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January 29, 2003
GovPro Newsletter
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Tuesday, January 28, 2003 Volume 2, Issue 2
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. You have received this e-newsletter because you are a subscriber to Government Product News or Government PROcurement Journal. If this message was sent in error or you wish to unsubscribe, see the unsubscribe information below.
Sponsored by DENIOS
CONTENTS
Fed P-Cards Stall Small Business Database Tracks Southern Offenders Buses Brave Windy City Winters Tech-Savy Inmates Travel Internet AFV Stations Fuel Future News of the Weird
FEATURES
GAO FINDS FAULTY TRACKING DATA IN FEDERAL BUYING
Reviewing approximately $13.8 billion worth of federal agency buying charged to government purchase cards, the General Accounting Office (GAO) has uncovered faulty data-tracking procedures that may prevent small firms from winning a bigger share of the Congressionally-mandated 23-percent small business procurement goal, Senator Kit Bond said.
"This is another hole in the dike of federal procurement policy, which may allow lucrative business opportunities to leak out, slip downstream and out of the hands of small businesses," said Bond, who requested the review. In its report (GAO-03-56), the GAO found that the General Services Administration (GSA) does not collect sufficient data related to purchase cards, special credit cards that allow agencies to make individual purchases or payments on existing contracts, to identify whether those transactions are made from small firms or big businesses.
Senator Olympia J. Snowe, (R-Maine) incoming Chair of the Committee also voiced concern, saying the report's findings merit thorough review to determine if Congress should ask the GSA to implement the GAO's recommendations or take other action to get a clearer picture of potential harm to small firms.
Purchase cards are intended to streamline the process of acquiring goods and services by authorizing a broad range of government employees to purchase directly from merchants rather that going through the regular procurement process.
According to the GAO, about 2 million cards are in use by federal personnel. Moreover, spending on goods and services via purchase cards stands at an estimated $13.8 billion and is increasing rapidly. Purchases grew by $1.5 billion between Fiscal Year 2000 and FY 2001 alone.
"Congress established the 23 percent goal to help small firms who lack the competitive edge of Fortune 500 companies do better at fishing the waters of government work," Bond added. "As federal agencies do more business using purchase cards, GSA must find a reliable way to unravel hard, sound data to help gauge the potential benefit or loss to the small business sector."
In October 2001, the GSA, which administers the purchase card program, took steps to collect data on merchants doing business with the government through purchase cards during FY 2001. However, the effort to collect data on purchase card merchants was ineffective due to inconsistent and incomplete, and therefore unreliable, data. "Thus it is impossible to come to any meaningful conclusions about the distribution of purchase card dollars based on that effort," the GAO said.
The GAO recommended that the GSA Administrator: clarify the information that banks and payment card associations are asked to report and conduct periodic assessments to verify that they are interpreting and reporting the data consistently; specify a rigorous, disciplined approach to identifying and using appropriate information sources for the data and ensure that the participants agree to it.
DENIOS
DENIOS manufactures the broadest selection of Spill Containment, Chemical Storage and related equipment available. Systems provide safe, compliant, and efficient storage of flammables, corrosives and other hazardous chemicals or materials. http://www.thehazmatpro.com/
MISSISSIPPI STREAMLINES OFFENDER MANAGEMENT The Mississippi Department of Corrections (DOC) is implementing a new system that will be used by over 3,500 corrections officials throughout the state to manage the incarceration and supervision of approximately 21,000 inmates and 20,000 parolees and probationers.
The Mississippi DOC houses its inmates in 3 state prisons, 4 private prisons, 11 county regional facilities, 17 satellite facilities, 4 restitution centers, and operates over 60 statewide community corrections offices. With a population of over 2.8 million, Mississippi needed a scalable corrections management system that could handle the requirements of both large prison facilities and smaller community corrections offices. The system may also be extended to monitor and track inmates within the state's network of county jails.
The Offendertrak Corrections Management System, by Motorola, automates operational and administrative functions of today's correctional facility. AutoMon Corporation's Caseload Explorer, a comprehensive community supervision case management product and kiosk technology, will be fully integrated with the Offendertrak system. The system will provide a single, centralized database of offender information, activities and operations beginning with the pretrial assessments through incarceration or probation, release and parole as appropriate.
"Offendertrak is helping the State of Mississippi to effectively and efficiently manage our offender population," says Audrey McAfee, Information Technology Director for the Mississippi Department of Corrections. "Our new system will help corrections officials throughout the state manage the large amount of offender data that they need to access on a daily basis.
The system, valued at $6.4 million, is being installed in two phases, of which the first phase will be installed and operational by Spring 2003. The second and final phase is scheduled for completion by Fall 2003. For more information visit: http://www.motorola.com/cgiss/
MEYER PRODUCTS
M II and EZ-Mount Snow Plow Attaching Systems offer quick disconnect hydraulic couplers. Snow plow weight is placed close to the front axle for better overall weight distribution. The ground need not be level for moldboard storage or reattachment. NiteSaber lights come standard. Moldboards come in choice of polyethylene or steel and plow paths up to 103 ins. wide. Visit: http://www.meyerproducts.com/
NEWS
BUS FLEET TO BEAT CHICAGO WINTERS The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is adding 25, 45-foot, low-floor CompoBuses to it fleet. The CompoBus uses single-piece composite technology, making the bus lightweight and resistant to rust and corrosion. This provides the CTA with an efficient and higher-capacity transit bus fleet that is tough enough to withstand Chicagos harsh winters.
The combination of a lightweight fiberglass body and a low-emission engine will significantly reduce fuel costs without sacrificing performance. The technology is similar to that used in making hulls for racing boats and windmill blades. The lightweight design of extends brake life and reduces tire wear, and also allows up to 15% more passenger capacity on a two-axle bus.
The Compobus is manufacturered by North American Bus Industries (NABI). The new contract follows the CTAs previous procurement of 230, 60-foot low-floor articulated buses (Model 60-LFW) that was announced in January 2001. The buses, equipped with diesel engines, are currently scheduled to be delivered in the first half of 2004. The contract is worth approximately $9 million. For more information visit: http://www.nabiusa.com/
PRISONERS RECEIVE HIGH-TECH TRAINING
All 38,000 of South Koreas convicted criminals are receiving high-tech training including word processing and Internet usage. Convicts may also earn a college equivalent diploma that greatly increases released prisoners chances of getting a job. Yeoju Correctional Institution has 160 computer throughout five computer labs.
DOE TO FUND 23 AFV INFRASTRUCTURE
To support the expanded use of alternative fuels in fleets nationwide, DOE's Field Operations Testing Program and Federal Fleet AFV Program selected 23 alternative fuel infrastructure projects at 12 DOE facilities to receive $2.7 million. DOE targeted projects that have the greatest potential to help fleets comply with Executive Order 13149, and were evaluated for their potential to provide alternative fuels to state and local government fleets, commercial fleets, and the public.
Each project involves the construction of AFV fueling stations and storage tanks. Of the 23 projects, 11 involve E85, 8 focus on CNG, and 4 involve B20. The grantees include Bonneville Power Administration (two CNG projects); Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (one E85 project); Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (one B20, one E85, and two CNG projects); Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (one E85 project); Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (one CNG project); and Los Alamos National Laboratory (one B20 and two E85 projects).
NEWS OF THE WEIRD Bizarre but true stories about real people. http://www.govpro.com/GPRONewsletter/Article/29099/
Power Trac
Power Trac's PT-1850 is the World's Only 45 degree slope mower. Visit: http://www.power-trac.com/series1800.htm
LINKS
C & H Distributors provide a fast, efficient way to purchase shelving, cabinets, packaging and shipping products, or office furniture. Visit: http://www.chdist.com/govt
Safety Storage manufactures prefabricated heavy-gage steel products and custom engineered building systems. Visit: http://www.safetystorage.com/
BENEFITS-DRIVEN PROCUREMENT, FEBRUARY 26, 27 World Research Group is pleased to announce its Benefits-Driven Procurement conference, scheduled for February 26-27, 2003 in Las Vegas. To register or for more information, please visit http://www.worldrg.com/fw316 or e-mail liz@worldrg.com.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
Fargo Electronics: Facility ID cards and access control. http://www.fargo.com Kassbohrer: All-terrain vehicles. http://www.katvpb.com Newing-Hall: Advanced engraving technology.http://www.newing-hall.com RAE System: Gas detection.http://www.raesystems.com
Find information on advertising in the GovPro Newsletter on http://www.govpro.com or contact rhowlett@penton.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://www.submag.com/sub/gn To subscribe to Government PROcurement visit:http://www.submag.com/sub/gp
Copyright 2003 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. You have received this e-newsletter because you are a subscriber to Government Product News or Government PROcurement Journal. If this message was sent in error or you wish to unsubscribe, see the unsubscribe information below.
Sponsored by DENIOS
CONTENTS
Fed P-Cards Stall Small Business Database Tracks Southern Offenders Buses Brave Windy City Winters Tech-Savy Inmates Travel Internet AFV Stations Fuel Future News of the Weird
FEATURES
GAO FINDS FAULTY TRACKING DATA IN FEDERAL BUYING
Reviewing approximately $13.8 billion worth of federal agency buying charged to government purchase cards, the General Accounting Office (GAO) has uncovered faulty data-tracking procedures that may prevent small firms from winning a bigger share of the Congressionally-mandated 23-percent small business procurement goal, Senator Kit Bond said.
"This is another hole in the dike of federal procurement policy, which may allow lucrative business opportunities to leak out, slip downstream and out of the hands of small businesses," said Bond, who requested the review. In its report (GAO-03-56), the GAO found that the General Services Administration (GSA) does not collect sufficient data related to purchase cards, special credit cards that allow agencies to make individual purchases or payments on existing contracts, to identify whether those transactions are made from small firms or big businesses.
Senator Olympia J. Snowe, (R-Maine) incoming Chair of the Committee also voiced concern, saying the report's findings merit thorough review to determine if Congress should ask the GSA to implement the GAO's recommendations or take other action to get a clearer picture of potential harm to small firms.
Purchase cards are intended to streamline the process of acquiring goods and services by authorizing a broad range of government employees to purchase directly from merchants rather that going through the regular procurement process.
According to the GAO, about 2 million cards are in use by federal personnel. Moreover, spending on goods and services via purchase cards stands at an estimated $13.8 billion and is increasing rapidly. Purchases grew by $1.5 billion between Fiscal Year 2000 and FY 2001 alone.
"Congress established the 23 percent goal to help small firms who lack the competitive edge of Fortune 500 companies do better at fishing the waters of government work," Bond added. "As federal agencies do more business using purchase cards, GSA must find a reliable way to unravel hard, sound data to help gauge the potential benefit or loss to the small business sector."
In October 2001, the GSA, which administers the purchase card program, took steps to collect data on merchants doing business with the government through purchase cards during FY 2001. However, the effort to collect data on purchase card merchants was ineffective due to inconsistent and incomplete, and therefore unreliable, data. "Thus it is impossible to come to any meaningful conclusions about the distribution of purchase card dollars based on that effort," the GAO said.
The GAO recommended that the GSA Administrator: clarify the information that banks and payment card associations are asked to report and conduct periodic assessments to verify that they are interpreting and reporting the data consistently; specify a rigorous, disciplined approach to identifying and using appropriate information sources for the data and ensure that the participants agree to it.
DENIOS
DENIOS manufactures the broadest selection of Spill Containment, Chemical Storage and related equipment available. Systems provide safe, compliant, and efficient storage of flammables, corrosives and other hazardous chemicals or materials. http://www.thehazmatpro.com/
MISSISSIPPI STREAMLINES OFFENDER MANAGEMENT The Mississippi Department of Corrections (DOC) is implementing a new system that will be used by over 3,500 corrections officials throughout the state to manage the incarceration and supervision of approximately 21,000 inmates and 20,000 parolees and probationers.
The Mississippi DOC houses its inmates in 3 state prisons, 4 private prisons, 11 county regional facilities, 17 satellite facilities, 4 restitution centers, and operates over 60 statewide community corrections offices. With a population of over 2.8 million, Mississippi needed a scalable corrections management system that could handle the requirements of both large prison facilities and smaller community corrections offices. The system may also be extended to monitor and track inmates within the state's network of county jails.
The Offendertrak Corrections Management System, by Motorola, automates operational and administrative functions of today's correctional facility. AutoMon Corporation's Caseload Explorer, a comprehensive community supervision case management product and kiosk technology, will be fully integrated with the Offendertrak system. The system will provide a single, centralized database of offender information, activities and operations beginning with the pretrial assessments through incarceration or probation, release and parole as appropriate.
"Offendertrak is helping the State of Mississippi to effectively and efficiently manage our offender population," says Audrey McAfee, Information Technology Director for the Mississippi Department of Corrections. "Our new system will help corrections officials throughout the state manage the large amount of offender data that they need to access on a daily basis.
The system, valued at $6.4 million, is being installed in two phases, of which the first phase will be installed and operational by Spring 2003. The second and final phase is scheduled for completion by Fall 2003. For more information visit: http://www.motorola.com/cgiss/
MEYER PRODUCTS
M II and EZ-Mount Snow Plow Attaching Systems offer quick disconnect hydraulic couplers. Snow plow weight is placed close to the front axle for better overall weight distribution. The ground need not be level for moldboard storage or reattachment. NiteSaber lights come standard. Moldboards come in choice of polyethylene or steel and plow paths up to 103 ins. wide. Visit: http://www.meyerproducts.com/
NEWS
BUS FLEET TO BEAT CHICAGO WINTERS The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is adding 25, 45-foot, low-floor CompoBuses to it fleet. The CompoBus uses single-piece composite technology, making the bus lightweight and resistant to rust and corrosion. This provides the CTA with an efficient and higher-capacity transit bus fleet that is tough enough to withstand Chicagos harsh winters.
The combination of a lightweight fiberglass body and a low-emission engine will significantly reduce fuel costs without sacrificing performance. The technology is similar to that used in making hulls for racing boats and windmill blades. The lightweight design of extends brake life and reduces tire wear, and also allows up to 15% more passenger capacity on a two-axle bus.
The Compobus is manufacturered by North American Bus Industries (NABI). The new contract follows the CTAs previous procurement of 230, 60-foot low-floor articulated buses (Model 60-LFW) that was announced in January 2001. The buses, equipped with diesel engines, are currently scheduled to be delivered in the first half of 2004. The contract is worth approximately $9 million. For more information visit: http://www.nabiusa.com/
PRISONERS RECEIVE HIGH-TECH TRAINING
All 38,000 of South Koreas convicted criminals are receiving high-tech training including word processing and Internet usage. Convicts may also earn a college equivalent diploma that greatly increases released prisoners chances of getting a job. Yeoju Correctional Institution has 160 computer throughout five computer labs.
DOE TO FUND 23 AFV INFRASTRUCTURE
To support the expanded use of alternative fuels in fleets nationwide, DOE's Field Operations Testing Program and Federal Fleet AFV Program selected 23 alternative fuel infrastructure projects at 12 DOE facilities to receive $2.7 million. DOE targeted projects that have the greatest potential to help fleets comply with Executive Order 13149, and were evaluated for their potential to provide alternative fuels to state and local government fleets, commercial fleets, and the public.
Each project involves the construction of AFV fueling stations and storage tanks. Of the 23 projects, 11 involve E85, 8 focus on CNG, and 4 involve B20. The grantees include Bonneville Power Administration (two CNG projects); Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (one E85 project); Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (one B20, one E85, and two CNG projects); Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (one E85 project); Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (one CNG project); and Los Alamos National Laboratory (one B20 and two E85 projects).
NEWS OF THE WEIRD Bizarre but true stories about real people. http://www.govpro.com/GPRONewsletter/Article/29099/
Power Trac
Power Trac's PT-1850 is the World's Only 45 degree slope mower. Visit: http://www.power-trac.com/series1800.htm
LINKS
C & H Distributors provide a fast, efficient way to purchase shelving, cabinets, packaging and shipping products, or office furniture. Visit: http://www.chdist.com/govt
Safety Storage manufactures prefabricated heavy-gage steel products and custom engineered building systems. Visit: http://www.safetystorage.com/
BENEFITS-DRIVEN PROCUREMENT, FEBRUARY 26, 27 World Research Group is pleased to announce its Benefits-Driven Procurement conference, scheduled for February 26-27, 2003 in Las Vegas. To register or for more information, please visit http://www.worldrg.com/fw316 or e-mail liz@worldrg.com.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
Fargo Electronics: Facility ID cards and access control. http://www.fargo.com Kassbohrer: All-terrain vehicles. http://www.katvpb.com Newing-Hall: Advanced engraving technology.http://www.newing-hall.com RAE System: Gas detection.http://www.raesystems.com
Find information on advertising in the GovPro Newsletter on http://www.govpro.com or contact rhowlett@penton.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://www.submag.com/sub/gn To subscribe to Government PROcurement visit:http://www.submag.com/sub/gp
Copyright 2003 Penton Media, Inc.
