As Veterans Day approaches, some reasons to contract with veteran-owned businesses and some help for veteran entrepreneurs
There are a couple of reasons why governments should offer more support to veterans who choose entrepreneurship upon their return to civilian life, says Don Gonneville, owner of Gonneville Inc., a certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise. ...
Versatile truck will appeal to police and other government agencies
Starting this month, Auburn Hills, Mich.-based Ram Truck will be offering the Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 Special Service package for law enforcement and other emergency agencies through Chrysler Group Fleet sales. The Ram model features several pieces of severe-duty-adapted equipment....
Grounds maintenance: tree leaf mulching can be good for the lawn
A leaf-mulching program may make sense for grounds maintenance managers in government. Two turf researchers from Purdue University found that mulching tree leaves may improve soil properties, thanks to increased microbial activity and water-infiltration rates. Each lawn needs to be evaluated individually, say grounds maintenance experts Zac Reicher and Glenn Hardebeck....
Electronic sensor alerts motorists to highway wildlife hazards
The Colorado Department of Transportation is testing a system that may one day replace highway warning signs that inform drivers of potential wildlife. The system, called OmniTrax from Senstar, informs motorists of the real and immediate presence of animals on the road....
Android app provides firefighters with GPS-based driving directions to an emergency
Firefighters continue to develop technologies for the fire service, this time with the FirefighterLog app available for download to Android devices. The app converts text dispatch data into Google navigator and provides firefighter-engineers with GPS-based driving directions to an incident, said Patrick Jackson, the app’s developer and a career fire engineer with the Rocky Mount (N.C.) Fire Department. ...
Need product specifications for a procurement? NIGP has a variety of tools
When they need to find specs for upcoming purchases, public procurement pros can consult several NIGP resources, says Theresa Jordan Webb, project manager at the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority....
Slight uptick in October Municipal Cost Index
Last month, the Produce Price Index dropped, but the overall costs of goods and services purchased by local governments increased 0.1 percent, according to American City & County's Municipal Cost Index. The October 2011 Municipal Cost Index value of 223.6 is 5.1 percent higher than last year....
It’s good business for governments to support veteran-owned businesses with contracts, says NaVOBA
There are several reasons why governments should issue supply contracts to qualified veteran-owned businesses (VOBs), says Matthew Pavelek, director of communications at the National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA)....
Mixers improve water quality in Arizona storage tanks
Yuma, Ariz., has installed solar-powered mixers in its three potable water tanks to help ensure water quality continues to meet regulations and the community’s expectations. The mixers from Dickinson, N.D.-based SolarBee help distribute disinfectant uniformly, eliminate thermal stratification and prevent stagnation and short-circuiting....
NRPA Congress in Atlanta aims to stimulate, educate
More than 6,500 park and recreation professionals, citizen advocates and industry suppliers will learn how active minds create opportunities for a healthy nation at the 2011 National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) Congress and Exposition in Atlanta, Nov. 1-3. “Active Minds, Healthy Nation” is the theme of the Congress, which will feature hundreds of mind-expanding educational sessions and networking opportunities. About 450 exhibitors will showcase their newest products, services and technology in categories including aquatics, grounds maintenance, surfacing materials and water parks. ...
Some federal agencies ban social media, says FedSmith
Ralph and Ian Smith of the FedSmith.com federal workplace portal follow technology trends among federal government agencies. Here, they offer their views to Govpro.com about the federal government’s use of social media, phones and other technology. ...
Georgia county adds two dozen CNG trucks to its fleet
DeKalb County, Ga., which labels itself “The Greenest County in America,” has ordered 24 Freightliner Business Class M2 112 compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks. The county, which is in the five-county core of the Atlanta metropolitan statistical area, will take delivery of the vehicles in late 2011. The trucks will be used for sanitation and maintenance tasks....
GIE+Expo combines greenscapes, hardscapes, education — and fun
Only Mother Nature could make it greener than the 2011 Green Industry and Equipment Expo (GIE+Expo) set for the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky., Oct. 27-29. The GIE+Expo, North America’s 14th-largest tradeshow, provides golf course superintendents, parks and municipal buyers, and others in the lawn, garden and outdoor products and equipment trades an opportunity to see what the industry is buzzing about for 2012....
Top state IT/digital projects earn honors from NASCIO
The National Association of State Chief Information Officers' (NASCIO) has announced the 10 winners of its 2011 Recognition Awards for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Information Technology in State Government. The winners include state initiatives in digital government, data management, interagency collaboration and more....
Engineers use modeling to track energy usage and help reduce energy consumption in schools
Building energy modeling is a powerful tool that predicts a school facility’s energy usage. Different types of energy models are developed at various stages of a project to provide data that can verify or disprove suggested energy-efficiency measures. ...
U.S. House members rely on video chat tools
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and staff are now permitted to use Skype, an online video-chatting tool, following a decision by the House Administration Committee. ...
FedSmith: Federal workers need tools and technology to be more productive
In Part 1 of our interview, Ralph and Ian Smith of the FedSmith.com federal workplace portal spoke of the “targeting” of government workers because of the budget problems that Congress and federal agencies are facing today. In this second part of the interview, the Smiths cover a variety of topics of interest to government employees....
Procurement survey: Public purchasers still rely on paper rather than automation or software
A poll of almost 500 procurement professionals shows many public organizations still rely on paper and homegrown solutions when it comes to purchasing operations. Under-automation is still prevalent, with 22 percent of purchasers surveyed saying their departments do not use procurement software of any kind. ...
GIS software helps Philadelphia replace traffic lights in public works project and save a cool million
Philadelphia’s city administration is using ArcGIS software from Redlands, Calif.-based Esri to implement its LED Traffic Lights Project, a massive traffic light replacement program. The project is funded in part by an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 public works grant....
Cell phone that detects life-threatening chemical exposures gets tryout
The Department of Homeland Security’s Science & Technology Directorate demonstrated in front of invited media and webcast guests the first-ever cell phone capable of detecting life-threatening chemical exposures, dubbed the Cell-All. The S&T worked with commercial vendors to miniaturize environmental sensors and embed them in commercial devices. ...
Webinar: Using smart phones, tablets and other tools to deliver public service
As more people regularly use smart phones, tablets and other gadgets, they are accessing government information and services in new and increasingly diverse ways. That can overwhelm government IT managers, who must keep data secure, meet the demands for ubiquitous Wi-Fi, develop mobile applications, and more. Those challenges are manageable, though, and a webinar on Oct. 11, 2011, during the State & Local Government Summit, will explain how....
California fleet maintenance equipment maker freezes prices
Car lift and garage equipment manufacturer BendPak-Ranger will not raise prices on its products through mid-2012. The firm recently made the announcement to its worldwide network of dealers and consumers....
Money-saving procurement reform in the Big Apple
New York City is about to exercise its buying power muscle by totally revamping its procurement process. That is a key part of this local government effort to consolidate and modernize its back-office operations with a goal of saving $500 million over the next four years. Initiated by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith, the effort focuses on the Department of Citywide Administrative Services....
Volunteer network helps military families get through winter
THE BOSS Snowplow organization is underwriting a second year of Project EverGreen’s SnowCare for Troops program and urging snow removal professionals to join the movement and double the volunteer base in year two....
Increased buying activity as the federal fiscal year winds down
The federal government’s fiscal year ends next Friday, Sept. 30, and Govpro sniffed around to see if federal contracting activity is increasing as the fiscal year draws to a close. According to an estimate from American Express OPEN, federal agencies could spend an estimated $120 billion in the last quarter this fiscal year....
Previous | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | Next
What You're Saying