-labels.(GREEN PURCHASING)
April 1, 2009... The U.S. government's Energy Star label is one of the most recognized environmental labels in North America. More than 77 percent of government purchasers and 70 percent of consumers recognize Energy Star and use it to buy energy-efficient...

New NIGP members February-March 2009.(MEMBERS)(National Institute of Governmental Purchasing)
April 1, 2009... Your efforts and membership have contributed to NIGP's legacy... building a world in which public procurement practitioners are highly regarded members of a respected professional order. Established in 1944, NIGP is an international...

Courses.(CALENDAR OF EVENTS)(Calendar)
April 1, 2009... May [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Contract Administration Date: May 11-13 Location: Ocala, Fla. Instructor: Mark D.Hutchison, CPPO, CPPB, C.P.M. Hosted by: Florida Association of Public Purchasing Officers, Inc. Registration...

Chapter conferences.(CALENDAR OF EVENTS)(Brief article)(Calendar)
April 1, 2009... Carolinas Association of Governmental Purchasing 53rd Annual Government Purchasing School and Conference Date: May 4-6 Location: New Bern, N.C. Carolinas Association of Governmental Purchasing Chapter of NIGP Registration contact:...

Webinars.(CALENDAR OF EVENTS)(Brief article)(Calendar)
April 1, 2009... May Emergency Management Series Session III: Crisis Response and the Purchasing Professional's Role Date: May 7 Dealing with Difficult Vendors, End Users, and Annoying People Date: May 14 Performance Measurement 1, 2, 3...

Marks on accountability.
April 1, 2009... It's time for a fresh look at accountability. It's a leadership term and should not be used to fix blame for a failure. Fixing blame limits our perspective and pushes away our professional responsibilities. Accountability is the backbone of the...

Playground basketball.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... The manufacturer offers a selection of basketball systems on gooseneck poles. Pole sizes include 3 1/2 inches, 4 1/2 inches and 5 9/16 inches. Backboard options are fan-shaped and rectangular in aluminum, steel, polyethylene or clear...

Practice cage.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... The Pro-Cage features the heavy-duty net of the company's PowerCage and the steel frame of the Par-Cage. Designed for year-round use indoors or outdoors, the height-adjustable cage comes in a standard size of 10 feet high by 10 feet deep by 10...

Profundities.(BACK PAGES)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... ACROSS [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1. Rules to prevent unauthorized purchases 5. Performance measurement 9. Car ID 10. Type of card 11. Precise descriptions of the physical and functional aspects of a product 12....