NASCIO issues primer on public-private partnerships

Study the issues. Be patient. Don't skirt the proper channels.

These are a few of the tips that companies doing business with state governments should heed in a new brief on how to build effective public private-partnerships for IT projects from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers.

The brief was born out of a year's worth of meetings between NASCIO leaders and the group's private sector arm, the Corporate Leadership Council. It lays out the challenges behind building partnerships, including a review of partnership models.

The brief offers dos and don'ts that represent both private and public sector points of view. Among the tips offered for the private sector: Do your homework on a specific state's business before meeting with state officials, and don't expect a quick sale or try and go around the state CIO to make your case to somebody else.

The document also lays out a list of best practices and offers a road map for future partnerships.

"By presenting a frank discussion, contrasting partnerships and traditional contractual relationships, we hope to encourage a more constructive and creative approach to jointly delivering better service to citizens," the brief stated.