Procurement
The changing face of procurement
COMMENTARY | Even before the Department of Government Efficiency took hold, state-level contracting was ripe for innovation. A lot more work lies ahead to modernize it.
Texas school district sees efficiency gains with e-procurement
At a time when shrinking budgets are impacting school closures in the state, the Arlington Independent School District has turned to tech to better manage spending.
Identifying and mitigating third-party IT risks
COMMENTARY | Transparency, accountability and collaboration with vendors can help agencies reduce the risks associated with third-party contracting.
Challenge-based procurement ‘just makes sense’
New York City is trying out a new approach to government procurement, whereby the city seeks solutions to its problems instead of prescribing them.
Whole-of-state program delivers security that’s ‘antivirus on steroids’
Woodbury, Minnesota, was one of the first cities to take advantage of the subsidized managed detection and response solution.
Generative AI steps up as a ‘facilitator’
The Texas Department of Public Safety now uses a generative AI-powered chatbot to streamline procurement. And Polco is rolling out a tool to connect city leaders with survey data so they can see how they stack up against others.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Schools Find Power in Numbers
Across the country, school districts are joining together to negotiate lower premiums for insurance, goods and services.
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.
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.
