Procurement

Lessons learned from whole-of-state cybersecurity efforts

More than two years into the federal cybersecurity grant program, state and local tech leaders say information sharing between the different levels of government is the most important aspect of the approach.

  • By Chris Teale

How the procurement process can help agencies acquire responsible AI

Buying artificial intelligence is not just about setting new policies to manage emerging technology, but applying tried-and-true processes, one expert says.

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz

Whole-of-state procurement gives local agencies better pricing, expert advice

Initially used to extend cybersecurity throughout government, the whole-of-state concept is also being used to push training and software licensing contracts to local agencies.

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz

When a vendor pays a mayor $13,000, is it a bribe? The U.S. Supreme Court will decide

A former Indiana mayor asked the high court to intervene in his corruption case and resolve a disparity in which “gratuities” from outsiders are considered OK in some courts, but not in others.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

In unique approach, one county utilizes a P3 to build public schools

Instead of it taking six years to build six schools, it took three. The first-of-its-kind project saved Prince George’s County, Maryland, millions of dollars—and includes 30 years of maintenance.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

How one state pushes cybersecurity to local agencies

Arizona’s whole-of-state cybersecurity program gives local governments free access to cloud-based cybersecurity tools—an approach that extends security and helps build a problem-solving community.

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz

How local government can drive housing innovation

COMMENTARY | Raleigh, North Carolina, tapped into a nontraditional vendor pool to find new ways of using so-called granny flats to boost affordable housing.

  • By Nick Lyell

Ways procurement can push efficiency and sustainability

By wringing more efficiency out of the buying process and building sustainability into statewide contracts, California’s Department of General Services aims to help the state meet its aggressive sustainability goals.

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz

States put buying power to work for local governments

When states drive cooperative procurements, local agencies can take advantage of volume discounts, experienced contracting officers and a streamlined process.

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz

State Looks to Better Assess Vendor Security

Michigan wants a “security rating snapshot” of contractors as well as a public portal that details their financial risk.

  • By Chris Teale

A Roadmap to Achieving 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy

COMMENTARY | A new clean energy procurement trend is gaining momentum in cities racing to meet ambitious climate goals. Here’s how 24/7 carbon-free energy works, how local governments can get started on this approach and where they can look for support.

  • By Andrew Light and Lacey Shaver

Schools Find Power in Numbers

Across the country, school districts are joining together to negotiate lower premiums for insurance, goods and services.

  • By Rachel Gottlieb
Featured eBooks
The State of Trust in Government
Cybersecurity in State and Local Government
Building Data Literacy in the State and Local Workforce

5 Ways Local Governments Can Make Spending Smarter

COMMENTARY | There’s a lot wrong with the way governments purchase goods and services. But there are also ways to bring creativity and efficiency to procurement, harnessing it for innovation and economic growth.

  • By Mark Funkhouser

2 Practical Approaches to More Equitable Government Spending

It's been over two years since policy-makers began to redouble equity efforts with state and local budgets and programs. Here's a look at where things stand with some of that work.

  • By Liz Farmer

Better, Smarter and Faster Public Procurement in 9 Easy Steps

COMMENTARY | With procurement, the public sector has made shopping a chore. Here’s how to fix that.

  • By Antoine Belaieff

Billions Are Coming From Washington. The Fraudsters and the Corrupt Are Drooling.

COMMENTARY | Local governments should recognize the potential threat of corrupt uses of federal stimulus money by public officials. There are some steps auditors and honest public leaders can take to prevent fraudulent activity.

  • By Mark Funkhouser

Thermal Body Scans Being Tested at Pedestrian Border Crossings

Customs and Border Protection is piloting the Pedestrian Detection-at-Range system to identify illegal or dangerous items being smuggled through ports of entry.

  • By Aaron Boyd

Most Organizations Embrace Hybrid Cloud, Report Shows

In a survey of U.S. and U.K. IT decision makers, three out of four reported onboarding a new cloud provider during 2020.

  • By Frank Konkel

DOJ to Help Rural and Tribal Law Enforcement Agencies Buy Body-Worn Cameras

The $7.65 million competitive grants program will also help agencies with fewer than 50 personnel.

  • By Brandi Vincent

Getting the 'Bosses of Procurement' to Understand its Strategic Value

State procurement departments have been front and center during the pandemic. Once the crisis wanes, focus on procurement may diminish, but officials say it needs ongoing high-level attention.

  • By Katherine Barrett & Richard Greene

Rain, Fire and Car Crashes: How Ballot Boxes are Built to Withstand the World

The boxes are developed to include a host of built-in security features to keep ballots safe.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram