GovWin SLED Coronavirus Recon

Word on the Street
(What our analysts are hearing from government.)

• A greater volume of purchasing officials are working remotely during this public health crisis; and while they are assuredly checking emails, responses may be delayed
• A government official said that during normal business times the city does not typically send email communications to vendors. However, they recognize these are not normal business times and will send update notifications out to their vendors.
• There are delays in responding to information requests due to limited access the public records while officials are working remotely
  • Administrative departments in Dallas are either closed or are staffed by a skeleton crew; remaining staff is working remotely. The City is unable to access its records to respond to public information requests at this time.
• Entities are extending proposal due dates and postponing bid openings due to social distancing, nevertheless Purchasing Departments are still working hard to offer fair and competitive processes during these challenging times

General

• As cities respond to coronavirus, data chiefs can play key role
• State Rundown 3/19: Spring Is Here but States Brace for Long Winter – State Roundup regarding responses to COVID-19
• Red and Blue America Aren’t Experiencing the Same Pandemic
• Amid virus outbreak—and an earthquake—CIOs keep their heads down
  • A look CIOs’ response in ensuring technology resources are available and establishing business continuity plans
• Polis Bans Haircuts, Massages, Elective Surgeries And More As COVID-19 Fight Wages On
  • Polis also required any Colorado business or non-hospital health facility, including construction companies, to conduct an inventory of all protective respiratory equipment including masks and ventilators and prepare to report that to the state
• San Francisco Advisory to residents to stay home while certain City Services classified essential remain open

Purchasing

• NASPO ValuePoint Contracts Update - NASPO’s gathering of cooperative contracts in high demand in response to COVID
• Utah’s COVID-19 Purchase Exception - The Director of Purchasing authorized State Agencies to make emergency procurements without using a standard process (UCA 63G-6a-803). Through April 4th procurements for goods and services directly related to the State’s response to the coronavirus are excepted from competitive solicitation requirements. However, agencies are encouraged to use as much competition as is practicable.

Technology

• The Tech That Could Be Our Best Hope for Fighting COVID-19—and Future Outbreaks
  • A look at various technology applications that can help combat the COVID outbreak
• Tech called up ‘in the war against the unexpected’
  • A call for technology to help combat COVID, as well as making sure existing tech infrastructure is able to continue to function with higher needs and usage (connectivity, 5G, etc.).

Health Care

• Local company receives funding to develop fast coronavirus test
• Medical Workers Need Masks So A Grassroots Army Is Checking Basements, Garages, And Warehouses
• Coronavirus forces reckoning for Trump’s healthcare cuts
• Coronavirus drives surge in demand for temp healthcare workers

Community/Housing

• COVID-19 and California’s housing crisis: 5 issues to watch – Reallocation of state spending and changes in priority spending, what it could mean for the future
  • California to spend $150 million to protect homeless from coronavirus – Two-thirds of the money spent will go directly to local governments for the sole spending on homeless services, the rest used by the state to purchase travel trailers and lease hotel rooms for emergency housing
• County leases hotel for homeless people who may have COVID-19. More sites are planned.

Social Services

• Unemployment claims skyrocket to more than 29,000 as business halts statewide amid COVID-19 pandemic
• Gov. Evers waives work search, modifies unemployment availability due to COVID-19
• Social services see rise in demand as coronavirus shuts down businesses
• The Trump Administration Changed Course On Food Stamps Amid The Coronavirus Outbreak After Courts And Congress Intervened

 

Justice & Public Safety

• Congress Passed $8.3 Billion in Emergency Coronavirus Funding, but First Responders Still Can’t Buy Masks
  • Emphasizing the issue in the lack of protective gear for first responders.
• Tech called up ‘in the war against the unexpected’
  • COVID may have an impact on various technologies now and in the future. This article discusses how it may impact future use of biometrics, leaning more toward facial recognition for example as opposed to fingerprint recognition (in order to mitigate the spreading of germs). Drones can be utilized for delivery of supplies or remotely disinfecting areas and utilities may use the Internet of Things to better monitor usage.

Transportation

• Louisiana waives fee for digital driver's license app to slow virus
• Governors ask for Real ID extension due to coronavirus

Utilities

• Coronavirus and Water
  • Provides advice for water utilities during this crisis and provides this on procurement/emergency funding:
    • Implement or develop emergency procurement procedures to enable accelerated purchasing and adoption of needed equipment and practices.
    • Identify potential emergency funding needs – seek temporary lifting of debt caps or other funding limitations.
    • Access credit lines or other sources of short-term capital.
    • Identify and connect with contractors or suppliers that may be needed on an emergency basis. Create a protocol in advance to be able to call on these resources quickly.

• How power companies are keeping your lights on during the pandemic
  • The power sector does have pandemic plans in place and this article discusses how they keep the power going with the current situation. Keep in mind many utility workers cannot work remote and this can present challenges for the power sector that many other industries do not face.
• The Post-Virus Economic Recovery Could Be a Green One
  • Discusses the possibility for an economic recovery being a green one as the COVID pandemic slows. The article states that green projects such as renewable energy, high-speed trains and electric vehicles can be projects that create jobs and attract investment.