Cell phone service
The Alameda County, Calif., purchasing department is seeking cellular phone products and services, including wireless service and equipment maintenance. The procurement office estimates the value of the contract to be about $1 million. A request for proposals is expected in July.
Eye on the States: Three firms show how to survive a slow market
State and local government, once a hot market, is now a story of slower growth and tighter information technology budgets.
Online tax filing
	The Maryland Office of the Comptroller plans to release an RFP for a value-added network for tax filings. The RFP is expected in August. The state wants to replace the technology used by tax return preparers to transmit returns and integrate additional functions. The benefits would be a one-stop tax-filing portal for personal, business and employer tax payments
Rural broadband initiative
	The Ohio Department of Administrative Services is planning an RFP for a broadband wireless services using the state's multiagency radio communication system infrastructure. The RFP is expected in July. The state is looking at leveraging its public safety tower infrastructure by placing wireless satellites in rural areas in which there is no broadband Internet service. The project is valued at $1 million.
Property management software
	Washington, D.C.'s Office of the Chief Technology Officer plans to release a request for proposals for a vendor to provide software integration services. The RFP is expected in July or August. Washington wants to upgrade its systems through the Administrative Systems Modernization Program. The first phase of this project will involve an enterprise resource planning module, including human resources, procurement, finance and inventory control software. There also may be contracts for interfaces or middleware. The project is worth about $500,000.
NIC overcomes missteps
A visitor walking through any one of NIC Inc.'s 28 offices around the country won't see the company's stock price displayed on anyone's computer screen. The company has a rule, created when NIC went public four years ago, that any employee caught monitoring the stock price will be sent home for the day, said Harry Herington, NIC's chief operating officer.
Who gets welfare?
A major new business opportunity will open up for systems integrators this year if federal officials and state lawmakers decide to let private companies process applications for welfare eligibility.
Licensing system needed
	The Washington Department of Health is looking for a facilities and services licensing system to replace its existing database. The new database is needed to improve efficiency and eliminate redundancies. The database will have capabilities including application and fee processing, license tracking and complaint processing. An RFP is expected in the second quarter of 2003.
Human services support
	The Ohio Department of Human Services needs Compaq file servers and related services to support its Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System and Ohio Works First projects. The Department of Administrative Services is managing the contract. An RFP for the small-business contract is expected in mid-2003. Resource One Computer Systems holds the current contract.
Electronic funds services
	The Connecticut Department of Revenue Services is looking for electronic funds transfer services. The state's Department of Information Technology is managing the contract. An RFP for the $600,000 project is expected in June. Services wanted include research, operation, fee collection, setting up taxpayer accounts, cost provision and maintenance.
County communications network
	The Alameda County, Calif., sheriff is looking for data communication software to run the new Countywide Data Communications Messaging Network. The network provides communications for direct data among officers equipped with mobile data computers or handheld devices. These officers can share information regardless of what agency they are with. The network is used among vehicles and bases, and between a base and cars. It connects all county emergency services personnel. A request for proposals is expected this month. The contract is valued at $500,000.
Deficits don't deter new CIOs
Pennsylvania Chief Information Officer Art Stephens believes the state's $2.4 billion revenue shortfall ultimately will drive better business practices across state government.
Eye on the States: Solutioning your way to the top
Every year following the release of Washington Technology's annual list of "Who's Who in the State and Local Market," (March 10) I hear the same question: How do they do it? I get this especially from companies struggling to grow their businesses.
Voter registration project
	The Wisconsin State Elections Board is expected to release an RFP in August for a statewide voter registration system. The Wisconsin Department of Electronic Government is managing the procurement. By May 15, the election board will have a legislative report identifying requirements and a conceptual design that complies with the federal Help America Vote Act and Wisconsin laws for voter registration. The conceptual design will be used by bidders to complete their proposals. The project is expected to be worth $1 million.
Decision support system
	The California Health and Welfare Agency wants a decision support system for its management information system. The RFP is expected in July. The agency's Department of Health Services protects the health of citizens and is responsible for reducing preventable disease, disability and premature death, health care reform and creating partnerships among health care provider organizations. The project should be worth about $924,000.
Fiscal agent contract
	The Arkansas Department of Human Services is rebidding its fiscal agent contract for its Medicaid management information system. The RFP should be released in two to three months. The current contract is just for fiscal agent takeover and several options for system enhancements. The options include implementing an executive information system, a decision support system and updating an eligibility verification link with the state-wide system. The value is about $95 million.
Nebraska online network
The Nebraska Department of Administrative Services is planning a request for proposals this month to find a contract to operate and manage the Nebrask@Online Network. It is the state's information and communications system for equal electronic access to public information for citizens, businesses and state, county and local governments. The project is worth about $500,000.
Man your battle stations
State and local governments can improve their ability to respond to terrorist attacks by conducting exercises, much like the military does, using simulations to test joint operations and plan for war, a panel of homeland security experts said at the midyear conference of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers in Pittsburgh.
Across the Digital Nation: Federal grants make human services a bright spot
The financial turmoil affecting many state and local governments has created a Catch-22 situation for one particular agency segment: human services. Because they are heavily dependent on federal matching grants to help operational and technology development, human services departments in many respects are less-affected by revenue shortfalls.
Brief: Building management
Miami-Dade County, Fla., Department of Aviation is looking for building management systems. The department wants to centrally manage and monitor facilities as a way of reducing costs. An RFP should be released this month. The contract is expected to be worth $6.6 million.
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