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Volume 3, Issue 11June 29, 2011
P3s transcending all levels of government

Mary Scott NabersPartnership-based procurement is the new wave. Public-private partnerships (P3s) have actually been fairly common over the last 10 years, but the trend is experiencing significant momentum of late. There are many reasons for such a shift, but basically it is because:

 

- Governmental entities are seriously
  underfunded, and

- Population growth and critical needs are forcing public officials to be more innovative in providing mandated services.

 

Partnering between public and private organizations is transcending all levels of government. And, the trend is worldwide. More than 40 countries are now regularly using P3s successfully. Collaboration between public officials and private firms is the new norm on a global scale.

 

[more]

 

IN THIS ISSUE
Affordable Care Act funding available
Technology development partnerships sought
Upcoming education opportunities
Other upcoming opportunities
Where are they now?
Opportunity of the week
People
Calendar of events
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Affordable Care Act funding aimed at improved health care

 

Up to $500 million being made available from Partnership for Patients program

Hospitals, health care provider organizations and other health care providers will be able to share in up to $500 million in funding being made available through the Partnership for Patients program. The money will be used to help them improve health care and curb preventable injuries and health complications that are related to health care acquired conditions and unnecessary readmissions. This is the second round of funding. The first was aimed at community-based organizations to partner them with hospitals to assist patients who have been discharged. This second round will go to entities that can help hospitals redesign how they care for patients.  

 

Donald Berwick
Donald Berwick

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced that the funding, made available through the Affordable Care Act, will be awarded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center. They will be made through a solicitation and other procurements for federal contracts.


CMS Administrator Donald M. Berwick, M.D., said there has been an "overwhelming response" from hospitals, doctors, employers and other partners who want to become part of the effort to improve patient safety since the Partnership for Patients was announced. "We are now looking to contract with local and statewide entities that can foster and support hospitals' efforts to improve health care and reduce harm to patients," he said.


The main goals of the public-private partnership are to reduce harm in hospital settings by 40 percent and reduce hospital readmissions by 20 percent over a three-year period. To do so, they are seeking to contract with partners that include large health care systems, associations, state organizations and others who can help redesign care processes to facilitate reducing harm. The contractors will be asked to:

 

  • Design programs to teach and support hospitals and make care safer;
  • Offer training for hospitals and care givers;
  • Offer technical assistance to hospitals and care providers; and
  • Establish and implement a system for tracing and monitoring progress in meeting quality improvement goals.

CMS will also be soliciting assistance from families and patients regarding improving patient safety and how to transition from hospitals to home or other health care facilities.

 

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Private sector technology development partnerships sought

 

DHS official says doors opened for private industry to partner with agency

Thomas Cellucci
Thomas Cellucci

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is seeking the involvement of private companies in the agency's technology development partnerships. At a recent security industry government summit in Washington, D.C., DHS Chief Commercialization Officer Thomas Cellucci said budget cuts at the federal level opens the door for private industry to partner with the agency. The goal, he said, is to have the private sector develop the technology and the public sector incorporating their technology instead of developing its own.


Cellucci said DHS is working hard to develop a way to communicate with the private sector about its technology needs. The DHS official said there is "a vast amount of money" in the agency to connect with private industry to develop technology for the agency. He stressed that the huge acquisitions government used to make are fading away. Instead, government is looking to the private sector for commercialization. He said there is a bright future ahead for commercialized contracts with private sector vendors that develop technology with the government.

 
Cellucci noted that if technology can be developed by private companies using technological guidelines laid out by the government, the products developed likely can be sold across numerous government and even some private markets. To facilitate such partnerships, DHS has streamlined its processes, forms and procedures. An example of a successful endeavor is the Secure Program, he said. It is a public-private partnership that uses private sector experience and resources to develop products or services based on DHS needs. It leads to private sector competition, which benefits the government agency. 

 

SPI Training Services

Public-private partnerships

 

County in Virginia seeks P3s to pay for facilities for Dulles Metrorail extension

Sharon Bulova
Sharon Bulova

Fairfax County (Virginia) is considering the use of public-private partnerships as it looks for revenues to pay for parking garages and station construction to cut the price tag of a planned Dulles Metrorail extension. The multi-billion-dollar project is being completed in phases. Local and federal officials are looking for ways to reduce the $3.5 billion projected cost of the second phase of the rail project. County Board of Supervisors Chair Sharon Bulova is spearheading that effort and suggesting use of  a public-private partnership. The county already is using a public-private partnership for building one parking garage in Reston, where a new development is also expected.  

 

Public-private partnerships benefit state park systems

As summer visitors prepare to flock to state parks, and some states are using public-private partnerships to raise cash to ensure those visitors have a great summer camping experience. The corporate world is taking notice. Public-private partnerships are being established between those parks and major corporations to raise funds for upkeep at the parks. They have been successful at recruiting major soft drink bottlers, automobile manufacturers and more. The companies understand the importance of parks to citizens and are prepared to enter into partnerships that will allow for enhanced park experiences. Some $7.5 million so far in cash and services has been raised for state parks and the corporate world is seeing a good return on its investments. Corporate donations have led to $350,000 worth of trees being donated to state parks systems throughout the county since 2008, with $100,000 more donated so far this year. Southern California parks have benefitted from $700,000 raised this year to help preserve state parks, with the corporate sponsor reporting dramatic increases in sales. The $7.5 million raised over seven years has been used for printed park guides, reforestation projects and more. 

 

Upcoming education opportunities

 

South Florida Polytechnic campus to get new buildings

Marshall Goodman
Marshall Goodman 

The University of South Florida Polytechnic campus has construction plans for November to build a new innovation, science and technology building. Design of the building will be made public in August, according to Regional Chancellor Marshall Goodman. Two other buildings also are on the list for construction - one a residential facility to house 120 of what is expected to eventually be 1,000 beds as the campus population grows. The other new facility will be the Interdisciplinary Center for Excellence and Wellness Research which will include recreation, research, food services and other uses. The residence hall will be built by a private sector partner and then leased back to the university. The science and technology building will be approximately 100,000 square feet and carry a price tag of $118 million. The wellness center will also be about 100,000 square feet and will be built in stages. The university has raised $11 million toward this facility, hoping for matching state funds, which have yet to materialize. But, the university will go ahead with planning for the $30 million center.

 

Ohio school board approved Project of Requirements for high school

The Lorain, Ohio, school district has approved the Project of Requirements necessary to inform the state that the board plans to build a new high school. Now the document must be sent to the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission, which would pay for 80 percent of the costs. The board has about $97.6 million for the school. The board has tentatively scheduled a July 6 meeting with the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission.

 

University of Alabama announces multiple construction projects

Joe Benson
Joe Benson

The University of Alabama trustees recently approved resolutions allowing for the construction of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Water Center, a national headquarters for water research. UA Vice President for Research Joe Benson said the federal government has 24 agencies that do water-related research, but added, "The opportunity for us here is to collaborate with the individuals from these agencies to carry out the research we at UA are doing on water issues here in the Southeast." The first resolution would provide for the demolition of the Environmental Health and Safety Building, which is on the site where the new facility would be built. The second resolution provides for the construction of a 50,000-square-foot building that will cost $16 million to $18 million. NOAA has just under $25 million set aside for the project. The trustees also approved $8 million in spending for a new 33,000-square-foot UA System office building on the Tuscaloosa campus. Trustees also ranked architectural firms for the North Campus Student Center - a $19 million facility that will house a new recreation center, dining hall and housing and residential community offices. The design of a new $11.5 million sorority house and a new $6.7 million fraternity house were also approved. Another $1.6 million was approved for construction of a building that will connect the College of Engineering's special projects building and the College of the Arts and Sciences' foundry building.

 

Oregon Health and Science University to launch major construction project

After raising $27 million in private donations, $19 million of which came from leaders in the dentistry field, the Oregon Health and Science University has announced is has enough funds to build the Life Sciences building in phases as well as construct the new dentistry building. OHSU Foundation President Allan Price said both buildings could break ground by the end of the year. The $70 million dentistry school will be housed at the Life Sciences building that OHSU will share with the Oregon University System. The total project will cost $295 million. 

 

Water/Wastewater Opportunities

Other upcoming contracting opportunities

 

Illinois county approves $6.5 million for courthouse renovations

The Livingston County (Illinois) Board has approved spending $6.5 million to renovate its courthouse, including asbestos abatement. Renovations will begin once the current law and justice center project is completed this fall. Engineers note that an abatement of the courthouse will have to be completed by December of this year before the remodeling begins in January 2012. Officials basically expect to gut the courthouse and bring it back to the condition it was in when it was first built. Bids for the project are expected to be sought in September.

 

Two new libraries on tap for city in Washington State

Greg Taylor
Greg Taylor 

The Renton, Washington, City Council recently approved building two new libraries and voted to issue $18 million in bonds to pay for the facilities. Commissioner Greg Taylor sought a delay in the vote, saying he favored using bonds to pay for construction of one of the libraries, but was against doing the same for a library planned near the transit center.

 

The King County Library System will now finalize contracts with architectural firms to begin the design process for both locations.

 

 

City in California buys property that will become new recreation center

With a price tag of $4.4 million, the city of Agoura Hills, California, has purchased a property adjacent to City Hall and the library that will become the city's new recreation center. The 15,000-square-foot building is located on a seven-acre site and has been unoccupied for about a year. City Council will decide at its next meeting whether to hire an architect to oversee the remodeling and renovation. Design and construction costs should total $3.2 million. The new facility will replace a center whose lease runs out in 2014. The design and construction should take about 18 months, with a completion date set for the end of 2012.

 

New Hampshire city approves feasibility study for parking garage

John Bohenko
John Bohenko

Officials in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, are planning a feasibility study to determine if a new parking garage they want to build is practical. The city is looking into building a five-level facility, but wants the feasibility study done before any preliminary design work is done.

 

City Manager John Bohenko recommended the council focus on hiring a new consultant to do the preliminary design work and incorporate the best attributes of the facility. They hope to hire a new consultant by mid-August. Once the design is chosen, the city would move ahead with the bonding part of the proposal, with a cost of $25,000 per space, or $12 million. Bohenko said it would be better to do an RFP for a feasibility study followed by the design.  "It does not do us any good to spend $300,000 on preliminary design and not build it." Bohenko said.

  

Sacramento privatizing golf course maintenance could lead to more contacts

As part of their effort to bridge a $39 million budget gap, the Sacramento City Council has voted to outsource maintenance jobs at city-owned golf courses. As many as 38 workers could lose their jobs, but the move could also result in a $500,000 per year savings to the city. City officials say this could be the first step toward outsourcing other contract proposals such as solid waste collection and park maintenance. Outsourcing proponents say using the private sector for some jobs reduces labor costs and can also increase the quality of services by employing experts. The city already outsources services such as streetscape maintenance, some off-street parking and some street and alley maintenance.

 

Bonds to be used to pay for wastewater treatment plant upgrades

In Montville, Connecticut, taxpayers have approved issue of more than $2 million in bonds to pay for upgrades to the wastewater treatment system and to buy several new vehicles. Part of the funding - $1.5 million - will be used to buy a new grit chamber and other essential infrastructure improvements to the sewer treatment plant. Voters also approved nearly $530,000 for a new pumper truck for the Oakdale fire department. The third bond approved will allow Public Works Director Don Bourdreau, Jr. to buy a pair of plow trucks.

 

Texas city seeking to expand opportunities for small businesses

Veronica Briseno Lara
Veronica Briseno Lara

Small firms will be getting the first shot at bidding on small construction projects, thanks to a new program in the City of Austin, Texas. The plan - the Small Business Construction Program (SBCP) - specifies that construction projects under $50,000 and solicited after July 1 will be bid on first by businesses certified as Small Business Enterprises. Based on recent years' figures, city officials estimate there will be 15 such projects each year. Veronica Briseno Lara, director of Small and Minority Business Resources, said the program is "designed to assist small business owners who wish to grow their capacity to bid as a prime contractor." Firms can qualify by having gross receipts for the last three years that do not exceed $14 million. And the business must become a certified Small Business Enterprise (SBE) with the city.

 

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Where are they now?
 Are you a government official who has moved into a new position or to a new agency? Did you recently retire? Were you recently named to an executive-level position at a state-supported college, university or community college? Have you secured a new job as superintendent of a public school? If so, we'd like to hear from you - and so would your friends and colleagues - for our "Where Are They Now" column. Just drop us a line at editor@spartnerships.com and let us know about your previous job and where you are now. This week we feature William E. Johnson, III.

 

William E. Johnson IIIWilliam E. Johnson, III, is a native of Richmond, Virginia. He earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from Hampton University and his Master's of Business Administration from Averett University. He has a long history of public service in local government. Johnson is a former deputy city manager in Richmond. He also served previously as county administrator, deputy county administrator and director of finance in Prince George County. He also is a former director of finance for Louisa County and accounting and budget director in New Kent County. Johnson served as a city manager in College Park, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. He then left to serve for two years as deputy county administrator for Chesterfield County. Johnson, a credentialed manager through the International City/County Managers Association, then returned to serve as city manager in College Park again. Johnson was recently announced as the next city manager for the city of Petersburg, Virginia. He will begin his new charge on July 25.

 

Opportunity of the week...
 
Commissioners in a Florida county have approved a request for $6.9 million for repairs to a regional water plant. The funds would be used to pay for four new wells and operational changes that will allow the plant to treat saltier water. The plant is currently pulling in water so salty that it could become untreatable without a remedy and might not be able to meet drinking water standards. Want to know more? Contact Reagan Weil at 512-531-3900 or rweil@spartnerships.com.
 
People

 

Harris MillerGwen Hamilton Mike PrendergastHarris N. Miller (top left), head of the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities, the major association representing some 2,000 for-profit colleges that enroll about 1.5 million students, has resigned. Gwen Hamilton (top center), former director of education reform for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber since 2008 and senior director of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, has been hired as Mayor-President Kip Holden's assistant chief administrative officer. Florida Gov. Rick Scott has reassigned his chief of staff, Mike Prendergast (top right) to the state Department of Veterans' Affairs, succeeding former Veterans' Affairs Director Bob Milligan, who resigned. Nick Maniatis, a film industry executive from Albuquerque and former executive director of the New Mexico Independent Power Producers, has been named director of the New Mexico Film Office, replacing Lisa Strout, who left the office before the new governor took office. The Montgomery (Texas) City Council has approved the appointment of Slaton Police Chief Royce Goodson as chief of the Montgomery Police Department, replacing former Police Chief Kenneth Hudgens, who resigned in March. Deanna Santana, deputy city manager in San Jose, has come home to where she started her public service career 16 years ago, being named city administrator for the city of Oakland, succeeding Interim Erroll DavisSuzanne TateHal DengerinkCity Administrator Lamont Ewell, who helped her start her career. Dr. Erroll Davis (middle right), chancellor of the University System of Georgia, will serve as interim superintendent for Atlanta Public Schools, replacing outgoing Superintendent Beverly Hall on July 1, the day after he retires from the university system. Suzanne Tate (middle center), executive director of the Oklahoma Arts Council, where she began her career at the agency as deputy director in 1991 and was named executive director in 2007, has announced her retirement after 20 years of service to the agency. Hal Dengerink (middle left), who has served as chancellor of the Washington State University Vancouver branch campus since its inception in 1989, has resigned, effective Aug. 15, with Lynn Valenter continuing to serve as interim chancellor, a post she has held for 16 months while Dengerink has taken periodic medical leave. Rick Davis, current town manager in Fountain Hills, Arizona, and who has also served in the Arizona Office of the Auditor General, as city manager of West Point in Davis County and community affairs director and assistant to the city administrator in Sandy, has been selected as city manager for the city of West Jordan, Utah. Kaya Henderson, a former public school teacher in the South Bronx and former executive director for Teach for America and who has served as acting chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools since March, has been approved as the District's new Alan KingJohnny MartinezSteve MacNamarapublic schools chief. James Neiswanger, former captain in the Manchester Police Department and who boasts a 25-year law enforcement career, is the new police chief in New Holyoke, Massachusetts, replacing longtime Chief Anthony Scott, who retired. Alan King (bottom left), public works director for the city and county of Broomfield, Colorado, is the new public works and utilities director for the city of Wichita, Kansas, replacing Chris Carrier, who died last September. Miami Deputy City Manager Johnny Martinez (bottom center), who had a 22-year career with the Florida Department of Transportation and was Miami-Dade County's Director of Capital Improvements for two years, has been chosen by Mayor Tomas Regalado as the city's new city manager, replacing Tony Crapp, who resigned. Steve MacNamara (bottom right), who is on extended leave from a faculty position at Florida State University and is a former chief of staff and general counsel for Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos, has been selected as chief of staff for Florida Gov. Rick Scott, replacing Mike PrendergastCraig Meyer, Florida Senate budget committee staff director who served as chief of staff for former state Comptroller Gerald Lewis, will add to his current job the title of chief of staff for the Senate President's Office. Carol Eaton, long-time educator, two-time community college president and current president of Frederick (Maryland) Community College, has been selected as Daytona State (Florida) College's president. Brian Salzer, interim superintendent of the Marblehead (Massachusetts) Public Schools, will become the next superintendent, replacing Isabelina Rodriguez, who has left that post.

 

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Does your organization or agency have an upcoming event that would be of interest to either vendors who do business with government or officials and workers in state and local government, higher education, public education or health care? Are you planning a webinar? A conference or seminar? The State & Local Government Pipeline invites government and nonprofits to send information regarding your events for consideration to be included in our FREE Calendar of Events section below. In addition to providing contact information, the day, date, time and a synopsis of the event, you may also include a link to additional information on your Web page and/or a link to online registration that we'll include. Please submit your event information to editor@spartnerships.com.
 Calendar of events

The biggest meeting of state legislators and legislative staff

Come to San Antonio, Aug. 8-11, for the National Conference of State Legislatures' annual Legislative Summit - the largest and most important gathering of the year of state legislators and legislative staff from all 50 states. Broaden your contacts with state officials, learn the pressing issues facing lawmakers today and hear from top-notch policy experts. For more information, click here.

National Small Business Conference set for August

The National Veteran Small Business Conference is planned for Aug. 15-18, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Billed as the largest nationwide conference of its kid, it provides veteran-owned (VOSBs) and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) an opportunity to learn, network and market their businesses. Those who should attend include  VOSBs and SDVOSBs seeking an edge on the competition in the federal government marketplace, along with prime contractors seeking VOSB and SDVOSB partners and federal government representatives who promote both through contracting opportunities. For more information, click here.
  

TxDOT San Antonio Small Business Briefing conference set in July 

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Business Outreach and Program (BOP) Services reaches across Texas to provide small and minority-owned business communities an opportunity to learn more about contracting opportunities with state entities. The final Small Business Briefing conference for FY2011 is set for July 20 in San Antonio. Information will be available to help small business owners better understand how to do business with the agency and the State of Texas. The sessions not only allow small businesses to be introduced to TxDOT and other state agencies, but also allow them to learn more about the economic development opportunities in their regions.  It also gives agencies a chance to show the myriad of prospects available for small and minority businesses in the state. For more information and to register, click here or call 1.866.480.2519, Option 2. Planning for the 2012 fiscal year events is under way. Please visit www.txdot.gov for updated information.

 

AGC's HR Professionals Conference slated Oct. 4-6

The Associated General Contractors Human Resources Professionals Conference is set for Oct. 4-6 at the Crowne Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri. The gathering is billed as the premier event for human resources professionals to learn and share HR practices related to the construction industry. The conference features a number of construction-related sessions on HR topics such as creating a mentoring program, hiring from a remote location, successfully operating in multiple jurisdictions, keep your organization safe from workplace violence, using pre-employment assessments and more. A federal Contracting Compliance Construction HR Workshop will be held the afternoon of Oct. 5 and the morning of Oct. 6. For conference and registration information, click here.

 

FAA procurement opportunities training conference, trade show slated

The Federal Aviation Administration will host its Annual National Small Business Procurement Opportunities Training Conference and Trade Show July 18-21 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The gathering provides a forum for small businesses, including service-disabled and veteran-owned small business and 8(a) certified firms, to participate in technical and procurement opportunities workshops. Small businesses will be linked with large business and program managers to address business issues and concerns and offer information on small businesses doing business with the agency. For more information, click here.

 

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