Resources for Procurement Professionals
Resources
Find Mercury Content in a Wide Variety of Products
From lamps to medical supplies, products that American businesses and government agencies rely on can contain mercury. The National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF) Mercury Products Guide gives procurement officials the latest information on products that contain mercury. The guide also provides tips for safeguarding the environment.
The guide includes information on how to write procurement contracts that reduce or eliminate the purchase of any products containing mercury. Find the guide at: www.nwf.org
Facilities Conference to Include Sustainable Design Track for ‘Green’ Buildings
National Facilities Management and Technology (NFM&T) Conference/Exposition’s Sustainable Design Track offers 11 sessions, including LEED for Existing Buildings, Sustainable Development at the Pentagon, case histories, and more.
The conference will be held in Baltimore, MD, at the Baltimore Convention Center, March 18 to 20, 2003.
For detailed conference information, visit: www.nfmt.com
Performance Appraisal Time? Book Assists Managers with Key Phrases
It’s performance appraisal time and you are already dreading the task. In today’s employment climate, precisely written reviews are critical.
To assist managers, the 25 th anniversary, 10 th edition of “Effective Phrases for Performance Appraisal” has been released. Written by James E. Neal Jr., the 224-page book contains more than 2,500 phrases covering 58 topics. The phrases are adaptable to all levels of performance. Also includes helpful words and guidelines.
The $13.95 (including shipping) book is available from Neal Publications. To order a copy call 419-874-4787. Also available from leading bookstores and Internet sellers.
Video Showcases Green Procurement Possibilities
With assistance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program, the City of Santa Monica, CA, has produced an 8-min. video documenting the benefits of environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP).
Designed as a general introduction, the video introduces EPP and explains why it is sweeping the country, how every community can benefit, and where to begin. With highlights from some of the early environmental purchasing pioneers—Santa Monica, CA; King County (WA); Massachusetts; and Minnesota—the video showcases efforts to buy more environmentally preferable cleaning products, pest management and landscaping services, office products, and more.
Copies of the video are available for $12, which covers all U.S. shipping and handling costs. To order, visit the Center’s Procurement Strategies Program at: www.newdream.org/procure
Looking to Lower Total Cost of Ownership for Computer Equipment?
RetroBox is an asset management company focused upon the internal redeployment and retirement of desk-top computing devices. Using the Internet as a core method of supplying its services, RetroBox has a modular program designed to help public-sector entities and private companies lower their total cost of ownership of computing equipment through the internal redeployment, remarketing, and disposal of those assets. For more information call 614-485-4858 or visit: www.retrobox.com
P-Card Conference Covers Benchmark Survey Results
Mark your calendars for the National Association of Purchasing Card Professionals’ (NAPCP) 4 th Annual Conference, April 14 to 16, 2003, New Orleans, LA.
The gathering of end users who bring their ideas, successes, and challenges, includes 35 breakout sessions, a Learning Fair, Dr. Richard Palmer’s 2003 P-Card Benchmark Survey Results, and more. To register visit: www.napcp.org/2003
To busy to travel to New Orleans in April? The NAPCP also offers Regional Forums. For dates and locations visit: www.napcp.org/events
Do-It-Yourself Cost Benefit Analysis Guide Presents Tips on Transit Projects
The Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) has released a new guidebook for professionals responsible for assessing the costs and benefits of public transportation investments and presenting that information to interested parties.
The report provides practical information and techniques for quantifying the effects of existing transit services and proposed improvements. Offers road map for fielding questions from decision makers and the public on the impact of a particular project on such topics as travel time, congestion, and community development.
The 148-page guidebook summarizes the theory of how benefits and costs should be be measured and focuses on what it takes for a transit agency to do the measurement and make the calculations for a real project. Includes companion CD-ROM with interactive table of contents, downloadable spreadsheets to help analysis and calculate data, and more.
To order a free copy of “Estimating the Benefits and Costs of Public Transit Projects: A Guidebook for Practitioners, visit www.tcrponline.org
Life Cycle Costing Booklet Covers Capital Equipment
“Government Solutions” explores the concept of life cycle costing—a comprehensive plan for comparing the total cost of machine ownership over time, in combination with maintenance agreements, and a guaranteed repur-chase price—and a variety of machine applications. For a free copy of the 16-page booklet, call Caterpillar Govern-mental Division at 309-675-4405.
