JUNE RESOURCES
Revised Handbook Offers Wealth of Data About Requests for Proposals
To learn about best practices, ideas, and innovations surrounding the Request for Proposal (RFP) process, consult the third edition of The Request for Proposal Handbook, released in April 2005.
Written by Michael Asner, the 400-page book includes information from more than 60 state and local jurisdictions. Contents range from exemplary manuals, sample proposals, and templates to evaluation procedures, strategic issues, and checklists. Each reference is accompanied by a Web link for retrieving the entire source document.
More than 3,500 agencies have used previous editions of the handbook to reduce research time, RFP risks, and procurement costs.
“I have found The Request for Proposal Handbook by Michael Asner to be a great training tool for my buyer staff,” says Ron Watkins, CPPO, President of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) and Purchasing Manager for the City of Grand Junction, CO. “Although I have an experienced staff, they have had limited exposure in their careers to RFPs. The best practices, information, examples, and checklists all have proven to be wonderful tools.”
The book sells for $195, plus $15 for shipping and handling.
For additional details, including ordering information, visit: www.govinfo.bz/4591-110.
Science Resources Are Now Just a Click Away
Science.gov recently announced a free “Alert” service, created by Deep Web Technologies (DWT), that sends science information to patrons’ e-mail addresses each week, based on selected areas of interest. The service is a collaborative effort of the U.S. Department of Energy and 11 other federal agencies.
By accessing the Web site’s “one- stop” search page, users can tap into 47 million pages of government research and development results, more than 1,700 government information resources, and 30 databases that cover numerous scientific topics.
From the Science.gov home page, individuals can set up personalized Alert accounts to select subject areas and search criteria. Users will then receive up to 25 results via e-mail each week, from each scientific database selected. An online, personalized archive also lets users view six weeks of stored results and edit their Alert profiles.
For additional information, visit: www.govinfo.bz/4591-111.
Study Explores Enterprise Content Management
Findings of an in-depth research study were recently unveiled to pinpoint the use, trends, cost savings, and other issues regarding Enterprise Content Management (ECM). The technology provides integrated solutions for records or e-mail management, document control, information capture, forms handling, and other applications.
Titled “Payback Time: The Practical Application of ECM Technologies,” the study was conducted over the course of 2004 and 2005 by AIIM—The ECM Association. Data was compiled from more than 1,200 respondents, representing nine countries, including the United States, Europe, and Australia.
Survey results cover topics ranging from the scale and scope of ECM implementation to the challenges of managing electronic data.
To access the complete study, visit: www.govinfo.bz/4591-112.
Handbook Explains How Legislators Can Promote Energy-Efficient Vehicles
By reading a new, 109-page handbook, state and local officials can learn ways to encourage the purchase and use of energy-efficient transportation among residents.
Called The Drive to Efficient Transportation: State Policies to Encourage the Purchase and Use of Light-Duty Advanced Technology Vehicles and Alternative Fuels, the handbook was developed by the Alliance to Save Energy, with support from Ford Motor Co.
“By enacting into law a variety of financial and non-financial incentives to encourage consumers to purchase and use advanced technology vehicles and alternative fuels, state policymakers can lessen the nation’s dependence on imported oil, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve the air quality in their cities and towns,” says Gail Hendrickson, Director of Transportation at the Alliance.
The handbook discusses how various states have adopted specific incentives to encourage the purchase, operation, or manufacturing of advanced-technology vehicles.
Additional topics covered describe current and future energy-efficient technologies, types of alternative fuel (ranging from electricity to ethanol), and federal laws that have advanced the technology.
The book can be downloaded free of charge from the Alliance Web site. To access the online version, visit: www.govinfo.bz/4591-113.
Consumers Can Sign On to Earth-Friendly Web Site
Interested in finding out about “green” products and how to become more environmentally conscious? Log on to free information presented on GreenerChoices.org, a Web site launched this past April by Consumer Reports.
The Web site presents earth-friendly products in several categories, including electronics, appliances, home and garden, automobiles, and food. By accessing the site, consumers can find out how to incorporate environmental and health issues into product purchases, uses, recycling, and disposal.
A “green ratings” section on the site ranks products according to their energy requirements, water usage, and fuel efficiency. Consumers will also find tools such as energy calculators, rebate information, food label meanings, and online links to access information about local environmental services.
For a direct link to the Web site, visit: www.govinfo.bz/4591-114.
