Statewide Surplus Equipment Initiative Saves Taxpayers? Money
A new surplus property collection program will be implemented throughout all Connecticut state agencies. The initiative, called “Got Stuff?”, will round up excess and underutilized property and equipment inventories in state government. The surplus property will be redeployed to state agencies, sold to municipalities and at public auction, and donated to nonprofit organizations.
Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland has charged all agency commissioners with identifying and implementing long-term efficiencies in state government. The “Got Stuff?” program is the latest effort to reduce government costs by doing business differently.
In the last year, the state’s fleet has been reduced by 800 vehicles, and purchasing changes have been made that will save $25 million over the next five years. Smaller state satellite and regional offices have been closed, an early retirement program was instituted, state facilities are undergoing energy-saving evaluations, state printing operations are being evaluated, and information technology staffing, software licenses, and hardware are being consolidated.
“The ‘Got Stuff?’ program is exactly the type of simple, common-sense program we need to make our government more efficient,” Governor Rowland says. “We will be expanding this program over the next several months to all our major state agencies so that everyone can benefit from usable, surplus equipment.”
The Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS), an agency that employed almost 1,200 employees during the mid-1990s and now employs about 300, gathered $216,274 worth of surplus equipment, including scores of computers, facsimile machines, and printers.
“Early retirements and streamlining have freed up massive amounts of equipment in all state agencies, and government must evolve with those changes,” says DAS Commissioner Barbara Waters. “Rather than allowing those valuable assets to sit around collecting dust, the ‘Got Stuff?’ campaign will result in a statewide tag sale which will benefit those who most need equipment. Everything from toner cartridges to car engines to couches will be turned in statewide and put to good use.”
The governor and commissioner also noted the cooperation between DAS and the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP). Due to the “Got Stuff?” collection at DAS, 22 computers will be transferred to DCP and used for employee training and upgrading the agency’s customer service center.
“This campaign has saved our agency $48,000,” says DCP Commissioner James Fleming. “Instead of having to buy new equipment, we will get newer technology to better serve our customers while saving critical general fund dollars.”
To assist the various state agencies with their implementations of the “Got Stuff?” program, DAS will be working with individual agency coordinators and advising them how to proceed with their own collections. Interested parties soon will be able to view surplus property on the DAS Web site at www.das.state.ct.us.
NEWS
Army Program to Streamline Critical Acquisitions
Data Systems Analysts, Inc., an information technology solutions company, is a member of the winning Northrop Grumman team selected as one of eight prime contractors for the Rapid Response (R2) Contract under the U.S. Army’s Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM).
The CR2 program objective is to streamline government acquisition of critical equipment and services. The
new contract covers engineering requirements, research and development, fabrication, installation, testing, replacement parts, and integration. In addition, studies and analyses for new and existing weapons, platforms, systems, and individual program items are included.
Administered by the U.S. Army CECOM R2 Project Office at Fort Monmouth, NJ, the goal is to award delivery orders within 19 days. This means that contractor teams must respond to CR2 requests in just seven calendar days—a revolution in government procurement standards.
The award is an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract covering a two-year base period and three two-year options.
Four Join Pennsylvania Dept. of General Services
Secretary Donald T. Cunningham has hired four private-sector leaders to drive new management initiatives for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of General Services. They are: John M. Troxel, Chief Procurement Officer and Director, Bureau of Purchases; Josie Sharp, Director, Bureau of Vehicle Management; John Lippa, Director, Bureau of Supplies and Surplus; and Curtis Topper, Manager, Supply Strategies.
Bill Mandates Purchase of Biobased Products
The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 directs federal agencies to purchase more biobased products, according to guidelines being developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Initially, the USDA will identify 11 product categories, including cleaning supplies, and establish minimum content requirements for biobased ingredients such as soy. The USDA also anticipates voluntary labeling for products as biobased certified.
After the USDA publishes its official Biobased Products List, all federal agencies will have one year to adopt active procurement of these environmentally preferred products. The Department of Energy already has a “Buy Bio” program in place.
