Government Procurement articles from June 2004

Government Procurement archives from June 2004

Out with outsourcing.(Frisch Findings)
June 1, 2004... In the early 1990s, private-sector success led to the public-sector outsourcing of non-core functions. Unquestionable savings resulted in long-term contracts. Today, outsourcing has come full circle and once again sits on procurement's door...

Alaska's procurement outsourcing pilot.(Readers)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... Government Procurement received many responses to Beau Grant's editorial, "Privatizing Public Procurement," in the April 2004 issue. The first response, sent by Walt Harvey, CPPO, Contracting Manager, State of Alaska, presents an Alaskan...

Capital of Colorado.(Readers)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... As usual, I think the magazine is great. However, I don't think anyone in the State of Colorado is going to like the fact that you moved the state's capital from Denver to Colorado Springs in the caption on page 20, April 2004. But it is a...

Reverse auctions find niche in marketplace.(Reverse Auctions)(Cover Story)
June 1, 2004... The move towards e-commerce and strategic sourcing topped public- and private-sector to-do lists in 2000. Many public entities dabbled in pilot programs. Specifically, there was a lot of interest in reverse auctions. Depending on how...

Business practices determine sustainability.(Reverse Auctions)
June 1, 2004... Reverse auctions are nothing more than automated competitive bidding processes, and competitive bidding has been around as long as procurement has been around. "Online competitive bidding doesn't do anything to compromise business...

Meet bid protests head-on: bid protests might be inevitable, but being prepared can defuse problems.(Bid Protests)
June 1, 2004... Why do vendors protest a bid award? According to Robin Rickard, CPPO, Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) for the Secretary of State of Oregon, and former CPO for the Oregon Department of Transportation, vendors protest because they can. Most...

E-mail subscription service informs county residents: by visiting the Web site of Somerset County, NJ, residents can sign on to receive free e-mail updates about county issues, programs, and states of emergency.(Technology Update)
June 1, 2004... Located in the northwest quadrant of New Jersey, Somerset County flaunts picturesque parks, sparkling waterways, and historic venues. A technologically savvy environment also surrounds the region, filled with computer cables and wireless...

Biloxi beckons buyers with balmy beaches: this summer, the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) will head to the deep South, where hot procurement topics are the catch of the day.(NIGP Forum Preview)
June 1, 2004... Fishing for fresh ideas in procurement practices? Set a course for Mississippi's Gulf Coast and attend the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing's (NIGP) 59th Annual Forum and Products Exposition, to be held Saturday, August 7, through...

NIGP 2004 forum program at-a-glance.(NIGP Forum Preview)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
June 1, 2004... NIGP 2004 FORUM PROGRAM AT-A-GLANCE Thursday, August 5-Friday, August 6 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CPPO Review Session Friday, August 6 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CPPB Review Session Saturday, August 7 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ...

Eco-labels: making environmental purchasing easier?(The Green Purchaser)
June 1, 2004... Any purchaser who has ever been asked to buy less harmful or more environmentally preferable products has faced the same questions and concerns--I'm not an environmental expert, how do I identify the safer alternatives? Which of the human...

Digital two-way radios address interoperability dilemma: technical standard requires radio compatibility to ensure public safety.(Vendor View)
June 1, 2004... Federal agencies that use two-way land mobile radio (LMR) systems, once commonly known as "walkie-talkies," are under a mandate by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Based on the mandate, federal agencies must migrate to new digital...

Disposal program promotes safe mercury recycling.(Recycling And Environment Products)
June 1, 2004... LampTracker Fluorescent Lamp Recycling Program promotes the safe disposal of spent lamps that contain hazardous mercury. TriGuard shipping box features a box-within-a-bag-within-a-box design to protect handlers from contamination. Keeps broken...

Towels, tissues boast post-consumer content and no harmful chemicals.(Recycling And Environmental Products)
June 1, 2004... EcoSoft towels and tissues boast Green Seal certification for environmental responsibility. Papers are made with recycled and post-consumer waste, use deinking and bleaching processes free of chlorine and other harmful chemicals, and require...

Grinder handles large-scale, green-waste reduction projects.(Recycling And Environmental Products)
June 1, 2004... Model GH6000 horizontal grinder offers choice of 525- or 630-hp. Caterpillar engines. Millbox lid opens from top of machine, allowing operator to remove or change a screen quickly. Lightweight, heavy-duty aluminum wheels improve on-site...

Benches boast the beauty of wood without the work.(Recycling And Environmental Products)
June 1, 2004... Recycled-plastic Rock Island park benches are made with 2- by 6-in. planking for comfort and durability. Freestanding models allow portability. In-ground mount designs offer security. Molded-in color never needs painting or staining. Choose...

Make much of rubber mulch.(Recycling And Environmental Products)
June 1, 2004... Non-toxic Rubberific Mulch, made of recycled rubber truck tires, outlasts conventional shredded wood mulches by 10 years. Resists fading, odor, rotting, and compaction. Will not splinter. Available in redwood, cedar, cypress, earthtone, and...

Create low-maintenance porches and pool surrounds with plastic decking.(Recycling And Environmental Products)
June 1, 2004... Boardwalk Composite Decking, Railing, and Fascia are made of EcoTech material, which combines PVC plastic and recycled natural fibers for strength and durability. Will not splinter, crack, or rot. Meet ADA recommendations for slip resistance....

Looking for benefits to the daily grind?(Recycling And Environmental Products)
June 1, 2004... Vertical, rotary grinders cut through green wood, particleboard, pallets, plywood, plastic, and more. Grind material into chip or board for reuse. Rotor shaft features 3/4-by 11-in. steel discs, each with 3 recessed knife holders for added...

Cut, split, and pulverize logs, stumps.(Recycling And Environmental Products)
June 1, 2004... Rugged Model 4680 Beast Recycler processes stumps and logs 40 ins. or more in dia. Portable machine offers hp. options up to 860. Boasts versatile cuttermill with settings to cut, split, and grind. Mill measures 63 ins. wide, 40 ins. high, and...

Filter crusher encourages compliance.(Recycling And Environmental Products)
June 1, 2004... Hydraulic TC-15 Oil Filter Crusher uses 38,000 lbs. of three to crush filters and remove 95% of oil. Waste oil is deposited into built-in holding tank for eventual disposal or for use in heating shops. Crushing chamber measures 9 by 16 ins. For...

Ring keeps brush, weeds from crowding hydrants.(Recycling And Environmental Products)
June 1, 2004... Evaring, made of equal parts recycled ground tires and virgin rubber, eliminates need to apply herbicides or trim around airport runway lights and fire hydrants and posts. Helps firefighters locate hydrants that might otherwise be concealed...

Hammering out solutions through structured projects.(Project Management)
June 1, 2004... To understand a complex problem, simple tools can help. For instance, try reducing the problem to its simplest parts. By understanding the parts and how they interact, one can then construct a solution. Our daily lives can be filled with...

Defense logistics announces distribution competition results.(News)
June 1, 2004... The Defense Logistics Agency announced that it has tentatively decided that operations and management of its Defense Distribution Depot, Tobyhanna, PA, (DDTP) would remain in-house rather than be contracted to a private company. The...

States slow to adopt schedule 70.(News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... IT purchases through Schedule 70 currently represent less than one percent of total state and local IT spending, according to the Schedule 70 & Cooperative Purchasing INPUT/Output report released by INPUT. GSA reports $41 million in goods...

Responder funds find way to states and localities--eventually.(News)
June 1, 2004... In fiscal years 2002 and 2003, Congress appropriated approximately $13.9 billion for domestic preparedness. A large portion of these funds is intended primarily to assist with planning, equipment purchases, training and exercises, and...

New procurement system does its job.(News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... A new logistics philosophy intended to improve weapons system readiness while making military procurement more efficient and cost-effective is accomplishing those things, according to a one-year study at The University of Alabama in Huntsville...

DOI modernizes business management.(News)
June 1, 2004... The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) plans to improve information sharing across eight DOI bureaus and the departmental offices as part of the DOI Financial and Business Management System modernization initiative. Financial solutions...

Intergovernmental solutions receive recognition.(News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The American Council for Technology (ACT) announced the winners of the 2004 ACT Intergovernmental Solutions Awards. Applicants demonstrated progress through collaboration and technology. The winning programs were selected based upon success in...

City presents sustainability award.(News)
June 1, 2004... The Office of Sustainable Development, City of Portland, OR, has awarded Rodda Paint Co. the 2004 BEST (Businesses for an Environmentally Sustainable Tomorrow) Sustainable Product award. The company won the award for Horizon, a Green Seal...

Women-owned businesses grow at twice the rate of all firms.(News)
June 1, 2004... Nearly half of all privately held firms in the U.S., 10.6 million, are owned 50 percent or more by women, says a new Center for Women's Business Research study sponsored by Wells Fargo and Co. (WFC). According to the study, "Women-Owned...

Francotyp-Postalia (FP Mailing Solutions), a mail room solutions provider, announced that it has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract from the U.S. Postal Service's Retail Products & Services Contracting Office.(Contracts)
June 1, 2004... Francotyp-Postalia (FP Mailing Solutions), a mail room solutions provider, announced that it has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract from the U.S. Postal Service's Retail Products & Services Contracting Office. The contract is for FP's...

Diverse Computing, Inc. (DCI) signed a contract with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to install the eAgent Client Messaging System.(Contracts)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Diverse Computing, Inc. (DCI) signed a contract with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to install the eAgent Client Messaging System. The contract is the result of an extensive, nationwide competitive bid process to replace the...

Franklin County, Ohio, Auditor's Office.(Contracts)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The Franklin County, Ohio, Auditor's Office has awarded Sanborn a contract for a country-wide GIS update project. Sanborn, a provider of geographic information system (GIS) and photogrammetric services industry, will capture color aerial...

ICF Consulting has been awarded a 5-year contract for up to $18 million by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) to support the federal government's new eTravel Initiative.(Contracts)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... ICF Consulting has been awarded a 5-year contract for up to $18 million by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) to support the federal government's new eTravel Initiative. ICF Consulting will measure and manage the success of the...

First Vehicle Services.(Contracts)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... First Vehicle Services announced the signing of a three-year contract for the provision of fleet management and maintenance services for the State of Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). The contract also includes two, one-year...

GSA awards over 400 IT contracts to small businesses.(Resources)
June 1, 2004... The U. S. General Services Administration's (GSA) Federal Supply Service announced the award of over 400 information technology contracts to 8(a) certified small businesses. The new 8(a) Streamlined Technology Acquisition Resources for...

Marketing the value of procurement: Part I.(Common Sense)
June 1, 2004... As stewards of the public trust, public procurement professionals are trained in the skills and strategies of ethical and equitable government procurement, which encompass acquisition methods, supply chain management, contract management,...