Government Procurement articles from August 2007

Government Procurement archives from August 2007

The perception gap.(CABLE VISION)(Editorial)
August 1, 2007... I can't think of a better place to write my inaugural editor's note than at the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing's (NIGP) 62nd Annual Forum and Products Exposition in Hartford, Conn. While my schedule only allowed me to attend two...

Comptroller: federal government must address acquisition challenges.(NEWS)
August 1, 2007... Testifying at a Senate committee hearing, Comptroller General David Walker painted a disturbing picture of the federal government's buying practices and urged the government "to seek the best return it can on its investment in goods and...

Contracting officer arrested.(BRIEFS)
August 1, 2007... An Army major, his wife and his sister were arrested on bribery, money laundering and conspiracy charges. According to the Justice Department, Maj. John Cockerham allegedly accepted millions of dollars in bribes from contractors who had Defense...

Nevada design/build contract.(BRIEFS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... As part of Nevada's first design/build highway contract, Englewood, Colo.-based CH2M Hill and Las Vegas Paving Corp. are teaming up as North Corridor Constructors to widen and improve the Interstate 15 north corridor in Las Vegas. Nevada Gov....

Vehicle tracking system.(BRIEFS)
August 1, 2007... A vehicle inventory tracking system developed by CIBER Inc. for the Tarrant County, Texas, Tax Office won the National Association of Counties' 2007 Achievement Award. CIBER designed, built, implemented and integrated the motor vehicle...

Report: EPEAT computers reduce greenhouse gases.(GREEN NEWS)
August 1, 2007... A report by the Green Electronics Council concludes that the purchase of more than 36.6 million EPEAT-registered desktop and laptop computers and monitors in 2006 has led to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. ...

Air Force is Top Green Power Purchaser.(GREEN NEWS)
August 1, 2007... Among public entities in the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) most recent Top Green Power Purchasers list, the Air Force flexes the largest green purchasing muscle - purchasing 457.5 million kilowatt-hours of green power per year,...

Chart the Course for NPI - and Gain a Fresh Perspective.(PREVIEW)(National Purchasing Institute)(Calendar)
August 1, 2007... The National Purchasing Institute (NPI) invites you to gain a fresh perspective at its 39th Annual National Conference and Products Exposition, and what better place to gain a fresh perspective than the home of the 4D Special FX Theater? ...

GSA purchases hybrid sedans for federal fleet.(FLEET BEAT)
August 1, 2007... To bolster its inventory of fuel-efficient vehicles, the General Services Administration (GSA) recently purchased 55 Saturn Aura Green Line hybrid sedans. According to GSA, the hybrids will be used by the military and six other federal...

Oklahoma Biofuels Conference looks 'beyond corn'.(FLEET BEAT)(Conference news)
August 1, 2007... Discussing the viability of alternative fuel sources other than corn is the goal of GROW: the Oklahoma Biofuels Conference, which will be held Oct. 16-17 in Oklahoma City. Topics on the agenda will include the growth in the U.S. biofuels...

Dept. of Energy taps Ford.(BRIEFS)
August 1, 2007... The Department of Energy (DOE) has selected Ford Motor Co. to conduct research that will focus on improving flexible-fuel engines capable of running on E85 and clean combustion diesel engines. DOE awarded Ford two grants - totaling up to $4.5...

Missouri DOT selects CCG.(BRIEFS)
August 1, 2007... The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has selected the FASTER Fleet Management System - made by Norfolk, Va.-based CCG Systems Inc. - through a request for proposal (RFP) issued by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission...

Toyota to test Plug-in HV.(BRIEFS)
August 1, 2007... Toyota announced that the Japanese government has approved its plug-in hybrid vehicle - dubbed the Plug-in HV - for testing on public roads in Japan. Toyota said that it plans to test eight Plug-in HVs in Japan "to verify electric-motor-only...

Utah and Wisconsin set pace for investment in mobility technologies.(IT PROCUREMENT)
August 1, 2007... An assessment of public-sector purchasing behavior identifies Utah and Wisconsin as the "lead investors" in mobility technologies such as laptop computers and BlackBerrys. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] According to Vernon Hills, Ill.-based...

The purchasing agent as a change agent: as purchasing agents, we are called upon to both represent our entities and make decisions that are in our entities' best interests. But we also need to realize that we are uniquely positioned within our agencies to facilitate and encourage certain types of change.(PROCUREMENT EMPOWERMENT)
August 1, 2007... One of the first things that we learn as new purchasing professionals is that we are empowered to act as agents for the entities that we represent. The law of agency means that we are empowered to legally represent our entities and to enter...

Green light for green vehicles: government purchasers are working hard to pave acceptance for more environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional gasoline-powered vehicles.(THE GREEN PURCHASER)
August 1, 2007... The government vehicles on the road today soon will seem as quaint as the horse and buggy. Government purchasers and fleet managers are leading a quiet revolution to bring more environmentally friendly vehicles into government fleets. In an...

Practical tips in an uncontrollable environment: at this point, it's unlikely that you'll see a nationwide drop in oil prices. But a few simple tactics employed in your everyday supply management process can help you reduce risk, lower cost and ensure supply in your own processes.(SUPPLY MANAGEMENT)
August 1, 2007... If the news that oil prices are at an all-time high seems like the same old story, you're I right. And market factors suggest that fuel prices--as well as various other commodity prices--will remain high for years to come. Oil supplies to...

Managing in 3-D: data, diversity and dollars: when it comes to meeting diversity mandates, it is possible to gather legally defensible data without risking budgetary breakdown.(DIVERSITY)
August 1, 2007... High on the list of anxiety-producing issues for government officials is ensuring that disadvantaged subcontractors meet federal and local diversity mandates. No less important is the guarantee that subcontractors accurately reflect the...

SSA taps Nortel.(CONTRACTS)
August 1, 2007... The Social Security Administration (SSA) has awarded a 10-year contract for the agency's Telephone Systems Replacement Project to a team led by Nortel Government Solutions. The contract--valued at up to $300 million--calls for replacement...

TSA contracts.(CONTRACTS)
August 1, 2007... The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has awarded $1.4 million in initial contracts to L3 Communications, Smiths Detection and Rapiscan Systems for use of the companies' advance-technology (AT) X-ray machines in airports. TSA...

Saving in the secondary market: for budget-conscious procurement officers, pre-owned, refurbished IT equipment is a cost-effective alternative.(IT PROCUREMENT)
August 1, 2007... When buying something used--be it sporting equipment, a car or electronics--most of us want the best products at the most affordable price tag. It's no different for a government agency with its networking and telecom equipment. However,...

Polyurethane liquid pumps up tires to fortify military vehicles.(FLEET MAINTENANCE)
August 1, 2007... SuperFlex TV polyurethane fill material, consisting of a polyurethane liquid, helps tires resist punctures from shrapnel, battle debris, and other hazardous conditions. Eliminates flat tires, blowouts, and resulting downtime, while maintaining...

Hydraulic, portable lift raises a range of vehicles for servicing.(FLEET MAINTENANCE)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Four-column Model HP415 boasts a total lifting capacity of 60,000 lbs. (15,000 lbs. per column) to raise trucks, buses, and other heavy vehicles. Elevates vehicle for convenient servicing of components underneath chassis, such as diesel...

Identify refrigerants in vehicle's air-conditioning system.(FLEET MAINTENANCE)
August 1, 2007... Use Ultima ID Refrigerant Identifier in automotive shops when servicing vehicles. Consists of a lightweight testing device that combines refrigerant gas analysis technology with software. Analyzes a variety of refrigerant substitutes, including...

Ten secrets to being a successful manager.(MARKS ON MANAGEMENT)
August 1, 2007... If you spend any amount of time in airport shops or large chain bookstores, you will quickly discover that the largest growth industry in the United States (and on some distant planets) is writing "how-to" management books. [ILLUSTRATION...