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April 20, 2004
Cooperative Contracts Sell IT the GSA Way
GovPro Newsletter
Tuesday, April 20, 2004 Volume 3, Issue 16
Sponsored by Fargo Visual Security
This Week States Buy Off GSA Contracts New Road Surface Absorbs Deicer 911 Locates Cell Calls Technology Drives Road Construction General Funds Go to Federal Mandates News of The Weird
Features
Cooperative Contracts Sell IT the GSA Way
At any level of government, public purchasers search for good buys. By comparing prices, product quality, delivery terms, added services, and other determining factors, purchasers can be assured that they're spending taxpayer dollars wisely. To help state and local agencies enjoy cost savings and streamlined procedures for procuring information technology (IT), the U.S. Congress passed legislation to allow cooperative purchasing from federal IT contracts.
Under Section 211 of the E-Government Act of 2002, authorized state and local government entities can use IT contracts established by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). As of May 2003, a wealth of commercially available IT products and services, listed under the GSA's Federal Supply Service (FSS) Schedule 70, can be procured at state and local levels. By negotiating large, multi-user contracts with vendors, the GSA leverages the volume of the federal market to drive down prices for products and services.
Agencies authorized to buy off of Schedule 70 include states, counties, municipalities, townships, school districts, public housing authorities, and Indian tribal governments throughout the United States.
For full text, visit: http://www.govpro.com/GPRONewsletter/Article/27727/
Not Slippery When Wet: Anti-Ice Coating Hits the Road
There's a bridge along Wisconsin's Highway 8 that's notorious for ice and bad wrecks. But this winter, no one spun out and slammed into the guardrails above the Wolf River, and officials say that's no accident.
Last summer, workers installed a new surface on the 120-foot span, located about six miles west of the small town of Crandon, WI. Developed by a researcher at Michigan Technological University, this anti-icing pavement overlay is a sheet of epoxy covered with an aggregate. From the top, it looks like kitty litter. A cross section looks more like toffee covered with lots of chopped nuts.
"It acts sort of like a hard sponge," says inventor Russ Alger, a project manager/research leader at MTU's Keweenaw Research Center. "You put a light amount of de-icing chemical on there, and it keeps coming up to the surface."
For full text, visit: http://www.govpro.com/GPRONewsletter/Article/31301/
Fargo Printers Chosen by DOD for CAC
See Fargo HDP(tm) Card Printer/Encoders - the choice of the DOD and other government entities around the world - in action at CardTech/SecurTech in the Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC, April 26-28 (Booth #721).
From simple photo ID badges to advanced electronic card system integration, Fargo can provide the solution to fit your needs.
http://www.fargo.com/gov
News
County 911 Now Able to Locate Cell Calls
Montgomery County, MD, emergency call centers are now wired to trace the origin of 911 calls made from cellular phones. County officials recently announced the roll out of a new computerized tracking system that makes it possible for law enforcement and firefighters to pinpoint emergencies with greater precision. Earlier technology could trace call signals only from the closest cell tower, but the new tracking system takes it a step further and displays a computerized map with the exact location of the call. In order for the system to work, cell phones need a computer chip that can relay the location of the caller to a 911call center. Officials estimate that only about 3 percent of cell phones are currently wired with this technology. Though online since Feb. 8, officials say it will take another couple of months to verify that the service is functioning properly.
Source: The National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC).
U.S. Transportation Secretary Demonstrates Future of Road Building
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta highlighted new construction technologies he said are producing safer, longer lasting and less expensive roads and bridges that are reducing construction times around the country.
The Secretary demonstrated a range of technologies that have been developed as part of a Department of Transportation program to encourage new ways of designing and building roads. Included in the display were concrete that hardens in hours instead of days, prefabricated pavement that snaps together like children's building blocks, and new higher visibility road signs.
"The future of road building is through technologies that save time, save taxpayer dollars and provide a better, safer driving experience," said Secretary Mineta. "We are working to find ways to promote these technologies in construction projects nationwide."
Secretary Mineta noted that it was innovative technology like the ones on display that were used to quickly reopen sections of I-95 in Connecticut after a fiery March accident literally melted sections of the freeway. According to the Secretary, the new road building technologies have saved money and time on projects ranging from Denver, Colorado, to Yorktown, Virginia, and West Virginia.
States Hurt by Unfunded Federal Programs
Michigan and Alabama will spend at least 9 percent of their general fund appropriations in fiscal year 2004 to cover the costs of programs imposed upon them by the federal government, according to a 50-state analysis by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).
"What this new analysis shows is that every state in the union must start their general fund appropriations process in the red," said Utah Speaker Marty Stephens, president of NCSL. "Unfortunately for states, the federal government continues to overstep its bounds by imposing its will on state governments."
With its launch of Mandate Monitor last month, NCSL renewed its campaign against the growing trend towards federal unfunded mandates. The initial installment of the Mandate Monitor identified more than $29 billion in unfunded costs to states to implement federal programs.
Of the $29 billion in unfunded mandates for fiscal year 2004, NCSL was able to identify costs to individual states for $24.4 billion of the total. The map shown above includes individual state costs for No Child Left Behind (Title I grants to local education authorities only), Medicaid, food stamps, special education, election reform and transportation sanctions. Certain costs of programs delegated to states by the Environmental Protection agency could not be quantified on a state-by-state basis.
Detailed 50-state information can be accessed at http://www.ncsl.org/programs/press/2004/pr040407.htm
News of the Weird: Bizarre but true stories about real people. http://www.govpro.com/GPRONewsletter/Article/28660/
Links
Custom-designed Meyer snow plows fit exact vehicle frame and weight specifications for exceptional performance in all applications. Visit: http://www.meyerproducts.com
MSA offers a complete line of personal protection equipment and instruments on GSA. Visit GSA Advantage!, http://www.gsaadvantage.gov
or call MSA at 1-888-837-2158 for a GSA catalog.
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
****************************************************** If you would like to subscribe to this weekly newsletter for government professionals send a blank email to: mailto:GovPro_Subscribe@list.pentonmedia.com If you would like to unsubscribe to the GovPro newsletter send a blank email to: mailto:GovPro_Unsubscribe@list.pentonmedia.com GovPro Newsletter, 1300 E. 9th St., Cleveland, OH 44114-1503
Copyright 2004 Penton Media, Inc.
Tuesday, April 20, 2004 Volume 3, Issue 16
Sponsored by Fargo Visual Security
This Week States Buy Off GSA Contracts New Road Surface Absorbs Deicer 911 Locates Cell Calls Technology Drives Road Construction General Funds Go to Federal Mandates News of The Weird
Features
Cooperative Contracts Sell IT the GSA Way
At any level of government, public purchasers search for good buys. By comparing prices, product quality, delivery terms, added services, and other determining factors, purchasers can be assured that they're spending taxpayer dollars wisely. To help state and local agencies enjoy cost savings and streamlined procedures for procuring information technology (IT), the U.S. Congress passed legislation to allow cooperative purchasing from federal IT contracts.
Under Section 211 of the E-Government Act of 2002, authorized state and local government entities can use IT contracts established by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). As of May 2003, a wealth of commercially available IT products and services, listed under the GSA's Federal Supply Service (FSS) Schedule 70, can be procured at state and local levels. By negotiating large, multi-user contracts with vendors, the GSA leverages the volume of the federal market to drive down prices for products and services.
Agencies authorized to buy off of Schedule 70 include states, counties, municipalities, townships, school districts, public housing authorities, and Indian tribal governments throughout the United States.
For full text, visit: http://www.govpro.com/GPRONewsletter/Article/27727/
Not Slippery When Wet: Anti-Ice Coating Hits the Road
There's a bridge along Wisconsin's Highway 8 that's notorious for ice and bad wrecks. But this winter, no one spun out and slammed into the guardrails above the Wolf River, and officials say that's no accident.
Last summer, workers installed a new surface on the 120-foot span, located about six miles west of the small town of Crandon, WI. Developed by a researcher at Michigan Technological University, this anti-icing pavement overlay is a sheet of epoxy covered with an aggregate. From the top, it looks like kitty litter. A cross section looks more like toffee covered with lots of chopped nuts.
"It acts sort of like a hard sponge," says inventor Russ Alger, a project manager/research leader at MTU's Keweenaw Research Center. "You put a light amount of de-icing chemical on there, and it keeps coming up to the surface."
For full text, visit: http://www.govpro.com/GPRONewsletter/Article/31301/
Fargo Printers Chosen by DOD for CAC
See Fargo HDP(tm) Card Printer/Encoders - the choice of the DOD and other government entities around the world - in action at CardTech/SecurTech in the Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC, April 26-28 (Booth #721).
From simple photo ID badges to advanced electronic card system integration, Fargo can provide the solution to fit your needs.
http://www.fargo.com/gov
News
County 911 Now Able to Locate Cell Calls
Montgomery County, MD, emergency call centers are now wired to trace the origin of 911 calls made from cellular phones. County officials recently announced the roll out of a new computerized tracking system that makes it possible for law enforcement and firefighters to pinpoint emergencies with greater precision. Earlier technology could trace call signals only from the closest cell tower, but the new tracking system takes it a step further and displays a computerized map with the exact location of the call. In order for the system to work, cell phones need a computer chip that can relay the location of the caller to a 911call center. Officials estimate that only about 3 percent of cell phones are currently wired with this technology. Though online since Feb. 8, officials say it will take another couple of months to verify that the service is functioning properly.
Source: The National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC).
U.S. Transportation Secretary Demonstrates Future of Road Building
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta highlighted new construction technologies he said are producing safer, longer lasting and less expensive roads and bridges that are reducing construction times around the country.
The Secretary demonstrated a range of technologies that have been developed as part of a Department of Transportation program to encourage new ways of designing and building roads. Included in the display were concrete that hardens in hours instead of days, prefabricated pavement that snaps together like children's building blocks, and new higher visibility road signs.
"The future of road building is through technologies that save time, save taxpayer dollars and provide a better, safer driving experience," said Secretary Mineta. "We are working to find ways to promote these technologies in construction projects nationwide."
Secretary Mineta noted that it was innovative technology like the ones on display that were used to quickly reopen sections of I-95 in Connecticut after a fiery March accident literally melted sections of the freeway. According to the Secretary, the new road building technologies have saved money and time on projects ranging from Denver, Colorado, to Yorktown, Virginia, and West Virginia.
States Hurt by Unfunded Federal Programs
Michigan and Alabama will spend at least 9 percent of their general fund appropriations in fiscal year 2004 to cover the costs of programs imposed upon them by the federal government, according to a 50-state analysis by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).
"What this new analysis shows is that every state in the union must start their general fund appropriations process in the red," said Utah Speaker Marty Stephens, president of NCSL. "Unfortunately for states, the federal government continues to overstep its bounds by imposing its will on state governments."
With its launch of Mandate Monitor last month, NCSL renewed its campaign against the growing trend towards federal unfunded mandates. The initial installment of the Mandate Monitor identified more than $29 billion in unfunded costs to states to implement federal programs.
Of the $29 billion in unfunded mandates for fiscal year 2004, NCSL was able to identify costs to individual states for $24.4 billion of the total. The map shown above includes individual state costs for No Child Left Behind (Title I grants to local education authorities only), Medicaid, food stamps, special education, election reform and transportation sanctions. Certain costs of programs delegated to states by the Environmental Protection agency could not be quantified on a state-by-state basis.
Detailed 50-state information can be accessed at http://www.ncsl.org/programs/press/2004/pr040407.htm
News of the Weird: Bizarre but true stories about real people. http://www.govpro.com/GPRONewsletter/Article/28660/
Links
Custom-designed Meyer snow plows fit exact vehicle frame and weight specifications for exceptional performance in all applications. Visit: http://www.meyerproducts.com
MSA offers a complete line of personal protection equipment and instruments on GSA. Visit GSA Advantage!, http://www.gsaadvantage.gov
or call MSA at 1-888-837-2158 for a GSA catalog.
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
****************************************************** If you would like to subscribe to this weekly newsletter for government professionals send a blank email to: mailto:GovPro_Subscribe@list.pentonmedia.com If you would like to unsubscribe to the GovPro newsletter send a blank email to: mailto:GovPro_Unsubscribe@list.pentonmedia.com GovPro Newsletter, 1300 E. 9th St., Cleveland, OH 44114-1503
Copyright 2004 Penton Media, Inc.
