Procurement

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

A New Service Model for Disaster Recovery and Mitigation Programs

COMMENTARY | A “shared services” model for procurement could eliminate some of the problems and pain points faced by state and local governments in the wake of a disaster. 

  • By Lauren Nichols and Nathaniel Trombley

Lessons Learned in Procurement Overhaul

COMMENTARY | The New York City chief procurement officer shares lessons learned for reforming a procurement system.

  • By Dan Symon

It’s Time To Rethink Government Purchasing

COMMENTARY | State and local governments are exhausting their vendor lists. It is time to rethink what can be standardized across jurisdictions—and with it, how we purchase.

  • By Ben Vaught

40 Startups to Work With 22 Governments on Civic Tech Challenges

The Startup in Residence Program has grown and even inspired California’s governor to turn its approach to innovation into a new procurement pathway.

  • By Dave Nyczepir

Kansas Gov.-Elect Vows to Scrutinize State’s No-Bid Contracts

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Small-town sex trafficking in South Dakota … counties with the most deportations … and North Carolina vaccination exemptions.

  • By Michael Grass

Pressuring Gun and Ammo Manufacturers Through Police Procurement

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | A grim search in Calif. for the missing in Paradise … Mich. PFAS blood tests … the best big U.S. airport … and ‘pot for potholes.’

  • By Michael Grass

Can ‘Mad Libs’ Save Our Failing Infrastructure?

A resiliency team takes an out-of-the-box approach to America’s least sexy problem.

  • By Mitch Herckis

Amazon Contract to Supply Schools and Localities Attracts Criticism

About 1,500 schools and local governments have adopted a deal to buy goods from the online retailer. One group is raising concerns.

  • By Bill Lucia

Montana Governor's Executive Order Ties Net Neutrality to State Contracts

STATE & LOCAL ROUNDUP: Louisiana governor’s “ugly” budget; explore Florida's unsolved homicide cases; and why Lincoln, Nebraska will see big benefits from New York's future subway cars.

  • By Michael Grass
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Rethinking Our Century-Old Approach to Paying for Infrastructure

Our crumbling infrastructure can be fixed if we change how we fund capital investments and maintenance.

  • By John Brown Miller

Buying Into the Internet of Things

States need to be smart and strategic when purchasing connected devices, according to Alaska's chief procurement officer.

  • By Jason Soza

Washington State's CIO on the Impending ‘Sea Change’ in Purchasing Government IT

WATCH: As Michael Cockrill leaves public service, he reflected with Route Fifty on rebranding ‘public service’ and how purchasing IT is fundamentally changing.

  • By Mitch Herckis

36,000 Obsolete Smartphones at the Center of NYPD Procurement Mess

STATE AND LOCAL NEWS ROUNDUP | Feds call Denver ordinance “dangerous”; major IT upgrades in San Francisco; and water pressure busts pipes in booming N.C. town.

  • By Route Fifty Staff

Why Trump’s ‘Buy American’ Push Puts Alaska in Tough Spot

STATE AND LOCAL NEWS ROUNDUP | Connecticut’s schools face major budget heartburn; Airbnb bookings for eclipse have extra benefit for Wyoming; and it’s City Hall Selfie Day!

  • By Route Fifty Staff

Contractors Are Confident Amid Uncertain Political Environment

Businesses that sell to government are bullish—buoyed by an uptick in voter-approved infrastructure spending, as well as an increase in bids and RFPs.

  • By Paul Irby

Charlotte Is Among 5 Cities Developing More Inclusive Procurement

“We know that diverse and equitable communities tend to be more economically and civically vibrant and experience more growth,” said a Living Cities employee of its latest City Accelerator cohort.

  • By Dave Nyczepir

What’s Causing State and Local Government Procurement Efforts to Struggle?

Government officials reported declines in response time, customer service and reputation regarding bids and RFPs, according to a new performance index.

  • By Dave Nyczepir

A New Way of Procuring Radios? Roger That.

In a guest article, the executive director of the National Association of State Procurement Officials shares how one state’s contracting improvements brought significant savings that materialized in multiple ways.

  • By DeLaine Bender