Expert Insights

There is great angst related to every aspect of reopening of schools in the U.S. What to do? How to do it? When to do it? The questions are numerous, and there is little certainty about anything. However, one thing is not in question – schools and our education system...

The CARES ACT (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) passed by Congress created a sprawling, multi-faceted plan to combat COVID-19 and its debilitating effects on the U.S. economy. Signed into law in March, the $2 trillion relief package allocated funding...

COVID-19 continues to take its toll on America. Students of all ages will soon begin fall classes, and school officials are scrambling to ensure safety. Education leaders appear to be in total agreement about how to deliver instruction. Students will be taught through...

We know that an infrastructure bill is coming, and the debate in Congress will likely begin in July. Industry leaders, public officials, think tanks, and economic development organizations have provided lots of input. They know that some of their messages have been...

The House of Representatives laid out an infrastructure plan on June 18 – an expensive one with a price tag of approximately $1.5 trillion. It will not, of course, pass Congress in its current state, but it promises to start the critical and overdue conversation in...

COVID-19 hit the construction industry like a tsunami. Almost all medium to large construction projects were shuttered as government leaders scrambled to protect the health of Americans. Today, however, even though the pandemic has not been contained, there is renewed...

Transportation projects are almost always notoriously large and costly. But, infrastructure is critical to America and, with that in mind, a five-year, $494 billion surface transportation bill was recently released by the House of Representatives’ Transportation and...

To no one’s surprise, COVID-19 has pushed the country into a designated recession. While keeping a careful watch on public health and safety, government officials and economic leaders are now fervently seeking ways to boost America’s economy and to support job...

Funding from the federal government is now coming to all 50 states as a result of various congressional actions. The largest amount of funding is currently flowing as a result of specific mandates in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. But,...

It’s no surprise to anyone that cities and counties are quickly exhausting their budgets and depleting public funding. Local government officials have dealt with COVID-19 for months, and now they are contending with violence, protests, and property damages. Public...

In the current sad and chaotic midst of almost total negative press, some positive things are happening … and some of it is related to law enforcement. Throughout the country, law enforcement budgets have been stretched to the limit. First responders at every...

As the country reopens for business and citizens strive to find normalcy, many critical issues must be addressed. Every region, citizen, and employer in America has been impacted by COVID-19, and getting back to normalcy and prosperity will require bold leadership....

The demand for water has been on an upward spiral for years. And, municipalities have come to rely on utility fee revenue for big chunks of their budgets. In fact, water has provided funding for all kinds of citizen services in the past. Unfortunately, that revenue...

Airlines are ready to fly again! As states begin to open up for business, airport and airline officials are preparing for takeoff - but the trip may be a little different. At the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, both Southwest and American airlines are...

Although the world is currently reeling from COVID-19, we can’t forget about other threats that jeopardize our safety. Hurricane season is almost upon us. On a worldwide scale, the danger of hurricanes begins on June 1 and continues through November. But, our chances...

Before COVID-19, there were discussions about other types of viruses – particularly digital viruses. While not deadly to people, the threat of any type of digital virus is disruptive, costly and difficult to contain. The displacement of people and the increased...

Will students go back to public school campuses this fall? Will charter schools reopen? Will colleges and universities bring students back on campus? Will testing be available? Will facemasks be required? How and when will educators spend the federal recovery funding...

The world as we know it has changed rapidly and dramatically in the last few months. Normalcy is but a memory at this moment in time. People are losing their jobs, businesses are closing, people are struggling, and some are dying. This is truly a sad time in history...

With the COVID-19 pandemic still in full force, most government decisions are being made via teleconference. Public hearings, meetings, and conversations about business decisions must still meet all transparency statutes. Current conversations tend to revolve around...

State and local government contracting represented a multi-trillion dollar marketplace before the recent pandemic. That marketplace is now much larger … but its current size is insignificant compared to what it will be six months from now. To combat the virus,...

Over the last few weeks, state leaders have been forced to mandate drastic actions in an attempt to halt the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Normally, state emergencies are declared when natural disasters strike - hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, and floods....

The team of researchers at Strategic Partnerships, Inc. is known for its ability to point clients to upcoming opportunities long before public announcements are made about the projects. One way the team uncovers this type of valued information is by monitoring...

Public-private partnerships (P3s), or collaborative initiatives as they are sometimes called, are becoming more common – so common in fact, that it’s hard to find any state where collaborative partnerships that include funding options are not being used to deliver...

Often, little known facts can point companies to lucrative contracting opportunities. A good example is data related to the growth and expansion of U.S. ports. The movement of freight in the U.S. is growing at a staggering rate. But, the more riveting data stems from...

Looking for parking facility construction projects? Probably not! That’s because most construction firms are interested in larger projects. But, things are changing, and it may be wise to begin looking for parking garage projects. Here’s why. There is an abundance of...

Clean and adequate water resources are essential components of human existence. For many years, government leaders had few problems providing this precious resource. That’s no longer the case, and companies interested in contracting with government to fix water...

Over the next few months 33 state legislatures will approve funding for new budgets. The remaining states already have a budget for 2020. A quick look at funding requests indicates an extremely positive marketplace for companies that contract with government. The...

Looking for a massive funding document that describes hundreds of upcoming opportunities? Look no further than the new National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) document that President Trump signed on December 21. For 59 years there has been a NDAA appropriations...

Renovate or replace - these are the options government entities must decide between constantly. The tools, systems, facilities, programs, and technology necessary for efficient operations in cities, counties, schools, and state agencies are high priorities. Aging...

By all accounts, 2020 is shaping up to be a banner year for government contracting. Following years of growth since the last recession, the year has begun with gusto. Earlier fears that the marketplace might be fragile because of government uncertainty seem to have...

Public school campuses are always busy places, but in about five months many of them will experience a different kind of activity. That’s because numerous school districts will launch major construction projects in the few summer months when students are not on...

Most citizens find planning documents a little boring. That’s not the case, however, for government contractors. For them, such documents are extremely interesting. In fact, savvy contracting firms know there’s gold to be found in planning documents. Almost every...

When public entities commission a study, it’s safe to assume that one or more, usually large, projects will follow. For some companies, following government studies is how they manage to get ahead of their competitors. Most large government projects require a study of...

Most citizens appreciate parks, and many are regular visitors. However, the public at large rarely contemplates the economic impact of parks. And, too many companies overlook hundreds of contracting opportunities associated with parks. Parks are responsible for...

Government funding continues to shrink for public colleges and universities. At the same time, there is a public outcry for lower tuition, on-line courses, and easy access to education. Education officials seek relief and many are finding it through collaborative...

Technology has altered our lives. It consumes us as individuals and impacts almost everything in the world around us on a daily basis. Emails, texts, instant news, apps of every kind, GPS, Google searches, and Siri are part of everyday life. Technology also has become...

It’s difficult and costly to deliver broadband or high-speed internet to rural communities. And, there’s no way to generate enough revenue to make it worth the effort for private sector companies. Yet, broadband is a critical component of education, economic...

How frightening is it to imagine a day without adequate water? Or, a time when drinking water is no longer safe? Although adequate water is not an immediate threat in the U.S., water resources are becoming scarce in too many regions. The luxury of clean, safe drinking...