Government Procurement articles from October 2007

Government Procurement archives from October 2007

Is it time to come out of your cubicle? In this month's cover piece, Eileen Miller suggests that ethics should be viewed with a wider lens.(CABLE VISION)
October 1, 2007... In the eyes of some people, the government is the last place to look for examples of ethical behavior. It's easy to see why some people come to that conclusion. The news seems to be filled with stories of public officials abusing their power,...

Sun cancels GSA contract.(NEWS)
October 1, 2007... Facing mounting scrutiny of its government pricing practices, Sun Microsystems in September canceled its multiple- award-schedule contract with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) for information technology products and services. ...

Doan pushes for more telework at GSA.(NEWS)
October 1, 2007... Call it working from home, telecommuting, flexiplace or telework. Either way, GSA Administrator Lurita Doan wants more employees at her agency to do it. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Doan challenged GSA departments to figure out how to enable...

Report: it pays to be a procurement master.(NEWS)
October 1, 2007... According to research conducted by Accenture, procurement executives who attain "procurement mastery" achieve higher savings for their organizations, face fewer organizational challenges and are far more likely to work in a centralized...

'Green Vision for San Jose' includes ambitious 15-year plan.(GREEN NEWS)
October 1, 2007... San Jose, Calif., Mayor Chuck Reed recently unveiled his "Green Vision for San Jose," a 15-year-plan that aims to solve environmental problems, grow the local economy and make the city the world's hub of clean technology innovation. ...

City will convert streetlights to LEDs.(GREEN NEWS)
October 1, 2007... Ann Arbor, Mich., plans to be the first U.S. city to convert 100 percent of its downtown lighting to LED (light-emitting diode) technology. Starting this November, the city will begin a twoyear project to replace the first of its downtown...

University aims for sustainability.(GREEN NEWS)
October 1, 2007... At the University of Utah, recycling bins on campus and a vegetable-oil-fueled shuttle bus are among the projects that will be spearheaded by a new Office of Sustainability, formally launched on Oct. 4. Goals of the initiative are to...

Patrol car puts a charge in Pennsylvania police department.(FLEET BEAT)
October 1, 2007... Officials from Connellsville, Pa.--a city of 9,146 people nestled in the Appalachian Mountains about an hour southeast of Pittsburgh--claim that the city's police department is the first in the nation to have an all-electric police car. ...

Chicago signs $8.75 million contract to stock city fleet with green vehicles.(FLEET BEAT)
October 1, 2007... The city that dyes its river green every St. Patrick's Day is making a concerted effort to have one of the greenest vehicle fleets in the nation. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Chicago's Department of Fleet Management signed a term agreement...

Army purchases water tenders.(CONTRACTS)
October 1, 2007... The U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armament s Command (TACOM) has awarded a five-year, firm fixedprice contract to Appleton, Wis.- based Pierce Manufacturing Inc. for the production of 10 water tenders. According to Pierce--which is a...

NASA signs on to relocation services.(CONTRACTS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... The National Aeronautics and Space Adminstration (NASA) selected Prudential Relocation of Washington (D.C.) to provide employee relocation services. The fixed-price, performancebased blanket purchase agreement with delivery and task orders...

Partnership targets illegal immigrants.(CONTRACTS)
October 1, 2007... The Department of Homeland Security U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (DHS USICE) awarded a new prime contract to Reston, Va.- based SI International Inc. Valued at an estimated $20.5 million, the contract will provide bondcontrol...

NSA awards contract for unified 'smartphone'.(CONTRACTS)
October 1, 2007... To advance secure communications among the military and government users, the National Security Agency (NSA) has awarded a contract to General Dynamics C4 Systems, a business unit of Falls Church, Va.-based General Dynamics. Under the...

Xerox will arm Navy ships with printers and copiers.(CONTRACTS)
October 1, 2007... An estimated $93 million, fiveyear contract between the U.S. Navy and Xerox Corp. will provide onboard document support for 283 military ships. More than 300,000 active-duty military personnel will benefit from the contract, which includes...

Lessons from the cherry orchard: "set your sights high" was my father's implication as he inexplicably retrieved an extension ladder from our barn, complete with 4-foot worn cotton rope that was intended for securely tying the ladder to skyscraping trees!
October 1, 2007... Public procurement officers are "... governed by the highest ideals of honor and integrity in all public and personal relationships in order to merit the respect and inspire the confidence of the organization and the public being served" (NIGP...

When it comes to information technology sales to state and local governments ... these firms are IT: agencies are spending heavily with these companies to meet their IT needs.(IT PROCUREMENT)
October 1, 2007... Information technology (IT) is one of the hottest product categories for government entities, and no one is doing brisker IT business at the local and state levels than IBM, Dell and Electronic Data Systems (EDS). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Offices go green: that mysterious "PC Load Letter" message isn't the only way that your old office equipment can ruin your day.(THE GREEN PURCHASER)
October 1, 2007... In August, office workers around the world shuddered when an Australian scientist reported that some office equipment might be more hazardous than smoking. The study tested emissions from printers in actual office environments and discovered...

Messaging disaster recovery--A necessity for government agencies: cost-effective transaction replication protects e-mail messaging infrastructures.(DISASTER RECOVERY)
October 1, 2007... Maintaining e-mail and other data communications is critical to ensuring business continuity for government agencies in the face of a disaster. Government agencies often are the lifeline for communities during such emergencies, and reliable...

The times are a changin': computer-based exams are among the exciting changes on the horizon for those seeking professional certification.(PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION)
October 1, 2007... Both the Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council (UPPCC) and the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) are rolling out program changes in 2008 that will have a positive impact on the profession. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CPPO...

Beyond P-cards: innovative purchasing cards streamline employee benefit program.(PURCHASING CARDS)
October 1, 2007... Innovation and technology can help banks and other financial institutions become much more than just purchasing-card (P-card) providers. When card issuers are creative and devise ways to assist clients beyond the traditional banking...

Flat-panel displays complement security or surveillance systems.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT)
October 1, 2007... High-resolution LCD flat-panel displays are designed to complement mission-critical security or surveillance systems. The displays come in 27-, 32-, 42-, 47- and 56-in. screen sizes. The large-format displays feature multiple-input modes for...

Environmental monitor supplies Web-based remote surveillance for critical facilities operations.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... With the iSE environmental monitor, operators can use their Web browsers for remote surveillance of conditions in critical HVAC applications, such as computer server rooms, clean rooms, laboratories, museums and warehouses, and monitor...

Anti-slip polyurethane coating paints durable lines on athletic floors.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT)
October 1, 2007... Also ideal for pedestrian flooring, Chemthane 3900 provides a satin and gloss finish that provides anti-slip protection. Flexes with the movement of floors made of polyurethane, wood or concrete. Resists high temperatures, impact, abrasion,...

Vegetation-filled roof system benefits the environment.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT)
October 1, 2007... GreenGrid roofing system improves the energy performance of buildings while reducing storm water runoff. Compatible with any lowsloped (non-pitched) roof design. Ideal for a variety of government facilities, including large, one-story...

Window films save energy, reduce glare, protect glass.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT)
October 1, 2007... LLumar professionally installed polyester interior window films use invisible CDF adhesive that clings to the natural porosity of glass and forms a permanent, waterproof seal, unlike pressure- sensitive adhesive systems. Boasts up to 80%...

Energy-saving lamps deliver enhanced color.(PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT)
October 1, 2007... Probe-start and pulse-start metal halide retrofit lamps offer reduced energy use by up to 40 watts per fixture without sacrificing light output. No fixture or ballast changes or rewiring are required. Energy-Master lamps come in 150 to 400...

People, let's be reasonable: reasonableness of action is part of your professional DNA. It defines how you advise your organization, how you make decisions, how you view the way your organization governs and, most importantly, how you will be remembered as a professional.(MARKS ON REASONABLES)
October 1, 2007... I have always found unreasonable people and organizations as appealing as root canal surgery with a roto rooter. Reasonableness and flexibility in our actions, and in the actions of our organizations, are a foundation of professionalism and...