Government Procurement articles from February 2003

Government Procurement archives from February 2003

Strategic computing. (Frisch Findings).
February 1, 2003... With strategic partnerships on the rise, single-source alliances have proven to benefit both public-sector buyers and suppliers--especially in the information systems (IS) market. Partnerships bring standardization and coordination to IS...

Cooperative contracts: boost purchasing power. (Cooperative Contracts)(Cover Story).(Tarrant County Cooperative Purchasing Group, Texas)
February 1, 2003... Cooperative purchasing programs can vary as widely as the products that government agencies buy, but their common goal is to stretch taxpayer dollars by purchasing large amounts of the same item, at the same time, on one contract. Vendors'...

Going `green' pays off: sustainable design certification benefits people, the environment, and the bottom line. (Sustainable Design).(General Services Administration adopts Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design system)
February 1, 2003... More and more municipalities and government agencies are demanding "green" buildings. In this case, green refers to meaningful strategies for sustainable facility design that encompass all phases of building design, construction, operation, and...

Defending taxpayer dollars. (Reverse Auctions).(U.S. Navy's Naval Inventory Control Point)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Department of Defense, like all federal government agencies, is under increasing pressure to improve efficiency, cut costs, and garner maximum utility from every taxpayer dollar. Technology is a major facilitator of these objectives. ...

GSA: proving that procurement reform works. (Procurement Reform).(General Services Administration )
February 1, 2003... A sure sign that you're doing something right in Washington is when people start sniping and taking potshots at your success. Criticism, not imitation, is often Washington's sincerest form of flattery. By this standard, alone, it should be...

Zero-emission, neighborhood electric vehicle travels 50 miles on single charge. (Product Spotlight).(Cargo Express and 4-passenger Commuter LX Neighborhood Electric Vehicles)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
February 1, 2003... Cargo Express (pictured) and 4-passenger Commuter LX Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs) qualify as California zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). Require standard 110-v. household electrical outlet to recharge onboard batteries. For added user...

Streetcar delivers riders in turn-of-the-century style. (Product Spotlight).(American Heritage Streetcar)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
February 1, 2003... American Heritage Streetcar operates on choice of propane, natural gas, or diesel fuels. Boasts style of 19th-century streetcars. Features mahogany seats, brass handrails and stanchions, leather grab straps, and heater and air conditioner....

Tough truck takes on alternative to gasoline. (Product Spotlight).(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
February 1, 2003... Sierra heavy-duty pickup can be fitted to run on only compressed natural gas (CNG) or both CNG and gasoline. Lightweight CNG tank maximizes available payload capacity. Vehicle comes in 3/4- and 1-ton models. Engine delivers up to 300 hp....

Refuel natural gas vehicles in any garage. (Product Spotlight).(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
February 1, 2003... Maintenance-free Phill natural gas vehicle home refueling appliance is designed to increase acceptance and use of natural gas-powered commuter vehicles, including Honda's Civic GX. Install unit in garage or outdoors. Works with 3,000- and...

Airport purchasing embarks on unified course: under the formation of a cooperative alliance, the Airport Purchasing Group (APG) provides a runway for procurement efficiency. (Meet The Pros).
February 1, 2003... The flight plan of the Airport Purchasing Group (APG) is relatively simple. By banding together, airport purchasing professionals can share knowledge and streamline methods to cut costs. "Our focus is on sharing information to help each...

Report finds digitized supply chain reduces costs, adds efficiencies. (News).(IBM Endowment for The Business of Government report)
February 1, 2003... The federal government can save money and streamline operations by substantially reforming the supply chain that consists of procuring goods, paying for them, and delivering them to users, according to a new report from the IBM Endowment for...

Companies team up for government subcontracting opportunities. (News).(Subcontract.com, Inc. contract with Onvia.com, Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Subcontract.com, Inc., a business-to-business staffing exchange, has signed an agreement with Onvia.com, Inc., which helps government agencies find suppliers online and businesses secure government contracts, to share government contracts. ...

Outsourcing pioneer jobs out IT services, systems, and administration. (News).(SchlumbergerSema contract with Dallas County, Texas)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Dallas County, TX, has recently outsourced support of information technology (IT) services and systems, application administration and enhancements, as well as consulting services. As the county's technology advisor, SchlumbergerSema will...

Cooperation successfully drives transportation. (News).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... St. Charles County--collar county to St. Louis, MO, and among the top two percent of the fastest-growing areas in the United States--has been a model for innovative and efficient local funding methods to finance transportation projects. A...

March is purchasing month. (News).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... March is Purchasing Month and in light of current budget shortfalls, there has never been a better time to highlight the impact of public procurement savings in relation to governmental spending. Research has proven time and again that educated...

Find mercury content in a wide variety of products. (Resources).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... From lamps to medical supplies, products that American businesses and government agencies rely on can contain mercury. The National Wildlife Federation's (NWF) Mercury Products Guide gives procurement officials the latest information on...

Facilities conference to include Sustainable Design Track for `green' buildings. (Resources).(National Facilities Management and Technology )(Brief Article)(Calendar)
February 1, 2003... National Facilities Management and Technology (NFM&T) Conference/Exposition's Sustainable Design Track offers 11 sessions, including LEED for Existing Buildings, Sustainable Development at the Pentagon, case histories, and more. The...

Performance appraisal time? Book assists managers with key phrases. (Resources).("Effective Phrases for Performance Appraisal" )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... It's performance appraisal time and you are already dreading the task. In today's employment climate, precisely written reviews are critical. To assist managers, the 25th anniversary, 10th edition of "Effective Phrases for Performance...

Video showcases green procurement possibilities. (Resources).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... With assistance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program, the City of Santa Monica, CA, has produced an 8-min. video documenting the benefits of environmentally preferable purchasing...

Looking to lower total cost of ownership for computer equipment? (Resources).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... RetroBox is an asset management company focused upon the internal redeployment and retirement of desktop computing devices. Using the Internet as a core method of supplying its services, RetroBox has a modular program designed to help...

P-Card conference covers Benchmark Survey Results. (Resources).(National Association of Purchasing Card Professionals conference)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
February 1, 2003... Mark your calendars for the National Association of Purchasing Card Professionals' (NAPCP) 4th Annual Conference, April 14 to 16, 2003, New Orleans, LA. The gathering of end users who bring their ideas, successes, and challenges, includes...

Do-it-yourself cost benefit analysis guide presents tips on transit projects. (Resources).(Transit Cooperative Research Program )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) has released a new guidebook for professionals responsible for assessing the costs and benefits of public transportation investments and presenting that information to interested parties. The...

Life cycle costing booklet covers capital equipment. (Resources).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... "Government Solutions" explores the concept of life cycle costing--a comprehensive plan for comparing the total cost of machine ownership over time, in combination with maintenance agreements, and a guaranteed repurchase price--and a variety of...

Readers.(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2003... Editor's Note: The following e-mails have been submitted in response to the December 2002 column Frisch Findings, "Chickens and Squad Cars." I read your column on the donations of squad cars. The City of Park Ridge, IL, has accepted...

Soza & Company, Ltd., won a five-year, $29.5 million contract from the United States Mint, Office of Application Development. (Contracts).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Soza & Company, Ltd., won a five-year, $29.5 million contract from the United States Mint, Office of Application Development, for consolidated IT support services. For this contract, Soza will serve as the U.S. Mint's single point of...

The U.S. Marines and Dell Computer Corp. announced one of the largest acquisitions of computers ever undertaken by the Marine Corps, including more than 60,000 OptiPlex desktop and Latitude notebook computers. (Contracts).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The U.S. Marines and Dell Computer Corp. announced one of the largest acquisitions of computers ever undertaken by the Marine Corps, including more than 60,000 OptiPlex desktop and Latitude notebook computers. The systems are part of the Marine...

To keep pace with the demands of a 92,000-plus population that has increased 35 percent since 1992, Columbia County (GA) has purchased an IP-based business phone solution from 3Com Corp. (Contracts).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... To keep pace with the demands of a 92,000-plus population that has increased 35 percent since 1992, Columbia County (GA) has purchased an W-based business phone solution from 3Com Corp. The NBX networked telephony solution, which runs over the...

FKI Logistex, a provider of total baggage handling solutions, announced completion of a new baggage transportation and sortation system. (Contracts).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... FKI Logistex, a provider of total baggage handling solutions, announced completion of a new baggage transportation and sortation system for the recently opened Airside Terminal E at Tampa International Airport. The Hillsborough County...

Francotyp-Postalia announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has selected FP Mailing Solutions' Jet-Mail and T1000 postage meters, as well as the Trackpad parcel-tracking software system, for its Washington-based headquarters mail center. (Contracts).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Francotyp-Postalia announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has selected FP Mailing Solutions' Jet-Mail and T1000 postage meters, as well as the Trackpad parcel-tracking software system, for its Washington-based...

ARAMARK has secured a new food service contract with the University of South Florida. (Contracts).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... ARAMARK has secured a new food service contract with the University of South Florida. Annual sales of the contract are initially estimated at approximately $10 million for an initial term of up to five years. Under the terms of the new...

Augusta-Richmond County (GA) has awarded a three-year contract to First Vehicle Services. (Contracts).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Augusta-Richmond County (GA) has awarded a three-year contract to First Vehicle Services to maintain a fleet of 2,657 vehicles and pieces of equipment.

TASER International, Inc., a provider of advanced less-lethal weapons for use in law enforcement. (Contracts).(wins a contract from the Phoenix Police Department)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... TASER International, Inc., a provider of advanced less-lethal weapons for use in law enforcement, announced that the Phoenix Police Department has purchased 1,175 additional Advanced Taser M26 less-lethal weapons. The Phoenix Police...

North American Bus Industries (NABI) announced that the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has awarded NABI a contract worth approximately $9 million for 25 45-ft., low-floor CompoBuses. (Contracts).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... North American Bus Industries (NABI) announced that the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has awarded NABI a contract worth approximately $9 million for 25 45-ft., low-floor CompoBuses. The CompoBus's single-piece composite technology provides...

Acclaris LLC announced it will play an integral part in the State of Florida's People First initiative, which will improve services to its employees while reducing costs through a $280 million outsourced employee care services contract with a third-party provider. (Contracts).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Acclaris LLC announced it will play an integral part in the State of Florida's People First initiative, which will improve services to its employees while reducing costs through a $280 million outsourced employee care services contract with a...

The National Security Agency's strategy for increasing the participation of the small business community in its opportunities is realizing results. (Contracts).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The National Security Agency's strategy for increasing the participation of the small business community in its opportunities is realizing results on the agency's Groundbreaker outsourcing initiative. The Groundbreaker contract was awarded...

Ultra-Scan Corp., developer and licensor of patented high-accuracy ultrasonic fingerprint matching technology. (Contracts).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Ultra-Scan Corp., developer and licensor of patented high-accuracy ultrasonic fingerprint matching technology, has been selected by the Department of Defense U.S. Army Research Labs to build a new live-scan ultrasonic identification system for...

GPRO Web site guide.
February 1, 2003... MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES CO. Our products help protect lives in more than 120 countries. These products include respirators, respirator cartridges, gas masks, riot-control products, fire helmets and shields, self-contained breathing...

Don't sell out procurement to "power politicians". (Common Sense).
February 1, 2003... I know how public money is being spent--and who is spending it. As a procurement professional who consults for federal, state, and local governments, I've seen professional procurement in use as a proactive, strategic management tool to ensure...