Public officials at the federal level of government continue to instigate new procurement processes designed to help veteran-owned businesses be more successful in capturing government contracts. The trend is spreading rapidly and gaining state and local support quickly.

New Jersey recently passed a law that specifically calls for the state's Department of the Treasury to take the lead in helping veteran-owned businesses be more competitive. The new law requires other contracting agencies to report back to Treasury annually on the number of contracts and dollar amounts that were awarded to veteran-owned businesses. And, the agencies are required to report on their outreach efforts to veteran-owned businesses.

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Many of states' governors offering their proposed budget items, initiatives

Andrew Cuomo

Public-private partnerships (P3s) for the state's transportation needs and a call to build what would become the country's largest convention center were part of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's recent State of the State address. Cuomo said the new proposed convention center and upgrades to the Jacob Javits convention center would attract $25 billion in private capital.

Cuomo is one of many governors who are rolling out their budget proposals and spending plans as legislatures througout the county are meeting or preparing to meet. 

Cuomo also is pushing for legalizing gambling and seeking private investment in the state's roads and bridges, including building a new Tappan Zee bridge across the Hudson River north of New York City.

Regarding building the convention center at the Aqueduct Racetrack, the governor is proposing a 3.8 million-square-foot facility funded by a $4 million investment from a casino operator. He said the resulting project would create tens of thousands of jobs. He proposed upgrades and expansions at the Javits center in Manhattan because it is currently too small to meet the needs of modern trade shows. He said the center would be made into offices, housing and hotels.

Some 27 communities earn funding to help improve economic competitiveness

Twenty-seven communities and organizations throughout the country have been named recipients of a total of nearly $96 million in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Challenge Grants and Regional Planning Grants. The goal of the projects funded is to assist communities and regions as they seek to improve their economic competitiveness. This is achieved through connecting housing with good jobs, quality schools and transportation.

Shaun Donovan

HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said this year's funding was focused more on projects that involved more chambers of commerce and economic development corporations as core partners. He said these funds will be leveraged by local funds that can double the original investment. "When more than half of the average working family's income is devoted to housing and transportation costs alone, we know that we have a responsibility to fix that and to provide housing and transportation options that can improve their quality of life and economic stability."

In California, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) will be awarded $4,991,336 to develop a San Francisco Bay Area Regional Prosperity Plan for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area region. This initiative will increase access to regional prosperity for workers, by creating middle-income jobs and developing and preserving affordable housing in transit-served communities. The State University of New Jersey's Edward J. Blounstein School for Policy and Planning at Rutgers will be awarded $5,000,000 to develop a Regional Plan for Sustainable Development for the 13-county North Jersey Transportation Authority region. The plan will use sustainability, transit system connectivity and transit-oriented development as the central framework for integrating plans, regulations, investments and incentive programs at all levels of government to improve economic and environmental conditions. Austin garnered the lion's share of the funds coming to Texas, with $3 million. With the funds, the city will master-plan more than 200 acres of publicly owned, vacant property in the Colony Park community in East Austin. (To see a complete list of projects, the amount funded and an explanation of each, click here and look under "Recent Reports.")

The Community Challenge Grants seek to help provide affordable, economically vital and sustainable communities by addressing local challenges to integrating transportation and housing. The Regional Planning Grant program takes a more regional approach in encouraging support for economic development, workforce development, transportation and such as a means of creating vital communities. 

But new rule makes allowances for not making certain information public

A new rule that went into effect on Jan. 3 requires federal agency officials to post a government contractor's work history on a Web site accessible by the public.

The Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) is a Web site for contracting officers and federal employees to look at the history of companies' work with the federal government. It includes information from a variety of databases, including information on companies that have been suspended or prohibited from contracting with the federal government. The goal of the program is to ensure that federal contracting officials know as much as possible about a would-be contractor before they award a contract. The initial rule provided all information be made public except for past performance reviews by federal agencies.

Due to concerns raised by contractors regarding sensitive information being exposed, the new rule now gives companies seven days to find any information that should not be disclosed because it should be exempt from disclosure. If their concerns are valid, that information will be removed from the FAPIIS database. If the government official does not remove those items, they will automatically be released to the public Web site within two weeks after the review period begins.

University of Maryland planning $7.2 million president's home

The University of Maryland is demolishing the current president's home and preparing for construction of a new 14,000-square-foot mansion on the campus. The new home is estimated to cost $7.2 million. Officials say the new facility will help draw supporters and thus attract major donors as the university faces declining state funding. Approximately 30 private donors will finance the new home. The home will have a 4,000-square-foot private residence with four bedrooms that will carry a price tag of about $2 million. The remainder of the home will be a 10,000-square-foot events center with a grand foyer, public living room, catering kitchen, office space, formal dining room and a large hall to seat up to 125 people. That section is priced at $5.2 million.

North Carolina school district planning new elementary schools

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg (North Carolina) school district is planning two new elementary schools in the near future in the Charlotte area. An $11.57 million contract was awarded for construction of a new school that will replace the current Pineville Elementary School (as seen in accompanying artist's rendering). Construction should begin within the next few months. Later this month, the school board will open bids and award a contract for another new elementary school, the Bain Elementary in Mint Hill. Construction on that facility also should begin within the next few months, with students expected to occupy the new school at the beginning of 2013. Both schools had originally been scheduled for massive renovations until officials determined new schools could be built for about the same amount. When the current Pineville Elementary is torn down, athletic fields will be built on that spot.

Construction of remainder of Washington State school to begin next fall

The first phase of a new Wapato High School in Wapato, Washington, is nearing completion - a 16,000-square-foot science wing. That phase was paid for with federal grant funds. The remainder of the project, set to begin next fall, will be paid for by a $20 million bond issue approved by voters last February. When completed, the school will be a 166,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility. 

 

Corning Community College planning to build dormitory on campus

Katherine Douglass

A 300-student, $12 million to $14 million dormitory has been approved for the campus of Corning Community College in New York. With the recent approval of the college trustees, the new facility could be under construction in the spring. CCC President Katherine Douglass said no public funding will be used to build the dorm. Instead, the college will seek bonding, repaying the costs over a term from rental fees paid by students. "Because of the quality of a community college education - coupled with the economics of higher education - more and more students are coming to Corning Community College directly out of high school, and those students are looking for a complete college experience," said Douglass. "They're looking for a residential life." The dorm will be L-shaped and located close to The Commons, where the cafeteria, student center and Triangle Lounge are located. There will be designated parking for students as well. The next step for the project is securing the necessary funding. 

 New York school district looking for P3s to help with school upgrades

Officials of the Yonkers city school district will be looking to public-private partnerships as they undertake a 15-year, $1.7 billion plan to rehabilitate nearly all of the Yonkers city school district's buildings. The board recently approved the plan, which includes replacement of three current schools, construction of two new schools and upgrades and additions to 23 others. One of the funding options under consideration is a lease-back agreement, in which the district would sell a new school to an investor and then rent the space back for a fee. School officials note that 36 of the 38 buildings in the district are classified as "unsatisfactory" under state-mandated guidelines, many do not comply with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements and others have inadequate HVAC and plumbing systems. Suffering from aging and overcrowded facilities, the district's most costly phase of the 15-year plan is 2012-2017, when more than 2,800 seats will be added at an estimated cost of $662 million. That phase includes replacing School 22 and the Gorton High School with new and larger buildings, expanding Riverside High School and including a connection to Museum School 25 for a combined pre-K-12 grade program and repairs to 29 other buildings.

 

Officials seek uniform conracting rules and someone to enforce them

Jeff Atwater

The battle over who should have oversight of Florida state contracts continues. Gov. Rick Scott in the past has sought to have state contracts more closely scrutinized. However, he has not gotten on the band wagon in support of proposed legislation to increase the authority of the state's chief financial officer over those contracts.

CFO Jeff Atwater does support the bill. It would shift some responsibility for enforcing procurement rules and regulations to his Department of Financial Services from the Department of Management Services. He would also be given the responsibility of reviewing all major contracts before they go into effect and for creating uniform contracting rules for state agencies. Since taking office, Atwater and his staff have uncovered numerous contracts that are in violation of state procurement rules. He said there should be "one place in state law" that ensures that someone is responsible for ensuring state contracting standards are met.

Farmington officials prioritizing capital improvement projects

Tommy Roberts

Officials in Farmington, New Mexico, are seeking to prioritize their capital improvement projects, but Mayor Tommy Roberts said with tight finances, it is difficult "to make an ultimate decision." The Council last December approved a 10-year bond extension that led to the attempts to rank the projects, but there was no consensus. Among the projects being considered are an animal shelter, replacement of a fire station and a Lakewood retention pond. However, other more expensive projects, such as a new convention center and some street projects, are not on the list because even with the bonding, the city could not afford them. City officials will meet again at a later date to discuss the proposed projects. They hope to have the list prioritized by the end of the month.

VA begins contracting process to develop patient scheduling system

The Veterans Affairs Department's contracting process for its new patient scheduling system has begun. The new system is the result of the failure of a nine-year, $167 million project that imploded in March 2009 and led VA officials to seek a review of all of the VA's IT projects by February of this year. The RFI for the new system was released in December of last year. In that RFI, the VA acknowledged the problems with the old system. The new system will be built on the department's Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture and will be open source software, delivered in increments. The VA is looking at both Web and mobile technologies for the system. The responses to the RFI are due by Jan. 31.

 

Variety of contracting opportunities available in Texas

A number of contracting opportunities are available in the El Paso area. They include:

• El Paso Independent School District is requesting bids for construction of baseball backstop at Burges High School;
• Ysleta Independent School District is requesting bids for classroom remodel at Eastwood Knolls Elementary School;
• Ysleta Independent School District is requesting bids for elementary science online supplemental curriculum;
• El Paso MHMR has a request for proposal for a child and adolescent psychiatrist;
• El Paso Independent School District is requesting bids for Internet service for E-Rate Funding Year 2012;
• University of Texas at El Paso is requesting bids for wayfinding and exterior storage standards services;
• City of El Paso is requesting bids for audiovisual materials -- all languages, adult and juvenile;
• City of El Paso is requesting bids for third-party residential building inspection and plan review services;
• El Paso Independent School District is requesting bids for online pre-employment profile assessment testing service provider.

La Guardia terminal replacement could begin as early as 2014

Patrick Foye

A possible start date of 2014 is being eyed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as a possible start of construction for the replacement of the outdated Central Terminal Building at La Guardia Airport. Although a tentative date, Port Authority Executive Director Patrick Foye said it is the "best estimate" for the construction that is estimated to cost $3.6 billion and slated for completion in 2021. A request for information has been released seeking ways to finance the project. Although some of the costs will be paid for with bonds and passenger fees, more will be needed. The authority proposes replacing the current semicircle concourse that feeds out into four hallways with arrival and departure gates with a three-level front terminal leading to three parallel piers that have more room for passengers, shops and restaurants while also allowing planes more room to maneuver.

 

Officials plan to seek bids on retrofitting Santa Maria fire building

Bids are expected to be opened Jan. 24 to retrofit a building purchased to replace the old Santa Maria, California, police department headquarters. The retrofit is designed to reinforce the building's walls to meet public safety construction standards. City officials estimate the retrofit will cost between $1.5 million and $1.8 million. Another $4 million in improvements would then have to be made before the police department could use the building. Those improvements include creating a crime lab, property and evidence room, interrogation rooms, communication center, offices and more. Replacing the existing facility would have cost between $48 and $51 million and would be a little more than half the size of the new facility.

 

Illinois city considering privatizing local ambulance service

The City of Elgin, Illinois, has posted a request for qualifications from ambulance companies for provision of paramedic-level service 24/7 in the city. The city has in recent years been operating a "jump" company, where skilled firefighters move from emergency vehicle to emergency vehicle when necessary, hopefully saving the city $800,000 to $850,000 in overtime costs. However, the two extra shifts that resulted could probably be covered by a private ambulance firm at a cost of approximately $400,000, or half of what the city would pay in overtime pay. The next step would be issuing a request for proposals from private firms, which could take several months. 

 

Want to know who your competition is? Who was awarded the contract on a particular project? Below are listed some recent winners of major government contracts: 

New Jersey village enters into 20-year public-private partnership

A 20-year public-private partnership has been formed as the result of the formation of a joint venture, Ridgewood Green. The partnership is between Ridgewood Green and the Village of Ridgewood, New Jersey. The agreement calls for Ridgewood Green to design, build, own and operate facilities to optimize production of electricity at the village's municipal wastewater treatment plant. Renewable energy is expected to provide all the electricity needed to operate the plant. The two are also partnering with a private sector company to provide an effective organic product to enhance production of biogas and reduce odors and grease buildup at the plant. Additionally, a reduction is expected in residuals that are by-products that will no longer have to be transported off site. Each of the partners are being lauded as contributing to the optimization of the performance of the new facilities. 

South Carolina city plans P3 to finance urban park design

In Spartanburg, South Carolina, a public-private partnership between the city, Upstate Forever, the Masonic Corp. and other private donors will finance the $40,000 necessary to build a small, urban pocket park in a commercial area of the city. Officials say the proposal could become a regional example of a low-impact, positive urban park design. The Masonic Corp. is leasing the land to the city for public use, the city is providing $20,000 and the nonprofit Upstate Forever is purchasing some 1,600 square feet of pavers to filters storm water runoff. Private donors will provide the rest of the funding. These permeable pavers will make the park the first one in the area to filter those runoff waters. The park will also have benches, trees, lighting and a trellis for shade.

Public-private partnerships offer option to tax hikes, service cuts

(Following is an editorial from the Jan. 8 edition of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

Purists, skeptics and conspiracy theorists can't seem to imagine honorable ventures between public and private parties, but public-private partnerships do offer promise for the future.

Some contracting opportunities from across the country

Cherie Townsend (top left), former head of the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) since 2008, has been named executive director of its successor agency, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, which resulted from the merger of TYC and the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission. Former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray (top middle) has been appointed by President Barack Obama to head a consumer-protection agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, with oversight of private student loans and credit cards. Laurie Robinson (top right), Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs, has announced she will leave that post at the end of February, with Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Mary Lou Leary to serve as acting assistant attorney general when Robinson leaves. Bruce Pearson, former Cibolo (Texas) city manager for two years, has been chosen the new city manager for the city of Pleasanton. Zachary Katz has been chosen as chief of staff by Federal Communications Commission Chair Julius Genachowski, with Sheree Smith promoted to chief counsel and senior legal adviser, with special counsel Amy Levine named senior counsel and Michael Steffen named legal adviser from the Office of General Counsel. Don Viegut, superintendent of the Oshkosh, Wisconsin, school system, has resigned that post to become administrator for the Cooperative Educational Service Agency No. 8 in Gillett, which provides profession support services to 27 school districts in northeast Wisconsin. Christy Willman (middle right), executive director of community relations for the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District in Texas is retiring after 30 years in public education, having begun her career at LCISD for 13 years. Karen Gross (middle center), will take a leave of absence from her position as president of Southern Vermont College to serve as senior policy adviser in the office of undersecretary of education at the U.S. Department of Education, with the university's COO, James Beckwith, to fill in while she is absent. Dr. Michael Chipps, CEO and President of Mid-Plains Community College in North Platte, Nebraska, will leave that post to become president of Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Nebraska. Kenneth J. McAuliffe, who has served as superintendent of the Lowville (New York) Academy and Central School District for the last 11 years, will retire from that office after serving 32 years as a school administrator. South Carolina native Mike Phillips, formerly a city manager in Georgia, has been chosen city manager for the city of Corbin, Kentucky. Matt Gergely, former supervisor with the State Workers' Insurance Fund, has been chosen city administrator for McKeesport, Pennsylvania, replacing Dennis Pittman. Former assistant city manager in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Doug Hewett (bottom left), has been selected as the new city manager of the city of Hollywood, Florida. Dianna Vargo (bottom center), deputy superintendent of the Ohio County Schools since 2009, has been named by the Ohio Board of Education as the new superintendent of the Ohio County Schools. Teresa Everett (bottom right), fire chief in College Park, Georgia, since October 2010, will leave that job to become fire chief of Gary, Indiana. Jack Cauley, former deputy chief of the Overland Park, Kansas, Police Department, has been named the new police chief of Castle Rock, Colorado. Ana Mari Cauce, dean of the University of Washington College of Arts and Sciences, has been elevated to the position of provost of the university. David Sward, former lieutenant with the Regional Youth Development Center in Augusta, Georgia and former chief deputy and investigator with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department, is the new police chief and director for the Harlem (Georgia) Department of Public Safety.