`
March 2, 2004
GovPro Newsletter
Tuesday, March 2, 2004 Volume 3, Issue 9
Welcome to the GovPro Newsletter brought to you by the Penton Government Media Group. Look forward to news, resources, product and supplier information, and links relating to the government market.
If this message was sent in error or you wish to unsubscribe, see the unsubscribe information below.
Sponsored by MSA
This Week Ohio City Opens Portal Green Purchasing Grows Cooperative Contracts Save Competitive Sourcing Remains a Challenge Bollards Protect the Constitution Forfeiture Fund to Upgrade Police Gear News of The Weird
Features
City Provides New E-government Services to Citizens
The City of Toledo, OH, has launched a public access portal that enables citizens and businesses to access many government services online. The Building Inspection Division of Toledos Economic and Community Development Department now offers building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and demolition permits online.
The portal increases access to the citys building and planning management activities by allowing citizens and businesses to apply and pay for permits, schedule inspections, check the status of a permit or inspection, or print an approved permit directly from the Internet, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. By allowing citizens to complete the entire process online, the city is able to streamline the process for obtaining simple permits and free up valuable staff time to process more complex applications.
For full text, visit: http://www.govpro.com/GPRONewsletter/Article/31277/
Policy Updates Inspire Environmental Purchasing
Environmental purchasing policies are again making headlines. Over the last two decades, federal, state, and local governments have recognized the environmental impacts of their purchasing decisions. Governments began adopting buy recycled purchasing policies in the mid-1980s to reduce pressures on overburdened landfills and protect the environment by stimulating markets for recycled-content products. By 1998, 47 states and more than 500 local governments had adopted buy-recycled policies.
These policies have been extremely effective in extending the life of local landfills, stabilizing markets for the recyclable materials collected by curbside recycling programs, creating jobs, protecting natural resources, and meeting governments needs for effective and affordable products.
But now, buy recycled is not enough. Government leaders and taxpayers are recognizing that purchasing decisions impact a wider variety of environmental concerns. Everything from climate change to toxins in the environment can be linked to purchasing decisions. As a result, growing numbers of state and local governments are expanding their buy-recycled policies to incorporate a wider variety of environmental considerations such as buying less hazardous cleaning products, energy- and water-efficient products, and electricity from less polluting sources.
For full text and graphics, visit: http://www.govpro.com/GPRONewsletter/Article/27724/
Cooperative Contracts Contribute to Time and Cost Cuts
It has often been reported that some of the biggest savings a government entity can achieve come from the efforts of the purchasing department. Buying a particular product or service for less translates into real dollars that can be spent elsewhere. This is fiscally responsible and makes better use of taxpayer money. For that reason, the competitive bid process is law for most public entities.
However, the purchase of a radio system or a fire truck, for example, may take up to a year and involve months of research, advertising in local newspapers, pre-bid conferences, sealed bids, evaluations, awards, document preparation, and contract signing. Plus, dont forget the ever-present potential for a disenchanted bidder to file a grievance. When productivity is measured by the value and volume of purchases being made, the formal bid process can bring everything to a grinding halt.
For full text and graphics, visit: http://www.govpro.com/GPRONewsletter/Article/27748/
MSA
Since 1914, MSA has been offering a complete line of personal protection equipment and instruments. MSA has over two thousand products on GSA schedules covering Respiratory Protection, Head/Eye/Face/Hearing Protection, Fall Protection, Portable Instruments for Gas Detection and Mining/Emergency/Specialty Equipment. Visit GSA Advantage!, http://r.pm0.net/s/c?ij.7jne.12.464t.5bxn
to see MSA products under contract or call MSA at 1-888-837-2158 for a GSA catalog.
News
Report Finds Competitive Sourcing a Challenge
Since the President announced competitive sourcing as a government-wide initiative, the six civilian agencies that the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) reviewed have created a basic infrastructure, including establishing offices, appointing officials, hiring staff and consultants, issuing guidance, and conducting training.
Each reviewed agency has developed competitive sourcing plans and conducted some competitions, but sited many challenges. Key among these challenges is maintaining workforce inventories that distinguished between governmental and commercial positions.
The August 2001 initiative requires federal agencies to open their commercial activities to competition among public- and private-sector sources. While the initiatives goal is to encourage innovation and improve efficiency and performance, this type of major management change remains in need of additional direction.
Police Equipment to Receive Upgrades
The Bradenton City Council, FL, permitted the Bradenton Police Department to take $37,612 from its forfeiture fund to replace outdated video and surveillance equipment. The department submitted the request to the council after officers encountered problems while testing its previous equipment.
The $156,794 in the forfeiture fund was collected through property seizures allowed under the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act, which allows officers to confiscate physical property or money used in committing felonious criminal acts. Much of the money in the fund has been provided through drug seizure arrests. The department's list of new equipment purchased through the forfeiture fund included digital recorders, bugs, and receivers.
Source: The National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC)
Bollards Protect National Archives Perimeter
The National Archives Building in Washington, D.C. has decorative bollards to beef up perimeter security as part of a major renovation and restoration project now underway. The building houses important historic documents, including the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, and the U.S. Constitution. The Delta DSC 800 decorative bollards protect facilities from terrorists or others driving errant vehicles weighing up to 15,000 pounds and traveling at 30 mph. They are typically kept in an upright position to protect against unauthorized entry but lower to let approved vehicles pass through. The bollards, manufactured by Delta Scientific, are available in hydraulic, pneumatic, manual operation, or fixed-post models.
For more information, visit: http://www.deltascientific.com
News of the Weird: Bizarre but true stories about real people. http://www.govpro.com/GPRONewsletter/Article/28261/
Events
The California Integrated Waste Management Board is hosting the 5th Annual Recycled Product Trade Show, March 10-11, 2004 at the Sacramento Convention Center in Sacramento, CA. The purpose of the show is to increase purchasing of recycled-content and environmentally preferable products. This year's show will highlight sustainable building. For more information, visit: http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/BuyRecycled/Events/TradeShow/
or contact Board staff at (916) 341-6481.
Links
Custom-designed Meyer snow plows fit exact vehicle frame and weight specifications for exceptional performance in all applications. Visit: http://r.pm0.net/s/c?ij.7mag.9.2hqf.5bxn
Fargo Electronics - The World's Leader in Card Identity Solutions. Visit: http://www.fargo.com
Cardiac Science-combines industry leading AED technology with comprehensive AED/CPR training programs to create a heartsafe environment for you. The new Powerheart Automated External Defibrillator (AED) G3 offers simple, one-button operation. Featuring RescueReady technology guaranteeing first time, every time shock delivery. http://www.cardiacscience.com
You may qualify for a FREE Magazine Subscription
Complimentary subscriptions to Government Product News, a product-driven resource, and Government PROcurement, editorial targeting the public sector purchasing professional are available to those who qualify.
To subscribe to Government Product News visit: http://r.pm0.net/s/c?ij.75qj.15.1jf8.5c17
To subscribe to Government Procurement visit: http://r.pm0.net/s/c?ij.75qj.16.1jf9.5c17
GovPro Newsletter, 1300 E. 9th St., Cleveland, OH 44114-1503
Copyright 2004 Penton Media, Inc.
Welcome to the GovPro Newsletter brought to you by the Penton Government Media Group. Look forward to news, resources, product and supplier information, and links relating to the government market.
If this message was sent in error or you wish to unsubscribe, see the unsubscribe information below.
Sponsored by MSA
This Week Ohio City Opens Portal Green Purchasing Grows Cooperative Contracts Save Competitive Sourcing Remains a Challenge Bollards Protect the Constitution Forfeiture Fund to Upgrade Police Gear News of The Weird
Features
City Provides New E-government Services to Citizens
The City of Toledo, OH, has launched a public access portal that enables citizens and businesses to access many government services online. The Building Inspection Division of Toledos Economic and Community Development Department now offers building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and demolition permits online.
The portal increases access to the citys building and planning management activities by allowing citizens and businesses to apply and pay for permits, schedule inspections, check the status of a permit or inspection, or print an approved permit directly from the Internet, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. By allowing citizens to complete the entire process online, the city is able to streamline the process for obtaining simple permits and free up valuable staff time to process more complex applications.
For full text, visit: http://www.govpro.com/GPRONewsletter/Article/31277/
Policy Updates Inspire Environmental Purchasing
Environmental purchasing policies are again making headlines. Over the last two decades, federal, state, and local governments have recognized the environmental impacts of their purchasing decisions. Governments began adopting buy recycled purchasing policies in the mid-1980s to reduce pressures on overburdened landfills and protect the environment by stimulating markets for recycled-content products. By 1998, 47 states and more than 500 local governments had adopted buy-recycled policies.
These policies have been extremely effective in extending the life of local landfills, stabilizing markets for the recyclable materials collected by curbside recycling programs, creating jobs, protecting natural resources, and meeting governments needs for effective and affordable products.
But now, buy recycled is not enough. Government leaders and taxpayers are recognizing that purchasing decisions impact a wider variety of environmental concerns. Everything from climate change to toxins in the environment can be linked to purchasing decisions. As a result, growing numbers of state and local governments are expanding their buy-recycled policies to incorporate a wider variety of environmental considerations such as buying less hazardous cleaning products, energy- and water-efficient products, and electricity from less polluting sources.
For full text and graphics, visit: http://www.govpro.com/GPRONewsletter/Article/27724/
Cooperative Contracts Contribute to Time and Cost Cuts
It has often been reported that some of the biggest savings a government entity can achieve come from the efforts of the purchasing department. Buying a particular product or service for less translates into real dollars that can be spent elsewhere. This is fiscally responsible and makes better use of taxpayer money. For that reason, the competitive bid process is law for most public entities.
However, the purchase of a radio system or a fire truck, for example, may take up to a year and involve months of research, advertising in local newspapers, pre-bid conferences, sealed bids, evaluations, awards, document preparation, and contract signing. Plus, dont forget the ever-present potential for a disenchanted bidder to file a grievance. When productivity is measured by the value and volume of purchases being made, the formal bid process can bring everything to a grinding halt.
For full text and graphics, visit: http://www.govpro.com/GPRONewsletter/Article/27748/
MSA
Since 1914, MSA has been offering a complete line of personal protection equipment and instruments. MSA has over two thousand products on GSA schedules covering Respiratory Protection, Head/Eye/Face/Hearing Protection, Fall Protection, Portable Instruments for Gas Detection and Mining/Emergency/Specialty Equipment. Visit GSA Advantage!, http://r.pm0.net/s/c?ij.7jne.12.464t.5bxn
to see MSA products under contract or call MSA at 1-888-837-2158 for a GSA catalog.
News
Report Finds Competitive Sourcing a Challenge
Since the President announced competitive sourcing as a government-wide initiative, the six civilian agencies that the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) reviewed have created a basic infrastructure, including establishing offices, appointing officials, hiring staff and consultants, issuing guidance, and conducting training.
Each reviewed agency has developed competitive sourcing plans and conducted some competitions, but sited many challenges. Key among these challenges is maintaining workforce inventories that distinguished between governmental and commercial positions.
The August 2001 initiative requires federal agencies to open their commercial activities to competition among public- and private-sector sources. While the initiatives goal is to encourage innovation and improve efficiency and performance, this type of major management change remains in need of additional direction.
Police Equipment to Receive Upgrades
The Bradenton City Council, FL, permitted the Bradenton Police Department to take $37,612 from its forfeiture fund to replace outdated video and surveillance equipment. The department submitted the request to the council after officers encountered problems while testing its previous equipment.
The $156,794 in the forfeiture fund was collected through property seizures allowed under the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act, which allows officers to confiscate physical property or money used in committing felonious criminal acts. Much of the money in the fund has been provided through drug seizure arrests. The department's list of new equipment purchased through the forfeiture fund included digital recorders, bugs, and receivers.
Source: The National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC)
Bollards Protect National Archives Perimeter
The National Archives Building in Washington, D.C. has decorative bollards to beef up perimeter security as part of a major renovation and restoration project now underway. The building houses important historic documents, including the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, and the U.S. Constitution. The Delta DSC 800 decorative bollards protect facilities from terrorists or others driving errant vehicles weighing up to 15,000 pounds and traveling at 30 mph. They are typically kept in an upright position to protect against unauthorized entry but lower to let approved vehicles pass through. The bollards, manufactured by Delta Scientific, are available in hydraulic, pneumatic, manual operation, or fixed-post models.
For more information, visit: http://www.deltascientific.com
News of the Weird: Bizarre but true stories about real people. http://www.govpro.com/GPRONewsletter/Article/28261/
Events
The California Integrated Waste Management Board is hosting the 5th Annual Recycled Product Trade Show, March 10-11, 2004 at the Sacramento Convention Center in Sacramento, CA. The purpose of the show is to increase purchasing of recycled-content and environmentally preferable products. This year's show will highlight sustainable building. For more information, visit: http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/BuyRecycled/Events/TradeShow/
or contact Board staff at (916) 341-6481.
Links
Custom-designed Meyer snow plows fit exact vehicle frame and weight specifications for exceptional performance in all applications. Visit: http://r.pm0.net/s/c?ij.7mag.9.2hqf.5bxn
Fargo Electronics - The World's Leader in Card Identity Solutions. Visit: http://www.fargo.com
Cardiac Science-combines industry leading AED technology with comprehensive AED/CPR training programs to create a heartsafe environment for you. The new Powerheart Automated External Defibrillator (AED) G3 offers simple, one-button operation. Featuring RescueReady technology guaranteeing first time, every time shock delivery. http://www.cardiacscience.com
You may qualify for a FREE Magazine Subscription
Complimentary subscriptions to Government Product News, a product-driven resource, and Government PROcurement, editorial targeting the public sector purchasing professional are available to those who qualify.
To subscribe to Government Product News visit: http://r.pm0.net/s/c?ij.75qj.15.1jf8.5c17
To subscribe to Government Procurement visit: http://r.pm0.net/s/c?ij.75qj.16.1jf9.5c17
GovPro Newsletter, 1300 E. 9th St., Cleveland, OH 44114-1503
Copyright 2004 Penton Media, Inc.
