https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Events
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • Magazine
    • Back
    • Digital Editions
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • Advertise
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Events
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • Magazine
    • Back
    • Digital Editions
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • Subscribe to GovPro
    • Manage GovPro Subscription
    • Advertise
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
acc.com

News


Procurement Organization to Certify Government Contractors

Procurement Organization to Certify Government Contractors

Procurement Organization to Certify Government Contractors The National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) will launch the Government Contractor
  • Written by Null Null
  • 23rd August 2004

Procurement Organization to Certify Government Contractors

The National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) will launch the Government Contractor Certificate (GCC) Program in Arlington, VA, on October 12.

According to the organization, contractors providing a myriad of goods and services to federal, state, and local governments should have the knowledge and skill sets needed to interact effectively with public-sector buyers and managers. Knowledge and understanding of public-sector contracting laws, principles, policies, and procedures by suppliers can eliminate confusion, reduce procurement lead times, ensure quality offers and proposals, reduce protests and disputes, and improve communications and partnerships.

A certificate program involving 40 hours of training in four, eight-hour, core acquisition courses and one elective involving one, eight-hour, contemporary procurement topic will make up this new program for government contractors. The core courses include Introduction and Concepts to Public Purchasing; Legal Aspects; Sourcing: Solicitations, Evaluation, Award; and Contract Administration. Electives include Federal Supply Schedule Contracting and Contracting for Services. Contractors can opt for a program that leads to a special certificate or take individual courses available under the program.

The registration fee is $395 per course. Future course locations include Orlando, FL; Annapolis, MD; Anaheim, CA; Las Vegas, NV; and Fort Lauderdale, FL. For more information, visit the NIGP GCC Program site and curriculum: www.govinfo.bz/4205-291.

When it Comes to Competition Waivers, DOD Needs Guidance, Says GAO
According to recent General Accounting Office (GAO) findings, competition requirements were waived for nearly half (34 of 74) of the multiple-award contracts and federal supply schedule orders awarded by the Department of Defense (DOD).

Based on previous GAO findings, Congress enacted Section 803 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2002, which requires procedures to promote competition and provides when waivers of competition are allowed.

For this review, GAO randomly selected 74 orders at five DOD buying organizations. Competition was limited on the 40 orders available for competition. For 16 orders, only one offer was received in response to agency solicitations. For 15 orders, the buying organizations received two or more offers. For nine orders, contracting officials did not solicit competitive offers. Instead, the nine orders were based on information previously submitted to the government.

The GAO, a congressional watchdog organization, recommends that the Secretary of Defense develop guidance on the conditions under which a waiver of competition may be used, require detailed documentation to support waivers, and establish approval authority above the contracting office level based on the value of the order. The DOD agreed with the proposed recommendations.

Striking the right balance between achieving the benefits of competition and retaining contractors who satisfy customers is a challenge for the DOD. The frequent use of waivers to competition may be hindering DOD’s ability to obtain innovative solutions to the problems, and best value for the taxpayer, according to the GAO. On the other hand, requests by program offices to waive competition to retain the services of incumbent contractors are strong indications that contractors are satisfying customer needs.

EPA Awaits Public Comment on Earth-Friendly Purchasing Guides
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces the availability of four draft Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Guides for public review and comment. The guides provide information to procurement officials for making EPP decisions that can help protect human health and the environment. They cover the following products and services: carpets, cleaning products, copiers, and meetings and conferences.

EPA’s 60-day public comment period will end August 30, 2004. Interested parties should go to www.govinfo bz/4205-292 to submit or view public comments.

These non-mandatory preference guidelines are targeted to federal buyers, as well as buyers who use federal funds. The guides are available at www.govinfo. bz/4205-293.

County Goes Live With Emergency Medical Dispatch Program
The Fairfax County Public Safety Communications Center (PSCC) in Annandale, VA, went live with its APCO Emergency Medical Dispatch Program (EMD). The APCO EMD Program is a system of medical pre-arrival instructions that telecommunicators provide to callers while waiting for responders to arrive.

Fairfax County PSCC provides dispatch services to Fairfax County, the Towns of Herndon and Vienna, Fairfax City, and Fort Belvoir. One of the larger agencies they dispatch, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, provides fire and emergency medical services (EMS) to a population of over one million with a staff of 1,528. In 2003, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue responded to over 90,000 calls for service, 61,536 of which were EMS calls.

Fairfax County PSCC, with a staff of 144 personnel including four lead supervisors, 14 assistant supervisors, 122 full-time employees and four part-time employees, handles 1.2 million calls annually, operating 15 call-taker positions and 10 dispatch positions on each shift. All telecommunicators attended the APCO Public Safety Telecommunicator I and APCO EMD courses in house. The training was conducted by Fairfax County’s on-staff APCO certified instructors.

APCO Institute, a subsidiary of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International, addresses educational and certification needs of public safety communications agencies. The Institute offers a selection of affordable training, educational resources, and consulting services for public safety communicators throughout the United States and in the international arena.

For more information on APCO, visit: www.govinfo.bz/4205-294.

Deadline Approaches for Innovations in American Government Awards
Administered by the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government in partner-ship with the Council for Excellence in Government, the Innovations Award is heralded as the premier public-sector award in the nation. The award is given annually to programs that serve as examples of creative and effective government at its best. Deadline for the 2005 awards is September 15, 2004.

All units of government—federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial— are eligible to apply. Each of the five winners of the 2005 Innovations Award will receive a $100,000 grant to support replication and dissemination activities.

For applications and additional information, visit: www.govinfo.bz/ 4205-295.

NIGP Awards Authorized CEUs
In an announcement dated July 27, 2004, the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) was awarded Authorized Provider status by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) Commission. Only IACET Authorized Providers, who undergo a strict evaluation by continuing education peers, can award the IACET CEU.

This award means that all NIGP professional development seminars, including the new Learning and Education to Advance Procurement (LEAP) curriculum have been approved for complying with internationally recognized standards. Awarding the CEU approved by IACET provides a quality indicator of the programs developed by the NIGP and its continuing procurement education.

Just as a college credit from one university can be transferred to another, any organization has the right to accept or reject IACET CEU units. IACET is a well-known organization that is recognized as upholding high standards for excellence with regards to continuing education, and therefore most organizations will accept IACET units. To determine whether an organization or association will accept the credit, NIGP recommends contacting the group directly.

The Continuing Education Unit (CEU) was established by a U.S. Department of Education task force in 1968. In 1977, the task force created a membership organization called the Council on the Continuing Education Unit. The organization’s name was changed in 1990 to the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).

IACET conducts research and development projects directed toward effective practices for continuing education and training, disseminates effective teaching and learning practices for adults, and educates the public about the CEU. IACET publishes the criteria and guidelines for the CEU, as well as criteria and principles for the review and enhancement of adult professional education and training.

For additional information on NIGP and LEAP, see the Web site at www.govinfo.bz/4205-296.

For additional information on IACET, visit: wwww.govinfo.bz/ 4205-297.

Grant Helps Ohio Police Department Fine-Tune Radio Operations
The Office of Homeland Security has awarded the Bexley, OH, police department a $236,000 grant to fund improvements to its police radio system. The grant will be funneled through the Franklin County Terrorism Advisory Team’s Columbus Urban Area Security Initiative.

Plans for the money involve increasing Bexley’s Law Enforcement Emergency Radio network from 400 to 800 MHz. to meet standards set by surrounding police departments. The increased frequency will allow more effective communication with other agencies during emergencies when phones might not be an option.

—Source: National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center.

Survey Announces Top 10 Digitally Savvy States
The 10 most digitally advanced state governments have been identified in the 2004 Digital States Survey, a study performed by the Center for Digital Government.

Sponsored by Hewlett Packard, Intuit, Microsoft, and Symantec, the survey examines best practices, policies, and progress made by state governments in their use of digital technologies to serve citizens and streamline operations.

Winning states were Michigan, Washington, Virginia, Indiana, Arizona, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and Arkansas. Colorado and North Carolina tied for 10th place.

In March, the center invited state governors and their chief information officers to participate in the survey, which featured more than 60 measures in the areas of service delivery, architecture and infrastructure, collaboration, and leadership.

Winners received awards at the National Governors Association meeting in Seattle, WA, held July 17 to 19. City and county governments, as well as state legislatures, are also surveyed throughout the year.

Legislators Recognized for Mental Health Measures
For their efforts to improve America’s mental health, the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) has awarded four members of Congress with Legislator of the Year awards: Senator Mike DeWine, R—Ohio; Representative Tim Murphy, R—Pennsylvania; Representative Grace Napolitano, D—California; and Senator Gordon Smith, R—Rhode Island.

NMHA addresses all aspects of mental health and mental illness. With more than 340 affiliates nationwide, NMHA works to improve the mental health of all Americans through advocacy, education, research, and service.

E-Government Spending to Double by 2008
The state and local market for e-government products and services will reverse its dramatically declinging growth trend in 2005 and more than double 2004 spending levels by 2008, according to a report released by Input, a provider of government market intelligence.

The report, titled State and Local E-Government MarketView, projects state and local e-government growth will be moderate over the next two years as governments exhaust opportunities to further broaden Web site operations and engage consulting and research efforts to develop comprehensive plans for the next phase of e-government. By FY 2006, system operations will dovetail with wider IT market trends to outsource non-core government competencies, beginning a cycle of pronounced growth to reach an approximate compound annual growth rate of 30 percent through FY 2007.

The report notes the obstacles facing the next phase of state and local e-government are significant and include budget constraints, difficulty in producing measurable ROI, and jurisdictional turf wars where agencies must integrate operations. The combined factors will force slow and calculated expansion in the e-government market over the next two years but will provide a strong platform for rapid growth thereafter as challenges are overcome.

To download a report summary, visit www.govinfo.bz/4205-152.

Hoosiers Herald Free Access to High-Tech Tools
The State of Indiana recently unveiled a new technology program designed to give all residents free access to a full suite of computer software tools. SimIndiana permits residents to access their personal files and applications from any computer at any time.

“SimIndiana is the first statewide technology inclusion program of its kind, and we are making it available to all Hoosiers at no cost,” says Lieutenant Governor Kathy Davis. “This eliminates the economic barriers that have prevented some people from utilizing and benefiting from technology.”

The software features services for e-mail, file management with file and group sharing capabilities, and remote printing. The software also provides a free client download with word processing, spreadsheets, calendar and contact management tools. Users’ documents are stored on a remote, secure server and can be accessed from any Web-enabled device.

“SimIndiana gives individuals and small businesses a way to stay connected and informed by installing the software on as many machines as they like, allowing them access to the software at work, home or school,” Davis says. “This brand new opportunity for Hoosiers helps us advance the state as a technology leader in providing an atmosphere for our residents that supports their creativity and connection.”

The Indiana State Public Library, Jennings County Public Library, Indianapolis Public Schools, and the Department of Workforce Development have all volunteered to assist people in using SimIndiana from their public access terminals.

SimIndiana will be hosted by SimDesk Technologies, Inc., from its Houston-based data center.

For more information, visit www.govinfo.bz/4205-153.

Tags: ar mag News

Related


  • The uncertain future of community composting in New York City
    After roughly a decade of service in New York City, the last two community composting sites will not have their leases renewed. These sites are situated on land belonging to the city’s Parks Department: the Lower East Side Ecology Center is at Corlears Hook Park in Lower Manhattan, and Big Reuse is located under the […]
  • Public safety needs a better way to triage emergency calls
    The overarching goal of the public-safety community is to ensure that 911 callers receive the most appropriate emergency response as quickly as possible. Lives often are on the line in an emergency, and every second matters. Achieving a balance between sending the optimal response to an emergency and having it arrive as fast as possible […]
  • Biden’s relief plan includes $350 billion for local and state government
    President-Elect Joe Biden announced a $1.9 trillion relief plan Thursday to combat the COVID-19 crisis and the economic downturn it has caused. In addition to $400 million to combat the pandemic specifically, the proposal includes $350 billion for state, local and tribal governments that would help them to bridge budget shortfalls, help public works maintain […]
  • How Philadelphia is aiming for zero waste
    The city of Philadelphia has long collected data on city properties’ waste generation and leveraged it to improve waste management, but now it’s honing in on the commercial sector too, realizing this will be crucial to hitting Philly’s zero waste targets. Today it runs a voluntary program where both municipal and commercial operations do detailed […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • The 21 neediest American cities in 2021
  • FirstNet Authority releases new details about impact of Nashville explosion on broadband system
  • Report: Many governments facing revenue shortfalls due to COVID-19
  • Shared governance: How pandemic partnerships can lead to progress and offer promise

White papers


How a unified HR system helps one public safety organization manage crews, payroll, and more in a single platform

7th January 2021

Your Roadmap to COVID-19 Funding

18th December 2020

The One Where Everyone Wins: A Mutually Beneficial Contracting Method

10th December 2020
view all

Events


PODCAST


Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020

Young Leaders Episode 2 – Christian Williams – Development Services Planner, Goodyear, Ariz.

1st July 2020
view all

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

The latest episode The Young Leaders Podcast focuses on Cyril Jefferson. Cyril is the youngest African American to… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

27th October 2020
AmerCityCounty

Hillsboro, Oregon is pioneering a new #renewableenergy generation technology through a partnership with… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

27th October 2020
AmerCityCounty

The impact of the #COVID19 pandemic on #telework was swift and profound. Now, the big question is whether – and to… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

26th October 2020
AmerCityCounty

Get ready for the can't-miss webinar on how to kickstart your efficiency improvement plan with Luke Anderson of… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

26th October 2020
AmerCityCounty

Among all states headed into the 2020 general election, which ones have voting populations that are the most demogr… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

26th October 2020
AmerCityCounty

We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts in our readership survey to help us shape future content so that we c… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

23rd October 2020
AmerCityCounty

See how cities different approaches to distribute masks in their communities >> spr.ly/6010GAPLa

23rd October 2020
AmerCityCounty

While #facialrecognition is a powerful tool that can improve law enforcement efficiency, that doesn’t necessarily t… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

23rd October 2020

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2021 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X